Grand Kru County’s district #2 Representative and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Fonati Koffa, has become the first Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) lawmaker to argue in favor of the establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia, and as well the implementation of all other recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), amidst the Liberian Senate’s recommendation to President George M. Weah to establish a Transitional Justice Commission (TJC).
A few days ago the Liberian Senate officially wrote President George M. Weah, finalizing its resolve for the establishment of a Transitional Justice Commission (TJC), that will be enacted into law. According to the Senators’ letter, there are Constitutional and other legal issues emanating from the TRC Report, which must first be addressed or the implementation of key recommendations will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve, necessitating their advise on the establishment of the proposed TJC and its enactment into law.
However, Deputy Speaker Koffa on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 told newsmen that, even though he supports the establishment of the TJC, he envisions a TJC that will implement or create a roadmap to the implementation of the TRC Recommendations.
According to him, the establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia is cardinal, evident by the fact that almost every Liberian has expressed their voice against impunity and their interest for justice to be served; as such, he supports the decision of the Liberian people.
“When I envision a Transitional Justice Commission (TJC), I envision the one that will implement or create the roadmap to the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations—that is a commission that will come up and say here is how we will prosecute war criminals; here are the challenges; here are the financial constraints; and here is the roadmap,” Deputy Speaker Koffa stated.
But contrary to Deputy Speaker Koffa’s vision, the TJC recommended by the Senate is aimed at determining why the TRC recommendations have not been fully and timely implemented, examining the effect of the August 2003 Act of Legislature that granted general amnesty to all participants of the war, analyzing issues surrounding the TRC Report in respect to why some Commissioners did not sign the Final Report, examining the pros and cons of establishing a war and economic crimes court, etc.
According to Representative Koffa, the TRC was about the participation of every Liberian and international partners who served as guarantors at the Comprehensive Accra Peace Accord, and now that the United States Congress has passed Resolution 1056, emphasizing the implementation of the TRC recommendations there is no need for Liberia shying away from its responsibility in bringing justice to the victims of the civil war.
Giving a descending view on the TJC, Deputy Speaker Koffa pointed out that it will be prudent that the National Legislature does not go back to auditing the TRC and its rationales; rather, start from the implementation of the TRC recommendations.
He said if he was tasked to form the TJC individually, it will be a commission that will set up the roadmap on how the TRC recommendations will be implemented, because the TRC Report has become internationally accepted as the body of work that categorizes and contextualizes impunity in Liberia.
From a legal standpoint, Representative Koffa noted that the Senate setting up a Transition Justice Commission (TJC) was right, but with wrong result. He maintained that, before delving into critical issues like these, it is good to seek the advice of experts, actors and activists in the TRC process.