By Naneka A. Hoffman
The Lead Campaigner for the Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, Adama Dempster, notes that electing former warlords in the Legislature has created continual road blocks’ on the passage of a bill seeking to establish a war and economic crimes for the country.
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia over the weekend, Mr. Dempster said the election and re-election of warlords and individuals who have committed war and economic crimes has a propensity to undermine the quest for justice and accountability in Liberia.
He says the Coalition re-affirms its commitment to pursuing justice and accountability for war victims, and survivors, including women and youth who suffered heinous crimes perpetrated by warlords and fighting groups here during the 14 years of civil war.
He adds that the Coalition reminded Liberians that electing these kinds of individuals violates the July 2018 United Nations Human Rights Committee conclusive Observations which called on Liberia to ensure implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
According to him, justice campaigners, human rights campaigners, and faith-based organizations as well as traditional leaders expressed regret that very few steps have been taken to implement the bulk of the recommendations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009.
According to him, electing re-electing war criminals are a recipe for the continuation of the promotion of the culture of impunity in Liberia and a determinant root cause that undermines the rule of law.
Dempster called on the Liberian government, regional bodies, including international human rights organizations and the international community to strengthen democracy and the rule of law through the path to achieving accountability for past crimes and the promotion of justice in Liberia.
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“UN Committee sees it that with fear that none of the alleged perpetrated of gross human rights violations and war crimes mentioned in the TRC reports have been brought to justice and that some of those individuals are or have been holding executive positions in government.”
Meanwhile, he explains that the UN Committee also recommended that the Liberian government ensures that alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violations and war crimes are impartially investigated, charged, and prosecuted or punished in accordance with the gravity of the acts committed regardless of their status or any domestic legislation on immunity, which has not been adhere to, accordingly. Editing by Jonathan Browne
