MONROVIA – The chairman of Liberia’s largest opposition political party– Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Atty Janga Augustus Kowo, has been released from prison following his brief incarceration by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP).
Kowo and another member of party were arrested following their alleged involvement in protests against the detention of former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and four other lawmakers.
Grand Gedeh County District #3 Representative Jacob Debee, Montserrado County District #15 Representative Abu B. Kamara, Representative Dixon Seboe, Montserrado County District #16, and Representative Priscillia Cooper of Montserrado County, District #5 are the other lawmakers who detained along with Cllr. Koffa. Their charges include Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Facilitation, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, and Criminal Conspiracy. Earlier on Friday, June 6, the Police had released Montserrado County District #9 Representative, Frank Saah Foko and Bong County District #3 Representative J. Marvin Cole back into the society as free men. The pair were among the seven lawmakers that the police had called for questioning for the roles in the alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building.
Kowo’s arrest occurred near the Monrovia City Police (MCC) Headquarters on UN Drive, Saturday, June 7. Kowo was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police pickup.
Atty Kowo told newsmen and women that he was leading a convoy of five cars going to “show solidarity” with some opposition lawmakers who were arrested the day before and detained by the police, when he was arrested by the police and detained.
He said their assembly was peaceful “and so we don’t understand why the police got heavy-handed with us.”
According to him the lawmakers who are detained by the police, are the “latest political prisoners” in the country and so they were on their way to show solidarity with them.
Atty Kowo said his party has been exhiting peace posture because Liberia has a history of 14 years of civil conflict. “We expect that the Unity Party Government will take cease of the matter to consolidate the peace. But you see that the latest action of the government has the propensity to derail the peace.”
He told the government that what keeps the country peace is not the guns; it’s not the batons; it’s not the teargas but it’s the civility of the people.
At his political party’s headquarters in Oldest Congotown, he among other things called on them to turn out in their number on Monday at the court to show solidarity with the accused who might be brought to court to answer to the charges.
