Liberian police attacks young artist for creativity

Koffa

Jonathan Koffa, affectionately known as Tycoon J, has reported to SHOW BIZ that he is persistently being attacked by some members of the Liberia National Police for allegedly singing songs against them.

Tycoon J said few days while on his way from Gardnersville to Monrovia, he stopped at the Ministry of Education, and strolled toward Randall Street, where all hell broke loose.

Says Koffa, "When I got down from the taxi that brought me from Gardnersville to Monrovia city center, I decided strolling toward Randall Street. While strolling, I saw two police men following me. Actually, I wasn't afraid because people were still around and, of course, the streets were still crowded; but before I got to know it, I felt a sudden punch on my head. When I turned around, to my greatest surprise, it was the police. They started laughing, saying 'pekin, the t thing that gave you the brave mind to put your mouth on us...you will feel pain.' I didn't say a word, because I was afraid for my life," Tycoon J explained.

The young Liberian vocal artist was beaten severely and jailed last month by the Liberian police in the Logan Town Community.

Tycoon is worried about his safety and freedom of movement, as he continues to get threats and physical attacks from the police. "I can't even walk on the street these days, except in the company of my friends," he said recently.

Tycoon J, whose hit song, "The Country Running," has become a major slang in the mouths of the youth. The youth are calling on the Sirleaf-led government to intervene in Tycoon's case.

In an interview with a former Sirleaf supporter, who sought anonymity, "From the look of things, this UP-led administration is on the wrong foot. Instead of punishing political criminals who are looting Liberia's economic and financial resources, it is bent on chastising innocent Liberians who express their creativity through free speech. Liberians should start to worry that even the Taylor and Bryant administrations were far better than the sitting government. It's only a matter of time the Sirleaf Government will start operating more openly as a police state, with impunity."

"Auditor General John Morlu was right when he compared this administration to its predecessor; that the Sirleaf administration is three times corrupt compared to that of Gyde Bryant's," he concluded.

Jonathan Koffa is the son of Morris Koffa, executive director of Liberia Environmental Watch, vice chairman of Radio Africa International, and an environmentalist with the District of Columbia Government in Washington, DC.