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Liberian shock at grave looting | Liberian shock at grave looting |
(41 minutes later) | |
Liberians visiting graveyards on National Decoration Day have been shocked by the desecration of tombs. | Liberians visiting graveyards on National Decoration Day have been shocked by the desecration of tombs. |
The second Wednesday of March is a national holiday when thousands of people clean and paint the graves of relatives in the war-ravaged country. | The second Wednesday of March is a national holiday when thousands of people clean and paint the graves of relatives in the war-ravaged country. |
But many have found the graves empty as caskets and railings have been looted by robbers for resale. | But many have found the graves empty as caskets and railings have been looted by robbers for resale. |
An inspection at the main cemetery in the capital ahead of the holiday found more than 2,000 graves were empty. | An inspection at the main cemetery in the capital ahead of the holiday found more than 2,000 graves were empty. |
'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
"I thought the end of war in Liberia was meant to end the madness," graveyard visitor Prince Sahn told the BBC, referring to 14-year civil war which ended in 2003. | "I thought the end of war in Liberia was meant to end the madness," graveyard visitor Prince Sahn told the BBC, referring to 14-year civil war which ended in 2003. |
This wicked act by people who get no hearts to feel for those who have departed the world Widow Sunday-ma Chea | This wicked act by people who get no hearts to feel for those who have departed the world Widow Sunday-ma Chea |
"But if you see living human beings behaving this way you wonder where are we headed as a nation." | "But if you see living human beings behaving this way you wonder where are we headed as a nation." |
Eddie Yalloh, a maintenance worker at Monrovia's Palm Grove Cemetery, said thieves break into the graveyard at night, open the tombs "and steal just any items they can lay their hands on". | |
He said he has a team of seven whose job is to prepare new graves, not protect the old ones. | He said he has a team of seven whose job is to prepare new graves, not protect the old ones. |
"We are not able to stop criminals from coming here because we are not many and we are not police," he said. | "We are not able to stop criminals from coming here because we are not many and we are not police," he said. |
The cemetery was fenced last year to stop it being used as a criminal hide-out, but it has failed to keep the robbers out. | The cemetery was fenced last year to stop it being used as a criminal hide-out, but it has failed to keep the robbers out. |
"People under the cover of darkness walk out of here with caskets and other items on their heads," a 38-year old man, who resides near the cemetery, said. | "People under the cover of darkness walk out of here with caskets and other items on their heads," a 38-year old man, who resides near the cemetery, said. |
Monrovia City Mayor Ophelia Hoff-Setumah has visited the cemetery telling television reporters the acts were "unacceptable". | Monrovia City Mayor Ophelia Hoff-Setumah has visited the cemetery telling television reporters the acts were "unacceptable". |
"This wicked act by people who get no hearts to feel for those who have departed the world," said Sunday-ma Chea, an elderly woman inspecting the damaged tomb of her dead husband. | "This wicked act by people who get no hearts to feel for those who have departed the world," said Sunday-ma Chea, an elderly woman inspecting the damaged tomb of her dead husband. |
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