CSOs, E-Mansion Condemn Violence

Four credible Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Liberia have expressed concern over the increased wave of violence under the watchful eyes of the Coalition for Democratic Change-led Government and is therefore calling on President George Weah to take leadership role.
“Liberia, although stable and peaceful, there is a strong possibility of reverting to conflict, if political leaders are not careful about their decisions and utterances; no matter which side of the political spectrum they find themselves,” the group asserted.
The four leading CSOs consisting of the Accountability Lab, the Center for Transparency and Accountability, Institute for Research and Democratic Development and Naymote Partners for Democratic Development in a press statement called on the Government to sustain the peace; ensure respect for the rule of rule, human right, freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of speech as important ingredients within a democratic state.
“The August 17, 2019 violent situation in Logan Town, District #15 in Montserrado County, the attack on Telia Urey and her team, the destruction of her vehicle without prompt response from the Liberian National Police is unacceptable, irresponsible, and counterproductive and undermine the rule of law, peace and stability of the nation,” the statement read by Anderson Miamen, Executive Director, Center for CENTAL contained.
According to the CSOs, the Montserrado County by-election has witnessed unprecedented insults, attacks and violence with poor response from the Liberia National Police and the Ministry of Justice which signal troubling time for the upcoming 2020 senatorial election and the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
“We call on the President of Liberia, George M. Weah to take leadership of the nation and actions to sustain the peace. We are of the strong conviction that the statement from President Weah that Urey will win election only when George Weah does not exist and the labeling of Ms. Telia Urey as a Little Girl might have served as adequate incentive for triggering the ongoing electoral violence in Montserrado County,” Mr. Miamen.
“We condemn the statement from the Monrovia City Mayor and Chairman of the CDC Youth League, Jefferson Koijee threatening counter-protest saying ‘we will meet flesh and blood’ and the statement of opposition leader Mr. Benoni Urey calling supporters of the ruling CDC Party as “Cockroaches”, these statements are counterproductive to peace and stability of the nation” Mr. Miamen pointed out.
Adding, “ We call on the Liberian National Police to investigate and immediately release electoral violence reports including the violent situations at the Liberty Party headquarter, the district # 15, the destruction Unity Party Vehicle assigned to Mo Ali and Telia Urey vehicle, the allegation of abuse on Ms. Jackie Taylor, etc. and take remedial action to avert their occurrence.”
“We call on the international community and partners, the ECOWAS, UN, EU, US Embassy, AU and friendly governments to engage the government of Liberia to ensure the peace is sustained and hold accountable anyone whose actions and/or utterances undermine the peace and stability of the nation,”.
The group is encouraging the government to continuously respect the constitutional rights of all Liberians. Because the onus is it to lead by example in maintaining and sustaining the peace while at the same time exercise extreme caution and civility in dealing with every Liberian.
Meanwhile, in an executive mansion release, the government’s attention is drawn to the appalling electoral violence which occurred on Saturday in District # 15 between supporters of the two leading candidates.
The Executive Mansion release revealed that the Ministry of Justice and the LNP have been mandated to carry out a thorough and expeditious investigation that would bring the perpetrators to justice irrespective of who is involved.
The release notes that the maintenance of the peace is a priority of the government’s agenda, and it will spare no efforts in ensuring the protection of lives and properties adding that electoral violence in all its forms cannot be tolerated, and individuals who disrupt the peace will face the full weight of the law. The President however called on the police and other security agencies to be proactive and bring to book anyone engaged in violence and urged candidates and political leaders to restart the process of engagement under the auspices of the National Elections Commission’s inter-party consultative dialogue, while at the same time warning against the use of vitriolic rhetoric that could lead to violence.