Monrovia — The Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) on Wednesday arrested an affiliate of the Solidarity and Belief for a New Day (STAND) throughout protest actions close to the Govt Mansion, sparking accusations of profiling and selective enforcement by demonstrators.
By Jaheim T. Tumu | [email protected]
The arrested protester, whose id was not instantly disclosed, claimed he was appearing throughout the legislation and complying with police directions on the time of his arrest.
“I used to be arrested after they gave me instruction,” the protester stated, insisting he was following police directives and was merely trying to rejoin his group.
In keeping with him, he and a number of other others had been transferring towards STAND Govt Director Mulbah Morlu to satisfy fellow demonstrators collaborating within the “Boakai Lead or Depart” protest when police intervened.
He rejected allegations of defiance or disorderly conduct, stating, “We’re not violators.” The protester recommended his arrest could have been influenced by his management function throughout the motion.
“Maybe we now have been profiled,” he stated, noting that he serves as a co-leader of one in all STAND’s auxiliary teams.
Regardless of being restrained, the protester continued to claim that he acted lawfully all through the encounter, emphasizing that he was “going by the instruction” offered by police.
In the meantime, a number of STAND protesters had been seen carrying cooking utensils and meals gadgets, together with rice, pots and coal pots, signaling their intention to prepare dinner close to the Govt Mansion as a part of the protest.
One protester, who declined to be recognized, stated the group posed no menace to public order or safety.
“We’re not going to battle the police. We’re going to prepare dinner on the Mansion,” the protester stated. “If they are saying no, we’ll prepare dinner proper exterior.”
He described the act as a symbolic protest highlighting citizenship and financial hardship.
“We’re residents of this nation; we now have the fitting to prepare dinner on the Mansion as a result of we’re hungry,” he stated. “It isn’t a kitchen, however we’ll prepare dinner there.”
The protester additional rejected the notion that the Govt Mansion ought to be handled as a non-public residence.
“Is that President Boakai’s dad and mom’ home? Is that Jeremiah Koung’s dwelling?” he requested. “It belongs to Liberians. We are going to prepare dinner there.”
One other protester drew parallels with the June 7, 2019 demonstration organized by the Council of Patriots (COP) towards former President George Weah.
“On June 7, 2019, the COP, led by political commentator Henry Costa—who was a robust supporter of then Vice President Joseph Boakai—organized a protest,” the protester recalled.
He famous that demonstrators on the time brazenly carried meals gadgets.
“COP protesters had been seen with cooking utensils, rice, sausages and different meals gadgets, identical to STAND protesters at this time,” he stated, pointing to the seen presence of rice, cookpots, burners and different gadgets.
