MONROVIA – The resolution for the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia appears to be moving faster than expected, particularly with the House of Representatives passing it on Tuesday and forwarding it to the Senate for concurrence. However, concerns raised by the Senate Pro-Tempore Emeritus could potentially stall progress in the Senate.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
The former President Pro-Tempore, Senator Albert T. Chie of Grand Kru County in a communication to the current Pro-Tempore, Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence of Grand Bassa County, reminded the Senate of recommendations made by the Senate during the 54th Legislature in response to a September 19, 2019 communication from former President George Weah who had sought advice from the Senate on how to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Report.
Sen. Chie recalled that the 22-page report which contained the Senate’s recommendations to the former President indicated that the proposal to create a special tribunal to address war and economic crimes from the civil conflict era needs careful consideration within the framework of the Liberian Constitution, laws, and procedures. This examination will assess its alignment with Liberia’s legal system and its practicality.
Accordingly, he argued that the Liberian Constitution and other legal prohibitions may not easily permit the establishment of war and economic crimes court on Liberian soil, especially considering that Liberia acceded to the Rome Statue after the end of the civil war.
Rendering apology
According to him, the Senate also resolved that in line with one of the recommendations of the TRC, the President of Liberia should offer an apology on behalf of the State to the many victims and the people of Liberia in general for its role in the conflict and for the injuries and losses sustained by individuals and communities.
He noted that the body also proferred as recommended by the TRC that the Government should without further delay set up a Reparation Trust Fund for victims and communities worst affected by the conflict, to benefit through direct financial assistance or through development programs and projects and the National Palava Hut Program and other programs for national healing, peace building and reconciliation aimed towards restorative justice, started by the Government of former President Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, should recommence.
“Distinguished Colleagues: while the Senate awaits His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai to seek its opinion on the feasibility of establishing a criminal tribunal for us to have our say for the second time, my communication is intended to draw our attention to the expediency and imperativeness of the Presidential apology, the setting up of the Reparation Trust Fund, continuation of the Palava Hut and other national healing and reconciliation programs and the implementation of activities which will bring economic benefits to victims and worst affected communities in the civil crisis,” Senator Chie stated.
He added: “In respect of the foregoing, I kindly request that Plenary authorizes the Senate Secretary to communicate to the President of Liberia, to within a reasonable time frame, offer said State apology, set up the Trust Fund, restart the Palava Hut Program and commence the implementation of development projects in the highly victimized communities.”
He, however, requested his colleagues to mandate the requisite budgetary appropriations, beginning with the 2024 National Budget, to facilitate the implementation of the above tasks by the President.
A motion for the Senate relevant committees on Judiciary, Internal Affairs, Peace and Reconciliation and National Security, Defense, Veteran Affairs and Intelligence to probe into Senator Chie’s communication was filed by Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa.