Scheduled District #1 Rep. Election Debate Set For Saturday Now In Limbo
PHOTO: The elderly man who was alleged dragged by CDC supporters and he’s currently in the hands of CDC at Rep. Fallah’s compound in Foya
By Our Staff Writer
FOYA, Liberia- Two persons have now been confirmed dead in violent clashes between supporters of President George Weah’s ruling CDC party and those of the main opposition Unity Party (UP) of former Vice President Joseph Boakai.
It was exactly 3:35pm on Friday, September 29, 2023 when the streets of Foya were plunged into chaos after where CDC and UP supporters of the got into fierce clashes, as many residents ran helter-skelter, while business people operating shops, stores and other market areas closed down immediately amid the violence coming just 13 days to presidential and legislative elections.
The violence was so serious causing the deaths of two persons who were said to have been CDC supporters. Properties were also damaged in the disturbances.
More than three light poles brought down in front of Rep. Fallah’s compound allegedly by UP supporters
A contingent of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has now been dispatched to the Foya area to beef up the strength of the no equipped police officers.
The latest violence in Foya comes just 13 days to the elections and it contradicts commitments made by political leaders to the Farmington River Declaration on non-violent elections.
On 4 April, Liberian political leaders from 27 of 31 political parties signed the Farmington River Declaration 2023, at a hotel near the Farmington River in Margibi County.
This was seen as an enhanced and comprehensive declaration designed to ensure a nonviolent electoral process. This builds on the foundation of the initial pledge signed in 2017.
Exactly who or what started the bloody fight is yet to be independently established, in spite of claims and counter claims.
The incident intensified when an older believed to be supporter of the opposition Unity party was forcibly dragged by supporters of CDC in the compound of Rep. Thomas P. Fallah and due to the manner in which he was dragged, supporters of UP believed he was already allegedly killed by supporters of CDC.
But when a reporter visited the compound of Representative Fallah, she met the older man alive, though he was severely beaten with blood coming from his eyes, while and some supporters of CDC were heard saying, you will not leave from here alive since your people killed our men.
An account says based upon the dragging of this old man in the compound of Rep. Fallah, UP supporters set a road on the main road not far from Rep. Fallah compound to set a manhunt for any CDC supporters and this is how this young motorcyclist who came from Foya heading toward the direction where the tension was coming, fell into the hands of UP supporters, as he was carrying CDC campaign sticker on his motorbike, thus he later died after being severely beaten.
Another man who was said to have been arrested with gun on his side by supporters of UP also died after being escorted by angry crowd to the Foya police station.
But police officers said they were unable to save the man because the crowd was more than them and more besides, they are not equipped. Therefore, they too as officers have to run for their lives.
The man allegedly killed by Up partisans was believed to be an NSA officer.
Following the deaths of the two individuals, CDC began to attack anyone who use that ride. Four persons were severely beaten by CDC supporters, but they were later rescued by state security who are not equipped, one report said.
Friday’s violence in on, September 29, 2023 on the eve of the representative debate in electoral District #1.
The debate, which has been slated for tomorrow, Saturday, September 30, is being supported by Internews Liberia Media Activity/USAID and organized by Public Trust Media Group (PTMG). Political Violence Erupts On The Eve Of Rep. Candidates’ Debate In Foya, Liberia – News Public Trust
Further information gathered from some partisans of the Unity party said that why they were on their way going to meet some of their supporters who arrived in the county from the United States of America, supporters of the ruling CDC were stoning them from Rep. Thomas Fallah’s fence, while the CDC partisans are also alleging that some UP partisans left the main road and entered Rep. Fallah’s compound.
They claimed that the UP supporters began stoning compound and destroying some properties of Rep. Fallah including the street light poles.
Meanwhile, reports say CDC supporters have vowed that they will end “the war initiated by UP supporters”, and the entire Foya district is at the moment said to be engulfed by growing tensions.