Monrovia – For the second time in a month, the Liberia National Police (LNP) and supporters of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) have had a violence clash, causing chaos around the party’s headquarters for most of Thursday, August 22.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
Thursday violence follows the August 5, 2024 violent incident after the LNP deployed riot police a stone’s throw away from the headquarters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in anticipation of a series of planned protests across Monrovia.
For most part of Thursday, August 22, 2024, the police fired tear gas at supporters of CDC, while supporters of CDC threw stones at the police, causing chaos and leaving many people to panic as they fled in fear for their lives.
Former President George Weah in a statement 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.
Weah: “Police a threat to peace”
Speaking to FrontPage Africa following the police raid on the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) national headquarters on Tubman Boulevard in Congo Town, 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.”
Gov’t denies using lethal weapon
The Ministry of Information late Thursday released a statement, saying an attempt for officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to execute a search and seizure warrant at an identified property in the Small-Town Community, behind the CDC party’s headquarters early Thursday morning, the LDEA received resistance from residence of Small-Town Community.
The LDEA personnel, however, pulled out of the community and the National Police were able to swiftly intervene to restore law and order, the government said.
The government further stated that no lethal weapon was used and that the LDEA search and seizure execution was not intended for, nor did it target the headquarters of the CDC.
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. This is not good governance. We are a nation of rule and law. This needs to stop. We demand answers.
George Manneh Weah, former president of Liberia
It added: “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.
Several footage from the scenes of the violent clash between riot police and CDC supporters early Thursday morning showed party supporters being forcefully detained by riot police.
A particularly disturbing video shows police dragging a supporter from within the party’s headquarters amidst thick clouds of tear gas. Another video shows a lady taking a beating as she was stripped out of her blouse and forcefully detained by the LNP.
On another front, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fonati Koffa, stopped by the scene on his way to work to de-escalate the situation. However, his efforts proved futile as he was unable to persuade CDC partisans to stop throwing stones or to stop the police from firing tear gas.
Amidst the violence, Speaker Koffa returned to his vehicle and left the scene.
Also, members of the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) arrived at the scene to help calm tensions, but the situation continued to escalate, forcing the women to leave out of fear for their safety.
CDC Secretary General Jefferson Koijee speaking to journalists after the situation subsided said: “Mr. Baokai is determined to destroy the 21-year interrupted peace of our country. Nobody can show here that they have done more than what the CDC has done to maintain the peace of our country up to this time, but be not mistaken, the CDC’s tolerance as a weakness.”
Koijee added: “We want to say to you, that today what transpired here would be the first and last. We keep alarming, so the world can know that Cidicians (members of CDC) mean well for this country, for 12 years we have maintained peace and for six years in the government, we maintain peace.”
According to the CDC Secretary General, his party is not comfortable with the presence of the police around the party’s 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 Joint Security affirms its commitment to the rule of law and protection of our democratic principles.”
Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, Minister of Information
“We understand that there is a plan of evasion today, and let the police be aware that we will sleep here tonight, and we will do all in our means to protect ourselves. The CDC means no harm, stop this provocation, to come and spill blood here, I can tell you, this is not a situation we can take lightly,” Koijee said.
International Community Silent, Says Samuel Tweah
Also, former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah in a statement posted on social media complained that the international community is silent as state police are turning into a manhunt thereby using political power to demoralize political opponents by illegally and physically breaking into premises of the headquarters of the CDC.
“And all this is happening under the loud silence of the international community whose contribution helped knit Liberia’s post conflict social fabric. It’s time to call President Boakai and UP minions to order long before events degenerate beyond control. Let it be clear that political witch-hunts and manhunts cannot weaken and daunt the Mighty CDC. These diabolical tactics will only harden the resolve and will of the CDC to unite and confront the menace from the UP,” former Finance Minister Tweah said.
He added: “In the coming days, I will be returning to the country to legally rubbish a bogus witch-hunt launched against my person for political purposes and to join my colleagues in mounting the fiercest opposition to the collapse and paralysis of governance the country is now witnessing.”
Demand Accountability
Adding up, the head of CDC Legislative Caucus and Senator of Margibi County Nathaniel McGill said his party demands justice adding that the use of state power to suppress major political opposition is a dangerous precedent that cannot be tolerated.
According to him, the 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,” Senator McGill said.
He added: “This reckless and unjustifiable action has only strengthened our resolve to resist all attempts to silence opposition voices. We will not be intimidated, and we will not stand by as our democracy is undermined.”
“We call on the International community, U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia, ECOWAS, United Nations, European Union in Liberia, and others to take urgent notice of these situations and stand with the Liberian people in condemning this abuse of power,” he added.
