What They Were Protesting
On July 26, 2022, several members of the CDC-COP were shown on Facebook Live, beating and torturing a student of the University of Liberia, Christopher Walter Sisulu Sivili who had joined other students from the Student Unification Party (SUP) to protest alleged “bad governance” and its vices including corruption, poverty and insecurity under the Weah-led administration.
Christopher Sivili being tortured by CDC-COP Members
Christopher Sivili at the Hospital being treated for his wounds
Weah Breaks Silence
After being silent for 5 days on the violence inflicted on Sivili by CDC-COP members, President George Mannah Weah finally on the 6th day, went on State Radio to address the nation.
Speaking on the State Radio on Monday August 1, 2022, 6 days after the event, the Liberian leader noted that anyone or group that has his image on a banner in support of the ruling Party and the Government must be peaceful, respectful, and tolerant.
“I have stressed, in all my public engagements, the need to maintain the hard-earned peace that we now enjoy, and this is a cause for which I have lent personal sacrifice – as an Ambassador of Peace,” Pres. Weah emphasized.
According to him: ”Anyone or group who supports of his political ideology and love him should disengage his or herself from any form of violence.”
President George Weah distanced himself from the group with his next remarks.
“As the founding father of the Congress for Democratic Change, now the Coalition for Democratic Change, “We do not have any CDC-COP within our organization.”
“When you come to join us, you become a CDC partisan of peace, democracy, and development,”
“I have also instructed the Minister of Health to ensure that all those who sustained injuries during the violent attack be given the best medical treatment at the expense of the government”
‘Liberia remains a country of laws, despite our political differences, we are one nation, one people united under God’s command.”
Police Investigation and Arrest
Seven days after the incident occurred and despite video evidence showing CDC-COP members perpetrating the violence as they counter-protest against SUP members, while parading on Benson Street Hill with a banner depicting a portrait of Weah and singing the slogan, “Weah is Fixing the State”, some 7 persons from the CDC-COP were arrested.
As to why there was a delay in investigating the incident and making an arrest, The police Spokesman, Moses Carter, had earlier informed the public that they were finding it difficult to launch a thorough investigation in the absence of a formal complaint by either party — SUP or CDC-COP.
Senate Committee on Defence, National Security, and Veteran Affairs Recommendations
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, National Security, and Veteran Affairs Senator Steve Zarko has called on President George Weah to suspend the Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee for being a major supporter of the CDC-COP.
Senator Zarko also wants the source or the buyer of a pickup truck that conveys the CDC-COP to be called in for questioning.
The Senate Committee on Defence, National Security, and Veteran Affairs has asked President Weah to take action by suspending Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee, but up to date, no action has been taken.
President Weah asked the Minister of Health to tend to the victims at the expense of the government. That’s good!
In as much as the president could ask the Minister of Health to tend to the victims, he failed to ask the Ministry of Justice to take any action. The president did not call for the instigators and perpetrators of this violent act to be brought to justice. Mr. President, your ruling Party, and government does not appear to be peaceful, respectful, or tolerant. Mr. President, you have always been silent when it comes to instilling justice and discipline.
This too shall come to pass and you may find yourself on the other side of the fence someday. Just my little thought.
Well stated!
They deserve what they ask for, from the start to the end. No question or whatsoever. I never saw people, go protest during their county independence day. Everybody knows exactly who the send them.
Good Day Mr. President,
I must congratulate you for the infrastructural developments and your efforts to stabilize the country.
Please free yourself of the one mistake you made after your ascendancy to the office of President of our great country. Your honor, Government ( CIVIL SERVICE) positions are not appointed by the President.
To correct this, now is the time to mandate all officials appointed to these positions, to have themselves certified with eligibility requirements from the Civil Service prior to the next election, if they want to retain their positions. Otherwise, you must and should make future decisions based on appointments from Civil Service candidates on the waiting list. This will free you from the blame game. We did it during President Tolbert’s ‘MAT TO MATRESS’ successful project that brought Liberia back to a rising standard among powerful nations. Just my way of saying thank you. Changing a party’s name is only of value if the ideology is changed. I am proud to be a Liberian and look forward to joining you soon.
Respectfully submitted,
Rose Knuckles Bull
Former: Principal Analyst Testing (Civil Service, Liberia)
Former:
Evaluation Specialist,
IEL, Min. Educ., LiB
Former: Principal
LASS, Yekepa
HMHS, Harbel,
Firestone
Retired : Job Opportunity
Specialist, HRA, NYC