While Lawmakers Dance And Chant: “War Crimes Court, We Want Justice”
PHOTO: VP Jeremiah Koung poses for picture with officials of the US Global Criminal Justice office
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com
Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Kpaan Koung has been meeting with a visiting delegation from the United States office for Global Criminal Justice at his Capitol Building office in Monrovia, at the House of Representative for the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia on the same the same day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
The US delegation was headed by Ambassador-At-Large Her Excellency Beth Van Schaack, said a press release from the VP’s office.
This March 5, 2024 resolution, which was passed by the House in the 55th Legislature, comes some three decades after the country’s brutal civil war (1989-2003) that killed 250,00 people. But to date Liberia is yet to hold any warlord or perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable, despite a recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for prosecution of perpetrators back in 2010.
“The resolution has been passed, and justice for the Liberian people has finally arrived,” said the Speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, after 42 of the 73 members of the lower house voted to pass a resolution for the setting up of a war crimes court in this West African nation.
Journalists covering the House session said Lawmakers danced, sang and chanted: “War crimes court, we want justice”.
Back in September 2019, some 26 members of the House of Representatives in the 54th Legislature signed a resolution calling for the setting up of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia. However, that was not followed through by the then Legislature and the Executive.
The latest resolution is calling on the new President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to work with the United Nations, international partners, institutions, and civil society organizations for assistance in establishing the Extraordinary Criminal Court in Liberia in a manner that allows the trial of international crimes in accordance with international standards and best practices.
Vice President Koung, who is a top executive of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) party headed by former warlord-turned Senator Prince Y. Johnson, emphasized in his meeting with the American delegation that President Boakai is the Chief Architect of Liberia’s Foreign Policy and is prepared to follow the lead of the President in the interest of the Liberian people.
Sen. Prince Johnson seems to be unhappy about the latest move by President Boakai to press ahead with the establishment of the war crimes court. In his latest reaction, the Nimba County Senator and former leader of the disbanded Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) said such an action is “intended to reawaken the country’s darkest days”.
“I believe in the vision and wisdom of President Boakai and am deeply committed to supporting his agenda for Liberia”, VP Koung told the US delegation.
The Liberian Vice President “also stressed that prosecution should be impartial and consultations should be broad-based to avoid selective justice,” the press release from his office added.
The House of Representatives’ lates resolution, which is expected to be sent to the Senate for concurrence, also notes that the Liberian TRC submitted its final report to the National Legislature on December 19, 2009, recommending the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal Court of Liberia, an international domestic court with authority to prosecute individuals accused of gross human rights violations, serious humanitarian laws violations, and certain domestic crimes.
According to the resolution, Section 48 of the TRC Act provides that “The Head of State shall report to the National Legislature within three months of receipt of the report of the TRC, and on a quarterly basis thereafter as to the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations,” and “All recommendations shall be implemented,” and “Where the implementation of any recommendation has not been complied with, the Legislature shall require the Head of State to show cause such non-compliance.
During her meeting with VP Koung, the head of the US office of Global Criminal Justice, Madam Schaack referred to President Boakai’s commitment to the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia in his inaugural address, a statement that she believes resonates with the United States agenda to support Liberia in strengthening the rule of law and eliminating the culture of impunity.
“The court will prosecute major cases based on the gravity of offenses; using Sierra Leone as an inference where nine (9) individuals were prosecuted. The United States Government remains supportive in providing technical and financial assistance for the establishment of the court,” the visiting US official revealed.