By P. Lincoln Nyanrue, [email protected]
Her story is one of the flagrant abuses meted against children in the small West African Country of Liberia, perpetrated by men whose ego and insatiable thirst for inordinate sex. A 13-year old rape victim’s story remains a mystery and it may take the heavy hands of the law and Government’s involvement to unravel.
The 13-year old and her “three-month old” baby remain shielded behind the traditional walls of the “Zoe Bush”, a taboo terrain no man ventures. An investigation trip deep inside Grand Gedeh’s Konobo District has so far yielded no fruit.
Grand Gedeh County electoral district #2’s representative Morias Tarwo Waylee is at the center of allegations that he had sex with the victim, impregnated her and the lad has long given birth to a baby boy.
Both the girl and her baby are hold-up in a Zoe Bush in between villages in the Glio-Twabo area of the Konobo District. Bilibo, her maternal birth place, is being visited by journalists to get a story that led to the victim’s impregnation. The girl is nowhere to be found.
Our correspondent who traveled to Bilibo for a total of four or five hours to the town said the Administrative headquarters of Glio/Twarbo is about 100 kilo meters away from Zwedru, capital of Grand Gedeh.
Some citizens, mostly youths who spoke to our correspondent said the case has taking a traditional turned with the warning from town people that whoever speaks to media without the family’s approval will be penalized through any other means.
With the deplorable road condition leading to that part of Grand Gedeh County, it takes journalists time and efforts in galvanizing resources in following developments emanating from that area.
Our correspondent also said all efforts in contacting the Rep. Waylee proved futile. Rep. Waylee has reportedly asked for two weeks excuse from the House of Representatives. It is said the Representative told his colleagues that he was expected to attend a burial rites of a deceased family member. The family member was not name, and our correspondent could not confirm which relative has died recently.
The hush-hush has not stopped some citizens, who asked for anonymity. One individual said, “The victim is here in Bilibo with a new born baby in a sickly condition,” but added that everyone has been warned by girl’s mother who is one of the traditionalists in the chiefdom.
No one is allowed to explain to people about what transpired between the girl and her “uncle” (Waylee) in Monrovia. Some locals said she has not been seen for few days prior to our correspondent’s arrival there over the weekend.
Information also collected indicates that the little girl went under operation at the Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital during delivery. She is said to be suffering from what doctors there described as “Fistula” (something the locals call “peepee and pupu sickness”).
Our sources said claim that Representative Waylee has agreed to take responsibility of the teenager’s baby and medication. There is no independent confirmation as yet.
The girl is believed to be a niece to the Representative and was staying with him in Monrovia where he allegedly held sexual intercourse with her and impregnating here.
Rep. Morias Tarwo Waylee got elected during the 2011 general elections to represent the Konobo Electoral District #2 of Grand Gedeh County, after practicing few years as lawyer at the Zwedru Magisterial Court.
He has since made a public declaration that he will not contest again as representative but to return to the county and establish a law firm and engage in agriculture activities so as to contribute to community development.
A local newspaper quoted the 13-year old rape victim recently as saying that she was told by her mother and father not to say anything to anybody. The paper reported that she was seen sitting in the Bilibo village with her 3-month old baby on her laps. She was whisked away by her mother and since been shielded away.
Investigation continues.
