On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the famous Farmington Hotel in Margibi County, political leaders from 27 out of 31 political parties including CPP, UP, ALP, DPPL, UPP, PLP, signed the Farmington River Declaration 2023 that endeavors to ensure a nonviolent electoral process and to build on the foundation of their initial pledge signed in 2017.
Sadly, count six of the FRD which urges political parties to desist from engaging into actions or using languages, whether online or offline, that could provoke any type of violence, intimidation, or human rights abuses before, during, and after elections, was violated on the first day of the October 10, 2023 elections campaign.
We see this as the wrong way (Violence) of doing the right thing (Campaigning), as it contradicts the existing Farmington River Declaration which was committed to by political actors, and it has the propensity to disrupt the existing peace.
Liberia is among hundreds of other countries that have committed themselves to tens of magnificent national and international peace policies, and the state (Liberia) is also governed by exquisite laws which have on countless of occasions been undermined, due to the deliberate refusal of the very same people that crafted those laws to concur and act in accordance with it.
Unarguably, this is synonymous to a possible threat the prestigious “Farmington Declaration” might suffer, if the neededcheck points are not erected in due time.
As per the National Elections Commission (NEC) October 2023 general elections scheduled, campaign officially kick-started on Saturday, August 5, 2023. However, with the existence of the Farmington Declaration”, a lot of Liberians expected a moderate and responsible process, void of some mistakes that were made in past elections that somehow led to violence.
Regrettably, it wasn’t played as many expected, as Liberians watched with their naked eyes how supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) paraded the streets with a casket,with an image of the standard bearer of the former ruling Unity Party (UP), Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai.
This, which many Liberians condemned, was not only awkward to be seen, but it also is enraged with an influence to create undermine commitment made by the same parties through the Farmington Declaration.
In what that appeared as a counter reaction to this, some supporters of the Unity Party (UP) in parts of Sinkor and central Monrovia later the same day, were seen parading the streets, singing “We don’t want kush”, a harmful substance that has killed tens of young Liberians, maltreated and left others mad.
At the current juncture where LIberia is, the October 10, 2023 legislative and presidential elections remain apt to Liberians, but those with the esteem interest and desire to liberate the state or deliver the needful must be skeptical about their proceedings in how they proffer their messages, as an unorthodox medium will not only trouble the existing peace, but will obviously be contrary to commitment made by over 20 political leaders months ago (through the Farmington Declaration).
Undoubtedly, provocations that are followed by counter reactions, have often been the drivers behind several political conflicts.
Meanwhile, with just the opening of the campaign period, we believe that the National Elections Commission (NEC), has already gotten an assignment to erect the necessary checkpoints, to avoid politicians going contrary to a peaceful process they committed themselves to through the Farmington Declaration.
Also, political parties must ensure that their supporters are adequately educated about the significance of concurring with the Farmington River Declaration and the essence of being civil in all of their activities.
