Liberia's army on Saturday publicly executed a soldier who was convicted of murdering a civilian he believed was a rebel.
Gen. Hezekiah Bowen, the chief of staff of Liberia's armed forces, told soldiers looking on that Pvt. Tarwaley Mannie was an example of what would happen to troops caught looting and killing."Take his death as a warning, because we will not stop at anything to instill discipline," said Bowen.
"My death is a setup," Mannie, 26, told reporters before soldiers blindfolded him, put him in the back of a blue pickup truck and drove him to a beach at the Barclay Training Center, where he was killed.
Mannie, whose wrists were bound with green potato vines, was taunted by children running behind the truck. Some yelled, "You're going to die! You're going to die!"
Hundreds of people watched as nine soldiers fired three rounds at Mannie, who was tied to a post.
Some spectators turned to one another saying, "This is a good example." Others were shaken and broke into tears.
Mannie's father, Kwiah Mannie, admonished his son as he was being led to his death.
"I advised you against joining the army," he said. "You didn't listen and this is what you have got."
He then turned to the crowd and said, "Nothing I can do. He has violated the law of his organization."
The Court Martial Board found Mannie guilty Friday of murdering Mohammed Kenneh in late October.