Rights body demand trial of detained activists

Nine Liberian human rights organisations, under the banner of the National Human Rights Center, at the weekend expressed concern over the prolonged detention of two officials of the Inter Religious Council of Liberia by the Liberian government.

The two, secretary general David Kiazolu and his assistant Rev. Christopher Toe, were arrested on 28 December by the Liberian security personnel on suspicion of being collaborators of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), the organisations said on 4 January. LURD has been fighting the government of President Charles Taylor since 1998.

In a statement, the Center said if the government had reason to prosecute the two, then they should be charged and accorded "speedy trial" as provided for under the Liberian constitution.

The constitution prohibits the detention of anyone beyond two days without being charged and arraigned in court.

For the past year, the two had been holding consultative talks with LURD officials and other civil society groups in the Mano River Union basin on behalf of the Council aimed atfinding a peaceful solution to the Liberian conflict. The Mano River Union comprises of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

At the same time, the center also demanded a speedy trial for detained human rights advocate Aloysius Toe.

Toe, who is a Project Officer of the center and a critic of government human rights violations, has been in detention for two months on 'suspicion of being LURD collaborator'.

The Government said it reportedly found a LURD document in the home of Toe during a search of his premises by state security personnel.