Grand Cape Mount County Senator Cllr. Varney Sherman has called on the Plenary of the Liberian Senate and the Liberian government to set up an ad-hoc independent committee to thoroughly investigate recent election violence in Montserrado County District #13.
Sen. Sherman’s request of a probe comes in response to a communication to the Plenary by Grand Bassa County Senator and opposition Liberty Party (LP) political leader Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence, officially complaining how she had been attacked along with supporters of Unity Party representative candidate Mrs. Cornelia Kruah – Togba.
Based on Sen. Lawrence’s complaint, Sen. Sherman says government should hire credible, integrity – built individuals and foreign mission here if possible, to handle the alleged election violence.
Police authorities here have confirmed the election violence in the district, saying the situation left four persons inclusive of three males and one female injured.
The police say the injured victims were immediately rushed to the Kevin Clinic in Bassa Town, New Georgia and the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital respectively for treatment after which they were discharged.
Meanwhile, police say they have launched an active investigation to ensure that perpetrators of such violence are made to face the full weight of the law.
In her communication, Sen. Lawrence complains Monrovia City Mayor and ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) youth league chair Jefferson Koijee to the full plenary of the Liberian Senate.
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She says Koijee’s alleged violent action reportedly led to the brutalization of several persons during political campaign in Montserrado County Electoral District #13 over the weekend.
The LP political leader recalled on Tuesday, 20 November in plenary that she had gone to New Georgia Estate [on Saturday, 17 November] to support the campaign rally of opposition Unity Party candidate Mrs. Cornelia Kruah-Togba, in the spirit of opposition solidarity.
“It was well communicated to me by the campaign team and the candidate that the National Elections Commission has reached an agreement with all candidates and parties because of limited timing with many contestants in the district, two candidates would be allowed to close their campaign on the same day,” Sen. Lawrence narrates.
According to her, the restriction that included venue, demarcation and no-interference by any party was scheduled and agreed upon.She says the Coalition for Democratic Change was confined to the Iron Factory field while the Unity Party was restricted to the New Georgia Nigerian Shop field.
“While parading from the New Georgia Estate to the program venue, I received a telephone informing me that a group of uninformed men headed by Mayor Jefferson Koijee were approaching our direction,” Sen. Lawrence explains.
She says the group immediately appeared, and the citizens who had lined up on both sides of the road to watch the parade started booing.She notes that while being booed, the group of Mayor Koijee reportedly pulled cutlasses and other weapons and became to attack the supporters of Madam Togba.
The Grand Bassa Senator claims that she was attacked and it took the grace and support of the community dwellers to rescue her from the hands of Koijee and his group.Following the reading of the communication, River Gee County Sen. Conmany Wesseh cautioned lawmakers to handle the matter with care.Sen. Wesseh urges that drastic action be taken to avoid future occurrence.
Meanwhile, the Plenary of the Senate has forwarded the communication to the Committees on Judiciary, National Defense, Security and Elections to report to plenary within one week.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley
