The self-proclaimed advocate for the rights of gays and lesbians in Liberia, Mr. Leroy Archie Ponpon has claimed his detractors recently burnt down his mother’s house in an arson attack targeting him.

Speaking to this paper Monday, Mr.Ponpon blamed people, whom he claimed have been after him since he started his advocacy for gays and lesbians’ rights in the country, for the attack on his mother’s house.

“Since I started the advocacy for the legalization of gays and lesbians’ rights in Liberia, there have been series of attacks on me and my other campaigners forcing us to go into hiding,” Mr. Ponpon suggested.

He added: “Each time I am visiting my mother (Ma Krubo) at her 18th street residence in Sinkor, I see strange people tailing me. I am sure that they might have done the act because they have not been able to track me down.”

But when our reporter visited 18th street yesterday to ascertain the claim, a victim of the fire which burnt seven houses including one belong to Ponpon’s mother, Ansu Sherman (38) said the fire started from a coal pot left unattended beside a mat (wall) in one of the shacks.

“It was about 10:30 pm that night when the fire stated and spread on this side burning seven houses for 14 families rendering over 40 persons now homeless,” Ansu Sherman narrated.

Asked whether the victims suspected any foul play, Ansu Sherman, pointing at the debris, replied, “The fire started from one girl’s room down there from a coal pot which was placed beside the mat wall”.

The homeless fire victims are now appealing to government, philanthropists and NGOs for assistance to ameliorate their plight.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Relief Commission at the Ministry of Internal Affairs has distributed cash and relief items including rice, cooking oil utensils, mats and toiletries to several fire victims in Wroto Town,  Larkpazee and Kissi Camp at GSA Community.