Monrovia, Liberia – The Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia (CEWAECCL) has expressed concern by the apparent waning delay of political will on the part of the Presidency to expedite the establishment of the court since President Joseph Nyumah Boakai vowed to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court during his inaugural speech.
The Lead campaigner of the coalition, Adama Dempster, admonished the office of the President to make good on his proclamation that he would end impunity and promote the rule of law as manifested in the ARREST agenda of the Boakai-led regime.
During a press conference that was broadcast live from the US, Mr. Dempster insisted that the Coalition is horrified by the false information being disseminated by certain politicians, former warlords, and their proxies, claiming that the creation of the War and Economics Crimes Court in Liberia will incite instability and bring the country back to war.
He claimed that this unsubstantiated negative propaganda is a tool used to keep the Liberian people in a state of constant terror and avoid being held accountable for their part in the atrocities of the country’s civil conflicts, which claimed the lives of about 250,000 people.
The ongoing hold-up in the creation of Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Courts is a symbol of the state’s inability to deliver justice to the thousands of victims of rape and other sexual violence, torture, and murder committed during what many view as a pointless civil war.
According to Mr. Dempster, CEWAECCL is interested in the House of Representatives’ fervor for the creation of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia as a means of putting an end to the country’s culture of impunity and strengthening the rule of law.
He stated that the coalition urges the Liberian Senate to pass the necessary legislation in order to expedite the long-awaited establishment of the War Crimes and Economic Crimes Courts, and it applauds the recent resolution of the House of Representatives of the national legislature advocating for the court’s creation.
“The resolution also sends a message to our international partners that Liberians are making conscious efforts to hold to account those bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil wars.” “The open show of support demonstrated by forty-two members of the House of Representatives at the opening session of their recall to the Capitol further supports the call by war crimes campaigners for the establishment of court.”
Simultaneously, the Coalition is horrified by the falsehoods propagated by certain former warlords, politicians, and their proxies, who claim that the creation of the War and Economics Crimes Court in Liberia will incite instability and force the country back into conflict.
Since President Joseph Nyumah Boakai pledged to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court during his inaugural speech, the coalition is gravely concerned about the President’s seeming lack of political will to speed the court’s establishment.
The Coalition urged the President’s office to follow through on his pledge to eradicate impunity and advance the rule of law, as evidenced by the ARREST agenda of the Boakai-led government.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
