PHOTO: (L-R) US Amb. McCarthy adn Senate President Pro Tempore Chie
In the wake of this week’s Open Letter to Liberia by the United States Ambassador calling for several measures to be taken as the Presidential and General Elections draw nearer, the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate says no one can be denied of their right to contest the elections without due process.
Ambassador Michael McCarthy says in his open letter: “In the upcoming 2023 elections, however, it will be the turn of the people of Liberia to let their voices be heard on this topic, especially since several of those sanctioned officials may be running for office. Ultimately, it is Liberians and not the U.S. government that are responsible for ensuring good governance in Liberia. Sanctions can help, but the ballot box is a far more important tool for holding officials accountable. If Liberians choose to elect or re-elect sanctioned officials as their leaders, that will send a very clear signal about how they truly feel about the fight against corruption and the future of their country.”
But Senate President Pro-tempore, Albert Chie has strongly reacted to the US Ambassador’ s assertion, demanding that due process be given to those affected by the United States Treasury sanctions under the Liberian judicial process.
“My comment was a general comment, not particular about Magnitsky Sanctions, but to remind all of us that the due process must be our guide always,” Senator Chie pointed out in an interview on Thursday with Journalists in Monrovia.
The Liberian Senate Pro Tempore added, “If someone accused you of anything, our Constitution clearly states that you must have your day in court, you should not be punished in any form until you are found guilty, not just guilty but beyond reasonable doubts.”
“The next issue was if I am against calls for sanctioned officials to be banned from contesting? Oh no, you will be abusing their human rights, that is their rights to contest, until they have been found guilty in the court of law, and the law will apply under Liberian Law. So you cannot accused anybody, there are Supreme Court opinions, for example: In the TRC Report when they banned Mrs. Sirleaf and said she cannot take part in the election, she went to the Supreme Court, and you know the ruling,” noted Sinoe County Albert Chie, who is seeking re-election in the 2023 Elections.
He further stressed, “That the due process, you must have your day in Court. You cannot punish somebody who haven’t been in Court” President Pro-Tempore Albert T. Chie.
Since the imposition of the Sanctions on three Liberian Government officials, who were swiftly suspended by President George Weah but they later resigned, there has been mixed reactions from various ends with pro-CDC supporters demanding the lifting of sanction of the three officials.
On August 15, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Liberian government officials Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.
“These officials are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world,” a US government statement said at the time.
According to the US Treasury Department, “Through their corruption these officials have undermined democracy in Liberia for their own personal benefit,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Treasury’s designations demonstrate that the United States remains committed to holding corrupt actors accountable and to the continued support of the Liberian people.” Morrison O.G. Sayon writes