“Rally Support For Urgent War Crimes Court’s Establishment”; WECC Campaigners Tell Global Justice Ambassador
The Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, a Liberian-based civil society and justice working group, is calling on the United States Ambassador for Global Justice, Beth Van Schaack, to rally the international community’s support for the urgentestablishment of the much-delayed war and economic crimes court in Liberia.
During a meeting Tuesday at the US embassy near Monrovia, the group unambiguously urged AmbassadorBeth van Schaack for the establishment of a Liberian-ledcourt on Liberian soil to prosecute those who bear the greatest responsibilities, that they may account for their alleged crimes as they relate to the violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws during Liberia’s past two civil wars.
The group lamented the growing threats against proponents of the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia as well as war survivors, coming from warlords who have become powerful due to delays in prosecuting them for their roles in the murder of over 250,000 Liberian and foreign nationals, as well as for the pillaging the national coffers.
The group asked the US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice for US support in strengthening thenational security apparatus, as a matter of urgency, in theevent of the establishment of the war and economic crimes court in Liberia.
The group welcomed the bold stance by 42 members of the House of Representatives in signing a resolution calling for the establishment of the court in Liberia, and called on the Liberian Senate to follow the good and patriotic example of the House of Representatives.
The group also thanked His Excellency, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, for leading the charge, and urges him to live up to his commitment in his inaugural address for theestablishment of the court and promotion of the rule of law, thereby ending the culture of impunity in Liberia.
“At the same time, the group wishes to remind and assure the Liberian public and international partners that the establishment of a war and economic crimes court inLiberia is not a witch-hunt, but a campaign to end the culture of impunity and wanton corruption which continue to deprive Liberians of the quality of life they deserve,” the Coalition for the Establishment of War andEconomic Crimes Court in Liberia stated in a press release.