United Nations, Economic Community of West African States, and other international partners have cautioned Liberian politicians to uphold the Farmington River Declaration and the tenets of democracy.
They said the maintenance of peace and stability in Liberia is more paramount than anything, urging them to refrain from using electoral violence to tear their country apart.
UN’s Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Christine N. Umutoni, said the peace and stability of the country is very important, therefore it should be respected by all Liberians, no matter who you are or whom you support.
She and other high ranking officials of the country’s international partners made these comments yesterday, when they, alongside the National Elections Commission (NEC), held a meeting with presidential candidates of various political parties and independent camps at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
Umutoni admonished all politicians or candidates vying for elective public offices, whether presidential, senatorial, or legislative, of political parties and independent camps, to be civil in their campaigning.
She said the UN, ECOWAS, and others, shall collaborate with the NEC for the conduct for a credible elections in the country, but urged politicians to stop the use of invectives as a means of swaying voters in their favor, which has the propensity to stir up electoral violence.
Also speaking at the conference was NEC’s Chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, who assured partners, both local and international, that they are on course for the conduct of a credible electoral process.
She stated, among many things, that in coming days, the Commission shall begin engaging various stakeholders nationwide, for the conduct of credible polls.
This is Liberia’s 5th elections since 1989, but the first to be solely financed by Liberians themselves with their taxes, without the support of international partners who are observing the process.
It is being considered a test for the country’s emerging democracy, following years of conflict.
The conference comes hot on the heels of the Thursday, August 10 incident in Electoral District 9, Montserrado County, between some young people claiming to be supporters of either the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) or Unity Party (UP).
The clash left scores wounded, although there has been no death reported. However, the situation drew the attention of local and international communities, admonishing leaders of political parties and independent camps to caution their supporters.
