As Police Charges Sheets Are Being For Alleged Perpetrators
FLASHBACK: Few images of the Foya violence
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
At long last, Police Charge Sheets have been prepared and will shortly be issued for people suspected of perpetrating the September 29, 2023 bloody electoral violence in the northwestern Liberian city of Foya, Lofa County that left two persons confirmed dead.
Shortly before the October 10 presidential and legislative elections, 33 supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the main opposition Unity Party (UP) allegedly linked to the violence were released from detention to vote, with a promised by Lawyers that they would be made available for further investigation.
Police authorities in the County’s capital, Voinjama have now confirmed to www.newspublictrust.com that charges are on the way for those who were linked to the violence.
The violent clashes, which also left a number of people injured and properties damaged, were between angry supporters of the ruling CDC party of President George Weah and the main opposition party of former Vice President Joseph Boakai.
Normal activities in the area were disrupted, including a planned Representative candidate’s election debate for Foya electoral District #1 that same day.
According to the police officials, the charges will be done in Monrovia and forwarded to Vionjama where they will be sent to court.
Initially, the Police in the area came under serious criticisms for the manner in which the investigation was going, but the Police indicated that they had nothing to hide.
In early October, the Ninth Judicial Circuit in the central Bong County, has temporarily released 33 suspects from the ruling CDC and the main opposition UP. 33 CDC And UP Suspects In The Foya Violence Temporarily Released By The Court – News Public Trust
The Foya electoral violence was one in a series of cases recorded during the recent general elections campaign, something that violated the April, 4, 2023 Farmington River Declaration the leaders of 27 of 31 political parties signed. in Margibi County.
The Farmington River Declaration 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.
After the Foya incident just on the eve of the October 10 polls, another bloody electoral violent clashes took place on the Japan Freeway in Gardnersville outside Monrovia between supporters of the ruling CDC and the opposition ALCOP party of former Finance Minister Lusinee Kamara in which one person reported died with several others injured.