By Alpha Abu
The Liberian Senate’s endorsement of a resolution that proposes the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court has given further certainty that the process will take place despite earlier opposition.
The development, on Tuesday 9th April 2023, comes just weeks after the lower house gave a similar approval for the court’s establishment.
The resolution titled “Establishment of the Extraordinary Criminal Court and Domestic Corruption Court for War and Economic Crimes” was unanimously approved by 27 of the 29 senators including Prince Yormie Johnson who had earlier expressed his revulsion at the prospect of such a court.
Also to append his signature to the resolution was Thomas Yaya Nimely another former leader of MODEL-one of the then warring factions in Liberia’s civil war.
Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence was quoted as saying the Senate’s decision was spurred by ’advice’ from committees in key state institutions – Security, Intelligence, Judiciary, and Defence so that victims of the brutal civil war would get justice.
Rights groups have welcomed the setting up of the court which they believe will end impunity.
A local advocacy organization called STAND in a press release commended the Senate including House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa for making such a move which it said will strengthen the international community’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding justice and accountability for Liberians.
Earlier, there were apprehensions about the court after Prince Johnson now a Nimba County Senator voiced his aversion to it, insinuating it was an attempt to target him and other commanders of the former warring factions. Johnson said those countries where some of the armed groups were trained should also be held accountable.
He had also claimed the people would reject the court but his latest decision to sign the resolution for its establishment has come as a surprise to many.
The country’s civil war began on 24th December 1989 after the rebel National Patriotic Front of Liberia led by Charles Taylor launched an attack on the regime of President Samuel K. Doe from across the border with Ivory Coast. It soon degenerated into a factional and bloody conflict which left an estimated 250,000 people dead.
President Doe was also brutally killed, the act filmed by his captors. On 2nd August 1997, the first phase of the war ended after a brokered peace, but fighting erupted two years later in 1999 before the final cessation of hostilities in 2003.
President Charles Taylor was later indicted for war crimes by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, tried in The Hague, and sentenced to 50 years. He was in 2013 transferred to a UK prison where he is presently serving the rest of his sentence.
Copyright © 2024 Politico Online (12/04/24)
