An auxiliary group of the opposition Unity Party is calling on the Nation Elections Commission to take prosecutory actions against all those who were involved in the August 10 campaign violence between some supporters of the ruling CDC and the Unity Party in Monrovia.
The National Chairperson of the Boakai Square said the persecution of all those involved in violence, whether from the ruling CDC or the UP, will send a strong message to any person of group of persons who believe that they can disrupt the peace and sanity of the country during the campaign.
“I am calling on the National Elections Commission to punish those involved in the violence and warn their political leaders to talk to their people to desist from all acts of violence during this campaign period,” Mbosuah Barclay said.
He noted that campaign periods are time for political aspirants to present to the electorates their manifestos on how they intend to run the various offices they are vying for instead of it being a period of violence.
“Campaign is a time that we seek the indulgence of our people to give us the opportunity to serve them; and it is fun when we get out there in our various party peripheral chanting our party slogans and dancing to our campaign song. It is no time to fight,” he commented.
The Boakai Square chairman encouraged Liberians, especially the young people, to remain peaceful and not allow themselves to be used by anyone to damage their future.
Chairman Barclay blamed the leadership of the two political parties for not managing the situation, which led to the injury of some of their supporters.
“The NEC should warned political actors on ensuring that their partisans remain peaceful during these campaigns,” Barclay noted.
He made the statement in Logan Town on Friday, August 13, 2023, when he accompanied Amos Tweh, who is seeking to unseat Abu Kamara in District 15.
For his part, the secretary general of the Boakai Square, Smith Peters suggests that all political actors, including campaigners and electorates should be civil, responsible, and tolerant to ensure a peaceful outcome of the election.
He observed that the August 10 incident should be condemned and rejected by all Liberians, describing the incident as antidemocratic, uncivilized, and means to instill fears in the voters ahead of October 10 general and presidential elections.
“We should not and must not allow ourselves to be used by politicians to instigate any form of violence including violence against women in election. I therefore add my voice to chairman Barclay to ask the NEC to punish all those involved. This will serve as a deterrent to would-be Violators,” SG Peters said.
He also called on state security actors to be proactive during the campaign and election periods, stating that these periods critical to the survival of the state after the elections.
“Our international partners have spent millions of US dollars on training our security officers on how to manage the security of the state but it is saddened to see them wanting to take sides this early. I want them to know that government will come and go, but the state will remain; and their primary responsibility is to the statement and not any political party or leader,” the Boakai Square chief scribe said, report by Gideon Nma Scott, Jr.
