PHOTO: The Author
By Austin S Fallah- A True Son of The Soil
Justice is the backbone of any successful society that wishes to foster equality, peace, and fair play among its constituents.
However, when this justice becomes a product for sale, the fabric of fairness, trust, and equality inherent in a societal setting is reduced to nothingness or a fragile society.
Liberia, a small nation within the MANO River Union founded under the narration of freedom for repatriated black men and women from the United States, has, since its independence, struggled in this critical aspect of Justice for all.
The country has become synonymous with impunity, where justice serves the affluent few at the expense of the marginalized masses.
A state of affairs where justice is not a fundamental inalienable right for all, but rather a luxury for the heavy pockets.
Such is the sad state of affairs for a citizenry that has endured more than its fair share of economic and socio-political hardships.
By pointing to incidences, past and recent, such as the death of a Liberian on Camp Johnson Road in the 1970s for taking candy from a supermarket at the hand of one who came in the name of doing business, or the recent attempt on a native female’s life due to her conceiving and showing love to one who came in the name of spreading and preaching the good news of Yeshua Christ, the question begging for an answer is: When will Liberians wake to the dawn of true justice?
Ingeborg Breines once noted, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.”
On this premise, the tragic massacre of over 250 Liberians, comprised primarily of women and children, is a heartbreaking testament to the prevailing state of impunity and the gross absence of justice in the face of mass innocent life loss.
Notably, this tragic event involved areas all over Liberia, such as the Lutheran Church, the Duport Road, and Carter Camp massacres, just to name a few.
Additionally, with innocent auditors losing their lives as a result of questioning financial corruption, it is clear that the pursuit of justice is fraught with dangers.
It is challenged by corrupt bureaucrats and individuals determined to keep their ill-gotten wealth hidden from the glare of justice.
This lends credence to the assertion that justice in our homeland Liberia is not for the downtrodden, weak, or voiceless.
Instead, it serves the interests of an organized racket of powerful elites.
The judicial system in Liberia has failed to protect its citizens, choosing instead to protect the interests of the rich and powerful, particularly aliens.
If a society cannot trust its judiciary to provide justice, it leads to chaos, anarchy, and increased civil disobedience.
The oppressed masses, frustrated and abandoned by the judiciary, may take the law into their own hands to achieve justice.
This, in turn, results in a cycle of violence, lawlessness, and further disruptions in society.
To avoid such a catastrophic outcome, there is undoubted urgency to evaluate and overhaul the justice system in Liberia.
The flagrant impunity must be replaced with stringent measures to ensure justice is no longer monopolized by the financially muscular.
There is also a desperate need for a paradigm shift in the mindset and attitudes at the top echelons of power for justice to prevail.
True justice in Liberia cannot and should not be determined by the weight of one’s pocket.
It should be based on the tenets of equality, honesty, and fairness, which are the bedrock of justice.
It is about time Liberians, irrespective of economic standing, experienced the true feeling of justice in their homeland.
This need not be a daunting task; after all, justice can only be delayed, not denied.
Those who are denying Liberians the true justice they need will one day be taken into account.
Liberia’s journey to justice may be long and possibly treacherous, but it is a journey that must be embarked upon.
A nation cannot flourish when it is drenched in impunity, inequalities, and corruption.
Liberia must navigate towards a future where justice is not a game of the rich.
A future where justice is a right and not a privilege.
This is the path to healing Liberia.
This is the path to justice for the voiceless masses who have for too long been denied the justice they so vehemently desire in their homeland, a land called Liberia.