Lawyer will 'Put Liberia Government on Trial' if Ebola Carrier Prosecuted (the Analyst, Liberia)
"We know too well the trail of the countless displays of wholesale impunity, complicity, neglect and abuses that have occurred recently and over the years under the watchful eyes of this government. The list is endless. ... I have said repeatedly that we continue to commit moral sin and ethical transgression against the poor and weak. ... We ignore their needs and demands, we reward their abusers, turn a blind eye to the theft and abuse that deprive them of basic social services including health care, yet we are anxious to punish them, even before we gather all the facts. This must stop! ... We must announce measures that will reassure our population and give them hope rather than rush to judgment."
-- Former Public Works Minister and Human Rights Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is
leading countless other Liberians foaming with rage over the "exportation"
of Ebola to the United States. Perhaps the rage of people against Thomas Eric
Duncan derives from the fact that he is the second Liberian to do so, the first
being Patrick Sawyer who took the virus to Nigeria. They believe this impugns the
image of a country already entering the Guinness
Book of Records as having the highest number of Ebola fatalities.
Thus, madam president, or perhaps her government, thinks
Duncan has committed an "unpardonable" crime for which he will be
prosecuted if he recovers. Legal experts debate the reasoning behind a prosecution
of Duncan - and whether he knowingly took Ebola to a country doing everything
humanly possible to help Liberia overcome the menace.
Meanwhile, former Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods
has announced he is willing to provide a legal defense for Thomas Eric Duncan -
President Sirleaf's culprit.
Samuel Kofi Woods, a former minister of public works and human rights lawyer,
says he is ready to mount a legal defense of Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian who
is the first person diagnosed with Ebola on U.S. soil. Liberian officials, including
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
A human rights lawyer and former minister, Samuel Kofi Woods
said he would "respond positively to any request for legal representation if
the government of Liberia decides to prosecute him."
Though during the current epidemic Duncan is the first
person to develop symptoms outside Africa, another Liberian, Patrick Sawyer,
was the first to take the virus abroad to the populous confederation of
Nigeria. He later died.
The foreheads of Liberians again furrowed when it was
reported that another local man was diagnosed with Ebola in the United States.
The latest development has put Liberians on edge for the image of the country
spreading across the globe, particularly after a decade and half of civil
conflict that badly isolated the country.
Furious over the situation, some Liberians, including
President Sirleaf, have said that Duncan is worthy of
criminal prosecution. During his recent visit to Atlanta to speak at a forum
organized by the Carter Center and Emory University's Schools of Ethics and
International Development, Woods, in responding to questions from Liberians, said
he would provide a legal defense for the ailing Duncan if asked.
As to whether he deliberately misled authorities when he
answered "no" to questions about his prior contact with Ebola
patients, Woods told an anxious crowd of Liberians and Americans that it is premature
at this stage to discuss innocence or guilt. He said right now he would rather focus
on proper legal representation and Duncan's right to a free and fair trial and due
process.
"This is also not to justify any action of Mr. Duncan,"
he said and added: "At the appropriate time and when necessary, we will
review all of the factual circumstances and deal with the legal issues; not
sentiments, emotions and brinkmanship," Woods declared. He expressed hope
that the government's intention to prosecute the ailing Duncan - if he survives
and returns to Liberia - is not yet another move to pander to the international
community, particularly the U.S. government.
Conversely, Woods expressed another hope - that this
newfound desire and willingness to prosecute is the dawn of an era in which impunity
would end and respect for rule of law would begin - passed cases of neglect
would be addressed.
Woods proceeded to describe the government's response to the
Ebola epidemic as "woefully inadequate and disjointed," emphasizing
that in the event the government proceeds with this case, "we will
assemble the best legal team to put the Liberian government on trial for
failing the people of Liberia, rather than Mr. Duncan, a victim of institutional
neglect."
"We know too well the trail of the countless displays
of wholesale impunity, complicity, neglect and abuses that have occurred
recently and over the years under the watchful eyes of this government,"
the former Public Works minister stressed. "The list is endless."
"I have said repeatedly that we continue to commit
moral sin and ethical transgression against the poor and weak," he said,
indicating that it is the poor, weak and powerless who are vulnerable to the
caprices of Liberian governments.
He stated further: "We ignore their needs and demands,
we reward their abusers, turn a blind eye to the theft and abuse that deprive
them of basic social services including health care, yet we are anxious to
punish them, even before we gather all the facts. This must stop!"
Woods noted that the situation in Liberia is primarily a
health emergency and that priority must be given to health experts so they can
deal with the situation. "What has been the response to assure Liberians
and the world that we are serious? Have we conducted the relevant testing,
contact tracing, isolated those who came in contact with Mr. Duncan and invoked
health regulations?
"We must announce measures that will reassure our
population and give them hope rather than rush to judgment. This is the mistake
we continue to make by being overzealous and giving in to the desires of the
ego."
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Woods also maintained that Ebola is a global tragedy that
requires urgent and decisive global action. He noted that Ebola has no border,
sees no race, color or religion. "It is a ferocious enemy seeking to
devour the human race and it can only be stopped by the collective action of
everyone," he said.
Woods then reiterated his appeal for a more sustained effort
to eradicate the virus. Measures he suggested included designing and developing
a contemporary comprehensive health plan and strategy, upgrading Liberia's
antiquated health system, and reviewing, realigning and keeping track of how
donor assistance is utilized. He recommend more
treatment centers and better access and ensure quick testing and diagnosis. He
also highlighted the need for providing the population with Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE's) to enable them to care for
relatives, clean and disinfect their environments and protect themselves as
they await for healthcare workers, amongst others.
He has commended the international community for its support
- but asked form yet more urgent action. He praised President Obama for "pledging
whatever federal resources were necessary to treat Mr. Duncan and ensure that
the virus will not spread."
