In its end-of-duty report, the Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) listed impunity as the prime cause of conflicts in Liberia - as the springboard for corruption, injustice, and poor governance practices.

No Liberian disagrees; but not many Liberians agree on exactly what to do. For some, it requires the magnanimity of the status quo.

Intensifies Work with Supreme Court, Justice, Unveils Police Headquarters, Barracks

For others, it requires the strengthening of the law and the empowering of the custodians of Liberia's criminal justice system. For yet others, it is the combination of the magnanimity, the strengthening of the laws, and the know-how of custodians. The United Nations in Liberia seems to flow with the third group, if its activities last week are any measuring rod. The Analyst, reports.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has intensified the battle against impunity in postwar Liberia with the conclusion, last Thursday, of a strategic planning workshop for the Judiciary and the dedication of police depots and barracks in provincial Liberia.

Workshop exploits

The one-day Strategic Plan Workshop for the Judicial Branch, which was drawn on five thematic areas, brought together representatives of the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to discuss and strategize on the way forward for the Judiciary and the criminal justice system in Liberia.

The workshop ended with the finalization of the Strategic Plan for the Judicial Branch of government and the initiation of discussions on the draft Implementation Plans, in the view of observers, intensifying the United Nations' strategic efforts to help combat impunity in Liberia.

According to observers also, the finalization of the strategic plan sets the pace for criminal justice in Liberia to rise to the occasion of ensuring that those who break the laws of the country were not allowed to go scot-free either for lack of evidence or trial facilities, or for the lack of the political will to prosecute.

An UNMIL statement regarding the workshop said even though on keel with the nation's current need for a viable, functional judiciary, the workshop was in response to a decision reached back in 2008 in Accra, Ghana, to strengthen the Liberian Judiciary in its obligation to maintain the nation's postwar peace and stability.

Ms. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for the Rule of Law who addressed the workshop, challenged the judicial and justice officials who attended the workshop to demonstrate courage in their lines of duty.

The Liberian people and the international community would know, she said, when the custodians of Liberia's postwar criminal justice system abandoned business as usual and adapt measures that would promote transparency and accountability within the judiciary and guarantee justice, peace, and stability within the larger Liberian society.

That would mean, the UNMIL statement quoted her as saying, the 'rules, processes and procedures that seemed to be the very essence of the judicial system may have to give way to new ones that serve the ends of justice more, in these fast-paced days when delay can be costly in material and even human terms'.

The DSRSG commended participants for the bold steps taken in validating the strategic plan but warned that that was just the beginning of the many things that must be accomplished by Liberians in order to maintain the peace and stability that they have managed to obtain over the last seven years since the formal end of hostilities in 2003.

"The absence of a strong, independent judiciary which is confident enough to apply the law without discrimination, and hold state authorities, as well as individuals, accountable for crimes and abuses of power, threatens the success of all other aspects of post-conflict reconstruction and reform," she said, apparently drawing a link between justice, peace, and development.

She added that the Strategic Plan would move everyone forward to the stated vision of 'an independent and credible Judiciary, delivering transparent justice, and protecting the rights and dignity of all', the UN statement said.

Assuring the nation that the workshop was the beginning of the United Nation's efforts to streamline the Liberia criminal justice system, DSRSG Mensa-Bonsu noted that the validated plan has identified priorities, which would enable the UN and the international donor community to target assistance.

She said the plan would serve as a sort of guideline for project proposals, warning that the effectiveness of support and collaboration may be hampered if judicial planners insisted on non-strategic or non-essential projects often referred to as 'white elephants'.

Chief Justice Johnnie N. Lewis, who headed the judicial workshop team comprising all four associate justices of the Supreme Court, thanked participants for attending the workshop and expressed optimism that the successful conclusion of the planning process would enable the Judiciary to move forward with well-crafted Implementation Plans.

Member of his team who also addressed participants and chaired working group sessions were Associate Justice Francis Korkpor, Gladys Johnson, Kabineh Ja'neh and Jamesetta Howard-Wolokollie.

With the Judiciary Strategic Plan validated, according to the UN statement, the Liberian Judiciary would now have the capacity to manage its human resource, which would include building capabilities and skills of personnel within the Judiciary, recruitment, and maintenance of qualified manpower, creation of a positive work environment, and development of systems and processes to promote efficiency and diligence.

