U.S. President Bush to be greetd in Liberia with war crimes court demostrators.
January 30, 2008 Press Release, Monrovia

Pres. Bush, US commander In- Chief

Dossier on major War criminals in the Sirleaf Govt., and a planned peaceful demonstration during President Bush’s Visit to Liberia.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press;

Today’s press conference announces a massive peaceful demonstration for the establishment of a hybrid criminal tribunal for Liberia. After many months of closely monitoring the activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it has become evident that a justice mechanism is the only way forward for Liberia after more than a decade of wanton bloodletting.

As we strive to walk away from that violent past, we hence welcome the visit of U.S President George W. Bush to Liberia and would hope that the people of Liberia seize upon this opportunity to stress the need for Mr. Bush’s attention to satisfy the quest for justice in Liberia.

More so, President Bush’s uncompromising campaign against impunity as seen in Iraq and other places, gives us the impression that he will exert his influence on the Government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to request the formation of a U.N backed court for Liberia. This is why a 50,000 massive people-oriented demonstration will take place on the day of President Bush’s visit.

Furthermore, the disappointing performance of the TRC process, which has turned out to be the ‘big boys club’ providing a smoke screen for impunity, enhances the need for this planned peaceful rally.

Besides, we have been painfully noting the charade of the TRC’s hearings where egregious war criminals are finding it amusing to walk in the hall, dressed in nice suits, replaying the terror they reigned on their victims, knowing they will walk away as free men as Commissioners maintain their pretense.

Whilst the majority is now convinced that the TRC is toothless, the few who still hope in its ability to recommend prosecution may agree that a government that does not have the will to implement a U.N assets freeze resolution will almost certainly not muster the will to prosecute any war criminal, even if the recommendation is made.

Nevertheless, we realize that the reluctance of the Liberian government to define a clear policy on the establishment of a hybrid criminal tribunal for Liberia is derived from an agenda to cover-up for senior government officials who have allegedly committed serious violation of international humanitarian law and perpetrated war crimes/crimes against humanity.

After a period of deep research, we hereby publish a dossier (attached here) which highlights the role of several senior government officials and their international partners in the destruction of Liberia.

Perhaps due to their own clandestine roles in the Liberian civil crisis, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and some senior members of her government, pretend not to know that “International law imposes duties and liabilities upon individuals as well as upon states…to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity; and crimes against international law are committed by men, not by abstract entities, and only by punishing individuals who commit such crimes can the provisions of international law be enforced…”

Quite astonishingly, however, the proven argument that the TRC lacks the political will and ability to recommend prosecution for those bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes (it could not even summon the minimal political intuition to carry out its public statement taking) makes it a copy paper cat without claws.

On the other hand, it is important to note that the 10 June 2005 Act to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia achieved approval by the National Transitional Legislative Assembly for three cardinal reasons, namely:

• Truth: establish the facts about violations of human rights that occurred in the past;
• Justice: investigate past violations and prosecute the suspected perpetrators;
• Reparation: provide full reparation to the victims and their families, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.

Sadly, there are no indications that the TRC is prepared to satisfy any of the foregoing counts.

Consequently, given the massive human rights abuses perpetrated during the Liberian civil war, and considering the inevitability of a judiciary mechanism to address impunity, we believe that now is the time for the Executive and Legislative branches of government to give serious consideration to the establishment of a criminal tribunal for Liberia. Such a priority policy matter presents at least three optional mechanisms. Hence, the Liberian government may choose to:
(a) Prosecute alleged war criminals in a mix-domestic court seeing that the Geneva Conventions and other additional protocols apply in the country under conventional international law;

(b) Extend the mandate of the Special Court in Sierra Leone to prosecute those bearing the greatest responsibility for heinous crimes committed in Liberia. For those harboring cost considerations, such concerns would dissipate to a large degree by using this already established tribunal;
(C)prosecute alleged war criminals at the International Criminal Court as provided for by the Rome Statue which insists upon the summon of international political will to establish accountability for serious human rights violations where local authorities appear reluctant or unwilling to define a mechanism of prosecution, et cetera.

Therefore, we call on all Liberians to turn out in white T-shirts for a non-violent war crimes court rally on the morning of President Bush’s visit. This peaceful demonstration, which momentum is already being built in and around the 14 electoral districts of Monrovia, will commence before the B.W. Harris Episcopal High school on Broad Street at 8 A.M and will continue to the Executive mansion; a petition statement will be delivered to President Bush.

Signed: _________________

Mulbah k Morlu, Jr.Chairman

Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia

Airfield, Sinkor
Monrovia, Liberia
Contact: 002316-626209
war_crimes_liberia@yahoo.com