Since the attacks by some residents in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County against the leader of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Alexander B. Cummings and Montserrado County District #10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, there have been a massive wave of condemnations by Liberians.On the early morning of Thursday, July 29, a group of thugs gathered at the guest house where the two men were lodged in Zwedru and attacked them, an action which was brought to halt by the intervention of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
The Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas, whose pastoral and administrative jurisdiction cover the five counties of the southeast of Liberia, said the fundamental rights of the members of the ANC and other collaborating opposition parties to free movement and peaceful assembly as enshrined in Chapter 3, Article 17 of the 1986 Constitution was violated.
The diocese stated that in the face of these presenting threats to citizens’ collective peace and security’ silence’ including from the Church or State, offers the wrong signal to the perpetrators that their actions are acceptable, and makes everyone collectively complicit.
“We feel compelled to speak out against this danger and urge the political leaders of the country, and those blessed with the authority to uphold, protect, and preserve the law, to do so without fear or favor.’ We cannot fail within this regard because failure to preserve the law, and protect all citizens irrespective of differences in tribe, gender or political association, is actually an invitation to the breakdown of the society and the return to lawlessness,” the Diocese noted.
In its press statement, the diocese said the violation of the fundamental rights to free movement and peaceful assembly goes against the principle of political tolerance and peaceful co-existence despite differences of political association and ideology adding, “We have seen that when we become politically intolerant, we invite ourselves to breakdown and destroy, and undermine the foundations of Liberia’s peace, stability and development.”
The religious institution also condemned utterances emanating from some members of the opposition, functionaries of government and members of the ruling party which according to it fall short of respect for others, do not in any way contribute to constructive exchange of ideas for the good health of the nation and the wellbeing of the people, nor does it represent the quality of examples to be emulated.
“These uncivil utterances and inflammatory remarks have the propensity of creating tension and chaos that will undermine the peace and stability prevailing in Liberia today. We must commit to doing better,” the diocese stressed.
“We therefore appeal to all members of the opposition, supporters of the ruling party, government functionaries as well as ordinary Liberians to be more civil and polite in their utterances and respect our fundamental freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia,” the institution stated.
The Inter-religious Council of Liberia is also among the many groups that strongly condemned the reported attack and stated that no Liberian should be denied free movement within Liberia regardless of tribe, gender, association or county origin.
The IRCL, which is a conglomeration of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) and National Muslim Council of Liberia (NMCL) also called on the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice to speedily investigate the action and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Council in its statement, admonished all Liberians to respect human rights and dignity pointing out that no Liberian should be disallowed free movement in Liberia irrespective of their political affiliation or utterances unless they are within breach of the law.
The IRCL which was speaking to the need to curtail the growing waves of insecurity in the country encourage all Liberians including the local and national leaders to work on securing the peace and upholding the rule of laws of the Republic of Liberia.
A prominent son of Grand Gedeh County, Samuel K. Doe, Jr. also frowned at the action of his kinsmen and said, “This is totally disgraceful, the way my people are behaving in Grand Gedeh County. If they treat a lawmaker in such manner, you risk also getting your lawmaker antagonized if they go to other people’s counties.”
“Yes, agree we love our President but why behave barbarically so that people see the kind loving people of mama Gedeh as hooligans. This is not our nature. You guys wronged the honorable men. Regardless of our differences,” the son of the former President Samuel K. Doe lashed at the attackers.
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Information said it has citied the Superintendent of the county to Monrovia to aid the investigation and has ordered the Joint Security to ensure that all those involved with the incident are held accountable.
Minister Eugene Nagbe said the government is keen on protecting its citizens regardless of their political persuasions by the fact that Cummings and his entourage safely visited other counties without encountering such incident.
The government assured that the fundamental rights to free movements and political assemblies as guaranteed under the Constitution are protected at all times and the Ministry of Justice has also assures the safety of all who are engaging in political campaign activities as election draws near.
Meanwhile, the Minister of National Defense, Daniel Ziakahn has also clarified that the AFL’s intervention into the violent attacks on the two individuals was not ‘politically motivated’ as one may see it to be.
Providing the clarity on the Truth Breakfast Show on July 31, Minister Ziakahn said the army’s involvement in the Friday’s incident was only intended to restore calm in the county as the situation brought normal activities to a standstill for several hours.
According to the country’s Defense Minister, the AFL had to get involved in the riot to buttress the LNP officers that were on the scene during the demonstration, and indicated the AFL does not take its marching orders from any citizens or politicians, but instead the President who is the Commander-In-Chief of the AFL when there is a conflict or situation that needs the intervention of the army.
“The goal of the AFL is to always maintain the peace and stability within the country and not to get involved into political activities,” Minister Ziakahn stated.