Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-04-03 01:59:00
Distribution of T-shirts among lawmakers advocating for a war crimes court disrupted a special session of the House of Representatives in Liberia on April 2, 2024. The session, part of a special session called by President Joseph N. Boakai, was adjourned abruptly after some lawmakers began distributing T-shirts promoting the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia. The disruption led to chants of “War and Economic Crimes Court is a must!” and Speaker J. Fonati Koffa had to adjourn the session as he could not calm the excitement among his colleagues.
The sudden adjournment drew criticism from Nimba County Representative Musa Bility, who believed it was premature. He argued that the lawmakers were called back for a special reason by the President and the session should not have been adjourned abruptly without addressing the matters they were called for. Meanwhile, Montserrado County district#4 Representative, Michel Thomas, highlighted the efforts of the Independent National Human Rights Commission in addressing human rights and abuses in the country. He emphasized the need for lawmakers to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) reports and called for a presentation by the INHRC and head of IMACRO before the body.
Representative Yekeh Kolubah, a strong supporter of the War and Economic Crimes Court, vowed to wear the T-shirts promoting the court for ten consecutive days until their colleagues from the Senate act on a resolution supporting the court’s establishment. Kolubah stressed the need for accountability for individuals who committed heinous crimes during the civil wars in Liberia. The resolution for the establishment of the court had been passed by over 40 of the 73 members of the House of Representatives earlier in the year.
The resolution, supported by Representative Kolubah and others, highlighted the atrocities committed during the civil wars from 1989 to 2003 in Liberia, including displacement, abuses, executions, massacres, rape, and recruitment of child combatants. It referenced the TRC’s final report, which recommended the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal Court of Liberia to prosecute individuals accused of gross human rights violations and humanitarian law violations. The bill is currently before the Liberian Senate, awaiting further action.
President Boakai has expressed support for the establishment of the court and has engaged with international experts on similar courts in other countries. Ambassador Van Schaack, in a recent article, emphasized the importance of citizens’ engagement in pursuing justice and healing the wounds of the past. She noted that the decision to establish the court rests with the Liberian people and called for ownership of the country’s history to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes.
The debate on the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia continues to be a pressing issue, with lawmakers, activists, and international experts advocating for justice and accountability. The disruption of the House session over the distribution of T-shirts is a reflection of the passion and determination of those pushing for the court’s establishment. As the country moves forward, the need for reconciliation, healing, and justice remains at the forefront of the national agenda.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
