By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Inter Religious Council of Liberia has called on friendly nations including the United States and the European Union to impose travel ban on all politicians who promote violence in the name of political and electoral activities.
The call by the Religious leaders comes amid an upsurge of pre-elections violence in which many persons have been wounded, some of them seriouslly around Liberia, ahead of the December 8 Midterm Senatorial polls.
IRCL’s President, Bishop Kortu Brown also called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to investigate and ban political leaders who instigate or promote electoral violence as a political strategy.
quickly investigate all acts of violence and bring perpetrators to justice.
The council condemned all acts of electoral and political violence that have been reported in Saint Paul Bridge, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties.
The religious leaders admonished Liberians to maintain the peace and stability in the country by avoiding all acts aimed at creating violence among the people.
The council, which comprised of the Liberia Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council of Liberia, expressed concern on the trucking of voters in the current voter up date exercise in the country.
“We realized the electoral process has been characterized by voter trucking from one constituent to another,” he said adding, “because the trucking of voters has been reported in several parts of the country including Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties as well as cross border in the northern and eastern regions of the country.”
“This act of moving voters through financial inducements to involuntary vote undermines our democracy and stability of our nation; therefore, the council condemned this act in a very strong terms and asked all stakeholders and citizens to desist from this unpatriotic action.”
Bishop Brown admonished the National Elections Commission to apply the necessary component of the electoral laws to curb the unwholesome practice and prevent the holding of elections that do not represent the true aspirations of the people.
The council said it has also observed that people of under aged children are been registered to participate in the December 8, 2020 Midterm Senatorial elections.
“Voting in Liberia is 18 and above as such , any person registering below 18 years old is ineligible, because such action is considered as a fraud and a criminal act.”
“This should be taken seriously by the authorities and community leaders by ensuring those involved are exposed and brought to justice.”