Monrovia – The Inter-Religious Council of Liberia has welcomed the alleged FBI investigation involving former warlord Prince Johnson.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah – [email protected]
According to the Secretary General of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, Atty. Musa Bamba, it was important for Senator Johnson and other warlords to be checkmate for their alleged involvement in the civil war.
Johnson is a Senator of Liberia’s second most populated County, Nimba County and was reportedly linked to an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for atrocities perpetrated against an American in 1990.
Senator Johnson has not denied nor confirmed report of his involvement with the killing of the American, but disagreed with the information of being investigated.
But Atty. Musa Bamba in an interview with FrontPageAfrica in Monrovia Tuesday registered that it is no secret that Johnson and other warlords were at the center of major atrocities during Liberia civil unrest and as such, should not go with impunity.
He wants all warlords who participated in the Liberian war to be prosecuted in a war crimes court for crimes against humanity.
Atty. Bamba expressed disenchantment in the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction political leader for what he calls “gruesome murder spree” carried out while heading the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia.
“Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson was on a murderous spree during the Liberia civil war and he performed well by killing Liberians.
“He and many others committed war crimes and crimes against humanity and there should be no statute of limitation on their prosecution,” Atty. Bamba said.
The Inter-Religious Council of Liberia Secretary General believes the involvement of FBI and the International Community with tracking down of war criminals would show a clear sign of fair justice for affected.
Atty. Bamba registered that the free movement of war crimes perpetrators in Liberia hangs a dark-cloud in the minds of victims of the Liberian civil crisis about the reoccurrence.
He further asserted that the prosecution of war criminals would release fear from the minds of Liberians about the reoccurrence of turmoil in their country.
“Liberians should not continue to keep warlords in this country.”
“We want them out because they have killed many of our brothers and sisters removing them from this society,” Atty. Bamba averred.
He at the same time expressed regrets over the appointments of people who participated in major war crimes in Liberia into government positions, something he said should not be so.
Meanwhile, Atty. Bamba stated that his plea for the prosecution of war criminals including Senator Johnson would serve as a deterrent for other Liberians not to get involved in perpetrating atrocities.