By Naneka Hoffman
The Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia has said that until the National Elections Commission conducts its tasks independently by investigating and holding violators of campaign and electoral violence accountable on the basis of electoral guidelines and the Farmington River Declaration, there would be more violence.
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia recently, the Secretary General of the CSHRAPL, Adama K. Dempster, warned that the worst is yet to come, and there has to be punishment or penalty for those involved in violations.
He explained that the human rights community is monitoring and documenting various accounts of the elections, and respect for electoral guidelines and the Farmington River Declaration signed by all sides is fundamental.
He stressed that human rights in elections applied to all sides, adding that no one party or candidate has more rights than the other.
“When people or institutions signed and agreed to a policy or protocol/guidelines and they are found violating those very agreements they should call to book.”
He maintained that they should be punished regardless of being ruling party, opposition, or independent candidates.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dempster has reminded that the human rights community, civil society, religious community, the Liberian people, regional and international communities seek peaceful elections in Liberia.
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He condemned all those involved in electoral violence whether they are private individuals or members of political parties. Editing by Jonathan Browne
