UP and CDC must take shared responsibility

By Lewis S. Teh

The Mano River Union Youth Parliament-Liberia Chapter has termed as anti-democratic, uncivilized, and a recipe for civil crisis the recent brutal violent clash which led to the death of at least 2 citizens in Foya, Lofa County Electoral District #1.

The electoral violence, according to multiple sources, ensued between some partisans believed to be members of the opposition Unity Party and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change at the weekend.

In a press statement issued Sunday, October 1, 2023, the Speaker of the MRUYP – Liberia Chapter, Daniel Nills categorically denounced the incident and its perpetrators regardless of their political affiliation.

Nills believes that the life of any citizen does not deserve to be taken away by another due to political, socio and ideological disagreement, especially so when the nation approaches the October 10, 2023, Presidential and Legislative Elections. 

“The unwarranted and unacceptable brutal action which caused panic in several peaceful people in the area by those citizens believed to be supporters and or partisans of the CDC and UP totally contravened the Farmington River Declaration signed by political actors to maintain the peace,” the Parliament said in the statement. 

Speaker Nills extends the body’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the fallen Liberians.

He called on all patriotic citizens, including the Liberian government and all political parties and independent candidates to protect the peace before and after the October polls. 

The Parliament has at the same time welcomed the joint statement of the ECOWAS and the United Nations, condemning the violence.

He said the MRUYP – Liberia Chapter joins the two global bodies in calling on the Liberia National Police to speedily make public an impartial and investigative report on the matter.

Meanwhile, the youth parliament speaker terms as troubling for the UP and the CDC, having been linked to the brutal electoral violence, to shift blame on each other.

He urges the two major political institutions to be responsible enough to take full responsibility for the act and aid the police in the investigation process.

“We caution those political institutions to warm their respective partisans to refrain from any action that undermines the peace and stability of the country,” he emphasized. Editing by Jonathan Browne