SI News Admin
It is about four days since we posted a video on our Facebook page about a violent protest between the pro-government group named “CDC-Council of Patriots” headed by Ben Believe Togbah and the Student Unification Party (SUP).
In the video, a member of the Student Unification Party – Christopher Walter Sisulu Sivili – was beaten and butt-naked by members of the pro-government organization. Since the video circulated on the internet, the public has expressed extreme fear. The violence displayed in the clip has triggered a long-time memory of the Liberian civil war that saw Samuel K. Doe killed unmercifully.
Check this post for the full detail of the story: War Time Memory Resurfaced as Liberians Celebrated Their Nation’s 175th Years of Independence.
How has the government reacted to the situation?
Through the Liberia National Police, the Government of Liberia didn’t utter a word about the incident until more than 28 hours. This delay led many government critics to conclude that “nothing was coming out of the matter.” The Liberian National Police (LNP) had made two posts on their official Facebook page since the incident occurred. One post was about a pending investigation between counter-protesters:
The Liberia National Police has with immediate effect launched an investigation into clashes that took place in front of the United States Embassy near Monrovia on Independence Day between Counter-Protesters.The Police is also concerned about a viral video on social media in which a person was seen being mobbed and humiliated.The LNP administration condemns the barbaric action of the perpetrators and will leave no stone unturned in administering justice to the victims.
Liberia National Police
And the other post was about officers that were on the scene when the clash took place:
The LNP’s leadership takes serious consideration video footage being circulated in which one of its officers was seeing smiling DURING AN ONGOING RIOT SITUATION. All officers concerned will be duly investigated and appropriate actions taken in accordance to the new Police Act of 2015.
Liberia National Police
The shocking and saddening thing is that LNP has not made any arrests despite an explicit video showing everyone involved in the violence, including an officer who was seen smiling on the scene.
Is this normal on the side of the LNP?
This attitude is very abnormal as Liberians have witnessed many protesters being arrested in a more normal protest than the one that occurred on the nation’s Independence Day. The fact that the Liberian National Police is handling this matter in such a manner is troubling for Liberian democracy.
The fear in the streets is alarming. The LNP’s refusal to make any arrest on both sides has caused a lot of speculations. The head of the alleged perpetrators, Ben Togbah, mentioned receiving and attending a purported invitation from the LNP which is nothing for the public to take seriously. In his post, he plays the victim’s game while Christopher is lying in pain and fighting for his life.
Christopher’s fighting for survival on his birthday
Today is Christopher’s birthday. Reports coming from the victim’s camp are not good. Martin K.M Kollie, a former president of the Student Unification Party (SUP), confirmed that Christopher has not talked since he was beaten and tortured by CDC-COP members.
Chris should have been celebrating his birthday today but he is lying helpless and bedridden. Comrade Christopher Walter Sisulu Sivili is in severe pain after he was viciously tortured by government-sponsored thugs and paramilitary gangs who were heavily guarded by State Police to perpetrate such atrocity.The young student leader and political activist of the campus-based Student Unification Party (SUP) cannot talk for almost 4 days now.
Martin K.M Kollie
Where are we headed as a country?
As it stands, the nation is not headed on the right path. We can’t live in a country where the rule of law continues to be abused or compromised. These images and videos that reached the international scene do not represent us as a people.
Let’s come together as one people despite our political differences. Remember: it is never worth fighting for a politician, and it is never fair for politicians to keep putting us together.
We are pleading with the Liberia National Police to conduct a speedy and effective investigation. Let the law takes its course regardless of whom it may affect. Liberia is a country of law, and the law should never be selective.
Liberia Will Rise One Day!
