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Monrovia, Liberia Nov. 12, 2018 – Activists calling for the justice and establishment of economic and war crimes in the West African nation of Liberia on Monday marched in the capital Monrovia.
Advocates For War Crimes Court Marching -Photo Courtesy of Gregory Stemn
Displaying banners and placards and wearing white t-shirts, hundreds of peaceful protesters called for the setting up of a war crimes tribunal to prosecute war criminals for their roles in the back-to-back wars in the 1990s that nearly destroyed the country at the huge costs of human lives and property. An estimated 250,000 Liberians and foreign residents died as a consequence of the war and direct role of war lords and their various militias and another 1 million others were internally and externally located.
Advocates for Justice in Monrovia- Photos Courtesy of Gregory Stemn
Advocates for justice criticized the government for continuously shielding alleged perpetrators and refusing to implement recommendations of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which concluded and submitted its findings since 2012.
One banner displayed said, “We are asking the Legislature to ask Prince Johnson to show us where he did bury the corpse of our father in the 1990 Freeport Genocide Honorable Joseph S. Kannah, Former Minister of State”. The banner was a direct reference to the massacre of aides of late President Samuel K. Doe at the facility of the national seaport in Monrovia on September, 9, 1990, by then warlord and leader Prince Y. Johnson of the defunct rebel Independent National Patriotic Front (INPFL) moved in to seize the President who was visiting the Commander of the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force General Arnold Quianoo.
Former Warlord Senator Prince Y. Johnson
Johnson is now a Senator representing Nimba County in northeastern Liberia and has dismissed calls for his arrest and prosecution.
The protesters, calling themselves Campaigners and Victims for Justice, carried placards which read, “We March For Justice”
Over 70 members of Doe’s convoy were killed by Johnson and his rebel militia in the attack which littered the Freeport with bodies. The late President Doe was seized and taken to the base of Johnson where he was interrogated on video tape, tortured, killed and his body mutilated and put on display at a clinic near the base.
Former TRC Head Counselor Jerome Verdier
No one has been held to account for atrocities committed during the war. The protest comes at a time when President Weah is away in France to join world leaders at the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. The Liberian President is also participating in a peace forum.
The ”March For Justice” comes a few days after an international peace conference in Monrovia where the United Nations, US and local civil society and human rights groups called on Liberia to set up a war crimes court to prosecute those who committed gross human rights abuses and crimes during the country’s civil war.
Attendees At The Just Ended International Justice Conference
The International Justice Conference was attended by former US Ambassador-at Large for Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp and international war crimes investigator Alan White who played key roles in the eventual indictment, apprehension and prosecution of former Liberian rebel leader turned former President Charles Taylor. He is now serving a 50 year prison term in a UK jail following his conviction by the Special Court for Sierra Leone for his role in the war.
War Crimes Court Advocates Marching Monday – Photos Courtesy of Gregory Stemn
Some members of Liberia’s Legislature have expressed fear of the potential “destabilization” that the establishment of a potential war crimes could bring, given the fragile peace in the country. But activists point to neighboring Sierra Leone which had a spill-over of the war from Liberia, but successfully prosecuted warlords and is making progress at national reconciliation and healing since the end of the war.
President George M. Weah of Liberia
Heavy international pressure is growing on the Weah Administration to pursue prosecution of war crimes and perpetrators. The Liberia government must now respond to the calls of its citizens to address acts of impunity by some who now occupy high offices in government.
By Emmanuel Abalo
African Star
