US Gov’t, CSO Platform, Others Condemn Violence In Lofa; Want Perpetrators Swiftly Brought To Justice

The United States government, through their embassy in Monrovia, has condemned the violence and loss of life that reportedly occurred in Foya, Lofa County, on September 29, 2023. 

  The embassy expressed sincere condolence to the families of the victims and urged everyone to maintain the peace.  The US embassy also called upon authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.

   “Political differences must be solved at the ballot box peacefully, and never through violence. Violence is never the answer,” the embassy underscored.

   Also, the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy of Liberia, through its human rights monitors in Lofa County, has described the violence in Lofa as horrific and threat to the peace and security of Liberia ahead of the upcoming presidential and legislative elections on October 10, 2023. “We condemn all sides for their role in the violent action that has put Lofa County into a hot spot,” the CSO Platform asserted.

   The group called for an independent and impartial investigation ahead of the conduct of the October 10, 2023 general and presidential elections, and the prosecution of those responsible to be held accountable as a deterrence to any future incident of violence in the country. 

   The human rights community admonished the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Justice, to, with immediate action, disband all political party militant groups and allow state security to take control of all security matters.

   “We also want to express our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and those undergoing medical treatment,” the group noted.

   The human rights community reaffirmed its position and again call for respect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights and freedoms in the election. “A violence free, fair, transparent and credible election will define our democracy and save the state,” the group affirmed.

   In a related development, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has condemned the brutal and senseless cold-blooded murder of three innocent Liberians, whom the party says were partisans of the CDC, allegedly by supporters of the Unity Party (UP) Standard Bearer.

   Speaking in a news conference over the weekend, the Secretary General of the CDC, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, alleged, “The three partisans were gruesomely murdered in Foya by supporters of Unity Party’s standard bearer in an unprovoked attack on the premises of CDC’s Vice Chairman for Operations, Thomas P. Fallah, who is also the party’s legislative candidate for district #1, Lofa County.

   According to Koijee, after an in depth investigation into the sad tragedy, the CDC has established that hundreds of supporters of Unity Party’s standard bearer, without provocation, orchestrated and carried out a deliberate attack on the premises of the CDC lawmaker, extensively vandalizing properties, looting market stalls, killing three innocent citizens in cold blood and leaving five persons confirmed to have sustained wounds of varying degrees.

   “CDC calls on the international community, especially ECOWAS, to get involved in taking seize of the situation, investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. And this sought intervention of our international development partners is essential, considering that the open threats and preparation of election violence being meted out against innocent citizens by supporters of former Vice President Joseph Boakai,” Koijee told newsmen.

   He said without restraint supporters of the Unity Party continue to pepper the domestic political airspace with toxic and poison gas, without consideration for the peace and safety of the country and its people.

   “This sustained gush of fury violence and vitriol from members of the Unity Party, which was recently amplified by its flag bearer when he threatened to end Liberia, cannot be taken lightly,” he observed.

   The CDC Secretary General called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators of this deliberate act.

   “We call on all members and supporters of the CDC to remain calm and avoid all forms of confrontation with supporters of other political parties, especially those from the Unity Party in Lofa County,” Koije stated.