AUDIO TEST # 11

THE RIOT

On Sunday, 12 of March 2006 some members of the Liberian

Progressive Party gathered on the Central Stadium of Monrovia. There were
about 45 men and 32 women. A senior member of the party was addressing
them at the top of his voice because there was no microphone. He told them
that the main aim of this gathering was to show the newly elected president
that they completely disappointed in the manner in which she was making
appointments into her Cabinet. He stated that none of the portfolios was
reserved for party members. According to him 75 percent of those appointed
have not lived in Liberia within the past ten to fifteen years. They were even
not in the party in the early days of political campaign. He told them that the
president even refused to grant him audience to enable him discuss these
issues with her. He proposed a demonstration to protest these shortcomings
on the part of the President. When he had finished addressing the crowd,
some senior and ordinary members of the Party spoke in turns, expressing
their opinions regarding the issues raised by the first Speaker. One third of
the party members spoke in support for the president and her Policies,
arguing that all the Appointments were made on merit, for the good of
Liberia and Liberians. They pleaded with those who were complaining to be
patient with the President and give her all the support she needed to move
the Country forward. There was confusion among them and they all
dispersed. A secret meeting was later held by some of the members who
were calling for a demonstration, where it was decided that they should go
ahead with the demonstration on the next day 13th March, 2006.
At 10.00 hrs the next day about 55 party members gathered in front of the
Presidential Palace. Like the previous day, there was no permit from the
Justice Minister for this gathering as required by the Laws of Liberia. Three
Liberian National Police (LNP) Officers on foot patrol and a UN police
patrol team of three Officers in a Nissan Patrol jeep Number 461 were on
duty in front of the Presidential Palace. The demonstrators appeared to be
peaceful, but threatened to remain at the palace’s gate until the President
came out to speak with them.
At 11.00 hrs two 25-seater buses arrived, fully loaded with people chanting
solidarity songs in support of the President. The demonstrators who had
gathered earlier did not pay any attention to them. The buses had barely
stopped, when they all disembarked and started attacking the demonstrators
with sticks and stones. 10 persons were wounded and some vehicles that
brought the first group of demonstrators were seriously damaged. None of
them ventured to enter the Presidential Palace as the President’s Security
Operatives assisted by LNP and UN Police officers stood firmly between
them and the gates.
A distress call was made to the Radio Room. A Platoon of Anti Riot Police
Officers was dispatched to the scene immediately. Upon sighting the
Platoon, all the rioters except the wounded, ran away. An ambulance that
had come with the Platoon took the wounded to the hospital.
By 1305 hours, peace had returned to the Palace. The chairman of the party
promised to convene a meeting. He vowed that perpetrators will not go
unpunished.

THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION WAS BETWEEN THE

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE AND THE HEAD OF LNP
INTELLIGENCE UNIT.

IGP: I want you to tell me everything you know about this riot.
The Justice Minister has asked for a Report.

HEAD INT: I got a report that yesterday Sunday, the 12th of March
2006, members of Liberian Progressive party gathered on
the Central Stadium of Monrovia.

IGP: How many of party members were present and what was
the purpose of this gathering?

HEAD INT.: There were 45 men and 32 women. The gathering was at
the instance of a senior member of the party who
addressed them without a microphone. That they wanted
to show the new President of Liberia that they were
disappointed in the manner in which appointment into
her Cabinet are made.

IGP; What about the appointments?

HEAD INT: He complained that 75% of those appointed have not

lived in Liberia for the past 10 to 15 years and they were
not in the party in the early days of political campaigns.

IGP: Is that all?

HEAD INT: He also claimed that the President refused him audience
to discuss these issues with her. He proposed a
demonstration to protest these shortcomings.

IGP: What was the reaction of party members? Did all of them
support him?

HEAD INT: All except one third of the members spoke in his support.

IGP: What did those in minority say in favor of the President?

HEAD INT: They argued that the Appointments were made on merit
for the good of Liberia and Liberians and pleaded with
others to be patient and support the President to move the
country forward.

IGP: Was the issue resolved before they dispersed?

HEAD INT: No. there was confusion among them and they all
dispersed. It was reported that some of those calling for a
demonstration held a secret meeting later that day. They
decided to go on with the demonstration the next day.

IGP: Go on and tell me more.

HEAD INT: At 1000 hours today about 50 party members gathered in

front of the Presidential Palace.

IGP: Did they have a permit for these gathering?

