By Oracle News Daily
Armed troops will be deployed to backup other security forces to ensure that the October 10 polls is peaceful, Liberia’s national Security Council said Monday following fatal elections related clashes in northern Lofa County.
The Joint Security has activated the Armed Forces of Liberia to remain available in the ongoing effort to guarantee peaceful elections and quell any situation of unrest, Attorney General Frank Musa Dean told reporters in Monrovia.
“In the event the police and other law enforcement officers are overwhelmed, the military will be called to quell any situation of unrest.
“Those who elect to test the resolve of the Joint Security will be doing so at their own peril. Reasonable and proportionate force shall be used where required.
“The Joint Security shall be robust and prepared to do any and everything legally permissible to protect the peace.
“No one has a right to disrupt the peace. Anyone or group thinking otherwise must reconsider.”
The Justice Minister announced the commencement of the deployment of law enforcement officers throughout the 15 counties of Liberia, ahead of next week vote.
Liberia Immigration Services during the period of these elections has been ordered to heighten security to ensure that the territorial borders and boundaries remain safe and secured, he said.
The minister cautioned members of the public not to test the resolve of the security, nothing that any attempt by anyone to disrupt the peace will be met with the full weight of the law.
He denounced the recent fracas in Foya, Lofa County that lead to two deaths.
Dean failed to name the two victims but said 24 persons are undergoing investigation in connection to the Friday incident.
The minister urged those having grievances regarding the conduct of the elections to direct their grievances to the appropriate court of law and not seek to settle them in the streets.
He said under the Liberian law, an aggrieved individual cannot be a plaintiff, judge, jury and executioner.
