-As Lawyers’ Association, Civil Society Organizations Submit Draft Bill to Lawmakers
IPSNEWS – Monrovia: If the beats from the recent US Congressional hearings on the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Courts weren’t loud enough, the drumbeats have now even grown louder with the submission of a draft bill to the legislature for the establishment of said courts.
The president of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), human rights lawyer, Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe, led his colleagues, who were joined by a conglomeration of civil society organizations, to present the bill to the lawmakers. These legislators are by law the ones who can set up such legal entities on the Liberian soil.
The Thursday, June 24th incident was a significant milestone toward the establishment of the courts as professional groups of Liberians are now taking the bulls by the horns calling for the setting up of the courts.
At the Capitol Building, Cllr. Gongloe told the lawmakers that it was time to put an end to the nation’s miserable past.
“We are here to present this draft bill to you. The Bar Association, in exercise of this responsibility and patriotism, draft the law, and made 105 copies for the lawmakers. That’s how far we have gone to make this happen to show the zeal and enthusiasm that we have. We appeal to you not to let this zeal die,” Cllr. Gongloe said.
All of the 103 Liberian lawmakers are expected to get a copy of the draft bill and there will be two left over.
According to him, it was good for Liberians to take steps to hold people accountable. If that doesn’t happen, “It means that first, we are co-conspirators in the killing of those people, and we applaud those who did it and are encouraging people to do more. Liberia cannot be a country where when you slap a person, you can be arrested, when you killed one person, you can be arrested and jailed, but when you killed 500 to 1,000 people or more then the society says ‘that’s okay.’”
Cllr. Gongloe further said that it was time that this nation copy after its neighbor Sierra Leone and Rwanda to end impunity.
“Because of the decision taken by the two nations, they are no more called fragile states; they frequent locations of foreign direct investments,” he added.
Meanwhile, the CSO coalition, in a special statement said, learning from history, they have a strong conviction that holding suspected perpetrators of war and economic crimes, and sexual and gender-based violence accountable is the best way to stop impunity.
They further stated that Sierra Leone and Rwanda are “shining examples” of what happens when the end of conflict is followed by accountability.
“Today, the respect for rule of law is stronger in those two countries. As a result of this situation, both countries are experiencing progressive economic growth and development,” Atty. Mmonbeydo N. Joah, Executive Director/Legal Counsel of the Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH), said on behalf of the CSOs.
The CSOs warned that in the absence of peace, Liberia will remain a fragile state as perpetrators of violent crimes will continue to commit more violent crimes and rape because of the lack of accountability. They urged the lawmakers to act in the interest of Liberia by passing laws that would set up the courts.
Receiving the draft bill on behalf of the House of Representatives, the Chairman on Claims and Petition, Rep. Gonpue L. Kargon (District #4, Nimba County) said, they (lawmakers) were receiving the document in “good faith.” He promised to present it to House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers s that it can be added on the House’s agenda for action.
“We received this document in a good faith. This House works through committees. Whatsoever that have been placed into this envelope, what you want for the Speaker to do to uphold this nation, I promise that the speaker will do it,” he said.
Rep. Kargon expressed a concern that the Bar Association, which, according to him, should be serving as legal advisors, providing knowledge and legal thoughts, was now acting as “advocates.”
Another colleague of his from the same Nimba, Rep. Dorwohn Twain Gleekia, shared his concerns and questioned the advocacy role of the LNBA.
Cllr. Gongloe didn’t allow their concerns to pass. He provide a quick answer informing them that when the court is set up, Liberian lawyers will serve as judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers. Adding: “However, that does not stop the Bar, as an association for advocating for the establishment of the court.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hassan Bility, the Executive Director of the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP), said the court, if would have no security and economic implications if it is established.
Mr. Bility’s organization and its partner, Civitas Maxima are responsible for the arrest and prosecution of many Liberian war criminals in Europe and America.
