Hold accountable those responsible!

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

While allegations of War Crimes remain unaddressed, and those suspected of committing them are the judges in charge of running the affairs of the country, the current Liberian government cannot be considered credible. There are major war crime suspects holding top public positions in the current Liberian government. 

Former NPFL boss Cyril Allen: Liberia's TRC Undercharged Me

Mr. Cyril Allen

Source: New Democrat Liberia

Mr. Cyril Allen, one of the most faithful generals of the erstwhile rebel National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) has expressed dismay that instead of charging him as “one of those who bear the greatest responsibilities of the Liberian civil war”, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) “undercharged” him.

The TRC report charged Mr. Allen, a staunch ally of Mr. Charles Taylor in his 14-year war efforts in Liberia, as “aiding and abetting the war”—a similar charge levied against former fighters.

But Mr. Allen being interviewed live on Truth FM radio last week, spewed: “I am one of those who bear the greatest responsibilities of the war. They did not even charge me as one of those.”

“I was one of the leaders of the NPFL and they simply said aiding and abetting. And I think that it is unfair for you to do that to me and name  young generals who were on the field fighting.”

“We, who were the leaders of the NPFL…they simply said aiding and abetting,” he wondered.

He added: “I think whatever way, they charged me much less. I should have been charged more than what they charged” me. 

Despite his admission of being one of those bearing the greatest responsibilities of the Liberian civil war, Mr. Allen expressed support for the setting up of a war crimes tribunal in Liberia. “War crimes court is good for reconciliation…for healing the wounds.”

Mr. Allen accused Nimba County Sen. Prince Johnson, a bitter opponent of a war crimes court, of physically slicing the ears of former President Samuel K. Doe after Mr. Johnson’s forces captured him.

“He (Sen. Johnson) is the one who they had on video cutting the ears of president Doe. I do not see any reason why there should not be a war crimes court,” Mr. Allen said.

Petition for compulsory legislative action in Liberia

Hello Everyone,

Stand for justice in Liberia today! Let those who caused the deaths of over 250,000 innocent people not be allowed to walk freely.

The hands of Liberia's political leaders and elites, including the head of state of Liberia, are resisting justice at all cost mostly because their hands are stained with the innocent blood of men, women, and children and their contributions to the mayhem  in Liberia are outstanding.

So I created a Petition for compulsory legislative action in Liberia and sent it to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf - President of Liberia, International Criminal Court, Her Excellency Madam Marjon V. Kamara - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, Union of Liberian Association in the Americas, The Oregon State House, The Oregon State Senate, Governor John Kitzhaber, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama.

Again, let those who caused the deaths of over 250,000 innocent people not be allowed to walk freely. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results.

Will you sign this petition? Click here: http://signon.org/sign/liberia-needs-a-war-crimes?source=c.fwd.in&r_by=4366692

Thanks!

Bernard Gbayee Goah

President, Operation We Care for Liberia
http://owcl.wordpress.com/

Liberia's Sirleaf in party row over nepotism

Source: Reuters

MONROVIA (Reuters) - Scuffles broke out close to the residence of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Wednesday as supporters clashed with several dozen members of her ruling party who accuse her of favouring close relatives for top government jobs.

Police and U.N. peacekeepers moved in to separate the two rival factions within her Unity Party, a Reuters reporter at the scene said, adding that light injuries were sustained on both sides.

Liberia: War Crimes Court Bill Lands At Capitol

Written by E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor Source: The New Dawn

Calls for the establishment of a war crimes court here seems to be gaining momentum with the submission of a bill before the House of Representatives, requesting for the formation of such court to prosecute ex-warlords and others who played major role during the country’s crisis period.

Grand Bassa County Representative Byron Brown presented a draft bill to the House of Representatives Tuesday through plenary, calling for the establishment of a war crimes court for Liberia.

Brown, who got elected on the ticket of the opposition Liberty Party during the 2011 elections, said the ultimate purpose of the bill is to sustain the peace, achieving genuine national reconciliation and moving ahead with the national developmental agenda, unhindered.



Liberia: Crackdown On Gbagbo Loyalists in Ivory Coast

Source: The Informer (Monrovia)

A New York based Human Rights organization, Human Rights Watch, has cautioned the security sector of both the Liberian and the Ivorian Governments to avoid abusive crackdown on perceived dissidents, and to ensure that the due process of law takes its course.

