IN THE LAST three two months or so, the name of Grand Gedeh has been in the news, not for the good reasons but bad ones. The very pinnacle of justice is being trampled right in the face of our people we expect to stand up to injustice. It is said that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. But for Grand Gedeans who claim to seek the interest and protect each other could not vigorously fight for a minor whose entire future is in bleak mode.
RIGHT IN THE bowel of the County – in the Konobo District’s village town of Billabo – a 13-year old rape victim is being held away from the public. Conditions about the victim and her nearly four-month old innocent baby girl are unknown currently. Previously, she was sick with a rather deadly “fistula” disease, “an abnormal, tube-like connection that forms between two organs or vessels that are lined with epithelial cells. Fistulas are generally the result of a disease condition…” It causes an inflammatory bowel condition. As a result of the disease, it was reported that the rape victim passed stools and urinated excessively. That is what happens when the virginity of a 13-year old is violated and yet an unknown adult impregnates her.
EVEN MORE APPALLING is that the girl was removed from a hospital in Tappita, Nimba County and taken to a remote village where treatment and medications are non-existent. Just for the sake of covering a crime, some people willingly exposed a minor to possible and health hazard. The removal of the girl from a medical institution and taken to the village to be treated with herb defies logic. But all this was a scheme of things to cover up – cover up for Konobo District Representative Morias Waylee, who until now continues to deny ever having sexual intercourse with the 13-year old or even knowing or seeing her before.
DENIALS FROM WAYLEE does not interest us the slightest. There are genuine concerns why he is not accepting his responsibilities, if he actually did impregnate the victim. He fear of going to jail and ruining his own reputation are at the peak of his worries. But come to think of it that it is not only his reputation that is more important. The County and the district he represents have reputation that must be protected as well. More than that, if he did have sex with the victim and impregnate her, he should have known that he made the choice and he must own up to the consequences of his choice. This is simply opportunity cost, as economist may say. He ate his cake and cannot still claim to have it.
OUR NEEDLE IS pointed this time at the parents of the 13-year old rape victim. They are the ones making this the case harder by their action to shield the victim away from the media and other investigators. Their action is unacceptable and wrong. They are impeding justice for the girl. Perhaps they don’t see it that way. They may think they are doing Rep. Waylee good by trying as hard as they could to sweep this heinous crime under the rug. They may think the little pecuniary things they have received is all to it. In fact, they believe by protecting somebody against their own daughter is okay. That is not okay. They must face the full weigh of the law and be prosecuted to use their example to deter others.
WE ARE TALKING about a minor here! She is also a Grand Gedean and all citizens of the county must stand up for her. Better still, she is a Liberian and it is the responsibility of the Liberian government and all law enforcement agencies must not just protect her, but shield the girl and her baby from harm’s way. Her daughter and her life are in danger right now. She and her daughter could die from sickness, or…The Government of Liberia must move swiftly to bring Rep. Waylee to answer questions from law enforcement investigators. We cannot allow this to be swept under the rug.
HERE IS OUR promise: We will not let this out of our sight one moment. We will continue to speak out until the victim gets justice – now or in the future. This is our pledge.
