LIBERIA HAS AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL OBLIGATION IT MUST FULFILL...

The government of Liberia must understand that a national referendum is not required by a country in which international crimes were committed in order to establish a War Crimes Court.

International crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity directly fall under international law. And they are among the gravest crimes in international law. They are considered so serious that there is no statute

Bernard G. Goah

of limitation for such crimes. Which means that those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity can be prosecuted and punished no matter how much time has elapsed since the crimes were committed. And Liberia is a signatory to such international law.

The sooner Liberia honors its international legal obligation, the sooner the country will get back on the right trajectory to civility and the better it will become.

WHEN YOU PARDON UNREMORSEFUL BAD PEOPLE, GOOD PEOPLE ARE INJURED.

The final report of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), exposed the diabolical scheme to use reconciliation as an unsuspecting weapon to bludgeon the truth. The report confirms the level of atrocities visited upon defenseless men, women, and children in Liberia.

The TRC forum was the first of its kind in the entire history of Liberia for war victims to be given the opportunity to freely give their accounts of what happened to them, their families, and what they saw happened to others during the war.

During the TRC hearing, war victims freely spoke in public about what happened to them in hopes that justice would be served. Their accounts were sickening, to say the least.

But since they have spoken, not a single person has been brought to justice inside Liberia . War victims are now exposed to the wrath of those they fear the most (their prosecutors). And because those accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity are still running the affairs of those they’ve allegedly victimized, victims themselves will continue to live in fear. This has to stop, but how?

Alleged perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity must not be allowed to participate in Liberia’s 2023 Presidential elections or hold any positions of governmental authority, and power unless they exonerate themselves from allegations brought against them in a Liberian War Crimes Court.

When Perpetrators no longer hold decision-making power over those they have victimized, justice begins. This is necessary in order to begin genuine reconciliation in Liberia.

Let us all remember the words of Benjamin Franklin: "Pardoning the BAD, is injuring the Good”

SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GO TO JAIL!

If Liberia is to survive, we must put aside our petty politics as well as tribal loyalties and just do the right thing.

In order for Liberia to climb out of the pit of poverty, illiteracy, lawlessness, and corruption up onto the pinnacle of confidence, prosperity, and respect for the rule of law, bitter pills will have to be swallowed. We must be prepared to accept the fact that lots of people will have to be held accountable.

Holding people accountable for the horrors that took place in Liberia over the years will involve much pain indeed. Simply because change by nature is painful especially if it involves holding our relatives, and friends accountable.

Bernard G. Goah

Bitter pills will have to be swallowed, my friends.

Some people will have to go to prison for the crimes they committed.

Liberia should no longer be seen by its neighbors as a distraction within the West Africa subregion only because we did not do the right thing.

WITH OUT DOUBT, SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GO TO JAIL!

How Long Can The People Of Liberia Hold On?

Under the current regime, the people of Liberia continue to be subjected to the whims and caprices of their abusers.

They continue to tolerate all kinds of unbearable inconveniences at the hands of the very people that tortured them, killed their relatives and friends and destroyed their villages rather than risk a repeat of another 14 years war. And they only do so because of the love they have for a single man, a world soccer star (George Opong Weah).

But to tolerate an inconvenient situation is only temporary. It is to do so until a permanent solution is reached. It is to do so until the storm is calm so that justice will be served.

The truth is, it has been almost three years

Bernard G. Goah

or so now and the storm has since calmed. But there has been nothing put into place to address this unwanted situation.

With demonstrated arrogance, former warlords and their associates are favorably rewarded with fat paying government jobs while victims go to bed in anger, hunger and fear. This alone has greatly diminished the once-promising legacy of a very great man (George Opong Weah).

The question now is, how long can Liberians hold on?

How long can they tolerate these unbearable inconveniences at the hands of their own George Opong Weah?

Just how long?

Majority Rule Can Sometimes Produce Bad Result…

A Generation Destroyed

The Liberian Civil war did not only kill 250,000 people. It also destroyed an entire generation of young Liberians.

The war destroyed a generation that should have been leaders and decision makers of today.

Today, these young people have voting age. But that is not all, THEY ARE NOT ONLY IN THE MAJORITY they are the majority!

There are more uninformed and uneducated young people in Liberia ever than before. And this multitude of unprepared young people are not just sitting, they too are demanding their rightful place in the body politics of their country. They want to occupy public positions they are not prepared for.