Challenges that prevent youth potential in Liberia

Bernard Gbayee Goah

Written by:
Bernard Gbayee Goah
President, Operation We Care for Liberia

There is a limitless untapped potential of young people living in Liberia. The problem remains the unwillingness of government institutions, corporations, and policy-makers to recognize such potential. And this is a Major challenge preventing Liberian youths from reaching their full potential.

Ivorian Government Foes Wage, Plot Attacks - Investigatein Liberia, Prosecute War Criminals From Côte d'Ivoire Conflict

Source:  Human Rights Watch

Nairobi — Armed militants hostile to the Ivorian government have recruited Liberian children and carried out deadly cross-border raids on Ivorian villages in recent months, Human Rights Watch said today. Liberian authorities have failed to investigate and prosecute dozens of Liberian and Ivorian nationals who crossed into Liberia after committing war crimes during Côte d'Ivoire's 2010-2011 post-election crisis, some of whom have been implicated in the recent attacks, Human Rights Watch said.

Former Liberian President Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for War Crimes

Written by The Associated Press
Source: allAfrica.com

LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Judges at an international war crimes court sentenced former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 50 years in prison Wednesday, saying he was responsible for "some of the most heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history."

This time, let Justice be done in Liberia!

Bernard Gbayee Goah

Dear Friends:

Since cessation of hostilities in 2003 Liberians have not taken definitive measures to prevent a repeat of another civil madness. The absence of war in Liberia currently, which is only due primarily to the presence of UN Troops on the ground, does not equate to peace. To believe other-wise is a complete illusion.

Liberia: Prince Y. Johnson Unveils War Architects

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor

Source: The New Dawn Liberia

Senator Prince Y. Johnson

Former leader of the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), Senator Prince Y. Johnson has unveiled names of individuals less known for their roles in planning the Liberian civil war.

Addressing a news conference recently in Monrovia, Sen. Johnson named human rights activist Ezekiel Pajibo, former Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) Harry Greaves, among others in addition to president Sirleaf as a few of the architects of what he referred to as the ‘senseless Liberian wars’, emphasizing they too and others must answer questions before the war crime court.

'Don't Rush to Exploit Liberia's Oil Wealth': Jerome Verdier's Letter to Liberia

Fellow Liberians:

Jerome Verdier

This public interest and public policy advocacy medium has been absent since it resumed in January 2012 due mainly to heavy engagement with school work at Cornell University Law School in New York where I was greatly blessed by GOD to earn the Masters of Law Degree (L.LM) on last Sunday, May 13, 2012 despite the oddities of enemies of progress and agents of death.

The purpose of pursuing higher education is to GLORIFY GOD by being a better person in contributing to humanity and understanding our world to make me useful to society and improve human development. I therefore dedicate this achievement in worth, knowledge and power to GOD ALMIGHTY, my Country and the people of Liberia. As a lawyer in the “best sense” the knowledge gained and skills acquired will be utilized for the uplifting of humanity every where.

During the past four months there were four major issues of public policy interest that claimed my attention that will, in summary, be addressed in this February to May 2012 letter. They are: 1) The high prospect of oil discovery in Liberia 2) The head of state Executive Order No. 38 (Code of Conduct) and 3) The Independent Human Rights Commission (INHRCL) and the TRC Recommended Palava Hut Program 4) Land grabbing by the Ellen Regime of poor people's land.

As War Crimes Prosecution Debate heats Up; Prince Johnson Threatens Trouble If

Written by Wade C. L. Williams,
Source: FrontPageAfrica

Senator Prince Johnson 

Monrovia - A statement made by one of the Commissioners of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, INCHR about efforts being on the way to forward the names of those who bear the greatest responsibility for the Liberian civil war to the international Criminal Tribunal in The Hague has sparked huge controversy in the country.

Liberia: Prince Johnson Fears ICC Trial

BY BOIMA J. V. BOIMA

Source: allAfrica.com 

Sen. Prince Johnson 

The one-time leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), now senator of Nimba County, Thursday claimed that the Independent Human Rights Commission (INHRC) has announced plans to forward him and others listed in the TRC report for prosecution to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial.

