By G. Naway Gumeh, gumehnaway@gmail.com /+231888953340
Amid public silence from Liberia and others in extending sympathy, the Student Unification Party (SUP) the state-owned University of Liberia is Monrovia has publically declared its solidarity with the People’s Republic of China, in the wake of the outbreak of the new coronavirus in various Chinese cities.
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, SUP Chairman, Cde. Charles M. Songhay noted that the move is in keeping with the comprehensive and special strategic partnership shared by Liberia and China.
During the deadly outbreak of Ebola in Liberia several years ago, besides giving millions of dollars worth of emergency assistance to this country, many Chinese remained in this country and the Chinese government publicly showed solidarity in various forms, including sending of messages, one CDC government critic says.
SUP recounted China’s support to Liberia during the 14years of bloody Civil war, the Ebola crisis including the building of roads and bridges, as well as investment in education and health among others.
“SUP is cognizant of China’s many support to Liberia and Africa. When Liberia was a country struggling to recover from a fourteen year of civil war and the deadly Ebola virus, there were many countries that came to our aid; among them, the People’s Republic of China played an unforgettable role. In time of difficulties as in the case of China today, we cannot lose sight of her continuous support to Liberia. From infrastructure development to roads and bridges, from education to health-We see the extended redemptive hands of China to the struggling masses of our people-for this, we stand with the people of china,” SUP declared.
Chairman Songhay on behalf of the student movement including all students of the state-run University of Liberia paid tribute to the resilience of the Chinese people and praised the efforts made by the country in dealing with the emergency and called for greater solidarity.
“As we gather here today, both the student Unification Party and the students of the Confucius Institute as well as students of other institutions, we have explicit confidence in the ability of the People’s Republic of China to deal with the deadly coronavirus and the associated challenges it imposes on the children and women of China, particularly the peasants,” the student movement averred.
SUP also stated: “At this time, we are calling on the children of Liberia and Africa, the land of Edward Wilmot Blyden, the land of Kwame Nkrumah, the land of Patrice Lumumba, the land of Wuo Garbe Tarpeia to stand in solidarity and compassion with the people of comrade revolutionary martyr Mao Zedong.
The student movement at Liberia’s highest public institution of learning also encouraged Liberian students studying in China to remain focused and abide by the regulation of the Chinese Health Authority and the World Health Organization on the Coronavirus.
SUP said, “we stand with you in faith and want to caution you to take all preventative measures in observance of the coronavirus outbreak. In the end, the people of China and the common laborers of the world will win the fight against the coronavirus”.
Also speaking, the Attaché of the Political Section at the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia, LIU on behalf of the Chinese government lauded SUP for the support, whilst expressing full confidence in China’s proactive response and management of the situation.
“On behalf of the Chinese government through the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia, we thank you for your support. China has taken straight measures to prevent and to control the outbreak of the epidemic in Wuhan-and china has full confidence and the capability to win the battle against the coronavirus,” Mr. LIU stated.