Will it hold?

-Police order CDC to truck supporters
The Liberia National Police or LNP has instructed the opposition Congress for Democratic Change or CDC to truck its partisans converging at the national headquarters in Congo Town today, in order to avoid both human and vehicular traffic congestions in various streets of Monrovia, as had been experienced during past political activities.

But it remains to be seen whether the party will oblige as it has already instructed partisans to gather at various strategic locations to march on foot towards its headquarters. The CDC political leader Sen. George Manneh Weah, is today, Thursday, 28 April leading a march to the party headquarter where the former soccer legend is expected to declare his intention for the Presidency of Liberia in 2017 for the third time, having lost two previous elections.

Weah subsequently vied for the senate in December 2014 and defeated main challenger Robert Sirleaf, son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. His party has resisted government’s restriction against such march on grounds that the National Elections Commission or NEC did not halt other presidential aspirants who have been touring various counties, including the governing Unity Party’s second -in-command, Vice President Joseph NyumahBoakai.

Vice President Boakai who is currently touring southeast Liberia, has accepted a petition from his kinsmen in Lofa County to contest for the Presidency. A police statement issued Wednesday afternoon, 27 April says agreement has been reached with the CDC that there will be no interference with the traffic during its march.

The party is expected to provide workers to assist with crowd control as per its agreement with the LNP, the release indicates. The CDC has been warned to adhere to the details of the discussion with the police which called for free flow of traffic and avoiding acts that will impede the free movement of people in the capital and its environs.

“The Liberia National Police said its interaction with the CDC was predicated on a communication addressed to the Ministry of Justice which the CDC informed the Ministry of its desire to seek police protection on the day of the program,” Police Spokesman Sam Collins says.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Collins adds that the LNP is therefore encouraging the Party to live up with the details of the meeting to avoid unforeseen circumstances. The LNP also encourages other political parties to engage the police whenever the need arises, as the police remain open to provide protection to all groups or individuals regardless of status.

By Winston Parley-Editing by Jonathan Browne