UN Envoy in Liberia welcomes the visit of Secretary of State Clinton to the National Police Training Academy
MONROVIA, Liberia, August 17, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — During a visit to Liberia, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has reiterated her strong support for the West African nation’s continuing efforts to consolidate peace and reconciliation after a devastating 14-year civil war. “I am very supportive of actions that will lead to the peace, reconciliation and unity of Liberia,” she said, and urged the people of Liberia to continue to speak out against corruption.
Mrs. Clinton referred to Liberia as a model of a successful transition from lawlessness to democracy, and despair to hope. “We think Liberia is on the right track, as difficult as that might be,” she said at a news conference in Monrovia. While addressing a joint session of Liberia’s National Legislature, she reminded lawmakers that while hard fought elections are part of a democracy, opponents must close ranks when the election is over.
Visiting the National Police Training Academy (NPTA), where members of the new Liberia National Police (LNP) are being trained with financial and technical support from the United Nations and international partners, including the United States, Mrs. Clinton acknowledged that training professional police officers was one of the hardest jobs to do in post-conflict situations.
“But you have been given some of the best training available. And it is important that you recognize the investment that has been made in you not only by your fellow Liberians, but by people who believe in the role you will play in securing a positive, prosperous, peaceful, progressive future,” Mrs. Clinton said. “For too long in Liberia, the police instilled fear. Today, you must fight fear. For too long, the police undermined the rule of law. Today, you must uphold it,” she urged the new police recruits. Mrs. Clinton praised the women who have joined this year’s training class and those who have come before stressing that it has been found around the world that women police officers are essential, along with their male counterparts, to provide the stability of peace and security.
Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj thanked Secretary of State Clinton for visiting the National Police Training Academy and pointed out that the United States has been a “crucial partner” in the efforts to shape a national police force “that serves the people of Liberia with professionalism and dignity.” She noted that the United States has contributed over 100 UN police advisors including a Senior Advisory Team, which has brought expertise to the LNP’s development at the strategic level. “The US is also taking the lead in the development of the LNP Emergency Response Unit”, she added.
Special Representative Løj highlighted the challenges facing the Liberian National Police. “Even the best trained police officer needs means of transportation; means of communication; a police station to work from; a place to live – just to name a few of the logistical needs. Without that they will not be able to function. Without that they will not be able to respond to crime incidents and thus be able to gain the trust and confidence of the community they serve.”
Stressing that the development of the LNP, other security institutions and the whole rule of law sector is indispensable for sustainable peace in Liberia, Ms. Løj hoped that “the men, women and children in Liberia can count on the continued support of the United States in this endeavour.”
Since the restructuring of LNP began in 2004, over 3,700 officers have been trained so far at the NPTA, including ERU officers. A fourth class of 80 recruits is currently undergoing training to qualify as Emergency Response Unit (ERU) officers. The Academy also conducts specialized training, such as traffic, criminal investigation, women and children protection; and senior and junior management training. Currently, 14 per cent of all LNP officers are female.
SOURCE
Mission of UN in Liberia
