By: Gbakon Wremongar
What was expected to be a peaceful moment of political enlightenment and civic engagement for the women’s wing of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) turned chaotic when armed officers of the Liberia National Police allegedly disrupted their gathering.
The incident occurred on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Congo Town, where the PLP women’s wing, led by its Advocacy and Civic Engagement Officer, Jestina T. Sartee, was conducting an awareness campaign focused on anti-corruption advocacy and women’s empowerment.
According to organizers, the event was part of a broader outreach initiative aimed at mobilizing women to speak out against what they described as the widespread abuse of state resources by government actors. They argued that empowering women with knowledge about the damaging effects of corruption would help build a strong grassroots movement capable of exposing acts of graft across society.
An eyewitness, Louise Fayiah, told reporters that Sartee delivered a passionate address, emphasizing that corruption in public institutions continues to deprive citizens, especially women, of access to quality healthcare, education, and essential social services.
Another eyewitness, who requested anonymity, recounted that speakers at the event criticized the government for what they described as a lack of commitment to supporting key integrity institutions, including the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).
The same source added that the speakers referenced an alleged incident involving the head of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Cllr. Kla Martin, at a cabinet retreat in Ganta, Nimba County, which they described as indicative of the government’s limited interest in tackling corruption.
“They also spoke about how poor management of public funds has contributed to worsening sanitation conditions in Monrovia, with garbage visibly taking over parts of the city,” the eyewitness said.
Another attendee noted that participants were informed about Liberia’s performance on the global Corruption Perception Index, published annually by Transparency International and locally supported by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), where the country has continued to face challenges.
However, the event reportedly took a violent turn when officers from the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) allegedly stormed the premises. Witnesses claimed the officers broke through the fence and began assaulting participants.
According to eyewitness accounts, police accused Sartee and other PLP members of making statements perceived as inciting the public against the ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and President George Manneh Weah.
“They claimed that Jestina and some PLP women leaders are in the habit of speaking negatively about President Weah’s leadership in an attempt to turn the population against the CDC,” one witness alleged.
As tensions escalated, several participants fled the scene. However, witnesses reported that officers appeared particularly intent on arresting Sartee along with two other women—Martha Lawrence, believed to be a relative of the late opposition lawmaker Adolf Lawrence, and Winnie Karteh, who were allegedly forcefully taken into police custody.
The incident has since drawn strong criticism from human rights advocates. Former UN Human Rights Officer Boimah Metzger condemned the police’s actions, describing them as excessive and unjustified.
Metzger, along with attorneys Joseph Tegli and Foday Kawah of Defense for Children International, raised concerns over what they described as arbitrary arrests and the alleged maltreatment of the women during their 48-hour detention.
“We are extremely disappointed that the state security apparatus not only sought to silence these women politically but also subjected them to physical abuse while in custody,” Metzger stated.
Attorney Kawah further warned that the incident reflects a troubling pattern. “We consider the police action a classic display of brutality and an attempt to shrink the democratic space ahead of the 2023 national elections,” he said.
Sartee is widely known for her outspoken role within the Women in Politics Network, where she has consistently criticized what she describes as systemic corruption, poor governance, and political intimidation.
She has also previously alleged that elements within the police operate under the influence of powerful political figures, including Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee.
Political analysts caution that repeated allegations of police brutality against opposition figures risk creating a climate of fear, potentially silencing dissenting voices and undermining democratic participation in Liberia.
