-Amb Endee heightens calls for peace, as she bid Mano River Union guests farewell.
By: Jerromie S. Walters
Following a memorable conduct of this year’s edition of the Kukatornon peace initiative, Amb. Juli Endee, the Founder of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, has extended a strong message of peace to Liberians, says the consequences of war has no relative, so as bullets have no border”
She made the disclosure Monday, August 21, 2023, during a farewell even held for women who came from the Mano River Region (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast), to form part of the celebration of this year’s Kukatornon peace initiative.
In an engagement with the media at the closure of the event, she cautioned Liberians, especially political actors and the youths, to desist from acts that have the proclivity to create chaos.
Judging from her experience during Liberia’s years of civil unrest, the peace campaigner said the consequences of war is demeaning, as such; she wants Liberians do all they can to confine in the pathway of peace.
In her honest opinion, Liberians are one, as such, they must do all they can to maintain a sense of unity and togetherness, and kick against acts of violence, whether before, during or after elections.
“Bullets have no border,” she cautioned, and further emphasized that embracing acts of violence will only give the state and its people a repeat of her dark days, which she believes isn’t necessary at the moment.
Consistent with her quest for peace and social justice, Amb. Endee joins scores of other Liberians to call for the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report.
According to her, much attention has been placed on the issued war and economic crimes court, but she said the report is enraged with several other major issues that require redress, even before proceeding with the part that talks about the establishment of war and economic crimes court.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) presented its final report containing findings, determinations and recommendations made by the Commission to the National Legislature, following the peace agreement.
The report contains major findings on: the root causes of the conflict, the impact of the conflict on women, children and the generality of the Liberian society; responsibility for the massive commission of Gross Human Rights Violations (GHRV), and violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL) as well as Egregious Domestic Law Violations (EDLV).
The report also determined and recommended that Criminal Prosecution for these violations, Reparations and a “Palava Hut” Forum is necessary and desirable to redress impunity, promote peace, justice, security, unity and genuine national reconciliation.
The TRC was agreed upon in the August 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Accra and created by the TRC Act of 2005.
Interestingly, the TRC was established to “promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation,” and at the same time make it possible to hold perpetrators accountable for gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law that occurred in Liberia between January 1979 and October 2003.
Sadly, it has taken about three presidential terms and two different administrations since the report was made available, but it has been implemented.
As demonstrated annually, the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), August 18, 2023, held the Kukatornon Peace Initiative,at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, in Congo Town, to celebrate 20 years of peace in Liberia, since the bloody civil unrest.
The event was graced by about 24 women from Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast, who ably represented the Mano River Union.
As the women have depart Liberia for their respective countries, she’s hoping that they will return to home to spread the message of peace, and fight against all forms of violence against women.
Consistent with her gratification to the Mano River Union women for their representation, they were all presented certificates of appreciation, and a package.
Engulfed in a state of appreciation, the women graciously hailed Amb. Endee for inviting them to grace the occasion, and admonished Liberians to maintain the existing peace.
