The Liberia National Police says it will provide maximum security to all actors, including candidates, party workers, and the general public, for the conduct of a peaceful elections, come October.
The Deputy Police Commissioner of Training and Manpower Development at the Police Academy, Jartu Golafalay, said despite logistical and manpower challenge, the current LNP and other state security actors are upbeat about providing security to all beyond party lines.
“Since UNMIL left, this election is our first as state security forces and we will seize the opportunity to ensure the safety of our clients, the citizenry,” she said.
She made the statement at the closing program of a three-day training of trainers on election security management at the Police Academy in Monrovia.
She assured Liberians that the police and other state security actors will apply a human rights-based approach, while managing the security of the state before, during, and after all electoral processes.
According to the chief police trainer, the police sees the election as crucial and will do all in its power to adequately respond to any or all forms of electoral violence.
“There will be no preferential treatment for any candidate or political party. The security of all Liberians is our responsibility and we will ensure that no one or group of people will use these times to intimidate, harass, or abuse anyone in the name of politics,” she pointed out.
“We are going to perform our role so that we can leave a legacy for the next generation to follow. Fellow participants, we have done it before and we can do it again,” the chief trainer bragged.
On August 2, over 40 top security officers from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Liberia National Fire Service, completed a three-day Election Security Management Training at the Police Academy in Monrovia.
The training focused on the role of security in mitigating violence and security threats before, during, and after elections.
Participants will cascade the training to junior level security officers in the countries.
For his part, the Country Representative of the Office of High Commission for Human Rights, Christian Mukasa, has assured Liberians of the United Nations and its partners’ commitment to supporting all actors, including the NEC, the security, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and women and youth groups, for the peaceful conduct of the October 10 general and presidential elections.
“My office and the UN will stand by you and all security forces to make sure that human rights are part of your curriculum,” the OHCHR boss said; Gideon Nma Scott, Jr. reports.