In the area of infrastructure, the statement said, the third branch of government would explore the capacity to undertake nationwide construction and refurbishment of court buildings; while in the area of financial management, it would be able to develop an effective management system - including decentralization and revenue generation.

Regarding judicial independence, the feat some say is the mainstay of the establishment and maintenance of justice in Liberia, the Judiciary would have the capacity to establish a mindset of judicial independence and develop a credible system of financial accounting.

Regarding the fifth thematic area, the UN statement said, the country's Judiciary would be able, as of the validation of the strategic plan, to improve on the case management process by developing an effective information management system and processes.

Provincial police depots

Barely a day following the successful conclusion of the Strategic Plan Workshop for the Judicial Branch of the Liberia government in Monrovia, UN deputy envoy Moustapha Soumaré led a team of UN officials and other diplomats to Maryland and Grand Kru counties to hand over newly constructed police headquarters and a military barrack to administrators of local security agencies.

Addressing the handover ceremonies, according to a UN August 6, 2010 statement, the deputy envoy told the locals that while security facilities were integral to effective law enforcement, what was required to make Liberia's criminal justice system serve the interest of those seeking justice was trust in the law enforcers.

He said it was therefore imperative that as part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Liberian security forces, the nation's security services must earn the trust and respect of all Liberian citizens if the Liberian National Police (LNP) was to remain the vanguard of basic security for local communities.

Deputy envoy Soumaré made the statement when he handed over a newly constructed Police Headquarters and a barracks in Barclayville, Grand Kru County located in the remotest southeastern part of Liberia, to the LNP to enhance its activities. He also handed-over another Police barrack in Harper, Maryland County.

"I encourage the Liberia National Police both here in Barclayville, and throughout Liberia, to serve with professionalism, act without impunity and remain true to the fair and non-arbitrary application of the law," the UN statement quoted Mr. Soumaré, who is also UNDP Resident Representative, as saying.

He conceded that the security facilities were the tip of the iceberg of what the nation's security services needed to fulfill their responsibility to serve and protect residents of Grand Kru and other counties with honesty and integrity, but noted that conduct of law enforcers was cardinal.

Mr. Soumaré, who represents the UN Secretary General in Liberia on Recovery and Governance, said while the UN concentrated on capacity building, the LNP would do well to earn the confidence of the people as the way of making law enforcement less rigorous and tasking, thereby contributing to the overall national efforts to improve the criminal justice system.

"The Liberia National Police continues to need financial and material support in order to extend its presence throughout the country; police coverage in many counties is still inadequate; a lack of trained officers, equipment and barracks, hampers effectiveness, and mobility challenges persist," the DSRSG indicated.

He however reminded his audience that it was the actions of all security actors, especially those of the LNP, which would ultimately ensure peace and security and long-term development in Liberia.

The UNDP resident representative has meanwhile commended the German and Norwegian governments for continuing to be key contributors to LNP development.

The German Government, according to the UN statement, provided the US $69,000 used to construct the LNP barracks, which would provide living quarters for officers based in Barclayville and, importantly, support the Emergency Response Unit and Police Support Unit officers when the need occurs.

"Similarly, approximately $70,000 from the Norwegian Government was provided for the Grand Kru Police Headquarters building, which will enable more effective county-wide policing," the statement said.

Also addressing the occasion, German Ambassador to Liberia, Herbert Staudt, assured local security and administrative authorities that his country would continue to support the LNP to strengthen its capacity to serve Liberians.

He cited the presence of German police officers serving the UN Mission in Liberia, who he said were assisting the Liberian Police in training, and thanked all those who contributed to the success of the projects in Maryland and Grand Kru counties.

Also making remarks, Deputy Inspector-General of Police for Operations, Mr. Al Karlay who represented LNP Inspector-General Marc Amblard, thanked the UN and the German and Norwegian governments for making these projects a reality.

The LNP Deputy Chief called on all LNP officers to help restore the organization's authority and create a stable environment.

Attending the ceremony were UN Police Commissioner, Mr. Gautam Sawang; Assistant Superintend for Development of Grand Kru County, Mr. Benedict Sayeh; Rev. Joseph Kpannie, County Development Officer and other local and traditional leaders.