Liberia: Bishop Brown Urges Government, Opposition Amid Prosecution of Ex-Speaker Koffa, Lawmakers Over Capitol Fire

BREWERVILLE, MONTSERRADO COUNTY – Bishop Kortu Brown, a outstanding Liberian non secular chief, is urging the Unity Occasion-led authorities and opposition politicians to keep away from creating pointless pressure within the nation amid the continuing prosecution of a number of lawmakers accused of involvement within the December 2024 Capitol Constructing hearth.

By: Obediah Johnson

Talking Monday throughout an interview in Brewerville, Bishop Brown cautioned all political actors to chorus from politicizing the trial of the lawmakers and to permit the authorized course of to proceed independently and peacefully.

“We should always be capable of discover the culprits; we must always convey them to justice and I’m very clear about that. We hope that we do all of this throughout the confines of the rule of legislation,” he said.

The case stems from a hearth that gutted the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Constructing on December 18, 2024. Authorities authorities concluded the incident was an act of arson following investigations by the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) and the Liberia Nationwide Fireplace Service (LNFS).

Subsequently, legal costs had been introduced towards 5 lawmakers together with Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa (District 2, Grand Kru County), Abu B. Kamara (District 15, Montserrado County), Dixon Seboe (District 16, Montserrado County), Priscilla Cooper (District 5, Montserrado County), and Jacob Debee (District 3, Grand Gedeh County). The costs embody arson, legal facilitation, and legal conspiracy.

4 of the accused spent two nights on the Monrovia Central Jail earlier than being launched on bail on Monday, June 9. Consultant Priscilla Cooper was reportedly launched earlier on medical grounds.

Bishop Brown careworn that the federal government should guarantee equity and transparency all through the proceedings and will take additional care to keep away from actions that could possibly be interpreted as politically motivated.

“The trial have to be carried out in a manner the place nearly all of the citizenry would see and consider that it’s not meant to go after one group of individuals or people,” he stated. “This shouldn’t be a Unity Occasion or CDC situation — no.”

He additional warned that permitting partisan narratives to dominate the case may heighten political pressure.“We have to do all we will to maintain the place calm,” Bishop Brown cautioned.

The Bishop additionally expressed disappointment that the arrests and subsequent detention of the lawmakers overshadowed what he described as every week stuffed with vital nationwide accomplishments.

He referenced Liberia’s election to the United Nations Safety Council as a non-permanent member, President Joseph Boakai’s resolution to waive tariffs on rice imports, the removing of Liberia from a U.S. visa restriction record, and the inauguration of ArcelorMittal’s iron ore concentrator in Nimba County.

“Liberia made huge marks final week; I assumed we had been to have fun these marks the entire of final week. However the music for the celebration was stopped,” Bishop Brown stated. “I’m questioning why the federal government stopped the celebration tape?”

He described the timing of the lawmakers’ arrests as “not well timed,” and argued that the federal government may have delayed the motion to protect nationwide unity throughout a second of celebration.

“I nonetheless don’t perceive why we had a superb week, however that week was interrupted with one thing that could possibly be achieved subsequent week or one other time,” he stated.

Bishop Brown reiterated his dedication to authorized accountability and condemned the assault on the Capitol Constructing as “a nasty act of lawlessness.”

“It’s unacceptable and condemnable for somebody to go and burn the Capitol Constructing,” he stated. “We as non secular individuals, we stand with and by the rule of legislation. We don’t need Liberia to be a reckless or lawless nation.”

Nonetheless, he emphasised that due course of have to be adopted. “Nobody is responsible till confirmed by a court docket of competent jurisdiction,” he said. “We should always not personalize this court docket situation.”

Bishop Brown additionally condemned the bodily assault and arrest of Janga Kowo, Chairman of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), who was apprehended on the Monrovia Central Jail whereas expressing solidarity with the detained lawmakers. Kowo was reportedly thrown into the again of a police pickup truck by officers of the LNP and later launched with out cost.

“They took the Chairman of an entire political get together and simply threw him at the back of a pick-up. I feel it was simply reckless,” the Bishop stated. “We’d like nationwide engagements. There’s a solution to handle these points that individuals won’t assume that we try to go after them.”

Describing the incident as “troubling,” Bishop Brown known as for a full investigation into the actions of the police.

Calling for peaceable engagement, Bishop Brown urged politicians on either side to cut back inflammatory rhetoric and prioritize nationwide unity.

“There’s no want for anybody to focus on each other right here,” he stated. “Let’s cut back the rhetoric that may additional heighten tensions throughout the communities. The perfect factor to do is to interact, dialogue, and discuss in regards to the points.”

“I simply wish to attraction for calm from the federal government facet—the rhetoric—it is a plea for us to tamper a few of it with reasoning. We wish to additionally attraction to the opposition individuals to train restraints and let’s do no matter we will to have the ability to be certain that this surroundings stays calm.”

He famous that whereas intentions could also be real, the tactic of execution issues. “Typically chances are you’ll be doing the correct factor, however the best way you do it would make individuals assume whether or not or not it’s the correct factor you’re doing.”

Bishop Brown emphasised that it’s now the duty of the Ministry of Justice to current credible proof, and that regardless of the court docket guidelines have to be revered by all events.

“We should always not make it a Unity Occasion or CDC situation. If these individuals are accused, we encourage them to go to court docket and all of us ought to wait and see what occurs as they undergo the trial,” he suggested.

He added by reminding all actors of their constitutional obligations. “President Joseph Boakai and his authorities are below obligation to make sure that Liberia is peaceable and calm,” he stated. “Opposition politicians must also be reminded of their duty to maintain the peace in Liberia no matter provocation from any state actors.”