As Head Of The War And Economic Crimes Court Office
PHOTO: STAND’s Chairman, Mulbah Morlu , addressing a press conference in Congo Town
The new NGO, STAND which headed by former CDC Party’s Chairman, Mulbah Morlu and Liberia NGOs Network have endorsed the appointment of the Counselor Jonathan Massaquio as Executive Director of the Officer of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia by President Joseph Boakai.
STAND is the Solidarity and Trust for New Da.y
The former CDC Chairman, Mulbah Morlu commended President Joseph Boakai for demonstrating the political will by setting the pace for the addressing the culture of impunity in the country.
Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi
Addressing a press conference in Monrovia this week, Mr. Morlu said that the decision for the support of the Counselor Massaquio was based on the mandate from the various structures of STAND and over one dozens civil society organizations.
According to former CDC Chairman, corruption and violence crimes have plagued the government past and present, thus accelerating Liberia’s moral decline in to abyss.
“Twenty-one years have passed since the end of Liberia’s civil war, yet the country continues to grapple with significant national challenges, including violent crime and human rights abuses, which pose grave threats to its peace and stability under successive governments.”
He explained that at the core of this complex issue lies a longstanding reluctance to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable.
“Liberia’s dark history of 14 years marked by brutality saw infamous warlords, many of whom have since entered politics, and their followers turning the nation into killing fields, resulting in the senseless deaths of a quarter-million innocent citizens, predominantly women and children.”
Mr. Morlu added that Liberia established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) not only to facilitate national reconciliation but also to ensure justice for war and economic crimes.
“The TRC fulfilled its mandate by recommending the establishment of a special court to prosecute those responsible for these heinous acts.
While past administrations deserve criticism for failing to fulfill their patriotic, international, moral, and legal duties to establish a judicial framework addressing past abuses,” the STAND Chairman went on,
“President Joseph Boakai deserves commendation for demonstrating the political will to initiate crucial steps toward establishing a war and economic crimes court to prosecute alleged perpetrators.”
According to him, once fully implemented, this decision will not only address Liberia’s most urgent issue of impunity; but, also present an opportunity for progress in a nation where war victims continue to suffer under corrupt economic governance, partly perpetuated by former warlords.
“It is unfortunate that since the end of the civil war, Liberia’s democratic governance has been hindered by weak infrastructure and systemic institutional failures, despite the tragic loss of 250,000 innocent lives.”
“Despite some notable progress, various international reports on Liberia paint a troubling picture of escalating violence, drug abuse, corruption, and acute economic disparity.”
“Of even greater concern is the fact that a significant portion of Liberia’s youth is increasingly vulnerable to rising crime and drug abuse, threatening the stability and development of a crucial human resource sector vital for Liberia’s present and future.”
Mr. Mulbah Morlu also explained that violent crime rates remain alarmingly high across the country, exacerbating Liberia’s challenge with impunity, despite two decades of relative peace and stability.
“Both local and international reports categorize violent crime, both petty and large-scale, as opportunistic, exacerbated by a weak judiciary system and endemic poverty, particularly affecting the youth.”
“Furthermore, corruption has plagued all governments, past and present, accelerating Liberia’s moral decline into an abyss,” he said; adding: “the lack of successful prosecution of public officials and a firm political will to combat waste and abuse have worsened official corruption, fostering a culture of impunity.”
“Data reveals that 70% of Liberia’s population lives in multidimensional poverty, compounded by rising youth unemployment, pervasive corruption, and a steep inflation rate.”
He indicated that the lack of trust in the judiciary further increases the potential for instability amid the high costs of living.
“Given the emerging regional threat of military coups,” Morlu went on, “it is imperative for Liberians to oppose unconstitutional and disruptive governance methods.”
“Based on this background, practical measures must be taken to safeguard and strengthen our democracy against external interference.”
At the same time, Mr. Mulbah Morlu has pointed out that the most viable steps include improving governance for ‘our people, ensuring easy and equitable access to justice, enhancing measures of public accountability without cherry-picking, fear, or favor, and guaranteeing freedom of speech for all.’
“Whether baseless or justified, these fundamental inadequacies before 1989 were exploited by protagonists of the Liberian civil war.”
According to him, the current government must seize upon this opportunity provided by the irreversible ‘War and Economic Crimes Court’ mandate to lay a fresh foundation for building trust and confidence in Liberia’s judicial system.
“While STAND rallies Liberians to reject all appearances and symbols of undemocratic takeovers in a few West African countries,” Morlu noted; “we also believe this negative regional experience should serve as a cautionary tale for our own government to prioritize the socio-economic and human resource development of its people to strengthen their support for democratic governance.”
“Subsequently, the Legislature, under the leadership of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and Senate Pro Tempore Nyomblee Karngar-Lawrence, made a decision that resonated commendably with the people.”
“With the House passing a resolution calling for the establishment of war and economic crimes courts for Liberia, which was reconciled a month later through a resolution by the Liberian Senate, STAND commends the House’s leadership and all its members for this historic step forward.”
“The urgency of this national moral and legal imperative prompted STAND to issue several statements calling on the President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai, to establish the office of a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.”
The head of STAND added:
“By the power vested, as stipulated and authorized by our various leadership structures, the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) and the Liberia NGOs Network (LINNK), which comprises dozens of civil society organizations, do hereby declare support for the appointment of Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi as Executive Director of the office of War and Economic Crimes court in Liberia.”