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Liberia: Catholic Church Seeks Formation of War Crimes Tribunal
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Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
22 July 2008
Posted to the web 22 July 2008
Monrovia
The Apostolic Administrator of Monrovia has called for the formation of a war crimes tribunal to bring to justice perpetrators of the country's devastating civil war.
Already the country's former President Charles Taylor is facing prosecution at the international Criminal Tribunal in The Hague for crimes against humanity related to the wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
"We must ensure that those who bear the greatest responsibilities for the horrors in Liberia must be held accountable for the crimes committed," said Monsignor Andrew J. Karnley, Apostolic Administrator of Monrovia, at a Mass commemorating over 700 victims of a massacre that took place in St. Peter's Lutheran Church on July 29, 1990. The attack was led by troops of then-President Samuel Doe.
According to FIDES news agency, Msgr Karnley called on Liberians to see massacres committed by various factions in the civil war as lessons, saying they must vow that they will never be repeated.
Liberia has witnessed the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, based on the model of the one in South Africa, to investigate crimes committed during the civil war. However, there are those in the country calling for the establishment of an authentic war crimes tribunal, like that of their neighbour, Sierra Leone.
The conflict in Sierra Leone and that of Liberia are closely tied. Former President Taylor is being tried for war crimes in Sierra Leone. He is said to have financed the guerrillas of Sierra Leone who were responsible for numerous atrocities committed against civilians.
The Apostolic Administrator of Monrovia said that the Catholic Church intended to ask for the formation of a war crimes tribunal in Liberia. "What happens after the TRC? Let's stand for justice. Let us stand up for righteousness. If we fail to hold them accountable for their crimes, some of us will become victims again one day."
Msgr. Karnley recalled the massacre of the defenceless citizens who had sought refuge in the Lutheran Church. "They had come to the House of God to seek refuge under his watchful eyes but wicked men came and murdered them right in the presence of God."
He also called for the erection of special memorials for all victims of the conflict at strategic locations.
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"The truth telling process is a therapeutic one, we believe that special memorials must be constructed at the approaches to our major cities to serve as remembrance for all those who lost their lives during this national horror."
A war crimes tribunal would have been good for the people of Liberia. A lot of crimes occurred that should be tried. But many people are hiding behind the Taylor saga. The international community and the ICC were only after Taylor for reasons they best know and since they got him, the Liberian crisis was damned to the dust bin. Liberia is hardly mentioned in his trial, WHY! Some members of NPFL, ULIMO-J, ULIMO-K, INPFL, LPC, The group sponsored by Guinea headed by Jabbateh Conneh and some members of the civilian population along with their Godfather[Taylor] should have been... [Read Full Text]
The formation of the War Crimes Tribunal in Liberia would pave the way for lasting peace in the country because, those murderers are still in the midst of peaceful civilians with there continuition of crime commitment either through support by finance or incites of words. Most of these worriors are occupying key government positions which is worrisome for future of the country. They have no developmental future for Liberia, Let them face the law just as there father Charles Taylor is doing. Mr. Prince Y. Johnson who calls himself senetor and others have to face the war crime tribunal... [Read Full Text]
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