President George M. Weah has urged Liberians to be serious about the way they approach the issue of establishing a war and economic crimes court in Liberia, indicating that the overall objective of his administration is to maintain the peace and stability of the country.
President Weah noted that the establishment of a war and economic crimes court is not just about talking—there are documents and processes involved with how to establish the court; therefore, individuals craving for the establishment of the court need to explain the documents to the ordinary Liberians so that they, too, can understand what is and who are involved.
According to him, no one wants the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to go unpunished, as majority of Liberians were hurt by the ugly scars of the war; however, people should not be carried away by the hate for the sitting administration to call for the hasty establishment of a war crimes court and forget the serious issues surrounding the matter.
“This is our country; what happened shouldn’t have happened, but now that it has happened let us focus on what we need to do to foster peace among us, because without peace our world will be difficult,” President Weah said.
The President recommended that Liberians foster peace by sitting under palava huts to discuss what has happened, as doing so could bring the victims or their families and the perpetrators or their families to one understanding, which could prevent Liberia from going back to the dark days.
He said in order for the next generation of Liberians to succeed, this generation needs to concentrate on what can make Liberia a great nation again—forget the politics and pay attention to governance, peace, security and prosperity.
According to him, it is dangerous to play politics with people’s lives, and that this was exactly what some lawmakers are doing at the detriment of other members of government. He maintained that members of the National Legislature are clothed with the responsibility to go back to their constituencies, consult their people and decide whether or not the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia is in the right direction.
The President wondered why people keep blaming him for the establishment of the court when, in fact, he has played his part by taking the issue to the Legislature to advise on which way to go. He expressed dismay in lawmakers who, instead of playing their role in appropriately dissecting the war crimes court instrument before them, wear red berets and join protesters in blocking the free movement of other peaceful citizens in the name of calling for the establishment of a war crimes court.
“The establishment of a war crimes court is not just about arguing at the Capitol; lawmakers should take the instrument to their people and let them know the reality—how many persons are involved; who are those involved; is the international community involved or is it only Liberians, and so on. Let us not joke with our people’s lives! People died in this country because of little mistakes, and so we can’t continue to play politics on the lives of our people,” President Weah cautioned.
He said a number of times he sees people on the street shouting about the coming of a war crimes court to Liberia, which is not a bad thing, but people should remember that he is not a perpetrator of war crimes; he is only the leader of the country. “I was not in your war. When you were fighting your war I was playing soccer. But I am a victim of the war because my parents were here and some of my relatives died due to the war,” President Weah recalled.
He said now that he is in the position to do something to solve the problem, Liberians should rally around him and stop fighting each other. “We are all Liberians and one people. Let our lawmakers evaluate the documents before them about the war crimes court and rally the support of all international partners with interest in establishing the court, and let us do so knowing that our people remain peaceful,” President Weah said.
President Weah averred that they did not take over the leadership of the country to play with people’s lives, and so his administration will ensure that the people live in harmony while dialoging for peace. He advised Liberians to live in peace. According to him, someday he will not be the President of the country but it is his wish to see Liberians live in peace forever.