STOP Police Brutality in Liberia today!!!!

Dear Friends:

Government police in Liberia has made the entire country a dangerous place to live. Students are brutalized, young women are raped, citizens are shot at and killed, and Liberian newspapers have reported countless other assaults and robberies. We have had a massive amount of feedback from people in Liberia who say they are too scared to walk around after dark.

The Charles Taylor Verdict: A Global Witness briefing on a dictator, blood diamonds and timber, and two countries in recovery

Source:  Global Witness               26th April 2012

Read the press release: Justice for Sierra Leone and Charles Taylor found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity 

On 26 April, the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) found former Liberian President and warlord Charles Taylor guilty of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Court, which sits in The Hague for this case only, found that Taylor played an instrumental role in Sierra Leone’s bloody 11 year civil war. The verdict is an historic one, sending a strong message to those in power bent on terrorising their people that they will be held to account. Taylor’s trial has focused attention on the pivotal role he played in Sierra Leone’s bloody diamond trade and has highlighted how natural resource looting finances armed conflict and human rights abuses internationally.

The Trial and the Verdict

The Special Court for Sierra Leone is a hybrid international-Sierra Leonean tribunal established to bring to justice those holding greatest responsibility for crimes committed during the country’s 1991-2002 civil war. In 2003, The Court’s prosecutor filed an 11 count indictment against Taylor, accusing him of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including pillage, murder, rape and the use of child soldiers.[i]

The tragedy of Liberia's ex-girl soldiers

By Olatunji OLOLADE, 
Source: The Nation

A girl soldier patrols the streets of Monrovia 
with fellow child soldiers

Some scenic night in Sinkor, the rain will pour down “like mad.” Cold to Lucia’s hopes and her secret hurt, it will fall to soak her already drenched corpse. Lucia, 23, would love to drown in Golden Beach at 2nd Sinkor. She would like to go while the rain falls heavily and the city sleeps. It seems a fantastic way to go for the “general contractor” and former girl soldier. “Bullet don’t kill me. See, they shoot me in the war…three times. I got four shots on my back, one on my thigh. I didn’t die ‘cos I fight like a man. I fear nobody. You can ask around,” said Lucia proudly showing off her scars.

Charles Taylor's Conviction: Triumph For Justice and The Rule of Law

WRITTEN BY JEROME J. VERDIER, SR (CLLR),
Source: Frontpage africa

Victims of Charles Taylor's war, millions (dead or alive) in Sierra Leone and Liberia, are thanking GOD ALMIGHTY for hearing and receiving their cries for justice. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous and those who do good but it brings terror to evildoers (Prov 21:15). Today, all peace and justice advocates around the world join the victims in celebrating the conviction of Liberia's Former President on eleven counts of “aiding and abetting the commission of war crimes or crimes against humanity” in Sierra Leone—a genuine triumph for justice and the rule of law against impunity in both countries, especially Liberia.

Battle of the Powers? House of Representatives Wants Sirleaf Probed For Altering Legislations

WRITTEN BY TOM B. NYENUR

Source: FrontpageAfrica

Monrovia - The House of Representatives has unanimously voted to investigate what they call President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s usual habit of editing legislations when tabled before her to sign into law.

The lawmakers argued it was not the president’s prerogative to add or subtract wordings to laws enacted by them in order to suit her desire. The lawmakers maintained the president is only given authority by the constitution to veto laws that may be deemed inimical to national interest.

 

Liberia: President Sirleaf Dropped From Time's 100 Influential People

Where She's Gone Wrong - Analyst Pokes In Why Ellen Dropped From Time's 100 Influential People 

No Liberian leader enjoyed lavish international admiration and brought home bundles of accolades than President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Even while wrestling her way for a second term, some foreign bodies defied the rules and awarded her high honors on the eve of election. But while the first quarter of the first year following elections is yet to come to pass, the President's final political trajectory is showing signs that she is losing grip on her most formidable charm--international adoration. The first clear sign is coming from the revered Times Magazine which, having named the first African head of state amongst its 100 most influential people last year has scrapped the President's place this year. The Analyst looks at the probable causes of the relegation from the perspective of independent pundits. Source: www.allAfrica.com