Bong Lawmaker Wants Increase in Defense Budget

As Liberia  is grappling with the problem of securing its  borders particularly  with neighboring Cote De Voire, the chairman of the house’s standing committee on National Defense Representative George Mulbah has underscored the need for a significant increment in the current budget of the Ministry of National Defense.

Speaking on a local radio station in Gbarnga recently, the Bong County lawmaker emphasized making satisfactory allotment to the Ministry will ensure the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is fully capacitated to keep the country’s borders intact amidst the growing fragile security situation along the Ivorian border.

Representative Mulbah indicated the recent situation on the Liberian-Ivorian border is sufficient to support his argument that the security sector needs more budgetary allocation especially when the UN mission is gradually scaling down for Liberians to take charge of their own security.

The Bong County lawmaker said the protracted civil conflict that ravaged the entire country created a huge setback for many Liberians as such; Liberians are no longer willing to follow similar path with the return of peace and stability through the concerted efforts of the international community.

The House Defense Committee Chair noted that the protection of the country’s territorial integrity remains a collective responsibility of all Liberians as such the state security forces also need the backing of the citizens through their elected leaders.

The Bong Legislative Caucus wants government to be robust in dealing with the issue obtaining along its border with Cote De Voire to ensure those probablely responsible for the cross border attacks in that country face the full weight of the law under a due process.

Meanwhile, Representative Mulbah says the recent situation in Ivory Coast is giving increasing need for the establishment of a special war crime court in Liberia to prosecute those who committed heinous crimes during the course of the war to send a caveat that the culture of impunity no longer has a place of comfort in the new dispensation.

He claimed there are people moving around freely with horrible records from the Liberian civil conflict and they need to face trial for their alleged role in the war.