Monrovia – The leadership of one of the leading political parties at the University of Liberia (UL), the Student Democratic Alliance (STUDA) wants the UL Administration and the Liberia National Police to launch an investigation into the incident that led to a tussle between members of STUDA and that of the Student Unification Party (SUP).
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The incident happened on Friday, July 6 during STUDA 26th anniversary celebration at the UL campus on Capitol Hill.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa, STUDA Standard Bearer, Trokon Zahn said one of their members was severely wounded and several vehicles belonging to guests attending the event were damaged.
Zahn lamented that the tussle also disrupted the event which coincided with a fundraiser intended to garner fund towards scholarship and financial aid for needed students this semester.
He explained that it is generally accepted on campus wherein a political party or group that is organizing a program hangs their flag or banner up the palava hut to signal that they are having a program.
So when STUDA flag was hoisted, SUP supporters stormed the palava hut and ripped it off and began throwing stones at the auditorium where the event was being held.
The tussle led to the breaking of windows of the building and smashing of cars that were packed on the campus’ lawn windshield.
Zahn condemned the alleged actions of the ‘Supists’ and called for a swift investigation in order to bring to book those behind the melee.
“We are calling on the University of Liberia to launch a quick investigation into to the matter,”
“We believe in justice. We need to be protected on the University of Liberia campus. The campus is not for one institution. It is a place for all students and student groups. Yesterday the act exhibited by the ‘Supists’ is very unbecoming in this 21st century. We believe in democracy, so we try to go by the rule of democracy.”
Meanwhile, FrontPage Africa tried calling the President of the University of Liberia Student Union and Standard Bearer of SUP, Mau Flomo via mobile phone, but his phone rang without respond.
Student politics on the University of Liberia is often marred by violence.
However, Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean told FPA that initial reports are that the two groups of students were fighting over who had a primary right to the students’ palava hut. The fight became violent, with students throwing stones and breaking windows. The police were invited to restore order.
According to the Justice Minister, A meeting was convened between the parties but they could not reach a compromise on who to use the palava hut for the day. This prompted the police to advise everyone to leave.
Minister Dean denied reports of scuffle between the students and the police, noting that no one was manhandled.
Currently, the leadership of the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) is drawn from the three political parties on campus including the Student Unification Party (SUP), Student Democratic Alliance (STUDA) and the Student Integration Movement (SIM).