Monrovia – As civil society organizations (CSOs) and Liberians call on their government to enforce implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), in bringing those who bear the greatest responsibilities for the civil war to justice, some Liberians are wondering whether now Evangelist Joshua Milton Blahyi, who was one of the notorious and mean warlords would be spared the wrath of the court.
Report by Mae Azango, [email protected]
In 1996, when the famous April 6 fracas erupted in Monrovia, Evan. Blahyi, who is notoriously known by his nom de guerre, “General Butt Naked,” led the remnant of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), who were predominantly from his Krahn ethnic group. Like all the other warring factions, ‘Butt Naked’ and his forces committed some of the heinous crimes against humanity. His stories of war abound in Monrovia especially in communities around the Barclay Training Center (BTC), where Butt Naked and his fighting men and women were based.
But when the war ended in 2003 and the TRC was set up, the Commission invited some of the warlords to testify about their roles during the years of war.
When ‘Butt Naked’ appeared before the 10-person commission, headed by Cllr. Jerome Verdier, he showed remorse for his action and asked forgiveness from Liberians. He revealed that he and his troop were responsible for the death of at least 20,000 persons, beginning in the 1980s when he was initiated into the secret society responsible to defend the Krahn tribe, spiritually.
In a January 2008 interview following his appearance before the Commission, Blahyi told The Associated Press: “Some people see me and congratulate me. Others see me and say I should not be walking down the streets of Monrovia posing proud. But I continue to tell such people I am not proud, I am ashamed.”
When the TRC Commissioners were drawing up their final report, in count five of their ‘Determinations’, they state: “Reparation is a desirable and appropriate mechanism to redress the gross violations of human rights and shall apply to communities and individuals, especially women and children, to help restore their human dignity, foster healing and closure as well as justice and genuine reconciliation.” In count nine, it further states: “While the TRC will not recommend general amnesty, except as provided in count 5 above, the commission, however, holds that all individuals admitting their wrongs and speaking truthfully before or to the TRC as an expression of remorse which seeks reconciliation with victims and the people of Liberia will not be recommended for prosecution.”
In an exclusive interview with this newspaper recently, he stated that he is Joshua Milton Blahyi, the same person people referred to as General Butt Naked; adding: “I feel guilty whenever I see ex-fighters on the streets robbing people because in one way or another, I contributed to their being on the streets.”
He spoke with FPA at his Mount Barclay residence, outside Monrovia, where he has some of the former fighters in brick making and other skills trainings under the auspice of his NGO — Journey Against Violence (JAV) — which is aimed at discouraging violence and detoxifying them from illegal substance abuse.
“I feel responsible for many ex fighters being on the streets today. I recruited many; I introduced one child to violence, I have introduced many to violence.
Unlike all other warlords, who appeared before the Commission and openly boasted their roles in the civil war, which led to the deaths of over 250,000, Blahyi was the only warlord granted amnesty for his remorseful behavior after he implored with Liberians to forgive him for the atrocities he committed during the war.
Rather strangely, in his recent interview, he stated emphatically that were he member of the TRC, he would never have forgiven somebody like him who did so many terrible things, including killing, raping and torturing.
Blahyi was the first warlord to testify. Wearing a spick-and-span white shirt, he spoke with surprising candor. He added, however, “I want to say sorry.”
During his two-hour testimony before the TRC, Blahyi described how he used human sacrifice and cannibalism to gain magical powers. “I needed to make human sacrifices to appease the deities or the gods,” he said.
Some of his critics accuse him of hiding his deeds behind the Bible, which he now subscribes to.
“I could have changed my name to another; but I still use my Joshua Milton Blahyi. Not many persons know that name until I tell them I was called ‘General Butt Naked.’ So if I was hiding behind preaching, why did I not preach undercover? If I was hiding, I would not have come from Ghana where I lived with my family to face the TRC.”
According to him, he was prevented entry into the hall because he was wearing a short pant and no one recognized him.
“I was only called in because I revealed that I was General Butt Naked and I went to testify. If I wanted to hide, why did I not hide my identity? When we were fighting, nobody knew our real names, everybody knew our rebel names,” said Blahyi.
He revealed that he fought for ‘ULIMO J’ in the famous April 6 war, as their voodoo man. Being their priest, he manipulated and gave his fighting men what they thought was gun proof.
Many ex-fighters now transformed by his YAV look up to him for direction. He helps secure construction contracts from people building houses for his mentees to survive.
“I look at the amnesty granted me by TRC, more like a challenge that I do not repeat anything relating to violence or ever hurt a fly again. I avoid confrontation. I have a far greater burden because I do not want to make the TRC regret forever giving me such privilege,” concluded Blahyi.
Amnesty International
According to Amnesty International’s 2017-2018 report on Liberia regarding impunity:
Most of the 2009 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were yet to be implemented, including a recommendation to establish a criminal tribunal to prosecute crimes under international law, and measures aimed at obtaining accountability and reparation for victims. The Commission was established following human rights violations and abuses carried out during the 14-year civil war which ended in 2003.
No one had been prosecuted in Liberia for human rights violations committed during the civil war. However, Mohammed Jabbateh was convicted of perjury and immigration fraud in the USA, in relation to his role in alleged war crimes. Investigations also continued in Switzerland and Belgium into alleged war crimes committed by Alieu Kosiah and Martina Johnson – commanders in rebel groups − who were arrested in Switzerland and Belgium respectively, in 2014.
Recently, the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, also known as Centre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) in a press conference said Liberia should comply with the concluding observations adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights, (ICCPR) and fully implement the recommendations therein.
“The CSO Platform committee welcomed the progress made by the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report. However, it expressed concern that none of the alleged perpetrator of gross human rights violations and war crimes mentioned in the TRC report has been brought to justice. It also notes with concern the absence of the comprehensive program of repartition for victims”
