Liberia: Survivors and Victims of Massacres Cry For Justice, Crave Establishment of WECC

Monrovia – Ever since the cessation of the Liberia’s 14-year civil unrest, survivors and victims of different massacres across the country during the hay days of the war continue to live in pain and agony and as such, have voiced out their frustration by igniting the calls for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).

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By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway  

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Two members of the Massacre Survivors and Victims called on the Government of Liberia to march its words with action by uncompromisingly supporting the establishment of the Court. 

Mr. Peterson Sonyah, Executive Director of Liberia Massacre Survivors Association, and Madam Bernice Freeman, Head of Program of Women in Peacebuilding Network, want all hands-on deck for the establishment of the WECC with the government taking the lead.

Peterson Sonyah, in particular, called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to live up to his campaign promises by ensuring that victims and survivors get justice and reparations for their hurts.

“We support the government in this endeavor.  It was part of the President’s campaign messages and we asked that he lives up to it. Victims need justice, because there is no peace without it. Some victims are still living in pain and trauma and as such, perpetrators must be brought to book,” Sonyah told the gathering of reporters and editors at a two-day training. The gathering was intended to enable participants to understand the basics of international human rights law, the mechanisms for setting up a court and how to cover Liberia’s transitional justice process.

Peterson wants Liberians to come together with one voice in advocating for this war and economic crimes court’s setup that will make perpetrators to account for their wrongdoings, while at the same time dispensing justice for victims and survivors.

Failure to establish this court, Peterson, a survivor of the infamous Lutheran Church Massacre, fear could be more devastating than imagined as some victims and survivors could take matters into their own hands in their quest to seek revenge and avenge.

“If the court will not be established, victims will now be the perpetrators. You can’t kill people – women and children, you went to church and communities and killed innocent people and said there shouldn’t be justice for the children and relatives of those people. We want our advocacy to come to fruition – the War and Economic Crimes Court must be established,” added Peterson.  

For Madam Bernice Freeman, she lauded the Boakai’s administration for concrete steps taken so far towards the court’s establishment; however, she said more practical steps need to be taken.

“Our mothers need help to help their children, they lost their husbands. July 29 every year is the day that we set aside to memorialize our parents and family members who lost their lives in that massacre, but whenever that time reaches, it can be traumatic. Lots of survivors and victims need this.”

Beyond the establishment of the Court, Bernice, also another survivor of the Lutheran Massacre, sounded a passionate call for victims and survivors who are suffering medical complications to receive treatment.

In line with the two survivors’ call, Police Inspector General Col. Gregory O. Coleman, indicated that the Court is important to heal the wounds and to get the country back on course.

“To get the country back on course, we must heal the past and protect the future and that can be done by establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court. The economic crimes have claimed more lives than the war itself.  It’s the foundation of the war itself. This is why we need the Court,” asserted the police boss.

With a timeline of 2026 in sight, IG Coleman says it’s now time for total engagement as the instrument is ratified.

But to do so, the police chief stressed the critical need for support for the police and other law enforcement bodies, who will support the implementation of the court.

“Twenty-twenty-six (2026) is right here. We need to prepare the police and other law enforcement bodies to support the implementation of the court. There is a huge challenge, including funding and training. The time is now. The government and partners need to help build the capacity of law enforcement agencies. In this, the government needs to take the lead before asking for outside support,” he stated among other things.