MONROVIA – On Sunday, May 21, 2023, a group of young men under the banner “National Patriotic Party Youth Council,” stormed the premises of Senator Prince Y. Johnson’s Christ Chapel of Faith Ministry in Paynesville with placards chanting “war crimes court, war crimes court”, thereby causing panic and forcing the congregation to flee for safety. The group was led by Peter Blidii, Jr., who was introduced as the National Vice Chairman for Press and Propaganda of the NPP Youth Council.
This uncivilized act exhibited by the NPP/CDC youth group is contrary to the provision of Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution that calls for an orderly and peaceful assembly. It also violates Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by Liberia in 2004. This unwarranted behavior also clearly violates the intention of the Farmington River Declaration, signed by the political parties on April 4, 2023, committing them to a peaceful electoral process.
The Foundation for Human Rights Defense International (FOHRD) strongly condemns the disruptive and violent behavior of the NPP/CDC youth group, which was undemocratic and an infringement on the inalienable rights of the congregation.
In conclusion, FOHRD calls on the Weah-Taylor-led Administration to immediately launch a full-scale investigation into this barbaric, crude and inhumane incident, and bring the perpetrators to justice in conformity with the due process of law, to avoid a reoccurrence of such lawlessness as we approach the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
