Monrovia, Liberia – A group of unidentified men disrupted the Anti-Corruption campaigners program on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, months after the Farmington Declaration, which was signed to ensure the sustainability of the peace during and after elections, and before the official Declaration of campaign by the National Elections Commission. The program was put on by the Liberian People’s Party, which is led by Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe.
Before the event, the group was singing songs that echoed those that the Anti-Corruption Campaigners had used to raise awareness of their cause. Just before Cllr. Taiwan Gongloe, the leader of the Liberian People’s Party, delivered his anti-corruption message, the group regrouped on Broad Street and later fled via Ashuman Street. At that point, it was witnessed the unidentified group hurling stones at the program’s organizers.
The opposition Liberia People Party’s peaceful meeting, however, came to a complete halt when an unidentified gang barged into the event. The organizers did manage to capture a woman, however she was unable to be identified, and she was later transferred to the Slipway police station for additional examination by the Liberia National Police.
According to report, one victim had serious injuries and was brought for medical attention to a clinic close by.
Speaking to reporters at his law office in Monrovia shortly after the incident, Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe characterized the behavior as a complete failure on the part of the Liberian government to provide security for the gathering.
The LPP Standard Bearer stated that it was unfortunate that the government did not take the issue of security seriously and that the LPP officially wrote the Justice Ministry informing them about the planned peaceful gathering by his supporters and others who support the Anti-Corruption Campaign.
Cllr. Gongloe is also urging the Liberian National Police to swiftly bring the culprits to justice in order to determine what caused the program’s following disruption. ”A group just violently ended our presentation by hurling stones and other dangerous materials at us;” one almost struck Councilor Gongloe. LPP Vice Running Mate Dr. Emmanuel Urey -Yarkpawolo stated, “We are safe and are currently hiding.”
In order to find safety, the incident forced Cllr. Gongloe and his running mate Dr. Emmanuel Urey-Yarkpawolo to leave the event.
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo called the occurrence a sad incident and advised that the appropriate authority step in right away.
Reported by: Joseph N. Kerkula
Email: jnkerkula@gmail.com
Contact: +231777376826
