Liberia’s Ruling Party Accuses Police of Politicization and Failure to Protect Citizens
In a strongly worded letter, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Liberia’s ruling party, has accused the Liberia National Police (LNP) of politicizing its work and failing to protect citizens. The letter, dated October 11, 2024, was in response to a request by the LNP to meet regarding a legal matter involving the "Intestate Estate of the late Martha Stubblefield Bernard."
According to the letter, the CDC’s National Secretary General, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, outlined a series of alleged human rights violations and police misconduct under the leadership of Inspector General Gregory Coleman. Koijee accused the LNP of exhibiting unprofessionalism and reneging on its statutory responsibilities to protect lives and properties. He also stated that the CDC would not engage in any discussions with the police until justice was served for alleged victims of police violence.
The CDC cited several incidents, including the killing of peaceful citizens during the Kinjor Massacre and multiple shootings of civilians, such as the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old student, James Kany, in the Rehab community. Koijee wrote that the police under Coleman’s leadership have proven their highest level of police partisanship, and accused Coleman of reinstating police officers involved in armed robberies and other crimes.
The CDC expressed dissatisfaction with the LNP’s response to these incidents and condemned the police’s involvement in what it described as "malicious police practices." The letter was also copied to international bodies, including the U.S. Embassy, European Union, and ECOWAS, and called on Coleman to cease politicizing the police force.
In a statement, Koijee reaffirmed the CDC’s commitment to defending its members and premises from further police actions, stating, "The CDC will never again surrender a micro inch of its premises to the Liberia National Police for perpetrating crimes." The move is seen as a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the CDC and the LNP, and has raised concerns about the rule of law and human rights in Liberia.
