Monrovia, Liberia – The Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) has called for Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung to submit to an independent international investigation into allegations related to the nation’s drug problem while endorsing the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) planned nationwide protest on July 17.
The student movement also called for the immediate dismissal of Inspector General Gregory Coleman of the Liberia National Police in a statement released on Tuesday from its headquarters at the University of Liberia. Coleman was accused of supervising an inadequate and unpersuasive investigation into the alleged seizure of US$19.2 million worth of cocaine at Roberts International Airport.
The declaration was signed by SUP Secretary-General Cde. David Howard Jr., with the consent of Chairman Cde. Odecious Mulbah argues that institutional weakness, economic hardship, and a drop in public confidence in the rule of law characterize Liberia’s worsening governance problem.
The student group accused President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Koung of failing to address the country’s escalating socioeconomic issues and asserted that the administration has prioritized political interests over the welfare of ordinary Liberians.
SUP declared its complete support for the “Lead or Leave” demonstration that Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), chaired by Mulbah K. Morlu Jr., is planning on July 17. The party added that the endorsement shows a common resolve to address issues like growing unemployment, rising costs for necessities, declining healthcare services, and difficulties in Liberia’s education system.
The group stated that the difficulties experienced by college students are similar to the more general economic challenges that regular Liberians, such as workers and market women, endure. Additionally, SUP declared that it would hold its own “March for Jobs and Justice” on July 26 in order to carry on its long-standing support of social justice and economic reforms.
The student movement demanded that Vice President Koung willingly agree to what it called an impartial, global, and unfettered probe into claims of drug trafficking. SUP contended that accusations against high-ranking government officials ought to be openly investigated by independent civil society organizations, regional security organizations, and foreign forensic specialists.
Although the organization acknowledged that stories and photos of the vice president that have been made public do not prove criminal activity, it insisted that they have raised enough public concern to justify an unbiased investigation. The party said that constitutional office should never protect people from lawful criminal enquiries, emphasizing that no public figure should be shielded from scrutiny. SUP called for Inspector General Gregory Coleman’s immediate dismissal, claiming that the Liberia National Police’s report on the alleged cocaine seizure contained important omissions and unanswered concerns.
