PHOTO: Victims of the weekend’s violence
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
At least two persons, believed to be Pro-Simeon Taylor’s supporters who were in jubilant celebrations, have been injured in a violent outburst, following the National Election Commission (NEC) Board of Commission reaffirmed the victory of the opposition CPP candidate over incumbent Senator of Grand Cape Mount County, Victor Watson of the ruling CDC party.
Over the weekend, NEC upheld the ruling of the Cape Mount Magistrate that Mr. Taylor was the legitimate winner of the December 2020 Special Senatorial election, dismissing the claim by Sen. Watson that Mr. Taylor committed electoral fraud, including engaging in double registration.
But the Watson side has taken exception to NEC’s second ruling affirming Taylor’s victory by announcing that they are taking an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Reports from the western Liberian county say as the pro-Taylor supporters were celebrating in Mano River Kongo Township over the weekend, people believed to be supporters of his rival allegedly attacked them.
Simeon Taylor’s supporters that were celebrating in the street
The incident is said to have happened near the headquarters of a top businessman in the area, Idrisa Mansaray, believed to be big financial supporter to outgoing senator Watson.
The two men who were injured last Friday, after the NEC Hearing Officer pronounced Simeon Taylor winner, after a long disputed case. One of the men, Morris Gray supporter of CPP candidate got badly injured and bled profusely.
Following the Pronouncement of Senator-elect Simeon Boima Taylor’s victory, some supporters of Simeon’s Taylor gathered and paraded the streets of Kongo, banging pot tops and celebrating his victory as was done in other parts of Grand Cape Mount County.
Eye witnesses on the scene said, after supporters of Simeon Taylor paraded the street, they went to a local atayi shop banging their pot tops, something that angered some people said to be Senator Watson’s supporters, who allegedly began throwing stones into the crowd.
The situation, which furthered escalated, left several persons wounded. Mr. Morris Gray’s hand is said to have been broken during the chaos.
Meanwhile, locals in Mano River Kongo are calling on the Liberia National Police beef up their strength in that part of the county and called on the County’s Health Team to address the health needs of people in the area, including victims of the violence.
In another Development, twelve Turkish nationals working with the Bea mining company were reportedly tested for CORONAVIRUS. But report says some of them has been discharged, after being treated while others are still undergoing medical treatment.