MONROVIA – In the wake of the Government of Liberia recent discovery of a cache of arms at the Freeport of Monrovia, the National Democratic Coalition of Liberia (NDC) is cautioning the Weah government not to falsely implicate the opposition as was done by the military government and some past civilian governments throughout the ‘80s, stressing that such could undermine the country’s growing democracy and pose existential national and regional security threat.
In a press statement issued on January 9, 2023 and signed by its National Vice Chairman for International Affairs, Dougbeh Chris Nyan, the NDC recalled how it was recently reported that a cache of arms entered the country through the port and was seized by the National Police (LNP) and the joint security.
“The NDC strongly condemns whoever brought arms into the country to disrupt peace and elections. The international community and the Liberian people have maintained peace for the past 15 odd years since the end of the civil war that took the lives of over 250 thousand of our compatriots”, the statement said.
Concerned however that the alleged discovery of weapons could be an alibi by the government to ban political parties and incarcerate opposition leaders, the party questioned why would anyone engage in armed insurrection when democratic elections are few months away in October 2023.
“Also, why would anyone who is interested in an arm conflict with the government import arms through the National Port Authority that is controlled by the very government? Could this not be a probable orchestration by pro-government forces? These questions present no collective rationale for such activity, hence exonerating the opposition, democratic minded citizens, and patriots in the country”, the statement said.
“In historical retrospect, the military government of General Samuel Doe utilized such tactics and alibi to eliminate his comrade-in-arms like General Thomas Weh-Sehn and M.M.D. Flanzamington; clamp down on civilian political personalities like Togbah Nah-Tipoteh, Amos Sawyer, Gabriel Kpolleh, Beyan Kesselley; ban opposition political parties; and, imprison student leaders like Alaric Tokpa, Ezekiel Pajibo, Lucia Massaly, among others.
“The NDC, therefore, implores the government of Liberia to conduct a thorough and professional investigation so as to establish, with facts and evidence, the actual sources of the arms and prosecute those responsible for bringing arms into the country. NDC calls on all parties to support the democratic process leading to the 2023 Elections. The formation of the Democratic ALLIANCE remains paramount”, the statement concluded.
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