By: Winston Blyden
IPNews-Monrovia: Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darious Dillon says the time has come for those who committed atrocities against peaceful Liberians to give account of their wrong doing.
The Liberian Civil unrest approximately claim the lives of over two hundred and fifty thousand Liberians while many were raped as children were forced into child soldiers during the bloody Liberia civil crisis that lasted for fourteen years.
Speaking Tuesday on the grounds of the capitol when hundreds of Liberian under the banner “Liberians United for Justice and Accountability” stormed the grounds to petition their leaders, Senator Dillon said, for so long alleged perpetrators have walked away with impunity.
Senator Dillon told Legislative reporters that the failure on the part for leaders of the country to take action against individuals who committed crimes against peaceful Liberians, signal impossibility for one to account for millions dollars stolen from the county’s cover.
It may be recalled, about 50 Representatives out of a total 73 lawmaker of the House of Representative, recently signed a ‘Resolution on the establishment of War Crimes Court in Liberia.
The ‘Resolution for establishment of War & Economic crimes Court’ was allegedly removed from the agenda by Speaker Bhofal Chambers, a claim he has since rejected
It may be recalled some Representative including Montserrado County, district 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah, raised reservation over the failure of House Speaker Chambers to include on the agenda of the House of Representatives, discussion of recent resolution to establish a war crimes court in Liberia after a full submission of the “Resolution on the establishment of War Crimes Court in the country” was submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representative on Thursday, October 3, 2019.
The Chairperson on the House Claims and Petition, Montserrado County District #4 Representative Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, visibly enraged broke into tears when the movant, Bong County District #1 Representative Albert Hill, rejected her amendments for inclusion and discussion on “Resolution on the establishment of War Crimes Court in Liberia,” and “Article 96” on the House Agenda as part of the business of the day.
In an uncontrollable and fuming tone in session, she described Rep. Hill’s action as “misplaced, displaced and disgraced,” arguing that the Bong County lawmaker, who is one of the signatories to the Resolution, did not know the essence of what she claimed as “integrity document.”
In protest, she walked out of the House chamber, muttering “nonsense,” especially to a denial of the Resolution to be placed on Friday’s agenda for automatic forwarding to the Senate for concurrence.
Another protesting lawmaker, Montserrado County Districts #10 and #13 Representatives Yekeh Kolubah and Edward Flomo respectively, and Margibi County District #3 Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh, in session, openly joined Rep. Dennis to condemn Rep. Hill for rejecting the Resolution.
Immediately after her walked out of session, Rep. Rustonlyn Dennis, hosted a press conference, stating her disappointment at Speaker Bhofal Chambers for “shamefully masterminding the removal of the Resolution on the agenda,” an allegation the Speaker has vehemently rejected and said it was excluded in keeping with Legislative practice.
Speaker Chamber added that the Plenary had earlier voted to carry the Resolution for the establishment of war crimes court to their respective constituents for subsequent discussions during the 3rd Sitting following the president’s two-page letter for advice and guidance on the creation of a war crimes court.
The Speaker said that it was agreed that there will be consultations to help lawmakers to make an informed decision.
It may further be recalled, President George Manneh Weah upon return to the country from France, November 2018, stated that war crimes court ‘will not develop Liberia but bring about peace and peaceful co-existence of all, contrary to calls for the establishment of War & Economic crimes court.
Speaking upon arrival from the Republic of France at the Roberts Field International Airport where he joined other heads of state in celebrating hundred years World-War I, the Liberian leader said it is important for Liberians to remain in the confines of peaceful co -existence rather than a war crimes court.
“if we need a War Crime Court it will not develop our Country but only Peace can” Pres. Weah stated.
The Liberian President also said that without peace the entire country will not be stable which is very important for any given society.
According to President Weah, at the United Nations he made mention that without peace the world would be meaningless.
He stated further that, the reason of celebrating World War I is to signify the importance of world peace and the need to participate reject war.
“Our attendance at the commemoration of World War I indicates essential nature of having a peaceful society.”Liberian President added.
The Liberian Leader encouraged Liberians to leave ‘the too much small small talking and help to promote peace because without peace the country cannot contain growth and the agenda of the government will not be advanced.
President Weah furthermore said that, Liberians should be aware that they have had fourteen years of civil crisis that never benefited anybody but led to the lost of lives and properties yet they were still calling for ‘war crime court’.
