Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The country’s most popular student political party, Student Unification Party (SUP), has termed the recent decision of the state-run University of Liberia (UL) to shut down student political activities on its campuses, as a vicious crackdown on democracy in Liberia under the watch of retired footballer turned politician, President George Manneh Weah.
At a press conference held Wednesday, SUP says it strongly denounces the shutting down of student political activities by the UL administration, and is therefore, calling for the immediate revocation of the ban, which the vanguard party says is unlawful.
“With outright discontent and disillusionment, SUP vehemently cautions and calls on authorities of UL to immediately reverse or revoke its unlawful decision to suspend political activities at the State-run University of Liberia,” an SUP press statement says
The party contends that the decision to suspend student political activities at the UL was done in a rush and that it was ill-informed and unwarranted.
Amid intense student political activities leading up to scheduled election for a student government at the UL this year, authorities at the university announced on Friday, January 11, 2019 that with immediate effect all student groups and campus-based political activities on all its campuses were being suspended until further notice.
A statement released by the UL administration at the time ordered that no political group shall assemble or hold meetings or engage in any political-related activities on any UL campus during the period of suspension.
The suspension affects political/solidarity marches, political gatherings, the wearing of symbols and emblems depicting and promoting campus-based political groups as well as student protests, according to the UL administration.
The UL administration then threatened to expel any student who dares to get involved in any activity that will disrupt what the university’s authorities deem normal university activities.
But SUP says it considers the ban as an unjustified action, which was mainly influenced and engineered by the George Weah-led government and those the party referred to as pro-regime stooges.
“Democracy under attack”
SUP further says it considers the UL administration’s indefinite ban on student political activities as being thoughtless, undemocratic, and a provocation for mass civil disobedience and uproar across the country.
“Our striving democracy is under attack and those democratic gains made so far are fast diminishing under President George M. Weah – a Head of State who has grossly violated almost all of our laws including our Constitution in less than a year.”
The party noted that in the 21st century when freedom of speech, freedom of association, and political freedom have become indispensable democratic values, it is unreasonable and inconsiderate for any university or regime to callously cease the political rights of over 19,000 conscious students.
“The banning of student political activities reechoes Liberia’s gloomy past and there are enough signs to prove that dictatorship is virulently evolving.” SUP maintained.
Referencing the 1952 Charter of the UL, the 2012 Student Handbook of the UL, the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, the 1986 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, SUP says it is of the belief that the latest action by the UL administration to place an embargo on student politics at the government-run university does not only disenfranchise emerging leaders of Liberia from participating in politics, but it grossly violates the country’ sacred Laws and Statutes which guarantees political freedom and free speech.
“Furthermore, this indefensible and anti-democratic tragedy abrogates/invades Article 15 and Article 16 of our 1986 Constitution. This tragic contradiction is emerging after 39 years,” said SUP, adding, “the disgusting odor of military junta and authoritarianism is resurfacing in a kangaroo form. SUP has a historical and revolutionary obligation to disfigure and deconstruct any form of dictatorial predisposition and conspiracy.”
“We therefore caution UL along with GoL to abandon this premature plot and feeble gimmick which may soon backfire and degenerate into unintended consequences,” SUP pointed out, indicating that “since Cde. Martin K. N. Kollie was overwhelmingly elected as Standard Bearer of SUP through a democratic process, there have been increasing contradictions especially fueled by pro-regime elements and renegade groups. The root cause of this illegal ban is fear of comrade Kollie ascending as President of ULSU. Upon hearing his ascendancy as Standard Bearer, GoL has been uneasy and belligerent.”
“Thugs and renegade groups”
Sup used the occasion to dispel rumors that it was the progenitor of recent chaos on the campuses of the UL, stating that “the commotion on the campuses of the University of Liberia this gone Friday was orchestrated by thugs and renegade groups hired by Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill, Representative Acarous M. Gray, and Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, the brother of Atty. Norris Tweah under whose signature the release to ban student political activities was issued. After consistently attacking the Media, they have now turned to the student community.”
“It is glaring that SIM, STUDA, ‘FENSA’ and CDC LINSU have become hired guns of this pro-poor government. SUP will not accept any further provocation in such manner. While we remain peaceful and proactive in pursuing this matter which serves as a recipe for democratic disorder and national upheaval, we want to call on all international bodies especially the UN, AU, US Embassy near Monrovia, ECOWAS, and EU to promptly intervene,” SUP said.
SUP continued: “We are also calling on the Board of Trustees of UL, the National Legislature, the Liberia Council of Churches, the National Muslim Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Justice to step in before this situation goes out of hand. It is our right to participate in politics – it is our right to assemble and associate – it is our right to speak freely – it is our right to critique. And no one can take these rights from us or freeze our political freedom, not even UL or GoL. We will defend these fundamental rights to death.”
“CDC LINSU”
SUP then reiterated that along with the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU), they do not recognize the current leadership of the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU), which it described as a once independent student organization, but it say has now fallen prey to the current Weah’s regime.
“CDC LINSU will only represent students who are diehard partisans of CDC. Therefore, we are pleased to announce an Ad hoc Leadership of the newly formed alternative voice of all students across our Republic, the Liberia National Conscious Students Union (LINCSU).
Additionally, SUP has announced the appointment of three students, J. Butu Levi, President; Paawah Layweh, Vice President for National Affairs; and Jusu Kamara, Secretary General; as heads of an acting leadership that will work closely with SUP and its solidarity forces and other prominent student organizations to carry out the several mandates including the conduct of a free, fair and democratic National Congress within a four month period.
Meanwhile, SUP says it will remain engaged with all stakeholders to ensure that the democratic credential of Liberia is not mutilated by those the student party calls pro-fascists and opportunists.
“We will stand in defense of the rights of all students and Liberians in general. The ban on student political activities is the beginning of a new revolution – a revolution that will subvert any intent to even ban national political parties. We call on all patriots to join us against this NIGHTMARE.” SUP added.
