BUCHANAN, GRAND BASSA COUNTY – Ahead of Tuesday, October 10, 2023, General and Presidential Elections, when Liberians are expected to head to the polls to democratically elect a new corps of national leaders, the Independent Societal Watch Advocates (ISWA); is urging all Liberians to avoid violence as they go about exercising their democratic franchise.
ISWA is a conglomeration of conscious-minded and independent rights advocates, who elect a new corps of national leaders democratic quest is to ensure that Liberia as a country is on the right path to perfect development and adequate independent human rights protection.
At the close of its 10th Consultative Leadership Dialogue, held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County; from 6th -7th of October 2023; ISWA is admonishing the National Elections Commission (NEC), all security apparatuses and all national and international observation missions to ensure that the processes leading to and after October 10th are fully adhered to and properly handled.
The National CSO Advocacy group calls on politicians with interest in these elections to ensure their supporters go to the polls on Tuesday and peacefully exercise their rights without provocation to the process.
“We call on every Liberian to go to the polls on Tuesday and exercise their rights without violence or provocation. The peace of the nation rests on everyone, as such, ISWA urged all stakeholders to ensure there is no loss of lives or damage of properties on and after October 10.”
ISWA further admonished the European Union, ECOWAS, the African Union, the United States of America, and all other observation missions to work with the NEC to ensure all polling places are accessible, elections materials are available and polling starts on time as required by the elections law.
In a related development, ISWA condemns in the strongest terms, the recent provocation and violence that led to the death of two persons in Foya, Lofa County. We, therefore, frowned on any political differences that would lead to the loss of innocent lives.
The advocacy group is calling on the Government of Liberia to judicially bring to justice and closure those involved in the Foya fracas by fully and impartially executing the laws of Liberia.
