Monrovia – In the wake of Saturday’s post-election bloody clash in Montserrado County District-15, allegedly involving supporters of ruling party candidate Abu Kamara and opposition candidate Telia Urey, President George Weah has ordered an investigation launched into the fracas that left several wounded and properties destroyed.
The National Elections Commission has announced a rerun in the District-15 by-election, after Telia challenged and proved the Representative by-election of being fraudulent in part.
The electioneering process in District-15 in few instances been dogged by explosive tension occasioned by both pre and post-election violence.
The latest being on Saturday, when men believed to be supporters of Abu Kamara, reportedly held Telia hostage for a little over an hour, in the campaign office of Kelvin Bayoh, another candidate in the 29 July Montserrado District-15 Representative by-election.
PUCNH FM/TV online service has gathered that ahead of the rerun expected to take place in six precincts in District-15, Telia and her campaign team had gone to have discussions with the Bayoh’s camp in a bid to woo them into supporting the opposition candidate, when the row broke out.
PUCNH FM/TV online service has confirmed that an armored Toyota Land Cruiser jeep belonging to Telia was destroyed and several individuals wounded during the melee which was characterized by stone-throwing.
The opposition candidate and some of her supporters were held hostage in Bayon’s campaign office for at least an hour, PUCNH FM/TV online service has been told by sources, who divulged that Telia and other occupants of the office at the time, escaped an attempted arson attack, while being held under siege allegedly by stone-throwing supporters of Abu Kamara.
Howbeit, a statement issued Sunday by the Executive Mansion states that its attention has been drawn to the Montserrado District-15 Saturday’s post-election violence which the Mansion describes as being appalling.
The statement divulged that Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean and the Liberia National Police LNP have been mandated to carry out a thorough and expeditious investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice, irrespective of who is involved.
“The maintenance of the peace is a high priority on the government’s agenda, and it will spare no effort in ensuring the protection of lives and properties,” the Executive Mansion statement read.
The Mansion notes that electoral violence in all its forms will not be tolerated, stressing that individuals who disrupt the peace will face the full weight of the law.
The statement added that President Weah has mandated the police and other security agencies to be proactive and bring to book anyone who engage in violence in the country.
The Executive Mansion statement also quotes President Weah as calling on residents of Montserrado District-15 to refrain from violence, adding that it is the responsibility of every Liberian to maintain the peace the country currently enjoys.
At the same time, government says it remains committed to ensuring that all Liberians exercise their democratic rights, but warns that political parties ensure their supporters remain peaceful at all times, according to the statement.
“Political leaders will be held accountable for disruptive behavior, regardless of their political alignment,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, President Weah has urged that candidates and political leaders restart the process of engagement under the auspices of the NEC Inter-Party Consultative Dialogue, while at the same time warning against the use of vitriolic rhetoric that could lead to violence.
