The Global Justice for Peace and Human Rights Advocacy Network (GJPHRAN) through its Global Director Advocate-Activist, Amb. Dr. Marie Scott Wilson, has called upon President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to swiftly sign the legal documents for the establishment of the War Crimes Court as the means to begin a check on impunity in Liberia.
On Thursday, April 11, 2024, plenary of the House of Representatives of the 55th National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia autonomously concurred with the Liberian Senate on the amended joint resolution for the establishment of war and economic crimes courts In Liberia. The WECC joint resolution was endorsement by the Liberian Senate earlier. With the House’s decision, the joint resolution was sent to the President for signing. If it is signed by the President, this will pave the way for bill from the House for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Courts in Liberia.
Since it has been over a week, GJPHRAN wants the President to sign the resolution swiftly for further actions. “Therefore, GJPHRAN now calls upon His Excellency President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to swiftly sign the legal documents for the establishment of the War Crimes Court as the means to begin a check on impunity in Liberia. We Urge President Boakai without delay, should issue an executive order to set up a Special War Crimes Office which will be responsible to coordinate activities for the establishment of the War Crimes Court, and to also write a letter to the United Nations Secretary General seeking international assistance for the establishment of the War Crimes Court.”
The Global Justice for Peace and Human Rights Advocacy Network (GJPHRAN) notes that the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia is long overdue, and welcomes recent developments from the Liberian Legislature shining a light of hope for justice to the over 250, 000 dead and living victims of the country’s brutal civil war.
On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 27 of the 29 Senators signed the joint resolution endorsing Liberia’s establishment of a war and economic crimes court. The document provides that the Extraordinary Criminal Court to be established shall be known as the UN-backed “Special War Crimes Court for Liberia” (SWACCOL) to prosecute those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between the period 1979 and 2003 under Article 34(f). Consistent with Article 34(e)(b)(j)(l) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, the Executive shall develop a legal framework and submit the same to the Legislature for enactment into law for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Court (ACC) focusing from 1979 to 2003. The agreement also says the President shall write the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States Government expressing the Liberian Government’s intention to establish the Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal on Liberian soil or alternatively to a country to be designated.
Consistent with its (GJPHRAN) call for the establishment of the War Crimes Court, it takes serious concerns regarding the credibility and integrity of establishing the Court, with specific questions surrounding certain organizations that have been involved in witness recruitment, witness coaching, and witness payment to make false claims against accused persons in War Crimes cases.
The Global Justice for Peace and Human Rights Advocacy Network alleges that Alain Werner of Civitas Maxima, Hassan Bility of the Global Justice Research Project, and the Center for Justice and Accountability have been accused of producing false testimonies against accused persons in Liberian war crimes cases in Europe.
Therefore, the GJPHRAN called for investigation into these allegations and recommends a thorough vetting process for organizations and individuals that will be involve with the Liberian War Crimes Court.
They stated that the call for investigation is to ensure ethical standards are upheld, so that those organizations with history of witness coaching and falsification of evidence be excluded from the process.
The Global Justice for Peace and Human Rights Advocacy Network GJPHRAN is a civil society grouping that is primarily focused on advocating for global justice, peace, and human rights, and continues to monitor and support initiatives that promote accountability, fairness, and the protection of vulnerable individuals in Liberia, Africa and beyond.
