-Over recent bloody clash between state security forces and criminals
By Olando Testimony Zeongar
Four parties in a political collaborating, former ruling Unity Party (UP); Alternative National Congress (ANC); Liberty Party (LP); and All Liberian Party (ALP); under the banner Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), have slammed the George Weah led government among others of being incapable of providing security for Liberia and the people of the country.
The CPP in a statement released to the press, noted that the increased in criminal activities across the country, particularly in Monrovia, Paynesville, and their environs, and other major urban centers, including the murder of high profile and ordinary citizens with no persecutory actions taken against the perpetrators substantiate the collaborating parties’ claims of the government being incapable of providing security.
The parties recalled that on November 23, 2021 the Liberia National Police (LNP) informed the nation of a joint security operation that was intended to raid ghettos and criminal hideouts in the Duala area of Monrovia, indicating that multiple reports have suggested a shootout between the police and some criminals which resulted in the deaths of three persons.
The collaborating political parties, in the statement, noted that they are very concerned with the increased loss of lives through any violent action, pointing out that while the CPP takes note of the police and other security agencies for undertaking their responsibility of beginning to fight crimes and raid criminal hideouts and ghettos, this venture is coming at a time when the government has completely failed to provide security for the country and its citizens.
“People race home daily beginning the early afternoon hours in order to get off the streets before dark to avoid attacks from criminals,” CPP emphasized, adding that it believes the increase in criminal activities is as a result of the unprecedented economic hardship and the ever-increasing illegal drug trafficking and selling, which it averred, has now become one of the main sources of income for drug kingpins and disadvantaged youths.
“Drug abuse by those disadvantaged youths has also turned them to hardened marauding criminals with no apparent actions taken by the government to rehabilitate and have them reintegrated into society as good citizens,” the CPP stressed, noting that it is in the national best interest for government to prioritize providing proper security for its citizens by revamping the security sector with special emphasis on improved training for personnel of the Liberia National Police, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies.
“Further, the government should appropriate funding allocation for the security sector and increased logistical support for the police and the DEA,” CPP recommended.
“The government should also divert its attention to funding elaborate rehabilitation programs for disadvantaged youths (or Zogos), with rehabilitation programs initiated across the country,” the CPP further recommended, stating that creating the improved environment for increased economic activities that would create job opportunities for trained disadvantaged young people will contribute toward reducing crimes rate across the country.
“The CPP believes that a responsible government with the financial discipline, political will and proper governance can achieve a much improved and secured society for Liberia and its people,” the parties emphasized.
