Liberia’s former ruling Unity Party has taken serious exception to the brutality meted out against students Unification Party in which one person was seriously injured during the country’s 175th Independence Day celebration in Monrovia.
The students On Tuesday, July 26, assembled at the United States Embassy on Benson Street in Monrovia, one of the designated spots of its much-heralded “Fix The Country” campaign aimed at denouncing “bad governance” and its vices including corruption, poverty, and insecurity under the Weah-led administration.
Several members of the Student Unification Party (SUP) at the state-run University of Liberia were left injured in a counter-protest staged by supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
According to report, while the official ceremony was ongoing at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Ashmun Street, SUP’s assembly turned bitter at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy up Snipper Hill on Benson Street when a pro-government group, the CDC- Council of Patriots stormed the protest ground and attacked SUP members. While many SUP members fled, the pro-government group caught some.
However, in a statement, Unity Party said it condemns in the strongest terms, the barbaric and inhumane rebel-like treatment of a peaceful student of the Vanguard Student Unification Party who had joined thousands of other students of the University of Liberia to protest the “unbearable and unprecedented” economic hardship and degradation of the country.
It added that the “draconian regime” of President George Weah unleashed thugs, under the banner of CDC-CoP, who were well armed to attack the peaceful students who had only gathered to bring the plight of the Liberian people to the world.
“We call on the government to investigate and bring to justice those she unleashed on the students of the University of Liberia”, the statement added.
Monrovia City Mayor accused
Speaking to a local online media, K-News the Spokesperson of SUP, Mohammed Shabazz Jalloh accused Monrovia Mayor Koijee was the mastermind behind the CDC supporters’ action.
“What occurred today was total hooliganism and gangsterism and Jefferson Koijee was the ring leader of what occurred today because what we saw, these were elements of the CDC Youth Wing”, Said Jalloh.
The campaign, according to SUP, was also intended to dissuade citizens from joining the Government in celebrating Liberia’s 175th Independence.
