By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News LiberiaA
MONROVIA – The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has strongly condemned what it describes as the violent disruption of a peaceful protest organized by the Student Unification Party (SUP) of the University of Liberia, calling the actions of the Liberia National Police (LNP) a “gross abuse of state power” and an attack on democratic freedoms.
In a sharply worded statement, STAND said the protest held under the theme “Jobs and Justice” was a lawful exercise of constitutional rights and should not have been met with force. The group insisted that the response by security forces represents “a flagrant assault on civil liberties and a dangerous erosion of the rule of law.”
According to STAND, credible reports indicate that police used tear gas to disperse unarmed students, resulting in injuries and panic among demonstrators. The organization further alleged that several protesters, including Mr Foday Massaquoi, were arrested and remain in detention.
The statement also raised concern over what it described as continued attempts to track and intimidate participants after the protest, warning that such actions deepen fear and undermine democratic participation.
STAND rejected the justification advanced by authorities that the demonstration was unlawful due to the absence of a permit, describing it as “a deliberate and dangerous distortion of the law.”
Quoting the Constitution, STAND emphasized that “all citizens shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good,” arguing that this provision makes peaceful assembly a fundamental and inalienable right that does not require prior state approval.
“The Student Unification Party was under no legal obligation to obtain a permit,” the statement declared, adding that any attempt to criminalize peaceful protest undermines Liberia’s constitutional democracy.
STAND further criticized the conduct of the Liberia National Police, calling it “arbitrary, repressive, and calculated to instill fear and suppress legitimate dissent,” and warned that excessive use of force against students reflects a troubling pattern of intolerance.
The organization also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained protesters, including Mr Foday Massaquoi, and demanded an end to all forms of harassment and intimidation against participants in the demonstration.
In addition, STAND pledged to provide legal support to those arrested, stating that it would mobilize competent legal representation to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights and secure their swift release.
Warning against continued repression, STAND said such actions threaten Liberia’s democratic foundations and risk eroding public trust in state institutions, adding that “no amount of intimidation will silence the people or extinguish their resolve.”
The group also called on the Government of Liberia, civil society actors, and the international community to intervene and demand accountability, stressing that the rights of students must be protected rather than suppressed.
Signed by Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., STAND reaffirmed its commitment to defending civil liberties, concluding that the voices of Liberia’s students “must not be suppressed—they must be protected, respected, and heard.”