And they are very angry because they have no skills;

And they have no skills because they did not go to school;

And they did not go to school because they had no opportunities;

And they had no opportunities because of the war that destroyed their future.

Worse of all, they are not equip enough to understand that it was a handful of Liberians that got them into all this mess in the first place.

Until they understand that those who destroyed their future should not be elected to public positions, they have no hope of redemption.

They have the democratic power to decide who they want to be their leaders because they are the majority. And that is the scariest part of this whole story.

This story is all about the “Uninformed and Uneducated Majority”.

WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD, THEY FAILED!

 

Those who brought total war upon Liberia left a huge societal burden upon the state. They fought against their own country as if they were fighting a foreign country... destroying everything in sight including the future of their children and the entire country.

And when they were given the opportunity to lead in order to remedy the situation, they did absolutely nothing !

GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO TACKLE THE STRUCTURAL DRIVERS OF WAR...

A

Bernard G. Goah

s the current economic slowdown and high inflation continue to affect the living standards of Liberians. Citizens’ animosity toward the Weah-led administration especially from sympathizers of the political opposition bloc has increased in recent times.

This is largely due to the fact that the government has not mustered the necessary political will to fight corruption. These grievances are reflected in the recently submitted Council of Patriots protest document.

Political tensions can be particularly deleterious in a divided society such as Liberia that is emerging from conflict.

We all know that a resumption of war is very unlikely right now, but it is most likely that political violence and repression could break out soon if the Weah-led government fails to revert the current negative economic trend and convince the population that it is sincerely fighting corruption.

The hard truth is, the government has failed to tackle the structural drivers of war in Liberia. These are re-emerging now...

Liberia no longer receives reasonable outside development aid;

UNMIL's total departure also has negatively impacted the country's economy, and corruption is not only nurtured in high places but rampantly institutionalized.

Without concrete action taken by the Weah-led government, citizens' protests could escalate into violence at any time in Liberia.

It Is Not The Lack Of Food That Is Killing Us As A People, But The Lack Logistics Infrastructure.

Bernard G. Goah

Liberia’s problem is not lack of food. The country is a land of great geographical varieties. Liberia has good weather, good soil, and plentiful underground aquifers. The country has creeks and rivers that could be used for irrigation purposes year-round without depending solely on rain-fed agriculture activities. Contextually, our country’s problem is the lack of logistics infrastructure.

Liberia has more or less 4 million people. And if mechanized farming was to be considered, a handful of mechanized farmers could over-feed the entire country in no time. But apart from that, the various pockets of localized farming that are going on in various villages across the country, could as well feed a good percentage of the country if the proper storage and transport mechanisms are put into place.

We can all agree that without a proper road network, both localized farming and mechanized farming will be meaningless because food supply will not reach those in need in the urban areas. The little that manage to reach the city will be priced so much, ordinary citizens won't be able to afford them. Only those that are well placed in government would be able to buy.

Therefore, I will argue that transport infrastructure is one of the main constraints on the Liberian economy right now and will continue to be so unless the issue of all-weather road network across the country is addressed.

Also, Improving road networks will boost trade and commerce in rural areas. And the quickest and fastest way Liberia’s lack of infrastructure could be remedy is to attract and engage investors through Public and Private Partnerships.

No doubt, Liberia will surely develop rapidly if investors invest in logistics infrastructure across the whole of the country.

It is the lack of all-whether-road network that is killing us as a country.

NOW, THEY TOO HAVE LOST CREDIBILITY...

Bernard G. Goah Operation We Care for Liberia

Bernard G. Goah

Those who once held sway over the population and could very easily mobilize thousands of Liberians to hold government accountable have lost credibility due to past behavior.

They have ignored the level of madness that visited their country.

They have ignored how countless women and children were raped; tortured, enslaved, and killed.

They illusively think that the passing of time will eventually diminish the severity of the horrors inflicted upon the Liberian people.

Even though they know that it is wrong for those accused of committing war crimes, and crimes against humanity to be the same people in-charge of running the affairs of victims of war, they have done nothing to demand justice for the voiceless. 


The people of Liberia no longer trust the likes of Amos Sawyer, Henry Boima Fahnbulleh jr, and Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh.

Because they have waltzed with injustice, their criticisms and activism have no effect.

Someone will have to fight for the heart and soul of Liberia.

