Liberia under pressure to deal with war crimes

By
Desmond Davies, GNA London Bureau

London, July 12, GNA – The Liberian government
has failed to give an undertaking that it will create a war crimes court to
prosecute those who allegedly committed atrocities during the country’s two
armed conflicts spanning more than 14 years.

This week in Geneva, the government came under
pressure at the 123rd session of the UN Human Rights Commission over the zero
prosecution for crimes committed during the civil war, characterised by
widespread human rights abuses.

In 2009, Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation
Commission recommended the creation of a war crimes court but no action has yet
been taken.

Activists are hoping that under new
Administration headed by President George Weah, the country will finally be
“addressing accountability for the crimes”.

For two days the Commission, which monitors
the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
by its member states, examined Liberia’s commitment to these principles.

The Liberian government delegation included
Deputy Minister of Justice for Economic Affairs Kou Dorliae, the Deputy
Minister for Administration and Public Safety, Juah Nancy Cassell, Solicitor
General J. Daku Mulbah, and the Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs, Rosetta
N. Jackollie.

The delegation did not give any commitment to
the creation of the court but explained that for now the new Administration was
focusing on reconciliation.

They added that with more Liberians calling
for justice and accountability, the government would be making a public
statement on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
recommendations on accountability.

Pressure has been mounting on the Weah
Administration to act on war crimes.

In the lead-up to the session in Geneva, 76
Liberian, African and other international non-governmental organisations made a
submission that “addresses the failure of the government of Liberia to
undertake fair and credible persecutions of international crimes committed in
Liberia during armed conflicts between 1989 and 2003, and to end impunity for
civil war-era crimes”.

The few court cases of civil war-era
atrocities had occurred outside Liberia, mainly in Europe and the US.

Two marches were held recently in Monrovia in
support of a war crimes court.

“People in Liberia are taking to the streets
and insisting their leaders take steps to ensure justice for past crimes,” said
Nushin Sarkarati, senior staff lawyer at the Centre for Justice and Accountability.

“The victims and families deserve to see
perpetrators held to account.”

Adama Dempster, Secretary General of the Civil
Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, said “with a new government
elected on a platform of ending corruption and upholding the rule of law in the
nation, our organisations call on Liberia to meet its international obligations
to prosecute serious crimes and provide justice to victims of the civil wars”.

The ultimate aim of the pressure on the
Liberian government, according to activists, was for it to undertake fair and
credible prosecutions of international crimes committed during the two civil
wars.

The Liberian government should swiftly
establish a committee to develop a roadmap for justice for grave crimes,” said
Elise Keppler, Associate International Justice Director, at Human Rights Watch.

“Liberia should also support efforts by third
countries to bring universal jurisdiction cases for civil war-era crimes.”

GNA

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