By Lincoln G. Peters
Liberia’s Joint Security has threatened to arrest, charge and forward to court political partiesโ representatives or individuals that will engage into campaign interference and unnecessary provocation.
The Joint Securityโs caveat came last week when the opposition Unity Party (UP) and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) were due to climax their political campaigns.
20 presidential candidates are taking part in the 10 October presidential and legislative elections.
The incumbent, President George Manneh Weah is seeking re-election.
Liberia’s main opposition Unity Party climaxed its political campaign activities on Saturday, while the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change climaxed Sunday.
Both political parties held grand parades across the streets of Monrovia and surrounding towns to show their strength.
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At a major press conference late Friday, 6 September 2023, the spokesperson for the Joint Security and Police Spokesperson Mr. Moses Carter said it was prudent that supporters and political heads desist from interfering in the political campaigns of opponents.
According to him, the Joint Security will not hesitate to arrest, investigate, charge and forward to court anybody or party that will engage into political violence or provocation.
“Let me make this clear, the Joint Security will not hesitate to arrest, investigate charge and forward to court anybody or institutions that will engage into interference, political violence and unnecessary provocation against other political part on Saturday and Sunday,โ said Mr. Carter.
He stated that unnecessary provocation must stop, noting that elections are about communication of ideas and not physical combat.
Mr. Carter urged political parties to be cognizant of the movement of people and vehicles and don’t engage into provocation while parading the streets of Monrovia and its environs.
He however assured Liberians that the Joint Security is fully prepared to provide security and protection for Liberians during and after these elections.
He disclosed that they have deployed security in all fifteen counties who are willing to ensure that these elections remain peaceful.
“Political parties that are closing their campaign activities this Saturday and Sunday will be guided by the Joint Security in line with its protocol,โ said Carter.
โWe will ensure that supporters and partisans are peaceful during this closure,” he stated.
