By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
One of the sons of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, James Sirleaf has reacted to reports that his mother has been summoned by a US Federal Court in connection with her alleged fueling of the country’s 14 years brutal civil war.
James Sirleaf told www.newspublictrust.com on Wednesday that former President Sirleaf “has not received any citation as of yet.”
But the Federal District Court of Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, USA on Monday (March 26, 2018( issued summons in a civil lawsuit against Defendants, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, International Fundraiser for the National Patriotic Front, (NPFL) and former President of the Republic of Liberia, former President Charles G. Taylor, NPFL and others.
A statement from the US Court says the Honorable Judge Denise J. Casper has been assigned to the case which bears the Civil Docket Number: 1:18-cv-10574-DJC.
“As you know she is a law abiding citizen and the great United States recognizes her strong personality and wide popularity all across the world. When she is called she will answer to any and all inquiries,” the son of the former Liberian leader said.
James Sirleaf said in the event his mother eventually appears before any court, “I stand with my Mother and am most willing to testify on her behalf for the truth to echo its plea.”
According to the son of the 79-year-old former Liberian President, “There are many lies and blame being foretold and I stand ready to defend her at all times. I would even fly to the US overnight if need be”.
James, who is a career financial manager, has strongly defended the stewardship of his mother, Liberia and Africa’s first elected female President who ended two successive six years term on January 22, 2018.
“There is little consequence to this story. I was part and parcel to the cruelty of the Doe Administration in Liberia in 1985 but most certainly didn’t see Charles Taylor as a more civil option,” James Sirleaf noted.
Further reacting to the story about the civil law suit against his mother for the carnage during the war, Mr. Sirleaf spoke of the long history of injustice in Liberia over the years, starting with the military regime of the late Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe, when he (James Sirleaf) was personally subjected to injustice.
“I went to prison for no reason without any charge, taken from my home at gunpoint without redress. I was finally released and never taken to court in what may be described as a kangaroo court made up military soldiers and the awesome late Jenkins Scott.”
The son of former President Sirleaf did not rule out the possibility of him eventually pursuing legal action against that regime in the future.
“I am not fully resolved yet and may take action against the entire Doe administration or its remnants. I was here in Liberia working with Citibank at the time,” James Sirleaf added.
Last Friday, a prominent Liberian-born human rights activist of the Universal Human Rights International, Pastor Torli H. Krua and Rev. Mahn C. Krua of Tappita, Nimba County filed a civil lawsuit against the main perpetrators of atrocities in Liberia and those who knowingly provided material and financial support to carry out violence, torture and rape against Liberian civilians including the Krua family.
Some 250, 000 people were killed in Liberia’s 14 years civil war which officially ended in 2003, according to United Nations estimate.
But ever since the war ended, not a single person has faced justice or reparation being given to victims for the carnage caused by warlords and their funders.
Although the 2010 final report from the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified those who bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities, justice still remains elusive.
Former President Sirleaf had repeatedly denied actively taking part in the operation of the defunct NPFL of Charles Taylor.
But she admitted to the TRC that she only gave the NPFL US$10,000 in the 1990s for what she called humanitarian purpose.