Citizens blame national leaders for the Capitol Building fire, describing the incident as lawless and destructive.
By Lewis S. Teh
Monrovia, Liberia, December 20, 2024- Many Liberians describe the fire at the Capitol Building as cruel, lawless, and destructive, blaming national leaders here.
“The burning of the capitol building is an act of cruelty, lawlessness, and destructive, and those rebel lawmakers are to blame,” says Ms. Cecelia Harmond, a resident of Capitol bye-pass in Monrovia.
Speaking to this paper on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, on the grounds of the Capitol, she said ongoing power struggle in the House of Representatives regarding the speakership is a contributing factor to the disastrous fire.
“Let us not forget, this is the second time for us to wake up to news of fire at the legislature, and no one will carry on this devilish act besides the same people who are fighting among themselves”, Ms. Harmond notes.
However, she says if the government fails to investigate and prosecute those responsible, “I foresee serious chaos.”
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 17, 2024, a group of protesters led by former superintendent of Grand Bassa County Janjay Gbarpbea stormed the grounds of the Capitol, home of the Liberian Legislature, protesting that led to a violent clash with police and other state securities.
The protesters call on President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung to refrain from intruding into the removal of Speaker J. Fonati Kofa.
They term removing the embattled Speaker as illegal, unconstitutional, and disregarding the rule of law.
But speaking also, Alphonso Doe, a resident of 3rd Street in Sinkor, said it is about time President Boakai takes immediate action against those individuals responsible.
“All those security officers assigned at the Capitol should be arrested and interrogated,” he suggests.
Doe wonders how those security officers on duty at the Capitol didn’t see the fire.
According to him, if someone is held accountable, then the security must be in the know, noting that there’s no way this incident will be blamed on LEC power or electrical shocks. Editing by Jonathan Browne
