The Capital City of Liberia, Monrovia, was rocked by violent scenes of turmoil, including a fierce clash between stone-throwing supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and State security using teargas, on Thursday.
The CDC accused State Security of raiding its party headquarters but the Government’s Chief Spokesman refuted such a claim and said an organized LDEA raid of ghettos and notorious drug dealers operating in a small town community behind the CDC headquarters was being carried out.
The trend of clash between supporters of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) has shifted with multiple accounts emanating from diverse sources.
Verity News hinted that the clash began early morning hours of Thursday, August 22, 2024, when officers of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency had reportedly gone to raid a property behind the CDC headquarters, believed to be a drug cartel, after receiving a search and seizure warrant from the Court.
The clash between LNP officers and some supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) continued from morning to evening hours on Thursday leaving a lot of Liberians concerned.
The situation earlier appeared far from ending even after a brief intervention geared towards a potential truce by Speaker Fonati Koffa and other party leaders of CDC was done, and no results were yielded.
It escalated with police responding to stone-throwing protesters/partisans with teargas.
There are not much reports of injuries, arrests, but traffic jam on a major economic corridor via Tubman Boulevard was severely observed.
The Coalition for Democratic Change has accused State security of raiding its headquarters but State security denied it and said they had gone to raid a ghetto and a notorious drug dealer operating in a small town community behind CDC’s headquarters.
At the ground of the incident, former Representative and stalwart of CDC, Acarous Gray, threatened a massive blockade of major roads through daily protests if police officers refused to back off from CDC headquarters.
In addition, Former President George Weah expressed frustration: “We Are Shocked”.
The former Liberian Leader expressed shock and dismay over what he termed as the police’s decision to open fire on innocent civilians near his party’s headquarters and in the surrounding areas.
In an interview with journalists following the incident, Former President Weah condemned the actions of the police, describing them as a threat to peace and a question mark over the UP-led administration’s ability to govern effectively.
“The UP administration claims they know how to govern, but they are not exhibiting tolerance. Why open fire on innocent civilians? As early as 2 AM, they started attacking,” former President Weah stated.
“This is not good governance. We are a nation of rule and law. This needs to stop. We demand answers.”
Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph on the other hand expressed dismay over the tension between the partisans and the police.
“I am deeply concerned by the recent and highly alarming incident in which securities forces unlawfully entered the headquarters of the [Opposition Political Party] CDC without a court order. This blatant violation of legal procedures not only undermines the rule of law but also threatens the very foundation of our democracy.”, the lawmaker narrated on his official social media.
According to him, actions of such are unacceptable in a country that prides itself on upholding justice and respecting the rights of all political entities, regardless of their affiliation.
“The unauthorized entry into the premises of a legitimate political party is a grave infringement on their rights and an attack on the democratic process itself”, he added.
The Montserrado County Senator continued: “This reckless act has understandably led to disturbances across the county as citizens rightfully express their outrage over this abuse of power. I condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms. The use of state machinery to intimidate or suppress political opposition is a dangerous precedent that should never be tolerated in a free and democratic society”
Another opposition lawmaker, Senator Nathaniel F. McGill of the CDC reacted to the situation via his social media indicating: We are outraged by the ongoing brazen attack on the CDC headquarters since last night by State security forces. This is an unacceptable act of aggression that threatens the very fabric of our democracy and the rights of political parties to operate without fear of violence or intimidation”.
He stated that the use of state p ower to suppress major political opposition is a dangerous precedent that cannot be tolerated, noting that this act of violence is not just an attack on the CDC; but an attack on the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy that every Liberian holds dear.
“We demand immediate accountability for those responsible for this cowardly assault. The government must cease using state security forces as tools of oppression against political rivals and instead, focus on the real work of uniting our country and improving the lives of its citizens.”
He termed it as reckless and unjustifiable action, something he believes has strengthened their resolve to “resist “any and all attempts to silence opposition voices”.
“We will not be intimidated, and we will not stand by as our democracy is undermined”.
The Senator who is also under sanction by the U.S. government however called on the international community to intervene, claiming that the UP government is on the verge of derailing the high-earned peace and stability they had built and Kept during their rule.
Highlights: Government position (Minister of Information)
Meanwhile, the government of Liberia has reacted to the situation, terming it “a calculated attempt by some of our friends to engage in activities that undermine the peace and economic stability of the country including disrupting free movement”.
In its regular Thursday Press Briefing, GOL through the Ministry of Information said the General Auditing Commission, an independent body, is conducting an audit to make sure there’s an end to impunity in Liberia.
The information minister believes CDC is creating scenes to avoid the prosecution of ringleaders of the party after various audit reports have been released, indicting them of alleged corruption and other fraudulent acts.
“LACC is conducting an investigation. What do we see next? Press conferences, protests, and violence. They mobilized militants. As the investigation goes deeper, they are mobilizing militants to create chaos”, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah indicated.
The Minister at the same time clarified that the LDEA launched an operation that didn’t involve the CDC and was only targeted towards fighting drugs.
According to him, the fight against drugs remains a major challenge in the country, as such no area or political party will be exonerated when there is a suspicion of a drug cartel.
“The LDEA conducted a special operation around 5:00 am. A group of individuals emerged from CDC headquarters and attacked the police officers around J.R. Station where LDEA and LNP were continuing a drug raid after being resisted by some members of the community.”
The Minister told journalists that three police officers were wounded and public buses were attacked with some civil servants injured. They blocked the main road. The police had to step in. There was no attack on CDC headquarters.
“They led this country for 6 years. Their major vocation was protestation and acts of violence. This country was in chaos under them for 6 of them”, a response he made to the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change.
Addressing the press, the Minister of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism criticized former President Weah for refusing to make use of the opportunity given to him by the Liberian people in 2017.
” He had an opportunity to lead but he failed and squandered his opportunity. He has to stop creating anarchy in this country. We will not allow him as a government to do that.”, Minster Piah added.
