Liberia: Police Stood by Doing Nothing As Rioters Vandalize Unity Party Vehicle

Monrovia – A female supporter from the end of the opposition collaboration got severely injured on her head Tuesday, August 13, and had to be rushed from the scene by fellow partisans/supporters when followers of Abu Kamara sparked a violent stone-throwing melee at the National Elections Commission in Sinkor.

Also, an assigned Unity Party (UP) vehicle to Mr. Mohammed Ali, who heads the press and public affairs office of UP, was vandalized allegedly by the partisans of Mr. Kamara, who is the candidate on the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) ticket.

Partisans of the four collaborating political parties — UP, All Liberian Party, Liberty Party and Alternative National Congress — had gathered peaceably before the NEC to protest while the Montserrado County District #15 by-election dispute hearings were being conducted inside the Elections Commission with representatives of the contesting parties.   

The riot took place in the presence of officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), who stood by and did nothing initially even when the vehicle of Mo Ali was being vandalized by the rioters.

However, after a while, the police arrested one person from the CDC rioting clan.

Mr. Henry Costa, a supporter of the four collaborating parties emerged from inside the hearing hall so furious. He was visibly seen venting his anger on the police who only stood by and did nothing to arrest the situation when the CDC supporters allegedly sparked the riot.

“How do you expect us to have confidence in you the police, when you are standing right here and allowing CDCians to throw stones at our people? How do you expect us to feel secure in this headquarters when you are right here and CDCians are throwing stones at our people?” Costa stated among others.

When Mo Ali emerged, he told journalists, “I think you can see what is ongoing here. We are in a country that has retrogressed. I mean gone back and if we don’t fix it that’s how it will stay. This country is in total collapse as you can see properties are being damaged right in front of the police.”

Noah Gibson, a visual impaired man and a supporter of the opposition bloc said, “We have gathered to tell the world that the NEC wants to cheat and we will resist any attempt to do so. Today, the final ruling is to be up and we do not want George Weah to influence this process. What should be for District 15 should be given them,” Gibson said.

More details to follow later…