GUJAN Says It Shouldn’t Be Used To “Settle Political Scores”
PHOTO: Atty. Abraham Wheon, GUJAN
AS TOM LANTUS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONDUCTS HEARING ON THE NEXT STEP TOWARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WAR AND ECONOMIC CRIMES COURT TODAY
A local human rights group, Guide to Justice Action Network Liberia Incorporated (GUJAN) has cautioned the Unity Party government of Liberia to treat the recent call for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes court with utmost seriousness and not the normal way of giving lip service intended to settle political scores.
In a press release, GUJAN says it believes strongly that Justice has not to do with politics and that the lives and wellbeing of human should never be treated or mixed with politics.
The Group however thanked the President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and members of the National Legislature for mustering the courage in taking significant steps aimed at bringing to closure the culture of impunity that has permeated the Liberian society but wants practical actions on ground.
GUJAN, through its executive Director Attorney Abraham Wheon said since the signing of the Executive Order by president Boakai thus establishing an office for War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, said office has never been physically established with named personnels who shall occupy said office.”
“It has been over a month since the President signed the Executive Order which emulated from a Joint Resolution of the national Legislature but since then there has been no further action taken to that effect thus leaving many to draw the conclusion that the process is going to be treated as business as usual.” Wheon Noted.
On May 2, Liberian President Boakai signed an Executive Order to establish the Office of a War and Economic Crimes Court – a major, long-awaited step toward redressing the wounds of the country’s civil wars.
The Office according to the Executive Order is empowered to “investigate, design, and prescribe the methodology, mechanisms, and the processes for the establishment of a Special War Crimes Court,” as well as a National Anti-Corruption Court.
Wheon thanked the United States Government and other international partners for their sustained interest in seeking to bring to an end the culture of impunity following the Liberia’s most bitter past; and Supports the Pending Tom Lantos Human Rights Hearing under the topic “Liberia: Next Steps Towards Accountability for War and Economic Crimes Court”.
On Today Wednesday, the Tom Lantus Human Committee will hear from Witnesses who will examine the legacy of Liberia’s civil wars on its people and economy and the next steps for the new Office of a War and Economic Crimes Court, and offer recommendations for Congress.
A release on the website of the TOM Lantos Human Rights Commission states that the hearing will be hybrid. Members of Congress will participate in person. Witnesses may participate in person or remotely via Cisco WebEx. The public and the media may attend in person or view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission website.
The hearing will also be available for viewing on the House Digital Channel service. For any questions, please contact Mark Milosch (for Co-Chair Smith) or Kimberly Stanton (for Co-Chair McGovern.
Appearing for Wednesday’s hearings as witnesses are: Dr. Alan White, Co-Executive Director for the Advocacy Foundation for Human Rights (non-profit organization) & Former Chief of Investigations of the United Nations backed Special Court for Sierra Leone
Yahsyndi Martin-Kpeyei, Executive Director of the Movement for Justice for Liberia
Alvin Smith, Chief Investigator for the International Justice Group (NGO),
Adama Kiatamba Dempster, National Secretary General, Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, and
Elizabeth Evenson, Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch.
In recent decades, Liberia’s people have suffered untold human rights violations while perpetrators acted with near-complete impunity during the country’s multiple civil wars. Between 1989 and 2003, 250,000 Liberians died from the fighting, and thousands more were conscripted as child soldiers, raped, suffered loss of limb, and endured other traumatic experiences. Since that time, not a single war crimes trial has occurred in Liberia as part of the country’s judicial process.
GUJAN strongly believes that Justice can only be done or served when a clearly defined legal framework which allows for victims and perpetrators to faceoff at forum where true of happenings during the war can be explained and understood.
Gujan is Legal Advocacy Civil Society Organized to promote judicial accountability and guide citizens in protecting and defending their rights under every given law.