Liberia’s prominent civil society and anti-impunity organization, the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), condemns the August 22 police raid that spread into the headquarters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in Congo Town, a suburb of Monrovia. STAND observed that the force used by the Police was brutal.
STAND calls for immediate investigation into the incident, which brought normal business activity to a standstill, created panic and pandemonium, and resulted in multiple injuries on both sides.
STAND demands that those responsible for the violence be held accountable and face appropriate sanctions to set a precedent against future occurrences. The civil society advocacy group insists that the police should have exercised the utmost caution, even if individuals suspected of committing crimes entered the compound of a major opposition political party.
“In view of this, the most logical approach would have been to engage with the leadership of the CDC in a peaceful, respectful, and amicable manner, seeking their cooperation to apprehend those individuals who allegedly crossed into the compound,” STAND pointed out.
The group opined that political party headquarters, religious places and embassies, should enjoy a degree of sanctity and immunity from the use of heavy arms and brute force. “Such actions undermine basic decency and human rights.”
“In line with civilized norms and human decency, STAND finds it prudent that the Government of Liberia cover the cost of treatment for all injured persons and provide compensation for damages to goods and property in the affected areas,” Executive Director, Mulbah K. Morlu is quoted as saying.
STAND said its statement reflects the findings of preliminary investigation conducted.
“After listening to eyewitnesses, reviewing video clips of the incident from independent media, and considering the government’s account expressed in a press release, STAND is aggrieved that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), with backing from the Liberia National Police, which later assumed full operational control, acted arbitrarily in its raid on the premises of the Congress for Democratic Change without a search and seizure warrant,” they maintained.
Morlu and his group stressed that the government of Liberia and its law enforcement agencies cannot ignore the rule of law, which mandates that the rights of individuals and groups must always be respected, protected, and guaranteed regardless of the circumstances or suspicions against them.
STAND said it is evident that the Liberian government’s alternative justification for the raid, which suggests that members of the CDC provoked the police following a DEA ‘Special Operation’ in the community where the party is located is unjustified and without merit.
“Given the visible presence of the Congress for Democratic Change’s Headquarters in the targeted area, the leadership of the Drug Enforcement Agency should have acted prudently by alerting the party’s leadership, thereby taking steps to avoid needless confrontation and escalation,” the advocacy group observed.
STAND noted that peaceful protest and lawful agitation are components of democratic freedom, stressing that it is time that law enforcement institutions and their officers embrace protest actions as legitimate, rather than viewing such healthy exercises as extinguishable threats.
“In conclusion, while backing the government’s efforts to combat drug abuse and related crimes, STAND urges the DEA and security agencies to adhere strictly to due process in their fight against illicit substances, ensuring that abuse and overreach are avoided,” a release emphasized.
STAND reminds the government that it is primarily responsible for maintaining peace, security, and stability within the state, and this constitutional obligation should always guide its operational approach.
STAND urges all groups, including the CDC, to seek redress through the legal system if their rights are violated, rather than resorting to violence or actions that could endanger the general population, including members of their party.
