Senator wants warlords in court

As debate for the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia continues, a member of the Liberian Senate, Senator Geraldine Doe Sherif,is calling on ex-warlords and actors who created mayhems against peaceful citizens during the 14 years crisis to rise up and willingly account for their atrocities in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Senator Sherif of Montserrado County over the weekend called on Liberians to join calls for the establishment of war crimes court here as many of their compatriots suffered unnecessary humiliation during the crisis and those key actors of the war should now explain their deeds to the public and be apologetic.

She said it would be unfortunate and regrettable if warlords, former generals of defunct warring factions do not face the law. “We will be setting a bad precedence for the next generations to come if we failed to prosecute those that played major roles in our crisis. Our conscious will not forgive us if those people continue to live with our people in the community without legal measure; others may want to do so again in the future,” she cautioned.

The Senator made the call when she was honored by the Ambassador George Weah Institute for Vocational Training for her countless assistance to the school in New Kru Town, Bushrod Island over the weekend, stressing that Liberians should take the mantle in calling for the establishment of a war crimes court.

Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission or TRC submitted recommendations to the Liberian Legislature and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, among them a need for the establishment of a war crimes court in the country.

The TRC final report, which indicted Senators Prince Y. Johnson of Nimba, Conmany Wesseh of River Gee and Oscar Cooper of Margibi Counties, among dozens of ex-warlords and rebel generals has since created stir among senators and State actors.

The report also banned President Sirleaf from participating in active politics for 30 years, but has since been thrown in the political dustbin. However, of recent, the Chief Executive, Madam Johnson Sirleaf, submitted preliminary report on the TRC findings and recommendations to the Legislature for perusal.

E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor