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Washington War Crimes Court Hearing: Turning Point In Addressing Liberia’s War-Time Atrocities

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PHOTO: Adama Dempster

By William Selmah, wselmah@gmail.com

A key advocate for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal for Liberia says the recent Washington hearing on addressing war time atrocities is a turning point in their advocacy for justice for war victims in the country.

The Secretary General of the Civil Society Advocacy Platform of Liberia, Adama K. Dempster believes the hearing represents some of the dividends of their years of advocacy for alleged perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to face justice. It has also given further boost to their campaign, he pointed out.

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) set up following the civil crisis in Liberia documented over 160,000 violations during the conflict, after hearing testimonies of scores of victims.

The violations included forced labor, sexual slavery, gang rape, summary executions, amputation, and desecration of sacred shrines, among others.

The TRC in its report recommended prosecution for those it labelled as most notorious perpetrators.

More than nine years since that report was released, the first step is yet to be taken to punish those most responsible for the commission of heinous crimes during the war, something Dempster blames on “lack of political will not only on the part of the current administration, but past ones as well”.

But with the matter already generating interest at the level of the U.S. Congress, he believes Liberia is getting closer to seeing the court set up than ever.

He noted that Liberian leaders hardly listen to their own citizens, but are instead responsive to pressure from western leaders, adding that former President Taylor only back off during his final days in power when President Bush ordered “Taylor must leave now”.

The next hearing in Washington on a possible war crimes court for Liberia is slated for next month, July.

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