Police rally peaceful elections support in southeast

Police Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman has assured citizens in southeastern Liberia of police’s fullest protection during and after the October 2017 presidential and representatives elections, But a police statement issued in Monrovia Saturday, 6 May says Col. Coleman urged the country’s citizens in the southeastern region to approach the pending elections with a spirit of peace and unity.

Col. Coleman told locals in Maryland, Grand Kru, and Grand Gedeh counties that the elections security body which includes the Liberia National Police or LNP and other security agencies in the country are concerned about the peaceful conduct of the elections to boost citizens’ confidence in the security here.
He argues that that the transition process if manage well, and void of violence will signify to the international community that Liberians are now prepared to manage their own affairs.
The police chief says it will further attract the international community to invest in the country, while at the same time providing more opportunities for vulnerable youths who are usually victimized in crisis situations.
While in a dialogue with citizens under the LNP’s “Yes to Peace and No Violence” campaign, Col. Coleman says the move on the part of the police to reach out to citizens across the country is not a sign of weakness but of strength.
“We have been traveling across the country, promoting a peaceful conduct of the pending elections for the safety of us all, and the development of our country, such initiative on our part must not be considered as a sign of weakness”, Col. Coleman says.
He says the LNP is prepared to adequately deal with any situation that will want to undermine the electoral process, but notes that the police believe that what they are doing by reaching out to citizens will positively affect the process.
Concerning logistics for police and other security agencies that will be involved with the electoral process in October, Col. Coleman assured the citizens that the government and other international partners are gradually addressing the logistical needs of the security sector.
He however argues that what is more important is to seek citizens’ ownership of the process. – Press release