Liberia Watch for Human Rights

Liberia Watch for Human Rights

In 2001 Amnesty International noted that "Thompson Ade-Bayor is Director of the non-governmental human rights organization Liberia Watch for Human Rights which published a news release on 7 September criticising government security forces and calling them unconstitutional. He went into hiding on 8 September when the Liberian government publicly announced that he was wanted for questioning about the news release. Fearing for his own safety if the authorities found him in hiding, Thompson Ade-Bayor presented himself on 13 September to the non-governmental Justice and Peace Commission who then apparently accompanied him to the police station. There are unconfirmed reports that he has been charged with sedition.

"As he was arrested, Thompson Ade-Bayor publically reiterated that he stood by the statements made in the news release. The Chief of Police, Paul Mulbah, has stated that he will be transparent but drastic in dealing with the case.

"Amnesty International is calling on the Liberian authorities to ensure that, while in detention, Thompson Ade-Bayor has full access to legal counsel, relatives and independent medical care and is officially and promptly informed of the reasons for his detention and any charges against him." [1]

In a later report, Amnesty noted that "Due to international and national pressure Thompson Ade-Bayor, the Director of Liberia Watch for Human Rights, was released from detention on 20 September. He was released after his lawyer filed a writ of habeas corpus." [2]

Funding

Have received grants from the NED in:

• 1994 - "to conduct a series of disarmament and demobilization workshops in rural and urban communities and schools; and to establish chapters to help mediate community disputes on an ongoing basis."
• 1995 - "Liberia Watch for Human Rights received renewed Endowment support to establish offices and conduct workshops on disarmament and demobilization in five Liberian counties. Workshops will generally last several days and will be held in schools, displaced persons centers, and refugee camps. They will target the entire population, including community and military leaders, combatants, women and children. Workshops will focus on fundamental human rights and the mechanisms available to protect them, the importance of disarmament and demobilization, and the foundations of a democratic society, such as justice and accountability from elected representatives. (9/95)"
• 1997 - "Liberia Watch for Human Rights will hold two three-day workshops in Monrovia, Buchanan, Tubmanburg, and Senji, where it has branches. The workshops will promote democracy, human rights disarmament, and reintegration, and nation-building. Liberia Watch will also continue its newsletter as well as ongoing human rights monitoring and legal aid."
• 2004 - "To raise awareness of fundamental rights and promote advocacy, education and documentation of human rights in Liberia. Liberia Watch will conduct human rights workshops and sponsor street theatre and cultural performances on human rights issues. Liberia Watch will also produce the Equal Rights and Justice radio program, publish a quarterly newsletter on human rights, distribute flyers and erect billboards promoting human rights."
• 2005 - "To reinforce Liberians' commitment to peaceful and transparent national elections and to educate community members on democracy and good governance. LWHR will conduct four civic education workshops in rural areas of Liberia through its branch offices in Bassa, Cape Mount, Lofa, and Bomi Counties. LWHR will also produce a weekly radio program on civic education and human rights, erect a billboard on government reform, and distribute posters on human rights, elections, and good governance." [3]