Calm has returned to Congo Town suburb of Monrovia, after Thursday’s violent standoff between supporters of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Liberia National Police with claims and counter claims.
The CDC has said the violence was triggered by alleged attacks of brutality meted out against its members when police stormed the CDC headquarters firing teargas and beating up its supporters.
CDC officials have vowed to resist any attack on their party’s offices in the future.
But the Liberian government has denied the claim saying that the police intervened after some officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), who were raiding a suspected drug community behind the CDC HQ (Small Town), were attacked and wounded by some people who fled into the CDC compound.
BELOW THE GOV’T PRESS STATEMENT:
STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA
(Monrovia, Thursday, August 22, 2024):- Early this morning, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) in an attempt to execute a search and seizure warrant at an identified property in the Small Town Community, around the Bernard Beach vicinity, received resistance from some community members that led to the LDEA personnel pulling out of the community.
As a result of the resistance, several LDEA personnel sustained injuries and are currently being treated at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
After the LDEA pulled out, individuals believed to be members of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) blocked the free flow of traffic, setting roadblocks, lighting tires, and pelting stones at vehicles and pedestrians on Tubman Boulevard, near the party headquarters. Several vehicles were damaged, and innocent citizens as well as law enforcement officers were injured by rocks thrown from the direction of the party headquarters.
To restore law and order, the Liberia National Police (LNP) swiftly intervened. The Joint Security also states categorically that no lethal weapon was used. The Government clarifies that the LDEA search and seizure execution was not intended for, nor did it target the Headquarters of the CDC.
The Joint Security affirms its commitment to the rule of law and protection of our democratic principles. The security forces will continue to perform their duties with professionalism and integrity, ensuring that individuals enjoy their rights in a safe environment.
The Government also urges everyone to refrain from violence and carry on with their normal activities.
In another development, the Government of Liberia’s attention has been drawn to a story published in today’s edition of the FrontPage Africa Newspaper titled: “TO RAID OR NOT TO RAID”.
The Government of Liberia categorically denies that it or any of its agencies ever requested or sought to obtain a warrant to search and seize the home of former President Weah.
The Government emphatically states that the story published in the newspaper about a supposed plan to search and seize the home of the former President is false and without any truth. The case in question, The Gracious Ride case, is currently before the Supreme Court.
The prosecutorial arm of the Government is the Ministry of Justice, and if there are any questions, indictments, or warrants of arrest to be issued, they would derive from the Ministry of Justice. FrontPage Africa did not seek any verification of the story from the Ministry of Justice. Additionally, the Legal Advisor has not sought nor been involved in any warrant contrary to the FPA story.
The Government of Liberia has called on FrontPage Africa to retract and correct its sensational and unverified publication as it could lead to a dangerous national security situation.
Signed___________________________
JEROLINMEK MATTHEW PIAH
MINISTER