By Precious D. Freeman
Regular movement of people along the Japanese Freeway on Monday was seen disrupted after aggrieved residents of Chicken Soup Factory protested over what they termed as Liberian Electricity Corporation ( LEC) inability to complete the distribution of electricity to the entire community.
Over the time the communities in Monrovia and its environs had protested to send a message to the LEC about the need for electricity supplied in their community which sometimes results to something positive or negative.
Speaking to this paper on Monday in the Chicken Soup Factory Community, the head of the aggrieved residents Nathaniel Nah Davis said it was the refusal of the authority of LEC to provide current for the entire community that led to their protest.
According to Davis, they have had series of meetings with the management of the LEC and were only informed that the lack of materials was the reason and large portion of the community was left out, but after been informed by the authority that materials came in the country since December, the community has not been fully electrified.
Davis informed our reporter that for a while they have been marginalized and rejected by LEC and noted that their protest was not intended to burn tires or exhibit unlawful behavior but rather, to send message to LEC.
Davis who later got arrested by some policemen explained that they have their reason for which they were handcuffed, adding that they were peaceful and looking at the arrest as funny to him.
He furthered that the law is working actively and the reason of his arrest will be made known to him when they get at the police depot at zone 4.
He at the same time frowned over the use of teargas by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and also the behavior of the zone 4 commander who forcefully removed the aggrieved residents from the road.
A student of the New Jerusalem AGM High School, Kusha said that the use of tear gas was not the best option by the LNP because students with short breath will find it difficult to take in oxygen.
Student Kusha however added that it was unfair for police to use teargas at about that time mainly when students and other people were going on their daily activities and that it led to fear and loss of concentration.
Meanwhile, a representative of District number 12 Prince Kreplah made a swift intervention in the situation after three of the protesters got arrested by members of the LNP.
Price Kreplah further sought bail for the release of the protesters, adding that the police should not have taken such actions, adding that he promised to meet with the LEC on their behalf.