THE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION Party (PLP), certificated barely eleven months ago by the National Elections Commission (NEC) as a political party, began to win the political hearts and minds of many in the public by its political leader, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, blending of politics and humanitarianism and vocal stance against the ills in the political system of the nation. The early months of the operation of PLP left many in the public with the perception that an opposition political party, comparable to the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), had arrived on the scene. However, political observers have begun to wonder whether a recent action by members of the party has not begun to muddy that impression.
THE ARRESTED SEVENTEEN individual members of the PLP is the case in point. The seventeen members, protesting in relation to the alleged violation of the landing rights of the helicopter purchased by their Political Leader, Dr. Cassell, were Liberia National Police-charged for rioting, failure to disburse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways and other public passages, in violation of Chapter 17, Sections 17.1, 17.3 and 17.7 of the revised Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia. According to the police charge sheet, this was “predicated upon their criminal conduct when they purposely or recklessly obstructed 20th Street, Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard, on Monday, November 1, 2021 between 9:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.”.
THE LNP INVESTIGATION maintained that the defendants’ misconduct of blocking the street was unlawful, as they did not have legal privilege to do so; and that they participated in a public disturbance, obstructed law enforcement or other government functions and caused public inconvenience, annoyance or recklessly creating a risk thereof. As such, they were charged and forwarded to court.
THE POLICE CHARGE sheet further stated that the protesting individuals were arrested on Monday along the Tubman Boulevard, informed of their Constitutional and Miranda rights, investigated and charged.
THE PUBLIC DISPLAY of anger on Monday, November 1, 2021 by the supporters of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) purposely obstructed the free movement of people and vehicles. The protesters maintained that if the government does not grant a landing permit to a helicopter belonging to their Standard Bearer, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, they will not leave the main street. The protesters, violent, were however dislodged by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), who arrested seventeen of them and charged them accordingly.
IT REMAINS TO be seen whether the PLP Political Leader, Dr. Cassell, will distance himself from the violent protest or not in his quest to ensure that his helicopter lands in the country.