But in a swift reaction to President George Weah view point on the establishment of War crimes court, Liberia’s diplomat and Financial Expert, Melton Nathaniel Barnes, stated that 195 countries in our world today share two important factors without exception. First, each country’s national experience comprises some aspect of war or conflict; and, second, they all have endured poverty. In the case of Liberia, a War and Economic Crimes Court could be a game changer in our quest for sustained national development.
Barnes said those nations that are considered prosperous, progressive or “advanced” are unquestionably those that have tenaciously and consistently sought to crystallize valuable “lessons learned” from their conflict and poverty experiences. They have formulated and implemented strategies that would, not only minimize the re-occurrence of the malaise of conflict and poverty, but establish a solid foundation upon which progress; development and prosperity could be built bearing in mind that such initiatives should never be considered an event but an enduring evolutionary process.
One irrefutable factor in these “success” paradigms has been focused, visionary, selfless and patriot leadership of diverse models (i.e. Caesar, Hannibal, Chaka Zulu, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Lee Kuan Yew, Mandela etc.).
A second driving factor in their success paradigms comprises a clear and solid philosophical grasp of the concept that Sustained Development and Advancement are by-products of Peace and Stability driven by creating effective and sustainable political, economic and social systems. This factor he said, provides the impetus that insures overcoming the hurdles towards advancement.
The means, methods, strategies or morality (i.e. slavery, colonization, exploitation, genocide etc.) utilized by countries in pursuit of alleviating conflict and poverty is not the focus of this exercise; rather, the focus is using lessons learned the experiences of conflict and poverty to cater to national needs, desires and ambitions.
Contrarily, unsuccessful, poor, underdeveloped countries that have experienced conflict and poverty, seem to be plagued with the inability to formulate and implement practical applications of lessons learned; thus, they find themselves in the poverty traps described in economist Paul Collier’s book, The Bottom Billion.
See below names of Representative who have signed the resolution for establishment of War & Economic Crimes Court in Liberia:
Signatories:
- Lawrence Morris, District #1, Montserrado County
- Jimmy Smith, District #2, Montserrado County
- Rustonlyn Dennis, District #4, Montserrado County
- Samuel Enders, District #6, Montserrado County
- Yekeh Kolubah, District #10, Montserrado County
- Richard Koon, District #11, Montserrado County
- George Samah, District #12, Montserrado County
- Edward Flomo, District #13, Montserrado County
- Abraham Corneh, District #14, Montserrado County
- Abu Kamara, District #15, Montserrado County
- Hanson Kiazolu, District #17, Montserrado County
- Hans Barchue, District #1, Grand Bassa County
- Mary Karwor, District #2, Grand Bassa County
- Matthew Joe, District #3, Grand Bassa County
- Vicent Willie, District #4, Grand Bassa County
- Thomas Goshua, District #5, Grand Bassa County
- Cryton Duncan, District #1, Sinoe County
- Nagbe Sloh, District #2, Sinoe County
- Mike Jurry, District #1, Maryland County
- Isaac Rolands, District #3, Maryland County
- Bob Sheriff, District #1, Grand Cape Mount County
- Mambu Sonii, District #2, Grand Cape Mount Co.
- Emerson Kamara, District #3, Grand Cape Mount Co.
- Albert Hills, District #1, Bong County
- Prince Moye, District #2, Bong County
- Marvin Cole, District #3, Bong County
- Robert Womba, District #4, Bong County
- Edward Karfiah, District #5, Bong County
- Joseph Kolleh, District #7, Bong County
- Francis Nyumalin, District #1, Lofa County
- Julie Wiah, District #2, Lofa County
- Clarence Massaquoi, District #3, Lofa County
- Beyan Howard, District #5, Lofa County
- Prince Tokpa, District #1, Nimba County
- Joseph Somwarbi, District #3, Nimba County
- Rogers Domah, District #7, Nimba County
- Larry Younquoi, District #8, Nimba County
- Zoe Pennue, District #1, Grand Gedeh County
- Alex Grant, District #3, Grand Gedeh County
- Tibelrosa Tarponweh, District #1, Margibi Co.
- Ivar Jones, District #2, Margibi County
- Ellen A. Attoh-Wreh, District #3, Margibi Co.
- Ben Fofana, District #4, Margibi County
- Clarence Gahr, District #5, Margibi County
- Byron Zahnwea, District #2, River Cess County
- Alexander Poure, District #1, River Gee County
- Francis Young, District #2, River Gee County
- Francis Dopoh, District 3, River Gee County
- Alfred Koiwood, District #1, Gbarpolu County
- Joseph Matthew, District #3, Gbarpolu County
