Nimba Council of Elders has condemned the unprovoked violence and lawlessness allegedly inflicted by members of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) against Nimba County’s Senator, Prince Johnson, and that of his Christ Chapel of Faith Ministries last Sunday in Paynesville.
The elders therefore are calling on President George Weah to demonstrate political leadership by protecting the laws of the land, religious tolerance, support for peaceful, free and fair election and inclusive political participation.
Reading a 2-page press statement on behalf of the council during a news conference yesterday in Monrovia, Harry T. Yuan (Co-chairman) but flanked by Dr. Wilfred Sei Boayue (Chairman) and Dr. David Kialain (Secretary General), said the violence and lawlessness allegedly inflicted by members of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) against the Senator Prince Johnson of Nimba County should be condemned.
They went forward by calling on the Justice Minister to arrest, investigate and prosecute all those involved in the politically motivated invasion of the church premises of Johnson by violence, lawlessness, threats, and intimidation during worship service.
They stated further among others things that the protestors action constitutes a violation of Articles 14 and 15 of the Liberian Constitution bearing on freedom of religion and freedom of expression
They also want the religious community and peaceful citizens to condemn the acts of the surrogates of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) as their conduct does not only represent lawlessness but portrays Liberia as an uncivilized nation.
The elders then thanked Johnson for demonstrating not only political maturity and leadership but also saving an ugly situation by peacefully exiting the scene without retaliation.
In the foregoing, the council has reaffirmed their inflicting support and commitment to the process of peaceful, free, and fair democratic elections.
They trust that the governing CDC will uphold the constitution, protect the peace, especially during these elections period, and ensure that the gains Liberians have made as a nation over the past decade in participatory democracy will be sustained according to the expectations of their people and the international community.
“We are deeply disturbed and profoundly troubled that on Sunday, 21 May, certain members of the CDC dressed in their party’s paraphernalia (red berets) resolved to sow seeds of political confusion in Liberia when they carried abusive banners, invaded the church premises of Johnson, and rained threats insults and intimidations at Johnson while he was preaching the gospel, and thereby forced members of his congregation to abandon to abandon their peaceful worship and flee from the premises of the church.
“Recall and deplore our nation’s recent history of political intimidation, confusion, and lawlessness which culminated into secret killing of Nimba citizens including the mass murder of Nimbaians in the Lutheran Church all resulting in the 14-year civil war marked by genocide and untold human suffering,” the elders noted.
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