Protest Against Armed Forces of Liberia

First Part - Reading Comprehension

PATROL REPORT

On 12 December 2012 at 15.25 the Bong County Police received a telephone call reporting a roadblock in the area of Gbanga (Grid reference 115/125). Police patrol Bravo-2 responded to the scene, arriving at 16.00 hours, finding a large number of people gathered on the Gbanga Highway. There was a barricade formed on the highway made of rocks, stones and wrecked cars. The mob was shouting, throwing stones and fighting against several soldiers of Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). As a response to this situation, at 16.30 hours, the Liberian National Police (LNP) and United Nations Police (UNPOL) including United Nations Formed Police Unit (FPU) were deployed to the scene with orders to clear the road. As soon as the road had been cleared by the police, the protesters built up another barricade across the highway. At 18.45 hours, after some clashes, deployed police forces managed to disperse the rioters and the highway was reopened. No arrest was made and no major injuries reported. The police estimated the number of protestors to be approximately five hundred.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 01

Reference is made to the incident reported on 12 December 2012.  The investigation regarding the unrests was launched by the Bong County Police. It revealed that the rioters were predominantly angry youth who joined commercial motorcyclists, all members of the Iron Gate Community. They launched the protest in response to an incident involving a motorcycle taxi driver and an AFL soldier. This incident took place the same day but shortly before the riots, around 13.30 hours. Reportedly, a young female hired a taxi motorcyclist, a member of Iron Gate Community in Gbanga, to drop her at her house. Upon arrival, however, she refused to pay for the ride. As the taxi driver insisted on payment, the female passenger called her boyfriend, an AFL soldier, who arrived at the scene and attacked the motorcyclist. He beat him up and left him on the street unconscious and bleeding. Then, the perpetrator and his girlfriend ran away from the scene. The victim was rushed to the hospital after an anonymous phone call was made to the emergency services.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 02

Reference is made to the incident occurred on 12 December 2012.  On 13 December 2012 investigators of the Bong County Police identified six persons who allegedly took part in the road block of Gbanga Highway after reviewing the video files of the riots recorded by the police. The LNP police officers, who had been assaulted by the mob at the scene, also recognized the attackers. Their identity was established on the basis of intelligence gathered by investigators. All the suspects were arrested and questioned by the investigators. They confessed to attending the protest but denied attacking the police officers. A prosecuting judge authorized the suspects to be charged with assault of the police officers and participation in an illegal gathering. They were held in the Bong detention center.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 03

Reference is made to the case reported on 12 December 2012. Police investigators established the victim of the AFL soldier attack which triggered the unrests and the roadblock on Gbanga Highway. He was identified as 25-year old Mr. Joshua Bundu, a member of Iron Gate Community living on 25 Ribbon Street in Gbanga, and working as a motorcycle taxi driver. After the assault, he was transported to the Gbanga Municipal Hospital. The medical examination revealed that he had a cut on his left shoulder and forehead. No other injuries were discovered. After delivery of first aid by the doctors, he was released from the hospital.

MEDIA NEWS OVERVIEW

Both local and nationwide media reported the unrests which occurred on 12 December 2012 in Gbanga. It was reported that the protest was targeting AFL soldiers. The media emphasized that the Iron Gate Community decided to protest on the street in order to attract the attention of the government and to make them address the behavior of AFL soldiers and their impunity over recent reported assaults against local citizens. Journalists stressed that recently there were five similar assaults reported to the police in connection to the AFL.  In none of these cases was there a suspect either established, convicted, sentenced, or punished. According to the commentators, this situation made a clear message to the society that AFL soldiers are above the law.

Questions

1. What time and date did the police receive an information about the roadblock?
2. Who responded first to the reported situation?
3. Which community members were the protesters?
4. Who attacked the motorcycle taxi driver?
5. How many assaults by the Liberian Military were reported to the Police before the most recent one?
6. At what time were the UN Police deployed to the scene?
7. What's the name of the road where the protest took place?
8. What was the complete name of the hospitalized person?
9. How many protesters were arrested by the police on 12 December?  
10. Who authorized the detention of the arrested protesters?