CDC opposes war crime too

The Vice Standard Bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change or CDC, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, says here that if elected in October, the Coalition has no plan to prosecute any past leader or Liberians for their role in the country’s 14-year civil unrest.

Senator Taylor in an interview with this paper Tuesday afternoon, August 8, on the grounds of the Capitol Building says a Coalition-led government will instead focus its attention on how to move the country forward than looking back to prosecute citizens.

She says the Coalition for Democratic Change comprises three political institutions, including the National Patriotic Party of detained former President Charles Taylor, Liberian People Democratic Party of criminally indicted former Speaker Alex Tyler and the Congress for Democratic Change of Montserrado County Senator George Manneh Weah, and that no one member can make decision that will affect the Liberian people, especially call for the establishment of a war crimes court.

The Bong County Senator continued that if the Liberian people decided for the international court for prosecution of individuals for economic crimes, human rights violations and crimes against humanity that would be their choice.

Commenting on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s alleged support the CDC, Madam Taylor says as one of the ranking members of the Coalition, she could say for sure that they are not in any talk with the President, adding that if there were anything of such, she would be in the know.

Senator Taylor notes that the best thing the President could do to instill the kind of level playing field among participants for the ensuring elections, is not to pledge support for any candidate or political party in the race.

Rumors have been circulating here that President Sirleaf was in talks with Coalition Standard Bearer George Weah to give her possible support against her own ruling Unity Party now being led by Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, but the Executive Mansion here denies.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne