“Gen. Butt Naked” wants war crimes court

Barely a week after an ex-general of Charles Taylor’s defunct rebel organization National Patriotic Front Liberia was arrested in Belgium and put on trial in The Hague, one of Liberia’s most notorious rebel commanders, Joshua Milton Blahyi, a.k.a. “Gen. Butt Naked” is calling for the establishment of a war crimes court here, to prosecute perpetrators of hideous crimes, including crimes against humanity.

Now an evangelist and preacher, Joshua Blahyi, who returned from Ghana in 2008 and testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia,   confessed to terrorizing the nation, saying he is responsible for 20,000 deaths during the Liberian Civil War.

He is among dozens of ex-generals from various rebel groups recommended by the TRC to face prosecution for committing hideous crimes in Liberia. “Gen Butt Naked”, who fought for the predominantly Krahn ULIMO-K and MODEL rebels, adopted the so-called name for going on the battlefront completely naked as part of charms to frighten enemy forces.

He told reporters last Thursday in Monrovia that it’s time to halt the culture of impunity in Liberia, stressing that many warlords, including himself need to face the wrath of God for atrocities committed against the people. He said people, who committed atrocities are going with impunity, which, according to him, has become a cultural embarrassment to the country.

Several ex-warlords are currently in government serving in various positions, including Senator Prince Y. Johnson, which commanded the erstwhile Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia and killed President Samuel Doe; disbanded ULIMO-K leader Professor Alhaji G.V. Kromah, now Ambassador-At-Large; and MODEL leader Thomas Yaya Nimely, among others.

Reverend Blahyi said establishing a war crimes court to try ex-warlords will allow Liberia to progress. He also noted that this will help citizens to live out of the culture of impunity as perpetrators will be held liable for their deeds both past and present. The ex-rebel general turned evangelist said he will avail himself before such court to account for his deeds during the civil war.