And if it has to be us, why not?

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEORGE MANNEH WEAH

SUBJECT: PRIORITIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WAR CRIMES COURT IN LIBERIA

Dear President Weah,

I write to you with the request that you share my thoughts with our people, and your people (the Liberian people). It is incumbent upon you Mr. President, to speak out against injustices in Liberia.

In my opinion, it will be best in your capacity as President and former Peace Ambassador, to seek peace through justice, reconciliation, and unity amongst our people. History will judge how you exercise your duty during your service as President.

I, therefore, call upon you to influence the establishment of a Liberian War Crimes Court so that war victims will receive justice.

Your Excellency, some voices in your cycle claimed and are still saying you did the wrong thing when you accepted an appointed position as Peace Ambassador from former President (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf). Whether that appointment was a calculated move to tire your hands from holding the likes of Madam Sirleaf accountable for war crimes should you later on become president, accepting it was the right thing to do in the interest of peace.

As a former Peace Ambassador, it may appear embarrassing for you to demand that Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf herself answer questions on the allegation of war crimes. But is it not more embarrassing to see those who killed 250,000 people walk freely across the country?

Manneh, hide not your feelings, just as you did when you said the war in Liberia was unacceptable. Hide not your feelings, just as you did when you called the United States and the world to intervene to stop the war in Liberia while you were still on the soccer field of play in Europe.

Legend, you are undoubtedly aware that our next-door neighbor (Serra Lone) has done the right thing by bringing those who caused the destruction of lives and properties in that country to justice.

To prove to us that they have backbones, they even brought one of our own to justice and he is now in Prison. The people of Serra Lone demanded justice and they got it. We can do the same!

Your Excellency, to be complacent about the little peace Liberia now enjoys as a result of the generosity of the United Nations and Ecowas, only to neglect a path that will bring greater and long-lasting peace is a dangerous game to play.

Steven Rap – former prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and Head of the Office of Global Criminal Justice in the U.S. Department of State said the establishment of a Liberian war crimes court “is not a decision for the United States; not a decision for Steven Rapp. It’s a decision for the people of Liberia”. Mr. Rap said, “what happened in Sierra Leone is that after the end of the war, their President wrote with strong public support for a special court to be established to be a partnership with Sierra Leone and the United Nations”.

Public support is the main phrase in the above paragraph. And you, Mr. President, can easily get the support of the Liberian public on this issue. It is now clear that the decision over whether or not a War Crimes Court will be established in Liberia is not a decision for the United States of America or any foreign power to make but one the Liberian government will have to initiate for such court to become a reality.

Once you get the support of the Liberian public, they can pressure themselves/the government to cave in to their demands. To me, the Liberian government in this context means the people of Liberia; it means public support for the establishment of a Liberian War Crimes Court.

As such, I ask that you use your office to influence the establishment of such a court in Liberia. After all, the people are the government, aren’t they?

As you are even more aware, Individuals who masterminded the killings of innocent Liberians to include the killing of those who influenced the success of your soccer career are the judges in charge of running the affairs of the country today. Your advocacy to bring to book those who caused the deaths of over 250,000 innocent People, some of whom were your soccer fans, is an act of being a witness to your call as a just leader, and that you believe in fair play and the rule of law. This is your chance to show who you are, and what you stand for during these difficult times of Liberia’s political lifecycle.

Mr. President, I know that you want freedom, a just and peaceful Liberia, where the rule of law will be the language of the day. Be reminded that the same justice you wanted when innocent Liberians were killed during the 2011/12 elections is the same justice war victims want for those who were killed for nothing during the course of the Liberian war.

Now there you are, in just the right position to make a change, a positive change that brings lasting peace and justice to your people. Take advantage of it, and do the right thing.

I like to bring to your attention that the foundation upon which any legal government must function is “The Rule of law”. And such foundation, though on the books is greatly compromised today in Liberia.

National reconciliation, economic recovery, the combat of corruption, good governance, transparency, and accountability cannot happen in Liberia if Justice is out of the equation. Without justice, effectively managing Liberia’s natural resources, and the issue of land reform will be meaningless. That is why I ask that you use your position to influence the popular demand for the establishment of a Liberian War Crimes Court. Doing so would deter those who believe in running the affairs of Liberia using cowboy criterion that only favors might over right.

I am of the conviction that once the rule of law is put into place in Liberia, all other good things will follow by default.

Manneh, again, this is it! Do not let it slip from your hands.

Make history like you did when you made us proud in the world of soccer yesteryears. Remember, it is now in your reach to hear the cry of your people for justice. Let not the killers of their loved ones go free.

More importantly, please let me know that you will by no means mind the deliciousness of an okra soup only to swallow a bone.

Take your time and do the right thing this time.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Respectfully yours,

Bernard Gbayee Goah

President, Operation We Care for Liberia

Personal Phone: (971) 533-4650

Personal Email: bgoah76@yahoo.com

THE HARD BUT NECESSARY CHANGE WE MUST ALL EMBRACE

Written by Bernard Gbayee Goah

Phone: 971 533-4650 We have prayed, as well as advocated for change for so long. We have worked and continue to work towards a changed Liberia, a better Liberia, better laws, better president, better legislators, and better infrastructures; We want a law-abiding government that rewards its citizens based on merits;

We want to eradicate corruption, impunity, and nepotism;

We want change and we want it now! However, it is imperative that we also understand there will be a price to pay for any change, be it a good change, or a bad change. In order for Liberia to climb out of the pit of poverty, illiteracy, lawlessness and corruption up onto the pinnacle of confidence, prosperity, and respect for the rule of law, bitter pills will have to be swallowed. We must be prepared to accept the fact that some people will have to be held accountable. Holding people accountable for what took place in Liberia over the years will involve much pain indeed; simply because change by nature is painful especially if it involves holding our relatives, and friends accountable. We want change but we generally do not want to bear the ruckus that come with it. Fear steps in when we hear of the unfamiliar. But we should take courage and do that which is right. We must take courage in making Liberia a better place for its unborn generation to come. We want good change and a better one too, and we will get it only if we accept the pains that come with it. My Fellow Liberians, over 250,000 innocent people were killed in Liberia by lawless individuals. Some of these individuals who orchestrated these horrible acts and the carnage may be members of "our own tribes", as well as other tribes other than ours. Some of them may be "our brothers, sisters, friends, uncles, and even our fathers and mothers". Some of those who committed crimes against humanity in Liberia are holding top positions in the current Liberian government and they may even be those "we" look up to for economic benefits.

We should not expect change to happen when we are unwilling to embrace the ruckus that comes with it. We should not expect a better Liberia if we are afraid of the unfamiliar. We must swallow the bitter pills that come with justice and accountability if we truly want Liberia to be a better country. A peaceful Liberia demands accountability, justice, and reconciliation. Those bearing the greatest responsibility for atrocities in Liberia must be held accountable. They must not be allowed to walk free! This is necessary in order to begin genuine reconciliation.

Liberia needs a war crimes court that is capable of investigating crimes committed during the course of its civil war. This will serve as a deterrent to those who believe in the use of firearms to obtain state power.

War Crimes Court for Liberia is Necessary

 Bernard Gbayee Goah

President, Operation We care for Liberia

Written by Bernard Gbayee Goah

President, Operation We care for Liberia

The exponential increase in the lack of public trust and confidence in President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s ability to lead the people of Liberia concerns me.

 Given the high level of corruption with the disappearances of millions of taxpayers’ money under the very supervision of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, it is now clear that her reelection to the presidency for the second time was actually  an endorsement of the status quo and a return to business as usual in Liberia.

Ms. Sirleaf is incapable of preventing Liberia from again returning to violence in the absence of the UN troops. The truth is, the presence of UN Troops in Liberia only gives a false sense of security with nothing being done to address imperative issues. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is not capable of navigating her own people through the rough waters of justice because doing so would mean holding herself accountable. I know this to be true because after reviewing all the evidence, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia felt it necessary to recommend that Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf be banned from public office for no less than 30 years. This is a clear indication of the extent of her involvement in the carnage.

Liberia’s past history has shown us that it is important for a sitting President to listen and take corrective steps while her people are still whining, writing articles, suggesting solutions, and talking. 

When the people become quiet, a situation develops whereby the top of the water is still and yet boiling underneath. 

Liberia has experienced the result of such a situation many times as a nation. I am sure Liberians do not want to experience it again.



The Liberian people have said over and over that they want the establishment of a War Crimes Court for Liberia. As a President of a nation, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is under the obligation to not only listen but also do something about it because the people are the government. But the Liberian President is just out of touch with reality. She has deliberately ignored the will of the people and the people are now anxious. Mistrust, suspicion and fear have hindered progress. Tension is rising and pressure is building across the entire country. To ignore this fact as President Sirleaf has done is a clear indication of a disconnected leader.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf must not be allowed to provide cover for persons who have committed unspeakable atrocities in Liberia. Impunity must not trump accountability. This will make it difficult - if not impossible – to restore normalcy in post-war Liberia under the leadership of persons bearing the greatest responsibility for the senseless destruction of lives and properties in that country.

If the people of Liberia allow rape, torture and murder to go unpunished, soon there will be nothing left to protect. 

Recently, in the country of Chad, the country’s former president Hissene Habre was arrested at his home and is presently in the custody of the Senegalese police. Habre is accused of killing and torturing tens of thousands of political opponents during his eight-year reign from 1982 until1990.  In Liberia, an estimation of more than two hundred thousand innocent people were killed, hundreds of thousands uprooted from their homes, and hundreds of thousands more displaced in foreign lands as a result of the country’s brutal war.

Atrocities committed in Liberia are so grave, personal experience of the war is not required to understand the magnitude of what took place. But because nothing has been done to deter those who perpetrated crimes against humanity, they have now capitalized on the negligence of the Liberian people to institute justice only to inflict harm on the country’s economy. 
Corruption is now institutionalized, and impunity greatly favored.  If justice for Chad is a must how about justice for Liberia?

The more we ignore the level of madness that visited Liberia; The more we ignore that countless number of innocent people were raped; tortured, enslaved, and killed; The more we illusively think that the passing of time will eventually diminish the severity of what took place in Liberia; The more illusions we build for a peaceful and reconciled Liberian nation. 

For we know, that it is just too wrong for those accused of committing war crimes, and crimes against humanity to be the same people in-charge of running the affairs of victims of war.
 If we agree that those accused of war crimes in the country of Chad, should not be the same people running the affair of the Chadian people; 

Then we as well must agree, that it is also wrong for those accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Liberia, to be the same people running the affairs of victims of war in that country.

Today in Liberia, suspects of war crimes and crimes against humanity are now dictating the pace of a “government favored justice process” that holds no one accountable. This is just too unacceptable at all levels!

Irrespective of the headaches and ruckus that may come with it, the people of Liberia must hold accountable those bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes, and crimes against humanity. And surely the UN could help by standing with war victims as well.

THE LOYAL OPPOSITION STATEMENT IN RECOGNITION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN LIBERIA

"Oftentimes the word Peace is used interchangeably with the term Absence of War. But these are two distinct concepts which must not be confused. With the Nigerian Army decisive victory over the breakaway Biafran forces, peace was declared. But this did not happen in Korea. Therefore, sixty years later, the countries of North Korea and South Korea remain at war, though an all-out fight has yet to resume".

HON. TQ HARRIS, JR.

- HON. TQ HARRIS, JR.

There can be no statue of limitations on atrocities committed in Liberia

Written by Bernard Gbayee Goah - President Operation We Care for Liberia

An estimation of more than two hundred thousand innocent people were killed, hundreds of thousands uprooted from their homes, and hundreds of thousands more displaced in foreign lands as a result of Liberia’s brutal war.
Atrocities committed in Liberia are so grave, personal experience of the war is not required to understand the magnitude of what took place. Youtube Recorded videos of the level of madness that visited this country, and how countless number of innocent people were raped, tortured, enslaved, and killed are so dehumanizing; there can be no statue of limitations. As such, the demand for justice by those who experienced such unacceptable nightmare is genuine, and must be respected and not brushed aside.

Mali/Liberia: Box the capabilities of Liberian warlords; restrict their movements now!!!!!!!

Bernard Gbayee Goah
President, Operation We Care for Liberia

Written by Bernard Gbayee Goah

While the civil war is now over in Liberia, knowledgeable Master Planners of horrors, and wars will search for the next action areas in West Africa. 

They are experts of gansterism, and terrorist activity. They don’t have to physically travel to Mali. Their expertises are what al Qaeda wants. And that is why Liberian Warlords must be boxed now before it gets too late!!!!!!

Liberian Warlords may provide their expertise to al Qaeda in Mali and other conflict zones in West Africa. For why won’t they??? Conflict regions are where the fastest monies on earth are, and Mali perfectly fits in the picture.