The group’s statement follows shocking reports of brutal treatment of Thomas Etheridge, a young Liberian arrested in front of the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024.
MONROVIA — In a public statement issued Monday, the Concerned Citizens for the Protection of the Constitution, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CCPCDL) have strongly condemned the actions of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the National Security Agency (NSA) for alleged human rights violations, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Thomas Etheridge, Andrew Lawson, and other detainees.
By Edwin Genoway, [email protected]
The group’s statement follows shocking reports of brutal treatment of Thomas Etheridge, a young Liberian arrested in front of the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024.
According to credible sources, Etheridge was subjected to severe abuse, including waterboarding, beatings, and threats of death while in the custody of the LNP and NSA. These actions, the group argues, reflect a dangerous shift toward authoritarianism under the current administration of President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.
“This is a heartbreaking day for our fragile republic,” the statement reads, condemning what it calls an attempt by the Boakai-Koung administration to silence political dissent. The group warns that such tactics are undermining Liberia’s democracy and eroding public trust in state institutions.
The CCPCDL also voiced concern over the ongoing detention of Andrew Lawson and other citizens who, they claim, have been arrested without charge or due process. “We demand their immediate release,” the statement stresses.
The group also distanced their Chairman, Hon. Janjay Baikpeh, from “baseless” accusations leveled against him by security forces. The statement rejects the claims as politically motivated, aimed at discrediting Baikpeh, a known advocate for justice and democratic values.
In addition to calling for the release of the detained citizens, the Concerned Citizens group has demanded an independent investigation into the conduct of the state security officers involved in the alleged abuses, especially those present at the Capitol Building during the December 18th incident.
The statement also urges civil society groups, opposition leaders, and citizens to unite in defense of democracy and human rights. “Today, it is Thomas Etheridge and others; tomorrow, it could be any of us,” the CCPCDL warned, urging Liberians to rise together to protect the nation from what they view as the creeping threat of tyranny.
Finally, the group made an appeal to international partners to take decisive action in addressing these ongoing human rights violations. They called for urgent medical care for Thomas Etheridge and a thorough investigation into the broader issue of state abuse of power under the current administration.
The call to action comes at a time of increasing political tension in Liberia, as citizens express growing concerns over the erosion of civil liberties and the use of state security forces to intimidate opposition voices.
