THE DECEMBER 18, 2024 fire at the Capitol Building in Monrovia has not only devastated a symbol of governance but also exposed alarming flaws in the investigative process spearheaded by the government.
INSTEAD OF PURSUING A transparent and objective inquiry, officials clothed with the investigation have chosen to politicize the tragedy, undermining public trust and raising urgent calls for international assistance.
FROM THE OUTSET, the government’s narrative has been riddled with contradictions.
THE SWIFT DECLARATION of arson, aimed at framing opposition figures like Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and the CDC as culprits, reflects an unsettling tendency to prioritize political agendas over factual investigation.
DESPITE CREDIBLE REPORTS of heavy electrical smoke from the panel box weeks before the fire, the government clung to its arson narrative, diverting attention from possible systemic failures and negligence.
FURTHERMORE, THE INSISTENCE that the Speaker’s and Deputy Speaker’s chairs remained unscathed is perplexing. Initially, the majority bloc claimed these chairs were relics from the Snowe era, only to later suggest they were stored safely in a member’s office.
Such contradictory accounts raise red flags and should have prompted a thorough investigation. Instead, the government has seemingly dismissed these inconsistencies, further eroding public confidence in the inquiry.
The discovery of a Clorox canister allegedly used to transport gasoline compounds this crisis. How can a container involved in an intense fire remain intact?
This alarming detail suggests not only a lack of diligence in the investigation but also a troubling inclination to accept convenient explanations over scientific evidence.
REPRESENTATIVE KOGAR’S PRESENCE at the Capitol the night before the fire, coupled with dubious claims about identifying arson based on flame color, adds another layer of complexity.
SUCH ASSERTIONS ARE not only scientifically flawed but also demonstrate a dangerous willingness to jump to conclusions without thorough investigation.
THE ROLE OF EXPERTS in fire science should not be sidelined by political theatrics. Moreover, the Police Inspector General’s reliance on EPA tests to declare the fire an act of arson, based merely on the presence of carbon monoxide, is deeply misleading.
CARBON MONOXIDE IS a standard byproduct of combustion; to use it as definitive proof of arson is not just inaccurate but reflects a troubling misunderstanding of fire dynamics.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH NYUMA Boakai’s immediate labeling of the incident as arson further complicates matters, leading to a narrow focus that hampers the objective investigation.
SUCH PREMATURE CONCLUSIONS can heavily influence public perception and limit the scope of the inquiry, pushing it down a predetermined path rather than allowing for a full exploration of the facts.
GIVEN THESE MYRIAD issues, it is clear that the government’s handling of this investigation is fraught with bias and inefficiency.
THE INITIAL REQUEST for international assistance underscores a recognition of these failures and the need for external expertise to ensure a fair investigation.
INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT IS ESSENTIAL not only to restore public trust but also to dismantle the political motivations that threaten to obscure the truth.
ONLY THROUGH UNBIASED scrutiny can we hope to uncover what truly transpired on that fateful day, holding accountable those responsible for any negligence or misconduct.
THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION into the Capitol fire must not be allowed to devolve into a political witch hunt.
THE GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE to approach this tragedy with the seriousness and impartiality it deserves demands intervention. Without international assistance, the quest for truth will remain clouded by suspicion and self-interest, leaving Liberia grappling with a legacy of mistrust and unanswered questions.
IT IS TIME FOR the global community to step in and ensure that justice prevails, free from the shackles of political manipulation.
