Monrovia – The Solidarity and Belief for a New Day (STAND) Govt Director Mulbah Okay. Morlu, has launched a defiant protest march to the Govt Mansion, vowing to not be intimidated by what it described because the “muscle groups” of Liberia’s safety forces.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
Chatting with reporters at the beginning of the march to Capitol Hill, Morlu framed the demonstration as a citizen-driven motion rooted in Liberia’s democratic historical past and constitutional rights, insisting that the Govt Mansion belongs to the folks, not the political elite.
“As we speak is the day we communicate up for you, we act in your behalf. So don’t sit in a parliament in worry. Don’t tremble in cowardice,” Morlu declared.
The STAND chief stated protesters had been converging on the Govt Mansion to ship a transparent message to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, whom he known as Joseph-Gilbert Walker, saying the President should both lead decisively or step apart.
“We’re popping out as we speak on the Govt Mansion, the premises of the folks, to inform Joseph-Gilbert Walker sufficient is sufficient. He should lead or he leaves,” Morlu stated.
Regardless of the seen deployment of the Liberia Nationwide Police throughout key areas of Monrovia, Morlu insisted that the protest wouldn’t be deterred by safety presence.
“The presence of police banditry and armed police banditry won’t deter this course of. The presence of the whole muscle groups of Liberia’s simply safety forces won’t deter or thwart this course of. We’re coming outdoors as we speak,” he asserted.
Morlu emphasised that the protest was peaceable and grounded in Liberia’s lengthy historical past of civic resistance, drawing parallels with previous actions that used the Govt Mansion grounds to press for reform.
“We’re the folks. We’re homeowners of this nation. The Govt Mansion is a property of the folks,” he stated.
He cited historic precedents, together with protests by political events, college students, girls’s teams, and civil society organizations.
“If it was good for use in 1980 by the Progressive Individuals’s Celebration, if it was good for use in 1980 by scholar actions, if it was good for use in 2003 by girls teams that had been convening for the restoration of democratic governance, if it was good for use in 2019 by Council of Patriots, if it was good for use by Joseph Boakai in 2020 on the Govt Mansion then it means it’s good for use as we speak,” Morlu stated.
In response to Morlu, the protest seeks to demand the restoration of excellent governance, respect for the rule of regulation, and accountability for alleged abuses by public officers.
“Residents of the nation are merely converging peacefully to demand that good governance is restored, democracy is restored, rule of regulation is revered, injustices are handled and restored, and that raping younger ladies by authorities officers shall be stopped and quickened,” he said.
Morlu issued a warning to the police in opposition to using power, significantly tear fuel, saying duty for sustaining peace rests with the President.
“As we speak is a day of the folks, and we warn the police to not fireplace one tear fuel as a result of the duty to maintain the peace rests squarely on the shoulders of Joseph Walker,” he warned.
He added: “The duty to take care of regulation and order rests squarely on Joseph Boakai shoulders.” Whereas pledging peaceable conduct by STAND supporters, Morlu accused ruling Unity Celebration associates of allegedly plotting to disrupt the protest.
“We’re listening to that United Celebration surrogates and their supporters have an agenda to storm peaceable protestors at completely different areas, at completely different intersections,” he claimed.
He cautioned that any such motion would undermine nationwide stability. “That is going to be detrimental to peace and stability. We don’t have a head in that. We don’t wish to be a part of that,” Morlu stated.
He additionally appealed to the worldwide neighborhood to intervene diplomatically to stop violence. “We urge all of the worldwide neighborhood to warn Joseph Walker to withdraw violent forces which were planted to trigger chaos amongst peaceable protestors,” he stated.
Reaffirming STAND’s resolve, Morlu stated protesters would stay peaceable however decided. “We shall be peaceable however relentless. We won’t retreat. We won’t give up to worry. We’re the affluent college students of excellent governance,” he declared.
He used Liberia’s Structure because the authorized foundation for civic motion.“The Structure of Liberia says when our security and safety is required, we should always come outdoors if we wish to assist the political agenda. And we’re doing that as we speak with extra worry.”
