Dark days for Liberians!
-As State Securities Flog Anti-Rape Protesters
By: LISA DIASAY
Monrovia-AUGUST 28, 2020-WTVNEWS: Officers of the Joint Security maltreated peaceful anti-rape protesters who had gathered at Fish Market on Thursday, August 27, 2020 in continuation of their three days March for Justice against Rape.
Women TV reporter who was on the scene reported that officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) was seen dragging women who had gone to form part of Thursday’s peaceful March against rape, while at the same time chasing some of them into communities within the Sinkor area where they had gone to seek refuge.
The protesters mainly (women and children) were tear-gassed and beaten as well as several others arrested and held in detention at the Police headquarters under the watchful eyes of the Liberian President and Feminist In-Chief, George Weah.
“This is sick, appalling, and a big shame on the Weah-led administration”, Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Winner stated.
She continues “to teargas and use violence on a peaceful gathering led by women against a pandemic is beyond unimaginable.
Madam Gbowee further wrote on her Facebook page “I call out minister Piso Saydee Tarr. Shame on you! Your job demands that you protect the most vulnerable population of Liberia, but you have chosen to align with your political Godfather.
The Peace Prize Winner emphasized “to say I am mad would be putting it mildly. I am angry, infuriated, boiling inside; if you had done your job void of politics we won’t be where we find ourselves.”
Another Activist, Faith Kamara condemned the action of the joint security. According to her, the brutality being perpetrated by state security against some unarmed and peaceful protesters, especially females is totally unacceptable.
“When you think that we are miles ahead, suddenly, it appears we are even further away from our destination as a country. This should not be happening, especially around an issue as sensitive and inhuman as rape. Where is the solidarity needed from all against this menace? This is totally unacceptable,” she noted.
Subsequently, Right Advocate, Kimmie Weeks wrote on his Facebook page terming the order and directive to the police to arrest people protesting against this widespread culture of rape as unfortunate.
Weeks indicated that the protesters are not against the government, but an ill in society noting “it is not about being pro-government or anti-government but against rape.”
He mentioned that the action by state security to arrest those speaking against the act sends the wrong message to the would-be rapists that society so endorses what they are doing.
Weeks bewailed “if our young women and men have to face riot police when they peacefully assemble against something as horrendous as rape, then we have reached a new low as a nation.”
Meanwhile; Police Spokesman Moses Carter dismissed the information in spite of pictorial displaced.
According to him, those arrested during the protest were the result of obstructing law enforcement as well as going against the law of the country.
Though he expresses regrets for those who got wounded as a result of Thursday’s incident, Carter noted that cannot in no way prevent violators from being arrested to account for their actions.
“If you hindered law enforcement you will be arrested no matter who or where you run,” Carter stated.
