Catholic commission stands by report on forced labour and child captivity

The Liberian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) has defended its report alleging forced labour and child captivity in southeastern Liberia and said its joint investigation with a child advocacy group was done “without prejudice,” Star radio reported today. In a statement, the JPC said the report was not a campaign to discredit the government nor to discourage investment and aid to the country. Allegations of forced labour were published in the local media before its own investigation, it added. The JPC statement claimed that a government team sent to the southeast supported the allegations of forced labour and captivity and acknowledged “complaints” from residents in Pynes. The residents alleged that their relatives had been captured and taken to Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties by fighters and were not allowed to return. The JPC denied allegations by some government officials, referring to a statement by the labour minister during a news conference on 26 January, that the report was written in order to receive funds from international sources.