Monrovia – More than 20 organizations that did not show interest or rejected the establishment of a Liberian war crimes court have rescinded their decision, joining forces to call for an end to impunity in Liberia amid the current crisis of the missing container of banknotes.
Report by James Harding Giahyue, Senior Justice Correspondent
The organizations have formed a group called Concerned Citizens United to Bring Our Money Back (COCUBOMB).
The government of Liberia is investigating 15 people, including former Governor of the Central Bank Milton Weeks and Deputy Governor (and son of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf) Charles Sirleaf in connection to the reported disappearance a container of newly printed Liberian banknotes to the tune of nearly $LD16 billion.
“Considering what has been happening and what has just happened—the siphoning of public resources has even intensified the debate for a war and economic crimes court. This [container crisis] has evoked public discontent, so everyone now has joined the cause for such a court,” said Martin Kollie, chairman of the group.
“No wonder why the call for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia is intensifying,” said Kollie. “COCUBOMB joins Liberians in and out of Liberia to support this justified cause.”
Kollie said all of the organizations in the group were in support of Liberians who delivered a petition to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday and protested ahead of President George Weah’s arrival for the UN’s General Assembly.
“In our opinion…it is completely insensitive and inhumane for President Weah to even attend the UN General Assembly in New York when we have a national emergency situation in the country,” Kollie noted to a huge cheer from students and activists.
“In fact, there should be a state of emergency called by the government because this situation is beyond crisis limit and could degenerate into unintended consequences.”
Some of COCUBOMB member-organizations are the Student Unification Party (SuP) of the University of Liberia, Pan African Network (PAN) and the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL). Others are the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PATEL) and the Liberia Labor Congress (LCC).
Despite the arrests and convictions of Liberians in Europe and the United States in connection to war crimes and crimes against humanity over the Liberian civil war, Liberia is yet to set up its own court. The current administration says its focus is on development, not war justice.
The issue has divided public opinion for more than a decade since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended a court be established.
“We are happy to know that people are now seeing that war and economic crimes court is a necessity,” said Fubbi Henries of Citizens’ Action for War and Economic Crimes Court that petitioned the Legislature in May. Henries’ organization is a member of COCUBOMB.
“Initially when we started, people thought we were joking and they didn’t take us seriously but I think the picture… is now getting clearer,” he said. “We welcome everybody…this is the time for justice. This is a reinforcement call.”
Tension brewed on Thursday when the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Samuel Tweah appeared to have contradicted Minister of Information Eugene Nagbe, sparking anger across the country.
“Bring back our money” is now trending on social media, while the phrase is now the chief slang in social circles.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives.