The NEWS (Monrovia)
Alloycious David in G/Kru
28 February 2008
Monrovia — A conglomeration of women groups under the banner of the Grand Kru County Women has stressed the need for the establishment of a war crime court to prosecute perpetrators of the Liberian armed conflict on ground that fighters forced them into prostitution and sexual slavery.
In a testimony presented to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), at the weekend in Barclayville City, Grand Kru County through their spokesperson, Annie Wreh said the court should be similar to the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone.
She said they have observed that perpetrators of the conflict are not showing interest in the TRC process.
"Mr. Commissioner, we injected the need for the establishment of a war crime court in our recommendations because we are disappointed. We were of the conviction that we would have the opportunity to face perpetrators during these hearings," Madam Wreh responded to a question from Commissioner John Stewart.
She noted that the court will deter individuals with sinister motives and punished perpetrators.
Testifying further Madam Wreh narrated that many women and girls were raped and adducted by fighters of various warring factions.
She disclosed that women and girls children were forced into prostitution, tortured and exposed to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
She said that raping of women and girls has resulted into the increase of teenage pregnancy noting that women in the county are far back in education.
Wreh: "Looting was the objective of the fighters. We were also neglected by our husbands. We are traumatized and need counseling."
She stressed the need for the promotion of good governance and the rule of law in Liberia because according to her these are issues that resulted into the civil conflict.
She has called on the government and the international community to prioritize the construction of health centers and provide medical services for victims of rape in the county.
The Grand Kru women are also advocating for reparation for women whose husbands and children were killed during the civil war.
They also stressed to need for the equal distribution of the country's resources so that every part of the country can benefit from development initiative.
The women spokesperson said that omen were concerned about the enactment and enforcement of laws which protect the rights of women and girls.
Madam Wreh challenged her colleagues to put the past behind them and respect the human rights of others.
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These Iron Pussies should know that a woman is made by God to bring and sustain life (through love, food and shelter ) not to make public decisions in harming other people. They must know that they have to pray hard and forgive in silence and privacy all the people for all the wrongs . The Courts are Punishment Forums related to the Continuation of the Civil War and thus another form of conflict.
Iron pussies of a truth. That they can be called by a person who has not had to suffer the mental pain, shame and difficult physical conditions that sexual violence in war situations bring upon women. They can be iron pussies but at least they are human enough to ask for justice where a crime has been committed.
These women have to suffer the challenges of the sexual abuse that was meted out against them. TRC very good but without justice it is meaningless.
As for these I ron pussies, I pray the good lord of retributive justice will see to it that those perpertrators are brought to book.
The issue of the establishment of a War Crime Court have passed since the arragement that brought about the general elections that give rise to the Johnson-Sirleaf led government. While Ms.Wreh made mention of crucial factors that were major reasons for the war such as good governance, education(illitracy rate is high), looting,etc. The establishment of the TRC was decided by the Liberians stakeholders in Accra which were some of the issues that created the stillmate and eventually selected the Bryant led administration. There were two options that is the TRC and the establishment of a War Crime Court and we made the choice of selecting the TRC so it is the TRC we have.The people of Sierra Leone selected the War Crime that is why Taylor is being tried today.If not he would have been out there like all of the pertrators who are now gaining interest and it is because of the TRC nature that they are.