VICE PRESIDENT JEREMIAH Kpan Koung on March 5, 2024 received the United States delegation for Global Criminal Justice, headed by Ambassador-At-Large Her Excellency Beth Van Schaack, at his office on Capitol Hill. The meeting focused on the progress being made in the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia.
SCHAACK REFERRED TO President Boakai’s commitment to the establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia in his inaugural address, a statement that she said she believes resonates with the United States agenda to support Liberia in strengthening the rule of law and eliminating the culture of impunity. “The court will prosecute major cases based on the gravity of offenses, using Sierra Leone as an inference where nine (9) individuals were prosecuted. The United States government remains supportive in providing technical and financial assistance for the establishment of the court” Schaack revealed.
THE HOUSE OF representatives is in consonance of the agenda of the Boakai administration, as the House has overwhelmingly passed a resolution seeking the establishment of war and economic crimes court in Liberia. According to a statement issued Tuesday, March 5, 2024, by the House Press Bureau, plenary took the decision after more than forty members voted in favor of the resolution.
THE RESOLUTION RECOUNTED how the civil wars, from 1989 to 2003, resulted in death and destruction across Liberia, including the displacement of nearly half the population, horrific abuses, including summary executions, massacres, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, mutilation and torture and forced conscription and use of child combatants.
HOWEVER, THE SCENARIO takes the picture of the Weah administration and the 55th Legislature, or members of the 55th Legislature, going their separate ways. According to Senator Chie, instead of opting for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court, the Senate advised that, in line with one of the recommendations of the TRC, the President of Liberia should offer an apology on behalf of the state to the many victims and the people of Liberia in general for its role in the conflict and for the injuries and losses sustained by individuals and communities. The Grand Kru County Senator further noted that the report advised that the government should, without further delay, set up a Reparation Trust Fund for victims and communities worst affected by the conflict, to benefit through direct financial assistance or through development programs and projects.
NIMBA COUNTY SENATOR Prince Johnson sees any attempt at establishing a war crimes court in Liberia as unduing the nation’s peace. Senator Johnson thus sharply reacted to President Boakai administration’s quest to establish a war crimes tribunal for Liberia, warning that if they temper with the peace they should have themselves to blame. “The first thing I will tell all Liberians they should pray for our continued peace that we have enjoyed for over twenty some more years due to the Amnesty Law that was passed and printed into handbill,” Senator Johnson said on Truth 96.1 Morning Breakfast Show. “But if the time has come for President Joseph Boakai and his team to remove or temper with the Amnesty Law, then he is tempering with the people’s future.”