–Nimba County Lawmakers withholding their Signatures
By Mark N. Mengonfia- mmenginfia@gmail.com
Since Liberian President George M. Weah wrote members of the Liberian Legislature requesting the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, about 52 members of the House of Representatives have already signed to ensure that the Court is established in this post conflict country.
The Liberian civil war officially ended in 2013, after some 250,000 people were killed but the perpetrators have so far not been brought to book.
Members of this august body are soliciting signatures from all of their colleagues for those who committed atrocity during the Liberia civil conflict, which also maimed tens of thousands, pillaged the country’s resources and damaged millions of US dollars worth of property.
There are 73 members of Liberia’s lower House of Representatives, while the Senate comprises 30 members.
Those lawmakers from the House, who have already signed the document for said establishment, have the views that establishing the Court in the Liberian Republic will greatly help those whose relatives, friends and loved once were direct victims of the carnage.
They also believe that everyone who went wrong needs to face justice, so as to serve as a deterrent to others who be perpetrators of violence during war.
But two lawmakers from Nimba, the County in Liberia which the civil unrest started from, have different views about the establishment of the war crimes court in Liberia.
Representative Samuel G. Kogar of Nimba County District #5 in an interview with legislative reporters spoke in a parable and said, “only goat will be happy when they are going to slaughter it”.
This parable could likely mean’ only fools will see disaster creeping on them and will happily embrace it’.
Representative Kogar has been one lawmaker who has prayed his colleagues and the Liberian government for the speedy establishment of the War and Economic crime court in Liberia, but he has just suddenly changed his tongue on the matter.
At the same time, Nimba County District #9 Lawmaker, Johnson N. Gwaikolo said before he agrees or disagrees on the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, he needs to first consult people of his district.
According to him, any decision people of his district will come up with will be his passion upon his return from the legislative recess in January of next year.
Rep. Gwaikolo, like other lawmakers, said that War crimes court creates the condition for people to account for their deals, which run contrary to rules governing war, but he said establishing it is a major decision that should be looked at carefully and taking into consideration all its ramifications.
The Nimba Lawmaker, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Administration, cautioned his colleagues to make such decision with the approbation of their employers (the ordinary voters) before make what he called critical decision.
According to information, among the Nimba County lawmakers, only one person has signed the resolution calling for War and Economic Crimes court in Liberia.
Representative Larry Younquoi has on numerous occasions campaigned for the establishment of the War and Economic Court in Liberia.
Rep. Younquoi is among the very first few lawmakers who signed resolution before others could follow.