Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Wants Koijee Suspended for “Supporting” Independence Day Violence

MONROVIA – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, National Security and Veteran Affairs, Lofa County Senator Steve Zargo is calling on President George Manneh Weah to suspend Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee for “hugely supporting” the CDC-Council of Patriots in brutalizing students of the University of Liberia on July 26.

The UL students, under the banner of the Student Unification Party (SUP), through their “Fix The Country” campaign had assembled at the United States Embassy to submit a petition, condemning the Weah’s administration over what it termed as the massive suffering of Liberians as a result of bad governance and its negative vices including corruption and injustice.

 But a counter protest dubbed “Weah Fixing the Country” staged by the CDC-COP on the same ground resulted to a violent altercation that left several members of SUP badly injured. There are video evidence showing COP-CDC members torturing and humiliating student Christopher Walter Sisulu Sevili as he bled and begged for compassion.

His tormentors rained insults at him and said he and his colleagues were ungrateful to President Weah who offered them free school. They boastfully threatened to go after anyone who dare criticized President Weah and his government.

In the wake of the incident, the student accused the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) for supporting the attack against them. Citing a violent clash between SUP and pro-Koijee group during the funeral of Dr. Amos Sawyer, SUP accused Major Koijee of using state resources to support thugs and para-military groups within the CDC to counter every anti-government protest by SUP on and off the University campuses.

Addressing the media in Monrovia, Senator Zargo who also chairs the Lofa County Legislative Caucus said Mayor Koijee should be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the violence on Independence Day.

The Liberty Party former Chairman is at the same time recommending robust investigation to ascertain how a pickup truck belonging to the Coalition for Democratic Change – Council of Patriots was purchased.

While the President has denied his party’s connection to the CDC-COP, there are footage and pictures of the CDC-COP officials joining the CDC after their breakaway from the original Council of Patriots founded by government’s staunch critic Henry Pedro Costa.

By Emmanuel G. Toe