What Role Did Orange CEO Play That Led To His Arrest?
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
As the Chairman of the Liberian pressure group, Council of Patriots, Henry Costa was in the United States saying on Facebook that his group had started the roadblock on Tubman Bourlevard with burning tyre, the COP’s acting Chairman on the ground, Menikpakei Dumoe was saying his group was not behind the action.
Mr. Dumoe told the media that he knew nothing about the violent protest that disrupted normal flow of traffic near the German and Nigerian embassies in Monrovia’s Congo Town suburb on Thursday, June 25, 2020.
Costa, a vocal radio talk show host and political activist, said what took place on Thursday was part of a series of surprising militant actions against the Liberian government’s plan to increase surcharges on voice calls and data in the country.
But the government has issued a stern warning that it will not tolerate disruption of the country’s peace and stability.
In the wake of the protest, Orange Liberia CEO, Mamadou Coulibaly was arrested by state security forces on Thursday but later released to his lawyers and ordered to return on Friday, June 26, 2020at 8am for continuation of police investigation, apparently in connection with the protest.
The Orange CEO has been accused of master minding the early morning protest to d Old road junction along the Tubman Boulevard.
He was accused by NSA that he didn’t come to do business but to undermine and damage the image of the government.
According NSA investigators, the Orange CEO has written series of communication surcharge and it was because of d surcharge issue protesters went to protest.
Lawyers say the CEO might be charged for economic sabotage as an individual not an entity.
Officials believe his alleged action is said to be a threat to the country.
More besides he under mining the independence of the judiciary because this surcharge case is before the Supreme Court.
Gov’t Warns Against Acts Of Violence, Lawlessness
At the same time, “The Government of Liberia has warned that it will not tolerate acts of violence and lawlessness orchestrated by any group of people that seek to disrupt the country’s hard earned peace and stability.”
Here are details of a statement by the Ministry of Information on government’s official position on Thursday’s incident as carried by the Liberian News Agency (LINA):
“The caution comes in the wake of violent activities that damaged property and disrupted free movement on the Tubman Boulevard and the Old Road Community early Thursday, June 25, 2020, by some members of the self-styled Council of Patriots (CoP) group.
Many of them claimed that they gathered to protest the alleged attempt or decision by the Government to increase surcharge on internet data.
However, a release issued here by the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism disclosed that the Government has ordered Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean, Jr. to ensure that all perpetrators and their masterminds are arrested in order to face the full weight of the law.
The release emphasized that the Government recognizes that free expression and freedom to engage in political activities are guaranteed under the law, citing however, that violence will not be tolerated.
It said that those orchestrating and engaging in such acts will meet the full force of the country’s justice system.”