What appears to be a new record for protest in Liberia was witnessed on Monday at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia when Leroy Archie Ponpon, a staff of the Temple of Justice has set himself ablaze in demand of salary and benefits owed him by the Judiciary Branch of Government.
Ponpon, popular activist has been leading protests in recent weeks as staffers intensified their demands over delayed salary arrears.
Before Monday’s incident Mr. Ponpon had threatened to set himself at blaze if the Temple of justice failed to pay him salary and benefits owed him, but he was overlooked by authorities as he implemented his action.
He was suspended for time indefinite by Chief Justice Francis Kporkor for leading a protest during which the Chief Justice was booed by angry staffers calling him ‘criminal’.
Liberia Public Radio correspondent at the Temple of Justice said Ponpon was also threatened with an arrest and warned to stay away from the premises of the high court.
Archie Ponpon came to a spotlight in 2011 when he led protest for the rights of same sex in Liberia.
The longtime activist was badly burnt and was been rushed to the John F. Kennedy (JFK) referral Hospital to seek urgent medical attention.
The government of Liberia is yet to make formal statement on Archie Ponpon’s Monday action.
Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Ministry Minister Samuel Tweah has earlier said governemt does not owed the judiciary employees although he has promised to settle the matter.
Staffers at the Liberian legislature have been protesting in recent days over delayed salary arrears owed them by government.
See Video of Archie Ponpon burning himself
