Federation of Motorcycle & Tricycle Unions, Joint Collaborating Unions Condemn Violence in Maryland County
In the wake of the violence in Maryland County, the Federation of Motorcycle and Tricycle Unions (FOMTUL), and the joint collaborating unions have condemned the action of the angry mob.
The groups, in a joint statement issued in Monrovia lauded the government through the state security for exerting all effort to restore calm but called for an ‘expeditious investigation in to the death of their member.
“FOMTUL and all collaborating unions condemn in the strongest term the acts of lawlessness by the protesters and appreciate the government for applying all efforts to immediately resolve the situation,” the groups said in the statement.
“Also, the national leadership of the Federation and all collaborating unions is working with local leadership assigned to Maryland County to support the state security in bringing the situation to an end and call for an expeditious investigation over the death of the motorcyclist.”
The groups, in the statement signed by FOMTUL’s President General John Kenyor, and heads of the collaborating unions also extended their condolences to the bereaved family for their loss and called on them to remain peaceful in their pursuit of justice.
The collaborating unions include the Liberia Unique Drivers Organization, represented by Prince Gibson; United Congress Drivers Union of Liberia headed by Youjah Dahn; National Desktop Publisher Typographer Union of Liberia through its leader, Samuel S. Jackson; Genwinah Transport Union of Liberia, represented by Fredell S. Garmie and the Helpful Wheelbarrow Rider Union through its head Oscar Dolo.
Last week, violence erupted in Maryland when a student, Mordecial Nyemah, who plied his trade as a motorcyclist was discovered dead in Plebo, the commercial hub of the county. His death has been largely blamed on ritualistic purposes.
In the wake of the incident, angry mob in Plebo went on the rampage, destroying private and public properties. The house of Speaker Bhofal Chambers was set ablaze, and the prison compound in the county’s capital, Harper was ransacked, leading to the escape of 91 inmates.
The situation prompted President George Weah to place a curfew in the county, beginning from 6: pm to 6: am.
Meanwhile, the FOMTUL, and the collaborating unions said their attention has been drawn to information from Maryland alleging that the Liberia National Police (LNP) is indiscriminately arresting motorcyclists and some members of the FOMTUL’s local leadership within the county. The groups also claimed there are reports that the LNP has banned commercial motorcycles from operation during the day, outside of the curfew time.
The groups, in the statement said it condemned any form of intimidation against its local leadership and the commercial motorcyclists in general.
They then called on the security in the area to allow its members to freely go about their business as they form an integral part of the nation building process.
The groups claimed that the motorcycle sector, along with its collaborating unions is the employer of at least 100,000 persons across the country and providing support to the government’s Pro Poor agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
They added: “Knowing fully well that the government is incapacitated to employ every citizen as enshrined in the organic law of Liberia (Article 8), which states that the government shall ensure job creation for every citizens without discrimination.”
The groups then called on both the motorcyclists and tricyclists to desist from any act of violence and reckless riding which has the propensity to bring the sector to public disrepute.