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UNMIL Tightens Security At Bong Mines Bridge

The Analyst (Monrovia)
NEWS
November 16, 2005
Posted to the web November 16, 2005

By George Borteh

At about 6:00 am yesterday Tuesday, the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL), military officers posted at the Bong Mines Bridge Checkpoint on
Bushrod Island were seen to have tightened security and activated stop-and-
search operations at the check-point, something that was seen to have brought
the flow of traffic to a standstill.
The UN peacekeepers from the UNMIL Nigerian contingent were searching all cars
coming from opposite sides of the main street on Bushrod Island for alleged
arms.
When the Analyst contacted one of the assigned officers at the checkpoint and
inquired whether they had discovered any arms yet, the officer remained mute on
the ground that he was not the right person to speak to the press.
But an investigation conducted by this paper has revealed that some arms were
allegedly discovered by the peacekeepers.
A resident of the Bong Mines Bridge ,who decided not to disclose his name,
alleged that some arms were discovered at the back of a private car that was
heading to Bomi County.
The resident, who could not provide any further information on the identity or
particulars of the said vehicle, also lamented that fear has gripped the entire
Bong Mines Bridge area because of the abrupt step-up of security by UNMIL.
Some residents the Analyst spoke to disclosed that the tightening of security
apparatus by the peacekeepers could also be prompted by what they referred to
as the illegal demonstrations by partisans of the Congress for Democratic
Change (CDC).
It can be recalled that for the past three days members of the CDC have been
holding demonstrations by marching through the streets of Monrovia since the
National Elections Commission (NEC) announced the progressive results of the
run-off presidential election.
The progressive results of the run-off presidential election put Unity Party
Standard-bearer Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf ahead of CDC Standard-bearer
Ambassador George Manneh Weah with 59.4% to 40.6%.
The CDC's recent street demonstrations have been prompted by allegations of
fraud from the run-off election which many Liberians, including foreign
countries, grade as free and fair.

   

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