MONROVIA – Several Liberians have accused state security apparatuses under the banner, Joint Security, of according the governing Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) preferential treatment over opposition political parties, particularly when it comes to beefing up security and creating access for partisans and supporters of the CDC during its rallies since the inception of campaigns for the 10 October polls.
The citizens, who took to Facebook to vent out their frustration, raised qualms over why the Joint Security, especially the Liberia National Police (LNP), is always swift in issuing traffic alerts and taking public safety measures ahead of rallies organized by the ruling party, but declines to do same in the case of opposition parties.
A day to the holding of a major function, the CDC’s “Thank you Weah” rally at the party’s Oldest Congo Town Headquarters In July, the LNP announced the diversion of traffic mostly on the Tubman Boulevard.
The police at the time diverted traffic on Monday, 17 July 2023, the day of the CDC’s rally, with motorists commuting from Tubman Boulevard towards Central Monrovia being diverted from Catholic Junction towards Old Road, while members of the driving public commuting from Central Monrovia towards Paynesville, were diverted through the Airfield, Sinkor, onwards to Old Road.
This diversion was intended to ensure free flow of traffic while the Coalition for Democratic Change held its program at its Headquarters on Tubman Boulevard, according to the LNP, which issued a stern warning to members of the driving public to cooperate, or face embarrassment.
Although the police apologized at the time for any inconveniences such diversion may have caused, several Liberians have condemned the LNP, and charged the police with being biased, as far as taking such action for opposition parties are concerned.
The citizens’ latest disagreement with the state security apparatuses was triggered, by an announcement from the Joint Security ahead of the ruling party’s official campaign launch scheduled for today Thursday, 7 September 2023, at the age-old Antoinette Stadium, located at central Monrovia.
The Joint Security announced Wednesday that it was instituting measures for CDC’s campaign launch on today.
According to the Joint Security, several routes in central Monrovia will be off limit to the driving public, until the climax of the ruling party’s campaign launch.
Routes that will be closed to the driving public during the CDC campaign launch include Camp Johnson Road and UN Drive, UN Drive and Clay Streets, UN Drive and Center Streets, and Lynch and Benson Streets.
These routes, according to the Joint Security, will be closed to allow supporters of the CDC access the Antoinette Tubman Stadium with ease.
“No unauthorized vehicle will be allowed to use these closed routes. All are asked to take due note of this notice and follow strict security protocols to avoid inconvenience,” the Joint Security warned.
However, many Liberians are dissatisfied over what they call the preferential treatment being accorded the ruling party aimed at the Joint Security taking such vehicular movement and public safety measures in favor of the CDC.
Jeffery Sannoh, a Liberian opposition politician, who supports the candidacy of main opposition political leader Joseph N. Boakai (JNB), slammed the Joint Security, specifically the police, for not according his leader and the main opposition Unity Party similar protection.
“When was the last time that the LNP issued such an announcement for our leader, JNB during his campaign tour?” Sannoh wonders.
He accused the LNP of being a partisan police under the watch of retired footballer turned president, George Weah.
