MONROVIA: In an effort to ensure that the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) for Liberia is established, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, presented the case of the WECC at the ongoing Ambassadorial-level meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA).
The Ambassadorial-level meeting has been organized by UN Peace Building Commission.
Madam Nyanti, who is leading Liberia’s delegation to the meeting, is expected to have several discussions including advocacy in securing the UN Commission’s financial, logistical and technical support for the establishment of the WECC.
Foreign Minister Nyanti, in addition to the advocacy for the WECC, would present the case for Liberia to secure a seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.
She added that this is aimed at enhancing Liberia’s role on the international stage and allow the country to contribute effectively to global peace and security efforts.
FM Nyanti, at the meeting, indicated that Liberia’s participation in the meeting is a significant step taken towards healing and reconciliation for the Liberian people.
According to her, the importance of the international partnership is to ensure that justice is served for the atrocities committed during the Liberian civil war.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also highlighted that the establishment of a WECC is vital for ending the culture of impunity that has plagued the Liberian nation.
For its part, the UN Peace Commission, at the meeting, stated that the success of the court’s establishment in Liberia would require strong moral and political backing from the Government of Liberia.
The UN Commission urged the Liberian Government to take firm stand on justice, without which international support could falter.
The UN Commission also highlighted its ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability in Liberia.
The Commission revealed that it has allocated US$100 million towards peace-building activities in Liberia from 2007 to 2022.
Liberia’s Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, who is accompanying Minister Nyanti to the meeting said, the establishment of the WECC would not only serve as a mechanism for justice but also a deterrent against future conflicts.
Minister Tweh stated that without accountability, there can be no lasting peace in Liberia, as such, Liberia owes it to the victims and to future generations to ensure that justice is served.
On 30th, June, 2009, Liberia’s erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation (TRC), submitted its Volume II: Consolidated Final Report to the Government of Liberia (GoL).
The TRC Report was dedicated to “The evergreen memory of all those who lost their lives during the Liberian conflict, The children of Tomorrow and All who dare to HOPE for a better Liberia.”
Established at the end of Liberia’s peace conference in Accra, Ghana, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed by all parties to the then conflict including the International Community as Guarantors, in August 2003, the TRC was statutorily mandated to “Document and Investigate the massive wave of human rights violations that occurred in Liberia during the period January 1979-Octomber 2003;
Establish the root causes of the conflict and create a forum to address issues of impunity; Identify victims and perpetrators of the conflict;
Establish a forum to facilitate constructive interchange between the victims and perpetrators to recount their experiences in order to foster healing and reconciliation;
Investigate economic crimes and other forms of human rights violations and determine whether these violations were part of a systemic and deliberate pattern of violations or isolated events of violations.”
Other parts of the TRC mandate included “Conducting critical review of Liberia’s historical past to acknowledge historical antecedents to the conflict and correct historical falsehood; Adopt specific mechanisms to address the experiences of women and children;
Make recommendations to the Government of Liberia for Prosecution, Reparation, Amnesty, Reconciliation and Institutional Reforms where appropriate to Promote the rule of law and Combat Impunity;
And Compile a report and submit same to the Government and people of Liberia.
In its determinations, as contained in the Consolidated Final Report, TRC disclosed that “All armed groups whether affiliated with warring factions or the Government of Liberia are responsible for the commission of human rights violations including violations of International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Egregious Domestic Law Violations of Liberia.
The groups were identified by the TRC as “NPFL, LURD, Liberia Peace Council, Militia, ULIMO, MODEL, Armed Forces of Liberia, ULIMO-K, ULIMO-J, Anti-Terrorist Unit, ECOMONG, Vigilantes, Lofa Defense Force, Liberia National Police, Special Operation Division, Revolutionary United Front, (RUF), Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, Special (SATU) Security Unit, Special Security Service, Black Beret, National Security Agency, NSA), National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation Division, and Kamajors.”
The TRC recommended several persons for Prosecution for “gross human rights violations including violations of International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Egregious Domestic Laws Violation of Liberia and Economic Crimes.
The TRC named the leaders of warring factions it recommended for prosecution as follow: Charles G. Taylor, NPFL; Prince Y. Johnson, INPFL; Roosevelt Johnson, ULIMO-ULIMO-J (late); Alhaji G. V. Kromah, ULIMO-ULIMO-K (late); George Boley, LPC; Thomas Yaya Nimely, MODEL; Sekou Damante Konneh, LURD Francois Massaquoi, Lofa Defense Force (late).
TRC also recommended, for prosecution 116 alleged War Crimes Perpetrators. Writes Linda Gbartie