Monrovia – Police have used teargas and water to disperse thousands of protesters demanding answers to the rapidly declining economic conditions under President George Manneh Weah.
“The religious leaders even interceded to no avail. The COP persisted in putting lives at risk. The police therefore applied appropriate force to forestall danger and disperse them. “
Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information
FrontPageAfrica reporters covering the protest did not notice any visible injuries but the protest which had been peaceful up to the point when officer began spraying teargas turned violent as many ran helter, skelter for shelter.
Rep. Yekeh Kolubah(Independent, District No. 10) was visibly shaken as officer impounded his vehicle. A man was seen handcuffed by police and being taken away from the scene of the protest.
The protest follows two mass rallies against the Weah-led government struggling to fight off allegations of corruption and rising prices.
The protest organizers, the Council of Patriots led hundreds near the seat of the three branches of government, vowing to remain on the streets until President Weah answered their demands.
The Ministry of Justice had cautioned the COP against assembling on the first day of school of the Christmas and New Year’s holiday.
Nearly 5,000 protesters assembled outside Monrovia’s Capitol building, with banners “March for Justice” and “Bring Back Our Money”. Traffic along the main Tubman Boulevard in Sinkor were diverted to the Jallah Town Back Road. The rest of the city remained relatively peaceful, although some businesses remained closed.
Mr. Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism(MICAT), who suggested in a Facebook post that the teargas and water had been sprayed because protesters had begun to light fire, told FPA that the Weah administration remains committed to democratic norms.
Said Minister Nagbe: “The Police have been providing security for both the COP folks and the rest of the citizens who wanted to go about their normal businesses since 7am this morning. In spite of the rowdiness by the COP, obstructing traffic on the bypass and parts of UN drive, the police maintained a passive posture. When the COP provocateurs decide to light fires on Capitol Hill, and pose imminent danger to lives and property, even then the police did not act immediately.”
The minister said the police asked the COP protesters to stop such unacceptable actions to no avail. “The religious leaders even interceded to no avail. The COP persisted in putting lives at risk. The police therefore applied appropriate force to forestall danger and disperse them. As a government, we respect democracy, we respect the exercise of freedoms and will protect and defend all citizens in the exercise of all rights. However, the government will not bend in performing its responsibilities to protect the peace and security of the state.”
Samuel Tamba, a student at the AMEU University lamented: “Liberian people are really resilient. From what we saw today indicates that Liberia will reach a point for us to go to war again. The group that I saw there were not afraid of teargas but because of peace.”
Tamba says the use of force by the police was against protesters rights.
Mr. Henry Costa, leader of the COP had earlier trumpeted the fact that protesters were peaceful. “I am right now in the streets, there are no guns, no police is chasing anybody. We have to make history,” he added.