Monrovia – In the wake of increasing calls for the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia, the House of Representatives has embarked on holding public hearings with major interest groups on the matter.
On Thursday, August 30, the House’s Joint Committee on Claims and Petition, Judiciary, National Peace, Religion and Reconciliation and Ways, Means and Finance and Committee on Good Governance met with officials of the group, Citizens Action for the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia (CAEWAEEC).
According to the Chairperson of the Committee on Claims and Petition, Rep. Rustolyn S. Dennis, the hearing marked the beginning of series of public dialogues that the Joint Committee will hold with Liberians from the two divides-those in favor of war crimes and those against to ascertain their views.
CAEWAEEC’s officials in attendance were Chairman, Fubbi F. A. Henries, Franklin K. Wesseh, Co-Chair and Richard D. W. Allen along with Hassan Billity of the Global Justice and Research Project.
In his opening statements, Henries lauded the Joint Committee for the hearing and called on the lawmakers to begin the process of ending the culture of impunity in Liberia by establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court as mandated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
According to him, it was due to the failure of Liberians to seek justice following the April 12, 1980 coup d’etat that led to the 1985 failed coup and subsequently the 14-year long civil war.
He warned that the failure to bring to book those that bear the greater responsibility of the war as recommended by the TRC might likely lead to future recurrence of the civil war.
Said Henries: “We call on you (the lawmakers) to ensure that the Act that established the TRC is respected. We believe that if we start to stick to reparations, victims will forget about the issues of war crimes and economic crimes. And 20 or 30 years from now, people will come up and say let’s kill them and appease their mouths and give them some sweets. Because that is the culture. It’s time to put an end the culture of impunity.”
Meanwhile, during the hearing, the lawmakers among other things raised concerns on the security and economic implications of establishing war and economic crimes court and questioned the petitioners why they have been “very vocal” in their campaign for the establishment of war crimes court under this new administration as compared to the past government.
Hassan Billity of the Global Justice and Research Project did not mince his words when he stated that many Liberians and the international community believe that President George Weah is the most suitable leader of Liberia as of now to fully implement the TRC’s recommendations without fear or favor.
He said unless former President Ellen John Sirleaf who is among several Liberians that were affected by the TRC report, President Weah as of now has no records of human rights violations including war crimes.
The ex-Liberian leader was among several Liberians that are barred from participating in Liberian politics for 30 years.
Hassan Bility: “There are very clear indications that when President George M. Weah was elected President of Liberia, people around the world who are very much interested in making sure that this happen thought that he was the best candidate that we have so far to make it happen (implement TRC report) because we don’t have any record on him for the commission of war crimes. The whole world believes that President Weah is suitably placed as the right person right now that can exercise that political will to do it.”
In can be recalled that in May this year, a group of Liberians assembled at the Capitol Building and petitioned the 54th Legislature to fully implement to the TRC report.
According to the petitioners, fully implementing the TRC recommendations would reconcile the thousands of Liberians, who still feel aggrieved by the manner in which they were victimized during the war.
Reading the petition on the grounds of the Capitol, Mr. Fubi Henries, who is leading the campaigner, said implementing the TRC recommendations would also not only rewrite Liberia’s history that culture of impunity is over, but it would also bring peace of mind to those who lost their loved ones and been going through trauma from the impact of the war. It would also serve as a deterrent for future conflicts.
“This is our cry, we want justice. This country cannot have genuine peace without justice. Therefore, the establishment of the War Crimes Court is inevitable. Even the heavens require judgment for our actions here on earth,” the petition noted.
Meanwhile, lawmakers that attended the hearing included Reps. Rostulyn Suacoco Dennis (Montserrado Dist. #4), Chairperson on Claims and Petition, Dorwohn Twain Gleekia (Nimba District 6), Chairman on Peace, Religion and National Reconciliation, Vincent S. Willie (Grand Bassa Dist. #4), Thebelrosa S. Tarponweh, (Margibi Dist. 1), A. Kaine Wesso (Grand Cape Mount) and Lawrence Morris (Montserrado District #1), among others.
