But What Actually Triggered Thursday’s Violence?
PHOTO: Some images from Thursday’s violence at the CDC headquarter
By Our Reporter
Monrovia, Liberia- The Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Unity Party government are yet to give a full picture of what led to the violence that erupted in the early hours of this morning (Thursday, August 22, 2024) at the headquarters of the main opposition CDC party of former President George Manneh Weah.
The violence has claimed the concern of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL) which quickly prompted religious leaders to make initial intervention to help quell the disturbances.
It is still not known how many persons were injured or arrested or whether there was any death, though some CDC executive including former Assistant Agriculture Minister Alvin Wisseh have been making some wild claims on local radio stations.
Earlier reports said the violence was triggered by a pre-dawn raid by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) of a suspected ghetto immediately behind the CDC headquarters compound, a move that prompted resistance by people in the slum community who are said to include people believed to be CDC supporters.
Some reports said heavily armed Police moved in firing teargas after some of the angry people began throwing stones, blocking the main Tubman Boulevard in front of the CDC headquarters, disrupting normal traffic.
“The IRCL initiated an advocacy pathway this morning by visiting the violence site and engaging with the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Liberia National Police among others,” says a statement released by the Inter-Religious Council a short while ago.
SEE FULL TEXT OF THE IRCL STATEMENT BELOW:
INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF LIBERIA
15TH STREET SINKOR
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:
The Inter-religious Council of Liberia a consortium of the Liberia Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council of Liberia is concerned about the wave of tension breeding around the headquarters ground of the Congress for Democratic Change in Congo Town this morning around 5:00 am that has led to the eruption of business activities and impeded movement along the main Tubman Boulevard.
The IRCL initiated an advocacy pathway this morning by visiting the violence site and engaging with the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Liberia National Police among others.
Our preliminary findings revealed that the cause of the incident erupted as a result of a raid by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on the mornings of Thursday, August 22, 2024 in the community near the CDC headquarters. According to our findings the LDEA was obstructed by strong resistance that later diverted to road block and burning of tires by angry thugs in the front of the CDC headquarters. The police intervention of restoring calm was term as provocation and the police was attacked by the throwing of stones that resulted to the destruction of properties and injuries suffered by both the police and citizens of Liberia. On the other hand the police responded to the stone attacked and used tear gas to disburse the crowd in the compound of the CDC.
The IRCL condemn this act of violence and call for the reaffirmation of all political actors and citizens at large to adhere to respect of human rights and the constitution of Liberia, upholding the peace and promoting fair play and justice for all.
IRCL has also engaged the LNP to exercise all security measures to keep the peace, and at the same time provide security for all Liberians and ensure a smooth movement of traffic and people.
The IRCL calls on Liberians using the social media to provide right information that will promote the peace and stop engaging in lies and propaganda that will erupt violence.
The IRCL appreciate the effort of all parties from the CDC, CSO, media and Faith Institutions that has brought the situation under control.
The IRCL therefore calls on all Liberians home and abroad to remain law abiding, peaceful, promote unity and reconciliation for the common good of our democracy.
Signed by:
Sheikh Abraham Fumbah Sherif
PRESIDENT, IRCL