Monrovia – Liberia’s prominent civil society organization Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND) today demanded the immediate recusal of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman and the establishment of an independent investigation into alleged human rights abuses surrounding the Capitol Arson case.
The organization’s stern call comes amid mounting evidence that security forces under Coleman’s command have engaged in systematic rights violations while investigating the high-profile arson incident. STAND’s research has uncovered multiple instances where suspects were allegedly tortured, coerced into false confessions, or disappeared while in custody – actions the group says have transformed the police force into what it describes as “a political weapon rather than a neutral law enforcement institution.”
“Under IG Coleman’s leadership, we’ve witnessed a dangerous erosion of police professionalism and a return to the dark tactics of Liberia’s troubled past,” said STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr. during a press briefing in Monrovia. “The pattern of beatings, psychological torture, and outright fabrication of evidence we’ve documented makes it impossible for Coleman to credibly oversee this investigation.”
The group presented detailed allegations including claims that detainees were subjected to physical abuse, forced to drink urine, and in some cases offered large cash payments to provide false testimony implicating political opponents of the current administration. Several families reported their relatives remain missing after being taken into police custody.
Legal experts affiliated with STAND argue these actions violate multiple provisions of Liberia’s constitution as well as international treaties the country has ratified. They particularly highlight breaches of due process rights and protections against cruel treatment that Liberia committed to uphold after its civil conflicts.
President Joseph Boakai’s administration faces growing pressure to address the claims as international partners monitoring Liberia’s democratic progress express concern. The United Nations Office in Liberia has reportedly requested clarification on the allegations, while regional bodies including ECOWAS are said to be monitoring developments closely.
STAND has outlined five key demands: establishing a special prosecutor completely independent of government influence; removing Coleman from any role in the investigation; guaranteeing legal access for all detainees; ensuring equal treatment before the law; and inviting international oversight to ensure transparency.
“The credibility of Liberia’s entire justice system hangs in the balance,” Morlu warned. “Either we demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law by conducting a proper, impartial investigation, or we risk unraveling decades of painstaking progress toward genuine democracy.”
With STAND’s latest allegations adding fuel to the fire, all eyes now turn to the Boakai administration’s next moves. The government has 48 hours to respond before STAND says it will escalate its campaign for accountability through legal channels and mass public demonstrations.
