By: Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
A Liberian civil society coalition, under the banner “WE THE PEOPLE”, has issued a scathing public statement accusing the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) of orchestrating what it describes as assassination attempts against Mulbah K. Morlu, chairman of the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), lead organizer of a planned July 17 peaceful protest.
The group claims that two recent incidents, one near the Duport Road traffic light on May 5, and another in Paynesville’s Joe Bar area on May 7, were coordinated efforts to silence Mr. Morlu ahead of a major civic resistance movement scheduled for mid-July. In both cases, unknown individuals allegedly attempted to block or gain access to Morlu’s vehicle, with at least one of the suspects reportedly seen armed.
“No bullet, no secret agent, and no criminal proxy can silence a movement whose time has come,” the group declared in a strongly worded statement. They further accused the Boakai administration of crossing “a dangerous red line,” citing allegations of illegal surveillance, abuse of constitutional power, and targeting of peaceful activists.
WE THE PEOPLE warned that the administration’s alleged actions reflect the rise of an “emerging dictatorship” and called on Liberians to resist what they described as creeping authoritarianism. The statement also demanded immediate government reforms, including restoring tenured public servants, raising civil servant salaries to a minimum of US$500, and ending state interference in judicial and legislative matters.
No official response has yet been issued by the Boakai administration, the NSA, or the LNP. However, the allegations are likely to intensify political tensions in a country still navigating its post-war democratic transition.
Despite what the group called “cowardly tactics,” WE THE PEOPLE insists the July 17 protest will proceed as planned. “We will not compromise. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced,” they stated.
A Liberian civil society coalition, under the banner “WE THE PEOPLE”, has issued a scathing public statement accusing the government of assassination attempts against Mulbah K. Morlu.
