Monrovia – Once feared for his indiscriminate brutal killings but now seen by some as a religious leader, others as a political leader, Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson, continues to exhibit extreme hatred for the establishment of war crimes court in Liberia.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected] and Franklin Doloquee, Contributor
His opposition to the establishment of a special court to bring to an end over a decade of impunity for crimes and heinous atrocities committed during the civil war does not come as a surprise – he may likely be booked if prosecuted.
So, the Nimba County Senator who to date has shown no remorse for the unselective killings he did during the war has been trying to turn the people of Nimba against the establishment of the special court. From the pulpit to national platforms and even little county sittings, he vehemently preaches against prosecuting warlords the for murders, butchering and massacres committed during the war. He seizes every opportunity to speak against war crimes court.
Senator Johnson then ‘General Johnson,’ assassinated former President Samuel K. Doe at the Freeport of Monrovia in 1990. He’s also accused of wanton, indiscriminate killings and a host of other atrocities during the civil war in Liberia.
Recently at a county sitting in Nimba, Senator Johnson revered as the godfather of Nimba, told the gathering that he has men standing ready and prepared to resist his arrest for any war crime prosecution.
“Any government that will come to this country and would want to go after leaders of warring faction because he’s old, that government should know that that faction has his followers; if they go in the bush with thousands of single barrel guns, there will be no more peace until they take over,” he cautioned.
“We Nimbaians are united people; we should not allow the coming of war crime court in this country because it will not offer us anything,” he said, adding “When it is over, it’s over once and for all.”
The county sitting is meant for the county’s legislative caucus to meet with key stakeholders in the county to make major decisions that will impact the lives of the residents and the county’s development agenda, among others.
The ex-warlord contended that the Liberians should focus on reconciliation rather than prosecuting partakers of the war.
According to him, leaders of the warring factions traveled to Ghana to sign the Accra Peace Accord in 2003 to bring an end to the years of civil conflict.
He said people calling for the establishment of war crimes court are doing so with a hidden motive to destabilize President George Manneh Weah’s government.
While the ‘godfather’ of the Nimba is garnering the support of the people against the court, several natives of the county (names withheld) told FrontPageAfrica that they look forward to finally getting justice. They alleged to FPA that their parents were killed by Sen. Johnson during the war.
From all indications, the Senator has not been able to get the backing of his people. Right after the county sitting, some residents including Takpor Johnson and Aaron Suah told this paper, there is the need for Senator Johnson to account for his war activities.
“We do not support what Senator Johnson is saying; the time will come for him to explain more to the international community.’’
