A group under the banner, “Citizens United to Uphold, Protect and Defend the Dignity of Liberia”, has petitioned the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the National Legislature, not to give the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson a state burial based on the atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity he committed during the civil war in Liberia. The group said Prince Johnson stands accused of human rights violations, including torture, using child soldiers, murder, slavery, and even cannibalism.
The petition is said to have been served on President Joseph N. Boakai, US Ambassador Mark Tuner, Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the Interfaith Council of Liberia and the Independent National Human Rights Commission of Liberia (INHRCL).
In the petition, the Citizens United to Uphold, Protect and Defend the Dignity of Liberia emphasized that the late Senator Johnson’s body should not be laid at the Rotunda of the Capitol, but taken straight to Nimba County for local interment.
According to the group, it would be disrespectful to souls lost at the hands of the deceased should his body be laid in state, including Tecumseh Roberts, Robert Toe, James Carter, Wata Allison, Oldman Sillah, Flomo Miller, Michael Doe, American Hare Krishna (white lady), INPFL chief of staff’s girlfriend, Sam Tody, Jimmy Garley, Thomas Koryeyon, James Jones, the numerous Sarpo people in Bong mines, and the long list of innocent civilians. “Their souls are crying for closures. Murdering people who have nothing to do with the government of the day…this act on his part is devilish. It is our pleading that PYJ’s body be taken to Nimba,” the group maintained.
The group, headed by James T. Jones, further accused PYJ (as he is commonly called) of being responsible for many more atrocities, including the murder of a US citizen, Hladini, who was born as Linda Jury, but later joined the Hara Krishna movement (officially called the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In 1990, the group explained, Hladini was brutally murdered by Prince Johnson and his men.
As Liberia continues to grapple with the legacy of its civil wars, the group said, the establishment of the war and economic crimes court (WECC) remains a crucial step towards accountability and reconciliation; however, its success will ultimately depend on the commitment of the government to pursue justice in a way that transcends international pressure and addresses the deeper issues of governance and accountability within the country.
Therefore, the group argued, giving Prince Johnson a state burial will defeat the purpose and intent of the WECC, as the court’s legitimacy and effectiveness will hinge on its ability to deliver justice impartially, addressing the needs of victims and contributing to national healing rather than serving as a tool for political leverage.
The petition pointed out that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) placed Prince Johnson at the top of its list of most notorious perpetrators. “In its 2009 final report, as you are fully aware, the TRC identified him as ‘having the highest number of violations ever recorded for individual perpetrators’ during Liberia’s civil wars. Johnson was responsible for the capture, torture, and execution of former President Doe, a brutal act that was recorded and broadcast widely on television. He was also alleged to have participated in killings, extortion, massacres, destruction of property, forced recruitment, assault, abduction, torture, forced labor, and rape,” the group observed.
The group indicated that Johnson’s death is a blow to his victims, who have waited more than two decades for justice, and that his death comes at a time when momentum for accountability in Liberia is growing. “Giving him a state burial will be a slap in the face of justice and accountability yea the many victims,” the group maintained.
“Please, do not give Prince Johnson a state burial because he was the one who killed our fathers, mothers, and children in Caldwell, and our family’s bodies were eaten by dogs. We are not happy with the way he died because we were waiting for the opening of the war crime court so he could tell me what our families did.
“This petition illustrates the continuing pain and anger felt by many Liberians who were directly affected by Johnson’s actions. The emotional weight of our words emphasizes the deep wounds that persist, highlighting the demand for justice and accountability that remains unmet for so many families.
“Given the above, the Death of Johnson stresses the urgent need for Liberia and the international community to dedicate sufficient resources and expertise to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court. As time passes, victims, witnesses, and perpetrators age, diminishing the chances of achieving meaningful justice. The death of Johnson should catalyze to accelerate efforts to operationalize the court. Perpetrators must be held accountable, and victims must be heard before it is too late,” the petition continued.
The petition underscored that this should serve as a deterrent that evil cannot be rewarded, so that another rebel leader may not repeat the despotism of Prince Johnson. “The fact that the Capitol Building got burned should be a sign from God Almighty. Please, let’s recognize this subliminal and glaring supernatural sign,” the petition added.