JFL campaigns for war crimes tribunal
The chief executive of Justice Forum Liberia- a local group, Maxson S. Kpakio has reiterated call for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal for Liberia to try perpetrators of heinous crimes during the dearly two decades Liberian Civil War.. Liberia’ s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which operated between 2006 and 2009, recommended for a war crimes…
The chief executive of Justice Forum Liberia – a local group, Maxson S. Kpakio has reiterated call for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal for Liberia to try perpetrators of heinous crimes during the dearly two decades Liberian Civil War.
He said establishment of a war and economic crimes court will go a long way in helping to curtail culture of impunity in the Liberian society.
Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which operated between 2006 and 2009, recommended for a war crimes court, an extraordinary criminal court for Liberia to stamp out impunity.Mr. Kpakio made the statement over the weekend while addressing a press conference on Benson Street in Monrovia.
He warned that no major national development can be achieved under the George Weah Presidency when establishment of war and economic crimes court, one major reason why Liberians elected him, has been neglected.
“President Weah advocated for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court before and during the 2017 presidential elections, but he’s not taking advantage of the opportunity, now that he’s the President to bring an end to the culture of impunity in Liberia by endorsing the establishment of [the] court”, he added.
He said though infrastructure development is important, the Weah-led government has a duty to ensure justice for atrocities committed during the civil wars. “Liberia cannot achieve genuine peace in the absence of justice for atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil wars”, he said.
He emphasized the establishment of a war and economic crimes court by the Weah-led administration will prevent reoccurrence of war and significantly reduce current wave of corruption by public officials.According to him, Liberians have advocated and on many occasions held street parades, campaigning for war and economic crimes court, as well as petitioned the legislature to implement the TRC’s recommendations.
He dispelled notion the establishment of such court could cause instability and financial burden for the Liberian government, saying the international community will finance the court one hundred percent.
Meanwhile, the JFL leader disclosed, several Liberians, including war victims and civil society organizations will assemble at the Capitol Building on May 18, to re-echo call for the establishment of war and economic crimes court for Liberia.
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