Amid recent riot between Partisans of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Police, an executive and former lawmaker of the former ruling party, Acarous Gray, claimed he prefers death to life in defense of his party.
This comes at the time when the Political Leader of the CDC, ex-President George Weah, has accused the Boakai-led administration of intolerance while alleging that State security opened fire on innocent civilians at his party’s headquarters.
But the the government’s chief spokesman, Min. Jerolinmek Piah, refuted Weah’s claim and warned him and his supporters to refrain from creating an atmosphere of anarchy and chaos.
In a dramatic statement during recent clashes between the Liberia National Police and CDC supporters, former Representative Acarous Moses Gray declared his willingness to face death over life and claimed the power to divide the national police force.
The remarks came in the wake of escalating tensions in which police and supporters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) were engaged in a heated standoff.
Gray’s comments, delivered during the confrontation, reflect the deepening political and social divisions currently gripping Liberia.
The statement underscores the height of a budding tension, with Gray’s assertion highlighting the intensity of the discord between political factions and law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the government of Liberia via the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has issued an official statement responding to the situation.
“Early this morning, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) in an attempt to execute a search and seizure warrant at an identified property in the Small-Town Community, around the Bernard Beach vicinity, received resistance from some community members that led to the LDEA personnel pulling out of the community”.
The Ministry in the release stated that as a result of the resistance, several LDEA personnel sustained injuries and are currently being treated at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
According to MICAT, after the LDEA pulled out, individuals believed to be members of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) blocked the free flow of traffic, setting roadblocks, lighting tires, and pelting stones at vehicles and pedestrians on Tubman Boulevard, near the party headquarters.
MICAT reports that several vehicles were damaged, and innocent citizens as well as law enforcement officers were injured by rocks thrown from the direction of the party headquarters.
“To restore law and order, the Liberia National Police (LNP) swiftly intervened. The Joint Security also states categorically that no lethal weapon was used”.
The Government clarifies that the LDEA search and seizure execution was not intended for, nor did it target the Headquarters of the CDC.
The Ministry headed by Jerolinmek Piah expressed the Joint Security’s commitment to the rule of law and protection of our democratic principles.
“The security forces will continue to perform their duties with professionalism and integrity, ensuring that individuals enjoy their rights in a safe environment.”, the release stated.
