What Triggered CDC’s Protest? | News

— Was it to shield indicted ex-officials, drug cartels, or was it an expression of genuine discontent?

“Corruption and crime, which have been associated with humankind from time immemorial, have a way of fighting. Organized crimes are even more deadly in fighting back,” said a veteran security officer who spent over 30 years serving in both the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the National Security Agency.

The veteran officer, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told the Daily Observer on Thursday that the government should be preparing adequately to absorb the feedback and effects of the robust corruption fight with the indictments of key former officials and the war waged against the proliferation of drugs or illicit substances in the country.

“Corruption has a way of fighting back and those who are being indicted by this government from the immediate past regime will fight to their last breath,” he said. “The drug cartel will also fight back and they will use every means possible to do so. President Boakai and his men should brace themselves for this long haul.”

The ex-NSA and LNP top brass believe that the disruptive protest staged by the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) on Thursday, August 22, is a proxy war being fought. According to him, nothing else could have triggered Thursday’s scuffle with the police.

“They are either fighting to shield their top executives who have been indicted by this government or to shield drug dealers that are associated with this,” the veteran security officer noted. “All the party officials who spoke to the press could give no reasons why CDCians were protesting today. The only thing we heard them saying was that they were provoked. But how?”

It was reported that officers from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) conducted a raid in the Small-Town Community around 4:30 AM on Thursday, targeting alleged drug dealers. The dealers reportedly sought refuge in the CDC headquarters and were pursued there by the officers.

This incident sparked a prolonged confrontation between the Liberia National Police officers and members of the CDC, particularly led by acting Youth League Chairman, Alvin Wesseh.

Following reports of the raid, residents, predominantly women, raised alarm and a gathering of them began to oppose the police’s actions.

In response, CDC Secretary General Jefferson Koijee posted on social media around 6 AM, reporting a security operation at their headquarters. He called for international attention and condemned the government’s actions, alleging disruptions to peace. He expressed uncertainty about the safety of CDC supporters and denounced what he perceived as unwarranted provocations that require immediate resolution.

Koijee criticized the police administration for jeopardizing national peace, highlighting the significance of peace beyond individual interests. He recounted how a police vehicle entered the CDC compound late at night, resulting in shots fired and raids conducted by officers. The status of some CDC supporters remains undisclosed, Koijee claimed, stressing that such provocations are unacceptable and require immediate redress.

“The peace of this country is far bigger than President Boakai and what he terms as a gang of political desperadoes,” he said.

Former President George Weah, in a statement, expressed deep shock and concern over what he described as the police’s decision to open “fire on unarmed civilians near the headquarters of the CDC and its surrounding area.”

Weah described the police’s action as a significant threat to peace and a serious question over the Unity Party (UP)-led administration’s ability to govern responsibly.

“The UP administration boasts of their governing abilities, yet they are demonstrating a lack of tolerance. Why would they open fire on innocent civilians? The attacks began as early as 2 AM,” Weah stated. “This is not an example of good governance. We are a nation that upholds the rule of law. This must end immediately. We demand explanations.”

“The UP administration claims they know how to govern, but they are not exhibiting tolerance. Why open fire on innocent civilians? As early as 2 AM, they started attacking. This is not good governance. We are a nation of rule and law. This needs to stop. We demand answers.”

The government, in a statement, narrated that the LDEA, in an attempt to execute a search and seizure warrant at an identified property in the Small Town Community, around the Bernard Beach vicinity, received resistance from some community members that led to the LDEA personnel pulling out of the community.

As a result of the resistance, several LDEA personnel sustained injuries and are currently being treated at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.

“After the LDEA pulled out, individuals believed to be members of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) blocked the free flow of traffic, setting roadblocks, lighting tires, and pelting stones at vehicles and pedestrians on Tubman Boulevard, near the party headquarters. Several vehicles were damaged, and innocent citizens as well as law enforcement officers were injured by rocks thrown from the direction of the party headquarters.”

To restore law and order, the government said, LNP swiftly intervened. The Joint Security also states categorically that no lethal weapon was used. The Government clarifies that the LDEA search and seizure execution was not intended for, nor did it target the Headquarters of the CDC.

“The Joint Security affirms its commitment to the rule of law and protection of our democratic principles. The security forces will continue to perform their duties with professionalism and integrity, ensuring that individuals enjoy their rights in a safe environment,” the statement said. “The Government also urges everyone to refrain from violence and carry on with their normal activities.”

However, many believe that the actions of the LDEA and the Police in going after a suspected drug dealer should not lead to violence towards law enforcement, regardless of the fact that the arrest took place near the CDC headquarters.

“Addressing the widespread drug abuse issue in Liberia requires collaborative efforts between the CDC, Liberia National Police, and LDEA, including addressing illegal activities near the party’s headquarters,” a government official told the Observer on Thursday. “Ideally, one would expect the leadership of the CDC to support the early morning raid to combat drug-related crimes.”

However, some reactions suggest possible discomfort, fueling existing suspicions that certain individuals within the party may benefit from the drug trade in Liberia. Previous incidents, such as the importation of kush during elections, allegedly by former Executive Mansion head of protocol Ms. Nora Finda Bundoo, underscore the importance of addressing drug-related issues effectively.

The LDEA has been raiding ghettos across the country. Some of the most famous ghettos in Monrovia, including the notorious “Zimbabwe” drug den, have been dismantled by the government.

