Catholic Bishop Karnley, Opposition Candidates Cllr. Tiwan Gongloe & Simeon Freeman Also Condemn Action Of CDC Supporters Parading Casket With Boakai’s Picture On Monrovia’s Streets
Pres. Weah Says, “Stop carrying casket”
FLASHBACK: (Top-Bottom) Weah’s armed EPS presidential guards in CDC paraphernalia at CDC rally at the stadium in Monrovia and (current) ruling party supporters starting official campaign with casket carrying Boakai’s photo
By Our Staff Writer
As the ruling CDC party supporters paraded Monrovia’s streets carrying casket with former Vice President Joseph Boakai’s picture, one local observer remarked, “CDC again oh..” further doing a reflection on the seen earlier this year of armed EPS presidential guards fully dressed in CDC paraphernalia at a pre-campaign rally in Monrovia.
Despite the signing of the Farmington River Declaration which promotes nonviolent elections, the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) kicked off the official start of campaigning, Saturday, August 5, 2023 on what is widely seen as a provocative note.
Supporters of Liberian President George Weah’s party paraded streets of Monrovia carrying shoulder-high casket plastered with photo of former Vice President Joseph Boakia, who is presidential candidate of the main opposition Unity Party in the upcoming October 10 election, triggering widespread condemnations from various quarters in the country.
First the UP over the weekend strongly condemned the action of CDC in a press statement:
“The recent childish and violent action of the CDC on the first day of the campaign, involving a casket bearing a derisive portrait of a Statesman, not only represents a clear violation of the nonviolent agreement but also confirms the Unity Party Alliance’s position – that the CDC lacks maturity and has no clear message for its attempts at re-election. Violent actions have consistently characterized the activities of the CDC since its establishment, and the party has not implemented desirable policies for the benefit of the Liberian people during its six years in power,” the UP said in its statement signed by Secretary General, Amos Tweh.
The UP, which is in alliance with the MDR whose political leader is Boakai’s running mate, Nimba County Senator Jeremiah Koung in the upcoming polls, accused the ruling CDC “of engaging in violent provocation during the start of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative campaign. On April 4, 2023, the CDC, along with more than 20 political parties, signed the Farmington’s Declaration committing to a peaceful electoral process. We expect that the CDC will abide by the tenets of Farmington Declaration.”
The UP further stated: “The CDC government has not been accountable for its stewardship of the country over the past six years, opting instead for unprovoked actions that incite violence and undermine the elections. The Liberian electorate is seeking alternative policy prescriptions for the vexing issues they face.”
The weekend’s action of the CDC has also been condemned by two other opposition presidential candidates, Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP) and Mr. Simeon Freeman of the Movement for Progressive Change, who consider the action as something that has the propensity to trigger violence as the campaign process begins.
Also, in an interview with ECOWAS Radio’s live phone-in breakfast show hosted by Raymond Zarbay this morning, Monday, August 7, 2023, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas, Andrew Karnley categorically condemned such move by the ruling CDC party.
Bishop Karnley called on all parties to respect the provisions spelled out in the Farmington River Declaration that all parties signed earlier this year, including the ruling CDC.
Meanwhile, the CDC Campaign Team later deplored the action of its supporters Parading Casket and said that “the Weah-Taylor 2023 Campaign Committee of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has frowned on the action of some of its supporters who marched the streets toting a casket on Saturday during the official start of the period of political campaign for the Presidential and Legislative elections in October.”
Later, state radio ELBC reported that the CDC Standard Bearer President Weah also condemned the action of his supporters.
“Stop carrying casket, I call on supporters of the regime to abandon and desist from repeating the said insane action,” the President was heard saying at a local church service near Monrovia on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
As the official campaign enters its second weeks, all eyes are set on the umpire of the national electoral process, the National Elections Commission (NEC) to see how effectively it will control the conduct of parties and independent candidates in the race to ensure full compliance with the campaign and other elections guidelines/regulations.
BELOW IS NEC’S CAMPAIGN PERIOD ACTIVITIES:
For the 2023 General Elections, the following activities may be done during the official campaign period announced by the Commission:
- Campaign Rallies;
- Holding a march, parade, or other assemblies for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or promoting an individual aspirant or candidate by way of speech, billboards, pictures, banners, posters, placards, or any other printed materials that tend to promote an individual aspirant or candidate for an elective public office;
- Posters, handbills, and house-to-house contact with voters;
- Publishing or distributing campaign literature, posters, flyers, buttons, T-shirts, caps, or other promotional items designed to support the election of any aspirant/candidate for elective public office.
- Making contact with voters using print and electronic or social media or radio/TV interviews;
- Forming of an association, or others for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or promoting an individual aspirant or candidate by way of speech, pictures, banners, posters or any other printed materials that tend to promote an individual aspirant or candidate for an elective public office;