Tiawon Gongloe, a leading Liberian human rights lawyer was arrested without charges on April 24 and believed to have been beaten while in custody. Amnesty International believes that his treatment was precipitated solely by his human rights advocacy. Constance Marlatt (Toronto) wrote asking the Liberian government to investigate those allegations of maltreatment and act to ensure the safety of Mr. Gongloe and other lawyers.
Tiawon Gongloe was discharged from hospital on 1 May 2002. The police put him in the charge of Archbishop Michael Francis, a prominent advocate of human rights and he was subsequently hospitalised for the injuries he received while in custody. Dato Param Cumaraswamy, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers advises that Liberian lawyers are in need of assistance.
