Bloody Protest On Capitol Hill -Over Seventy Protesters Arrested? By: Yassah J Wright

Several lawmakers and protesters under the banner, Concerned Citizens for the Protection of Constitution and the Rule of Law, headed by former Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Janjay Gbarpbea and the Liberian National Police on early Tuesday morning, December 17, 2024, were seen engaging in a fatal clash. The motive of the protest was intended to inform President Joseph N. Boakai, and Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung to desist from interfering in the removal of embattled House Speaker J. FonatiKoffa.  The group however termed the removal of Speaker Koffa as unconstitutional and illegal, while noting that it’s time that Liberians take charge and call the Presidency to order. Despite both the protesters and the Liberian National Police failure to tell whether they were presented permit to protest, the protesters accused the LNP of discharging lives bullet and killing peaceful protest, but, the LNP denied the allegation and said that they provided protection and security for the protect but, used non-lethal weapon when the protesters resisted the protect zone and engaged in fight with the police. The early morning clash was graced by Monsterrado County District #9 representative, Frank Saah Foko, Montserrado County District #10, Representative, Yekeh Kolubah and Gbarpolu County Representative Eugene J.M Kollie.

The protesters were tear- gassed by the Liberian National Police Emergency Response Unite, (ERU), after protesters violently resisted the police order and engaged in a physical fight with officers on their protest restriction. The argument and conflict erupted between the Liberian National Police and the Protester at the front of the University of Liberia and the Executive Mansion, while they were walking to the National Legislature to present their petition to their lawmakers to settle the dust up Capitol Hill. Following the provocation, the Liberian National Police rioting officers, after being overwhelmed by the protesters, fired teargas at the protesters in an effort to disburse the protesters. However, protesters on the other hand, threw stones at the police officers in an attempt to prevent them from firing teargas and restricting their movement.

Representative Foko was seen running from the Police and the scene and later jumped over the fence between the Legislature and the Judiciary, where he entered in the court yard dressed in white gown  bare-footed . He ran in the Monrovia City Court, opened the door and fell to the ground, calling for water- noting that the Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court- Ben Barco should save his life because the police were running behind him to take his life. The lawmaker was seen in Magistrate Barco’s office for about three hours, before some of his bodyguards came with his car and brought slippers along. Representative Foko and his bodyguards walked out of the judge’s office and got in his car and left the court yard When the wave of the teargas got intense, protesters ran away from the scene to seek refuge while others were arrested for engaging into violation.  Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with journalists, Representative Foko claimed that he was tear-gassed by the Liberian National Police, clarifying that he was never part of the protesters; rather he was escorted to his office at the Capitol by his people. ‘’ I was never part of the protest. I was coming to work but escorted by my people when the protest was ongoing. However, the police fired teargas in the atmosphere and that has affected my eyes, even though I put my hands up. Now, I have to jump over the fence at the legislature in order to get to the Judiciary to save my life,” he narrated. Also addressing a major press conference following the conclusion of the protest at the LNP headquarter in Monrovia, Liberia National Police Inspector General, Georgry Coleman, denied discharging live bullet, adding that the police was peaceful, protective and calm until the protesters resisted order. According to him, the LNP officers provided protest zone for the protesters, but the protesters resisted and began to engage into fistfight with police officer, something which prompted the discharge of non-lethal weapon, or teargas. ‘’ currently, we have arrested over seventy persons who are in our custody undergoing investigation to be forwarded to court for prosecution. Our officers provided the necessary protection and restriction for the protesters but, they resisted after they fought our officers. We want you to know that we even help in transporting some of them to hospital,’’ he disclosed. Also speaking  at a press conference following his escape with a bloody head, former Grand Bassa County Superintended and head of the group, Janjay Gbarpbea, accused the Liberian National Police of discharging live bullets, killing, and wondering during what he termed as peaceful protesters. According to him, they converged from the entire Montserrado County to call on President Joseph N. Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung to stop interfering in the legislature activities and desist from the unconstitutional attempt on the removal of embattled speaker J. Fonati Koffa and respect the rule of law and the fabric of democracy  to maintain peace. He added that the alleged action by the Liberian National Police by discharging live bullets, and firing teargas is recipe of chaos, noting that these things are happening at the time poverty, hardship and mysterious dead bodies are seen all over the country. ‘’We condemn the brutal action by the Liberian National Police and demand the release of those, I mean the over 70 persons in police custody. Those people unlawfully arrested. Also, we call on all opposition political parties to join and end the nightmare of the Boakai-Koung administration. With that, we hereby announce the Boakai-Koung step down campaign beginning today. The date of the campaign will be announced shortly. We call all to join. They must step down now and this is not negotiable. They will not demand signature, rather, they will protest till he resigns. This is not the time to allow personal interest damage our country. We appreciate Liberians for their huge turnout,’’ he concluded.