CDC-USA Condemns Taylor’s Humiliation-Warns Against Political Witch Hunt Nationwide

A diaspora wing of the opposition has moved the fight over Jewel Howard-Taylor’s detention onto the international stage. The Congress for Democratic Change-USA frames her interception as a test of Liberia’s commitment to due process. Its statement blends a defense of the former vice president with pointed demands for accountability in the drug fight. By naming the police chief over alleged gifts, the group widens scrutiny beyond a single arrest. The intervention pressures the administration to prove its campaign is law-driven rather than political. It also risks hardening the partisan reading of a case authorities insist rests on evidence. At issue is whether the nation’s institutions can withstand the strain. THE ANALYST reports.

The Congress for Democratic Change-USA (CDC-USA) has condemned what it called the humiliating and politically troubling treatment of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor by the Liberia National Police (LNP), while demanding accountability in the country’s fight against narcotics. In a statement issued by its secretariat, the diaspora group said the manner in which she was intercepted at the airport raised serious concerns about due process and the politicization of state institutions.

The group said any person of interest to law enforcement must be treated with dignity and afforded constitutional protections. It argued that where restrictions on movement are necessary, they must rest on lawful procedures, proper notice and, where required, judicial authorization.

CDC-USA said the circumstances surrounding the detention created the impression of a politically motivated crackdown rather than a measured application of law. It said treating a former vice president as an ordinary criminal, without publicly established charges, undermined the presumption of innocence and raised concerns about selective justice.

The group also cited reports that Howard-Taylor was denied access to friends, family and others during the period she was held. It said the dignity and fundamental rights of every citizen must be protected even when law-enforcement action is justified.

Security Must Not Be Politicized

CDC-USA said it was alarmed by reports that security personnel assigned to protect the former vice president were disarmed during the incident. If accurate, the group said, the action raised concerns about her personal safety and the state’s responsibility to protect former senior officials.

The group called on the government to provide a transparent account of the incident. It said state power must be exercised within the boundaries of law and democratic norms.

Accountability, Not Scapegoating

Mr.Success A. B. Dennis Chairman CDC-USA

CDC-USA said it remained concerned about Liberia’s worsening drug crisis and the impact of narcotics on young people. It said the quantity of narcotics reportedly trafficked through the country exposed serious weaknesses in its border-security and law-enforcement systems.

The group said Liberia could not afford a government that responded to a national emergency with political diversion or selective prosecution. It called on the administration to take responsibility for strengthening the country’s borders, ports, airports, intelligence capabilities and anti-narcotics institutions.

Questions Over Police Chief

CDC-USA said it was troubled by public statements attributed to Inspector General Gregory Coleman regarding gifts and equipment allegedly received from an individual connected to persons implicated in the reported US$19 million (L$3.46 billion) drug case. If accurate, the group said, the claims demanded independent scrutiny.

The group said public confidence in law enforcement could not coexist with unresolved questions about possible relationships between officials and individuals linked to narcotics investigations. It called for transparency, accountability and an impartial investigation into the matters.

No To Political Witch-Hunts

The group said the fight against drugs could not be won by targeting political opponents. It said Liberians deserved a government that pursued criminals for their crimes rather than their political affiliation.

CDC-USA said the state must distinguish between genuine law enforcement and political persecution. It urged the government to focus resources on dismantling the networks responsible for trafficking narcotics into and through Liberia.

Reaffirms Democratic Commitment

CDC-USA reaffirmed what it described as its commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism, the rule of law and human rights. It said it would continue to oppose political witch-hunts, institutional abuse and the weaponization of state institutions for partisan purposes.

The group called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his administration to rise above partisan politics and restore public confidence in the country’s security institutions. It said Liberia’s institutions must serve the national interest rather than any individual, party or administration.

The statement was issued by the CDC-USA Secretariat. Neither the government nor the police had responded publicly to the group’s allegations at the time of this report.