-Will the protest go beyond one day?
By Our Staff Writer
The well-publicized June 7 anti-government protest by some opposition political parties and civil society groups got underway in the Liberian capital, Monrovia today (Friday), with normal business activities slowed down, although banks have opened their doors to the public.
The build up to the protest code named, “Save the state” organized by the Council of Patriots (COP) was marked by huge tensions, with calls from some quarters for dialogue between the protest organizers and the government, amidst fear of an outbreak of violence.
They are demanding concrete actions by President George Weah in fighting corruption in his government, the sacking of Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and Central Bank of Liberia Executive Governor, Nathaniel Patray, endorsement of proposal to set up a war and economic crimes court, addressing the mounting economic crisis by reducing the high foreign exchange rate, among other things.
The COP has insisted on exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Article 17 of the Liberian constitution, assuring that their protest will be peaceful.
So far (by midday GMT), the gathering of June 7 protesters on Capitol Hill in Monrovia by protesters from all walks of life has been peaceful so far.
Ahead of the protest, Liberian police and security forces have beefed up patrols around the capital and set up checkpoints/blocks, subjecting vehicles and passengers to thorough inspection.
Fewer vehicles are on the streets and most business houses doors are still shut. But some of them including at least three banks have opened to the public, as this reporter earlier this morning did a transaction at one of the local commercial banks.
But all eyes are set on the Capitol Hill corridor of the protest as the day progress, with 3pm GMT set for the protesters’ submission of their petition to the government of President George Weah, which has designated Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor to receive the statement.
Ahead of Friday’s protest, a joint protocol governing the protesters and the security forces was signed at the Justice Ministry in Monrovia and a commitment was made by the protest organizers to ECOWAS and the United Nations that the protest will be for one day, not several days as they had earlier insited.
Citizens of this post conflict West Africa state are on edge against the backdrop of previous anti-government protests which had been marred by violence.
One “pem-pem” or commercial motorcycle rider, identified as Vesselee told www.newspublictrust.com earlier this morning, “we are tired with violence”.
He said he was so much on edge that he was hoping the June 7 day just melted away in a heavy downpour of rain.
But only time will tell, as some key leaders of the protest are saying that they won’t leave the streets if President Weah doesn’t quickly address a few of their key demands.
It’s now known what will be the government’s reaction if the protesters refuse to disperse after the presentation of their petition by the end of Friday.