By: Moses Barshiel Sundaygar

June 19,2020

Monrovia, Liberia

Monrovia: A young Liberian and graduate of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University is urging the Government of Liberian through the Liberia National Police (LNP) to work with Article 18 section 18.8 of the panel law of Liberia to tackle the issue of rape in the country.

Mr. Christopher N. Vonziah’s perspective on the growing number of sexual violence against women and girls was contained in an open letter that was addressed to Hon. Patrick Sudue, Inspector General of Police. In his letter, Mr. Vonziah expressed dismay over the increasing waves of in descend dress code and partially naked acts carried out by young women in the country which he said is one of the paramount factors of the cause of sexual violence. He further stated that while in descend dressing remains a force to recon with, the use and free sales of alcoholic beverages on the Liberian market cannot go unseen as their usage indulges young people into the act of sexual harassment.

Read the full text of his letter below:

Col. Patrick T. Sudue
Inspector General of Police
Liberia National Police headquarters
Capitol Hill
Liberia

AN OPEN LETTER TO COL. PATRICK T. SUDUE

Dear Col. Patrick T. Sudue,
I acknowledged your request for my presence at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police through the police spokesman. However, While preparing myself to meet your team of investigators, we were all struck with this global pandemic which has taken away many lives across the globe.
Nevertheless, I’m hoping that our meeting takes place very soon.
I sincerely recognized your efforts at combating crimes and restoring social sanity throughout Liberia.
While I’m waiting for this interactive discussion, I want to draw your attention to a National dilemma that needs to be addressed with urgency.
Just a year ago, the number of rape cases was recorded around 972 across the country and presently, it has surpassed 1,200. This number will grow because we seem not to tackle the root causes of rape.

I want to kindly refer you to chapter 18 section 18.8 (Indecent exposure) of the penal law of Liberia which state that “A person has committed a second degree misdemeanor if, with a purpose to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, including the actor, he/she exposes his genitals or her vagina, or perform any other lewd act under circumstances in which he/she knows his/her conduct is likely to be observed by a person who would be offended or alarmed thereby”.

It is sad to say that this part of our penal law is not being observed at all in our country. We have girls and women who dress indecently at all times exposing almost their entire body.

When God made laws, he crafted it in a way that the breaking of one law will affect the other.
I know in your mind you are thinking that chapter 18 section 18.8 is not an affirmative defense for anyone to rape. Though it cannot be used as an affirmative defense but it is a major factor that is contributing to most rapes that are occurring in our country.

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A man can carry on rape with his penis only when he has erection and the act of having erection is an involuntary action that is controlled by the mind. We can move our hands, legs and other part of our bodies voluntarily but we cannot erect our penis voluntarily. Before the penis gets erected, the eyes must have either seen something nude or the mind must have meditated on something nude that have caused the erection and except for a natural phenomenon that only occurs during the morning hours.

Today, it is very easy for the sexual appetite of a man to arouse as soon as he steps outside of his house because he is surrounded by women who are practically naked all in the name of being sexy.
At times, rape may not be carried out on the person who has caused the public nuisance but it can create a picture in the mind of the actor that led him to commit the act on another person who is in fact decently dressed.
Let me share my personal experience with you so that you will get more insight on what men go through on a daily basis.

My class ended at 6pm and I decided to hurriedly walk on broad street to catch a taxi back home. On my way, my eyes caught sight of a girl who was not wearing any bra to cover her breasts except for the thin blouse she wore. Her breasts were all exposed and very disturbing. I froze and I had to battle with that picture all the way home. If an evangelist like me can struggle to withstand such temptation, then what more about a man who doesn’t care whether he sins?
I’m only narrating this story to tell you how grievous it has become in our days. In the 70s, 80s and 90s, rapes were minimized because most women dressed decently. In some Arab countries, there are almost zero rape cases because the women have been indoctrinated to covering their bodies entirely. Though some may see it as awkward, but it helps a lot.

Another factor that is also contributing to this dilemma is the free sale of alcoholic beverages throughout the country. Alcoholic beverages are sold to children in the age range of 12-17 these days. The Government has a very poor monitoring and evaluating system when it comes to observing who these products are being sold to.
The Government has even become the major factor in the sale of alcoholic beverages on a large scale across the country.
The advertisement of alcoholic beverages on government TV and radios has drawn even the interest of the kid who follows the station daily.

For reference, Ghana has banned the advertisement of alcoholic beverages on their TV stations because it was causing more harm than good to their youthful generation.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) effective 1st January 2018, banned both advertisement and Live Presenter Mention(LPM)of alcoholic beverages in the media.
This directive, the FDA said was to protect children and prevent them from being lured into alcoholism at their young age.

In every society, the government is one of the major factors of influence for any individual behavior.
Alcohol is a stimulant! Alcohol stimulates our sexual drives and increases our willingness to have sex with anyone regardless of the age.

My 2019 thesis survey at the Monrovia central prison recorded that about 60% of the convicts in prison for rape have carried out the crime of rape under the influence of alcohol.
I hope you are realizing the urgency for the need of crafting plans quickly to tackle these offenses against public morality.
Below are some recommendations you could work with if you deem them necessary.

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1. There is a need to enforce chapter 18 section 18.8 of the penal law of Liberia. In America, law enforcement generates more revenues than any sector of the government. Violators will also help our economy.
2. There is a need that you organize workshops and seminars in churches, schools and communities to educate citizens concerning the importance of the rule of law. People do not obey laws because they are afraid of punishment rather, people obey law when the law benefits their existence.
3. There is a need that the government is petition to stop the advertisement of alcoholic beverages on its radios and TV stations and also improve your monitoring system to know to whom these substances are being sold to.

With the above recommendations, I’m certain that if implemented properly, it will minimize the rape cases in the country.
I’m also ready to give my voluntary assistance in this fight.

As we all strive for a better tomorrow, it is my ardent prayer and hope that God continues to guide you and your good office.

Respectfully yours,
Christopher Neymar Vonziah
AA Criminal Justice Administration(Hon)
BA Criminal Justice Administration(Hon)