The grounds of the University of Liberia (UL) Capitol Hill Campus turned into a battle ground on Monday, 28 January, when protesting students chanted: “No School, no Annual Message” ahead of President George Manneh Weah’s second State of the Nation Address at the Legislature.
Some UL students have been planning to stage protest during President Weah’s State of the Nation Address following a ban on all student political activities on campus.
Normal activities were stalled on the campus and in places closed to the Capitol, as heavy security presence was felt ahead of Mr. Weah’s address before the lawmakers.
The protest brought together the Students Unification Party (SUP) and the Militant Bureau of the University of Liberia.
SUP Standard Martin Kollie says their protest will not end until their needs are meant.
Mr. Kollie is demanding Government to lift the ban on student politics at UL, saying nowhere in the history of the university has this ever happened to students politics.
Martin also says the report of the missing $16 Billion needs to be out now. Further, he calls on Finance Minister Samuel Tweah to give account on the US$25 million that was allegedly infused into the Liberian market to mop up excess liquidity.
Mr. Kollie indicates that there should be immediate actions against rape in the country, saying since the Weah government got into power, Liberian women and girls have been victimized on a daily basis.
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He accuses the government of not taking actions against perpetrators.
The campus – based political leader wants appropriate mechanism to be put in place to establish the War and Economic Crimes court here.
Kollie wants President Weah to give account to Liberians on how he acquired his estates and properties, while also asking all other government officials to publicly declare their assets to the General Auditing Commission.
For his part, the Secretary General of the Militant Bureau of UL Mr. Austin G. Saweleh says the Constitution doesn’t give the President the right to close classes.
Saweleh who led the battle cry on the University of Liberia Campus says they weren’t informed that classes would have been suspended Monday.
Austin also says their protest is a wakeup call for President Weah to know that he is obligated to pay their school fees.He laments that there are a lot of benefits on campus that they are not getting because the tuitions are not paid.
By Ethel A. Tweh –Edited by Winston W. Parley
