The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, has emphasized that, in the event the Liberia National Police (LNP) and other law enforcement officers are overwhelmed during the electioneering period, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) will be called to quell any situation of unrest.
Minister Dean made the emphasis on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, barely a day after a joint security press statement, which was misinterpreted by some media outlets that the military will be “unleashed” in the case the other enforcement officers are overwhelmed.
The Mariam Webster dictionary defines “unleash” as setting in motion forcefully, as opposed to “call upon”, which means to command or request to be present. Apparently, Minister Dean’s swift explanation may have been prompted by the huge difference in denotation of the two words, as the term “unleash” may have suggested an unruly position of the army when notified.
According to the joint security press release issued Monday, October 2, 2023, and read by Minister Dean, “Law enforcement is prepared and willing to work with members of the public in preserving the peace. The men and women in uniform are your friends. They are trained to respect and protect you. we ask that you also respect them as they represent the rule of law. Law enforcement and the public must work together collaboratively and supportively.
“Notwithstanding law enforcement’s willingness to work with the public in preserving the peace, no one has a right to disrupt the peace. Anyone or group thinking otherwise must reconsider. We caution members of the public not to test the resolve of the joint security. Any attempt by anyone to disrupt the peace will be met with the full force of the law. The Joint Security shall be robust and prepared to do any and everything legally permissible to protect the peace. Reasonable and proportionate force shall be used where required. Those who elect to test the resolve of the Joint Security will be doing so at their own peril.”
The release said, “The Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), during the period of these elections, has been ordered to heighten security to ensure that our territorial borders and boundaries remain safe and secure.
“Of course, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), as part of the Joint Security, remains available in the ongoing effort to guarantee peaceful elections. in the event the police and other law enforcement officers are overwhelmed, the military will be called to quell any situation of unrest.”
