Opinion: Why I support Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court

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Yesterday, I signed the resolution to establish the Extraordinary War and Economic Crimes Courts for Liberia. Today, I voted ‘YES’ for the resolution during the sitting of the Liberian Senate – 18 years after the devastating civil war.

My father, “Papa” as I called him, was killed along with three of my youngest siblings – all males – along with two uncles and their families, family friends and neighbours I had known all my life in our once thriving village.

My father’s younger brother, Uncle Musa, my favourite among his brothers, lived in Mt. Barclay outside Monrovia for most of his life. He was killed in front of his three wives and children. Two of his three wives were then killed in front of their children when they screamed at the sight of their husband being decapitated. Their crime? They were Mandingoes – one of Liberia’s 16 tribes.These gruesome acts were committed by NPFL rebels between July and October 1990. I don’t know who they are.

Every year since 2010, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presented its report to the legislature, our legislators tabled the debate for the next year.In 2012 when I served at the ministry of finance, I worked with colleagues to get legislative approval of a $5m appropriation in the 2012/13 budget for national reconciliation as a public sector investment project to finance a key TRC recommendation to establish a National Palava Hut forum.

While I cannot speculate how much a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia will cost, I raise it now to get us thinking about what this means and finding a way to fund it. As my country’s former finance minister, I avail myself to work with other Liberians on the fundraising efforts to finance the court.Political scientists who study troubled democracies say arresting political opponents is a tactic of elected leaders who pull down their systems from within.

 

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