HEAD INT: Like in the first gathering, they still did not have a permit
as required of them by the Laws of Liberia which provide
that all public gatherings and assembly must be with a
permit from the Justice Minister.

IGP: Don’t we have a Patrol in front of the Presidential

Palace?
HEAD INT: Yes, we had three LNP Officers on foot patrol and three
UN Police officers on patrol in vehicle No. 461. And
they were all present.

IGP: What was the mood of the Demonstrators?

HEAD INT: They appeared to be peaceful, but threatened to remain at

the Palace’s gate until the President came out to speak
with them.

IGP: Did the President come out to speak with them?

HEAD INT: The President did not come out. They were still at the
Palace’s gate till 1100 hours, when two 25-seater buses
fully loaded with people chanting solidarity songs in
support of the President arrived.

IGP: How did the first group react when they arrived?

HEAD INT: The first group did not pay any attention to them. The
people inside the buses disembarked as the buses were
yet to fully come to a stop and attacked the first group
with sticks and stones.

IGP: Did any of them enter the Presidential Palace?

HEAD INT: Non of them could enter because the President’s Security
Operatives assisted by LNP and UN Police officers stood
firmly between them and gate, preventing them from
getting close to the gate.

IGP: Were there any casualties?

HEAD INT: 10 persons were injured and some vehicles that brought
the first demonstrators were seriously damaged. The
officers made a distress call to the Radio Room and a
Platoon of Police support Unit was immediately
dispatched to the scene.

IGP: Were there any arrests made?

HEAD INT: As soon as they sighted the Platoon, all rioters ran away,
leaving behind only the wounded. An ambulance that
came with the Platoon took the wounded to the Hospital.

IGP: Thank you for all the information. I will send a written
report to the Justice Minister before leaving my office
today.

HEAD INT: Thanks you. I will come with you, you may need some
assistance.
AUDIO TAPE TEST #11 QUESTION PAPER“A”

Family Name: …………………………… First Name: ……………………… CP……….

Country: ………………………………… Date…………….

Q1: How many female members of the party were among those gathered in the
Central stadium?

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Q2: What did the demonstrators do when two 25-seater fully loaded buses arrived
with people chanting solidarity songs in support of the president?

Q3: On what day and time did 50 party members gather in front of the Presidential
Palace?

Q4: How many party members spoke in support of the President?

Q5: According to the laws of Liberia, who issues permit for public gatherings?

Q6: How many fully loaded 25-seater buses went to the Presidential Palace?

Q7: What is the number of persons that were wounded?

Q8: Who stood firmly between the demonstrators and the gates?

Q9: What decision was taken in the secret meeting?

Q10: What condition did the demonstrators give before they will live the Palace’s gate?

Score /10 Percentage 100% Tester

Name
Tester CP
AUDIO TAPE TEST #11 QUESTION PAPER“B”

Family Name: …………………………… First Name: ……………………… CP……….

Country: ………………………………… Date…………….

Q1: What is the number of persons that were wounded?

Q2: What decision was taken in the secret meeting?

Q3: According to the laws of Liberia, who issues permit for public gatherings?

Q4: What condition did the demonstrators give before they will live the Palace’s gate?

Q5: How many female members of the party were among those gathered in the
Central stadium?

Q6: How many party members spoke in support of the President?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q7: Who stood firmly between the demonstrators and the gates?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q8: On what day and time did 50 party members gather in front of the Presidential
Palace?

Q9: What did the demonstrators do when two 25-seater fully loaded buses arrived
with people chanting solidarity songs in support of the president?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q10: How many fully loaded 25-seater buses went to the Presidential Palace?

Score /10 Percentage 100% Tester

Name
Tester CP
AUDIO TAPE TEST #11 QUESTION PAPER“C”

Family Name: …………………………… First Name: ……………………… CP……….

Country: ………………………………… Date…………….

Q1: How many party members spoke in support of the President?

Q2: How many fully loaded 25-seater buses went to the Presidential Palace?

Q3: Who stood firmly between the demonstrators and the gate?

Q4: How many female members of the party were among those gathered in the central
stadium?

Q5: What is the number of persons that were wounded?

Q6: What decision was taken in the secret meeting

Q7: What did the demonstrators do when two 25-seater fully loaded buses arrived
with people chanting solidarity songs in support of the president?

Q8: What condition did the demonstrators give before they will live the Palace’s gate?

