MONROVIA: The Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia (TJWG), has stated with confidence that it will resolve the dissatisfaction among civil society organizations concerning the appointment of Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi as Executive Director of the Office of Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).
TJWG, in a statement, indicated that the appointment of the Executive Director of the office responsible to coordinate the establishment of the WECC is a remarkable opportunity for all Liberians including civil society institutions.
However, according to TJWG, there have been dissatisfactions from some civil society groups over the lack of consultation before President Joseph Boakai appointed Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi to the post.
The WECC office is responsible to investigate, design, and prescribe the methodology, mechanisms, and processes for the establishment of a Special War Crimes Court for Liberia, as well as a National Anti-Corruption Court for Liberia.
On Monday, August 5, 2024, the TJWG, issued a press statement on the current state of affairs on the appointment of the Executive Director of the office of the WECC for Liberia.
In the statement, TJWG pointe4d out that the concerns raised by some CSOs is a serious national issue, and if not handled with care, will negatively impact the strides towards the achievement of the long fought-for justice and accountability for the monstrous brutalities visited upon the country by its own compatriots just for unmerited power, fame and wealth.
The group indicated that it is clear that Liberia’s civil war had nothing to do with the protection of political, economic and social rights of Liberians as was pretexted by the ex-warriors and their supporters.
The group added that the civil war was, rather a calculated and selfish ploy to murder the Liberian populace, acquire state power, and plunder their wealth, and that such people must account for their crimes and the victims must get the deserved justice.
The group believes that the dispensation of justice for the victims which also include the holding of alleged perpetrators accountable is a tedious, professional and above all a sensitive process which must be devoured of political or personal influence and consideration.
“It may be recalled that to address the pressing issues of justice and accountability, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was put in place and presented its recommendations which includes but not limited to criminal prosecution, peace-building, memorialization, reparations etc. While successive governments showed no sign of implementing the TRC recommendations, steps so-far taken by the current government indicates that the victory for justice and accountability is reaching an irreversible point which needs to be encouraged and not hindered,” TJWG added.
According to TJWG’s statement, among steps taken so far by the current government include the submission of an official communication to the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Autonio Guterres, of the Liberian Government’s willingness to establish a war and economic crimes court so as to hold perpetrators of war and economic crimes during the Liberian civil war accountable and to hold perpetrators of war and economic crimes.
Additionally, the TJWG said, as solid as the CSOs concerns may be, it views it “paradoxical as to how some of the very civil society institutions secretly, without consultation with their fellow civil society actors, recommended individuals from their ranks to President Boakai for the same position.”
The group informed the Liberia people and the government of Liberia including international stakeholders and partners that being Liberia’s pioneer and leading civil society crafted initiative on transitional justice in Liberia since 2003, it is committed to the outcome of the “CIVIL SOCIETY ROUNDTABLE ON TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WAR AND ECONOMIC CRIMES COURT IN LIBERIA” that was held at the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia on July 25, 2024, in the presence of key international diplomats who played a listening role.
The group also disclosed that during the meeting, majority of civil society speakers including victim groups acknowledged that consultation before the appointment of the Executive Director of the office of the WECC was a prudent way for the government to go.
TJWG, in the statement, added that it favors moving forward rather than continuous bickering over mere appointment.
It emphasized that it was also agreed at the meeting that civil society institutions should convene another meeting and engage Cllr. Massaquoi upon his return from the United States because it was the best and appropriate path to resolve impasse with the civil society community and as well there should be increase in civil society representation during the next meeting and engagement with Cllr. Massaquoi.
Meanwhile, the TJWG also called on all civil society actors, the government of Liberia and international partners to respect the outcome of the “Swedish Embassy Roundtable” and as well accordingly resolve the concerns.
In the coming days, the TJWG and an expanded coalition of prominent civil society groups are working to implement the outcome of the “Swedish Embassy Roundtable. Let the Liberian Government, people and international partners give the civil society the benefit of the doubt. With confidence we will resolve the impasse peacefully. Which way it may go the Liberian people stand to win. Liberia is bigger than us all. We need not to form that the President Executive Order has time limit and we have eight months of the one-year time limit left,” the group said. Writes Linda Gbartie
