Press Statement for Immediate Release
The Manhandling of CDC National Chairman is Condemnable; We Call on All Sides to Exercise Maximum Restraint
June 7, 2025
Voices from Exile (VEx) wants to reecho its previous position for justice and accountability pertinent to the alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building. We believe that any alleged culprit(s) found guilty through a Court of competent jurisdiction should fully account within the ambit of the law for such an attack on the seat of our democracy.
We acknowledge the government’s decision to pursue all alleged culprits in line with the law. Yesterday, we watched police Inspector General Gregory Coleman announcing charges, including arson and attempted murder, against former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and four other Lawmakers.
We call on the government through the Ministry of Justice to accord the former Speaker and all those accused due process. The principles of fairness, justice, and speedy trial must be applied to everyone that has been accused and charged so far. The accused persons in question remain innocent until their guilt can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a Court of competent jurisdiction.
We want to caution all opposition political parties and politicians to refrain from every act of turning a legal matter into politics. Any attempt aimed at politicizing this case is a recipe for public disorder and an evasion of justice and accountability.
It is time for all parties to allow the law to work without interference, obstruction, false alarm, and prejudicial insinuations. We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and calm.
In clear and categorically terms, we want to condemn the police for the brutal handling of the National Chairman of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change, Atty. Janga Kowo. Even while Atty. Kowo lifted his hands up, the force used by the police was excessive. This is unacceptable and the police should desist.
While we encourage State Security to enforce law, order, and public safety throughout Liberia, we caution them to refrain from using lethal force against aggrieved citizens and unarmed protesters. It is the right of all Liberians, including opposition political parties and politicians, to protest in a peaceful manner. We call on the Government of President Joseph Boakai to protect this right at all times. Attempting to crack down on it is a strategic mistake that tends to incentivize anti-democratic precedents.
We admonish all Liberians, including aggrieved citizens and opposition partisans/politicians to exercise their rights, including rights to free speech, to assemble and protest, but in a peaceful manner. Beyond political differences and dissents, we are all Liberians, and we must do nothing to undermine the peace, stability, security, and prosperity of our nation.
Signed: Martin K. N. Kollie
Exiled Liberian Activist and Chief Convener
Voices from Exile (VEx)”