Q9: According to the laws of Liberia, who issues permit for public gatherings?

Q10: On what day and time did 50 party members gather in front of the Presidential
Palace??

Score /10 Percentage 100% Tester

Name
Tester CP
ANSWERS AUDIO TAPE TEST #11 “A”

Q1: How many female members of the party were among those gathered in the
Central stadium?
32
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Q2: What did the demonstrators do when two 25-seater fully loaded buses arrived
with people chanting solidarity songs in support of the president?
They did not pay any attention
Q3: On what day and time did 50 party members gather in front of the Presidential
Palace?
13th March, 2006 at 10.00hours
Q4: How many party members spoke in support of the President?
One third (1/3)
Q5: According to the laws of Liberia, who issues permit for public gatherings?
Justice Minister
Q6: How many fully loaded 25-seater buses went to the Presidential Palace?
Two
Q7: What is the number of persons that were wounded?
10
Q8: Who stood firmly between the demonstrators and the gates?
The President’s security Operatives, LNP and UN Police officers
Q9: What decision was taken in the secret meeting?
They should go ahead with the demonstration on the next day
Q10: What condition did the demonstrators give before they will live the Palace’s gate?
Unless the President came out and speak to them
ANSWERS AUDIO TAPE TEST #11 “B”

Q1: What is the number of persons that were wounded?

10
Q2: What decision was taken in the secret meeting?
They should go ahead with the demonstration on the next day
Q3: According to the laws of Liberia, who issues permit for public gatherings?
Justice Minister
Q4: What condition did the demonstrators give before they will live the Palace’s gate?
Unless the President came out and speak to them
Q5: How many female members of the party were among those gathered in the
Central stadium?
32
Q6: How many party members spoke in support of the President?
One third (1/3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q7: Who stood firmly between the demonstrators and the gates?
The President’s security Operatives, LNP and UN Police officers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q8: On what day and time did 50 party members gather in front of the Presidential
Palace?
13th March, 2006 at 10.00hours

Q9: What did the demonstrators do when two 25-seater fully loaded buses arrived
with people chanting solidarity songs in support of the president?
They did not pay any attention
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q10: How many fully loaded 25-seater buses went to the Presidential Palace?
Two
ANSWERS AUDIO TAPE TEST #11 “C”

Q1: How many party members spoke in support of the President?

One third (1/3)
Q2: How many fully loaded 25-seater buses went to the Presidential Palace?
Two
Q3: Who stood firmly between the demonstrators and the gate?
The President’s security Operatives, LNP and UN Police officers
Q4: How many female members of the party were among those gathered in the central
stadium?
32

Q5: What is the number of persons that were wounded?

10
Q6: What decision was taken in the secret meeting?
They should go ahead with the demonstration on the next day
Q7: What did the demonstrators do when two 25-seater fully loaded buses arrived
with people chanting solidarity songs in support of the president?
They did not pay any attention
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q8: What condition did the demonstrators give before they will live the Palace’s gate?
Unless the President came out and speak to them
Q9: According to the laws of Liberia, who issues permit for public gatherings?
Justice Minister
Q10: On what day and time did 50 party members gather in front of the Presidential
Palace??
13th March, 2006 at 10.00hours
KEY FACTS REPORT WRITING TEST #11
1. Sunday 12th March, 2006
2. Members of Progressive party 45 man, 32 women
3. Central stadium
4. A senior member of the party addressed members at the top of his
voice because there was no microphone
5. Aim was to show the newly elected President that they were
completely disappointed in the manner she was making
appointments into her cabinet
6. 75 % of those appointed have not lived in Liberia in the past15
years
7. One third of party members spoke in support of the President
8. Appointments were made on merit for the good of Liberia and
Liberians
9. There was confusion, they all dispersed
10. A secret meeting by those calling for a demonstration, decided to
go ahead with the demonstration next day
11. 1000hrs, next day, 50 party members in front of the presidential
palace
12. 3 LNP on foot patrol and 3 UNPOL officers in Nissan patrol jeep
#461
13. Demonstrators appeared peaceful, but threatened to remain there
until the president came out to speak to them
14. 1100hrs. 25-seater bus fully loaded with people chanting solidarity
songs in support of the president
15. 10 persons wounded
16. President’ security operatives, LNP and UN Police
17. Distress call to Radio room
18. A platoon of anti riot police officers
19. All rioters except the wounded ran away
20. Ambulance took the wounded to the hospital;