Liberian Law Sanctions Armed Robbery as Capital Offence

In 2006, The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) helped draft recent legislation increasing the penalties for rape, including gang rape and assaults of children under the age of 18. With violence on the increase again the following has just made the news:

Monrovia, Liberia (Afrique en ligne), Monrovia - 25/07/2008- President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has signed into law an act making armed robbery, terrorism and hijacking capital offences.

The bicameral national legislature passed the controversial act a fortnight ago as daring armed gangs, including persons dressed in police uniforms and using as sault rifles, pistols, cutlasses, knives and other sharp weapons, suddenly escalated night attacks on community after community in Monrovia and its environs.

The act specifies that "following an armed robbery, the penalty for the convict, if death occurs, shall be death by hanging".

Meanwhile, human rights activists have expressed pessimism that the act making armed robbery a capital offence could face stiff challenges in terms of calling for the death penalty.

Liberians welcome UN Peacekeepers in 2003.
Okay, not that related to the story, but I didn't have
any pictures of armed robbery in Liberia(!).

But a statement from President Johnson-Sirleaf's office announcing the signing of the Act, said: "The President is fully cognizant that Liberia as a State Party is a signatory to the UN's Second Optional Protocol aiming at the abolition of death penalty commonly known as the signing of the 'Second Optional protocol'.

"However she shares the view and responded to the appeal of the majority of the people for a robust response to the increasing level of crime involving robberie s that include physical assault, rape and murder by robbers who attack innocent c itizens, thereby creating panic and a confidence crisis in the society."

Nevertheless, the statement said, "the president is committed to revisiting the (armed robbery) Act for possible amendment as soon as the situation is brought fully under control and sustainable peace is assured".