Of Bicycles and City-Centered Justice

November 11th

Today there were two meetings. The morning meeting was with Oscar Bloh, the country director of Search for Common Ground. Search is a Washington-based agency that sets up radio studios in countries like Liberia which produce programming through local songs, soap operas, and talk shows which speak of conflict resolution and peace building. They then offer these programs to any radio station that wishes to air them.

Back in the 1990’s I was instrumental in getting Search to come to Sierra Leone. Oscar shared with me some current initiatives of Search that have gone beyond their “talking drum studio” work. One example was a Liberian replication of an outreach program to the Bicycle Raiders Associations in Sierra Leone (which I will visit for sure). These boys were former combatants and formed an association of bicyclists (I am not sure if it is taxis or pedal bikes) by organizing and creating a leadership council. But they still have the stigma of being former combatants and any run-in with the police means trouble. Search was able to bring the association together with the police, assist the BRA’s leadership in capacity building and non violent ways of dealing with conflicts. Search helped the police better understand where these boys were coming from and direct any issue to BRA leadership. Oscar has initiated similar outreaches here in Liberia.

Oscar mentioned some research that had been done regarding restorative justice, but it was done mostly through surveys, which resulted in preferences rather than qualitative research. In any case, Search sees the need to link the Truth and Reconciliation Commission work, which is about to be completed soon, with a restorative justice structure, traditional or otherwise, that can help heal the community.

We ended our discussion with an interesting insight. Most, if not all, post conflict rehabilitation and security efforts have always started in the cities, among “book people” and only later would there be consideration for regional or provincial outreach. Often by that time, money runs out, projects sunset and the will and energy to continue expire. It may just be comfortable or easier to start in the cities rather than going to the bush. So, in the end, the rural folks get marginalized and forgotten. Would a reverse strategy build better peace? We think so.

On my way back to the Catholic Secretariat we stopped in at the CRS/Liberia office. I briefly met Sean Gallagher, the country representative, to introduce myself and share my reason for being here. It was a short and helpful meeting.

In the afternoon I had an appointment with Councilor Tiawon S. Gongloe, the Solicitor General of Liberia in the Ministry of Justice. After the usual introductions and sharing of the purpose for my visit, he shared his concern that reconstituting restorative justice structures in post war Liberia would be challenging, if not impossible. With the death or flight of traditional leaders, many people have grown up without a sense of respect for others and responsibility that society once offered and taught to the young. There is no elder around to curb the actions of an ill mannered youth. And the challenge for the judiciary is the overcrowding of the prison system as it is now. He would welcome a structure to help deal with petty criminals, but he doesn’t see it coming soon.
I left him with the promise to keep him informed on our research through the Justice and Peace Commission of the Monrovia Archdiocese.

Also, yesterday I was interviewed on Radio Veritas. Again, I was able to speak to what we do at AFJN and particularly the project looking at restorative justice. I am not sure when it will be aired, but their radio station is quite good.