“The drug dealers are not happy with how the government is going after them and is finding every means to fight back and gain control of their trade,” a top security officer from the Weah administration said. “They saw that opportunity to take to the streets today. It is sad that the CDC, as a legitimate and national institution, will provide such a space for the drug cartel. This is worrisome.”

He noted that he was informed that many of the top drug dealers across the city were mobilizing men to converge at the CDC headquarters to give support to those who were apparently under attack.

“But the police acted very smart to have cut off other parts of the city by putting blockades at major intersections. That was a very good strategy or else the situation would have escalated and gotten worse.

He also indicated that these protest tactics are also being instituted by the former ruling party in order to instill fear in the public so that the government would stop going after alleged corrupt former officials.

“The CDC is also fighting to shield some of its top former officials who are wanted on corruption allegations. They want to create panic in the public so that the government can disregard its anti-graft efforts,” he said.

Information Minister, Jerolinmek Piah, could not agree more, as he linked Thursday’s protest to recent audit reports and actions by the General Auditing Agency (GAC) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (LACC), respectively. 

Piah, at the ministry’s press briefing, accused officials of the CDC, who have been named by the GAC and LACC for corruption, of inciting partisans to cause tension.

“The LACC does an investigation and charges are brought against people. What do we see? Press conferences vowing resistance? Resisting what, we don’t know.”

“When the very LACC says ‘this person is a person of interest, we are doing an investigation, and they have to answer some questions’; what do you see? They mobilize militants to escort them to the investigation ground. When the GAC conducts an audit of the Central Bank and action is taken initially, as the investigation goes deeper, you hear (about) agitation and witch hunting.”

Gov’t Indictees, U. S Sanctioned McGill, Tweah Speak Out

Two influential officials of the CDC government who were indicted by the current administration also spoke out on the incident. Former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel Farlo McGill, and Samuel D. Tweah, former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, expressed outrage over the incident. Both men were sanctioned last year by the government of the United States for corruption and abuse of power

McGill said in a social media post “Enough is enough! The people of Liberia deserve a government that respects their rights, upholds the rule of law, and works for the betterment of all, not just a select few. This assault on our democracy must stop now.”

He expressed outrage over what he termed as the ongoing brazen attack on the CDC headquarters since last night by State security forces.

“This is an unacceptable act of aggression that threatens the very fabric of our democracy and the rights of political parties to operate without fear of violence or intimidation,” McGill, who is a current Senator for Margibi County, noted.

He said the use of state power to suppress major political opposition is a dangerous precedent that cannot be tolerated.

“This act of violence is not just an attack on the CDC; it is an attack on the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy that every Liberian holds dear,” he said. “We demand immediate accountability for those responsible for this cowardly assault. The government must cease using state security forces as tools of oppression against political rivals and instead, focus on the real work of uniting our country and improving the lives of its citizens.”

This reckless and unjustifiable action has only strengthened our resolve to resist any and all attempts to silence opposition voices. We will not be intimidated, and we will not stand by as our democracy is undermined.

Tweah said the ruling party i threatening Liberian peace, democracy, and governance with political Witch-hunt and political manhunt.

“Let it be clear that political witch-hunts and manhunts cannot weaken and daunt the Mighty CDC. These diabolical tactics will only harden the resolve and will of the CDC to UNITE and confront the menace from the UP,” he said on his Facebook page. “In the coming days, I will be returning to the country to legally rubbish a bogus witch-hunt launched against my person for political purposes and to join my colleagues in mounting the fiercest opposition to the collapse and paralysis of governance the country is now witnessing.”

The former Finance Minister indicated that the CDC can never be intimidated by the weaponization of power, especially by a weak governing coalition struggling for its bearings and using shenanigans and distractions to confuse the public about its incapacities.

“Our political forbears before us stared down tyranny at the price of their lives. To stare down these bluffers take almost nothing,” he said. “Mr. Standard Bearer and Political Leader Dr. George MANNEH WEAH the moment has come to stop the abuse of your pedigree for peace and your magnanimity. You conceded power to the UP when the outcome of the 2023 election was still in doubt. That patriotic example has been squashed and misconstrued for weakness.”

More Protests In Sight?

Jefferson Koijee remains defiant following Thursday’s altercation between CDC partisans and the ERU police officers. He has announced the summoning of an Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee and all auxiliaries of the CDC on Friday, August 23rd, to discuss the CDC’s next course of action.

“We will assemble partisans and the citizens at our party’s headquarters and we will be moving on the Streets  for the government to kill us all.”

“The current administration, headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, is not able to protect the citizens of Liberia but to use armed police officers against armless and peaceful citizens.” CDC SG intoned.

The CDC Secretary General reaffirmed that CDCians are peaceful citizens and that the government needs to understand this, take time in its approach to issues, and stop misjudging CDCians.

He said as heads of the massive People’s Party (CDC), they will stand in the gap to put the government’s feet to the fire each day because the Boakai’s government came to power based on lies and criminality.

He addressed party supporters, emphasizing peaceful assembly while expressing concerns about the government’s actions. Koijee stressed that CDC members are law-abiding citizens and called for mutual understanding between the government and CDC supporters.

He criticized the current administration led by President Boakai and indicated the CDC’s commitment to advocating for accountability and transparency. Koijee noted that the maintenance of peace surely rests in the hands of the government and threatened that any attempts further by the LNP and the government to prevent Partisans from going to their party headquarters would be resisted by the people