US Hunan’s Right Group To Hear Proposal On The Establishment Of War And Economic Crimes Court

June 18,2021

As the debate for the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court intensifies, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is expected to hear the proposal to establish a War Crimes & Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.

The hearing which is expected this Monday June 21,2021 according to the legal group, will examine the legacy of Liberia’s civil wars on its people and economy, the structure and likely policy implications of a proposed War Crimes & Economic Crimes Court for Liberia, and grassroots efforts to secure rule of law in the country and meet victims’ needs.

According to them, thehe hearing will be virtual. Pursuant to H. Res. 965, Members of Congress and witnesses will participate remotely via Cisco WebEx. Members of the public and the media may view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission website. The hearing will also be available for viewing on the House Digital Channel service.

According to a statement from Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission official website, in recent years the momentum for a War Crimes & Economic Crimes Court for Liberia to help redress the wounds of the country’s civil war has increased, but its creation is far from certain despite the recommendations of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009 and continuous pressure from grassroots groups throughout Liberia.

The statement further said that President George Manneh Weah has equivocated with regard to the court’s creation, backsliding from earlier support during his campaign for president.

The statement went on to say, for the past few decades, Liberia’s people have suffered untold human rights violations while perpetrators acted with near-complete impunity during the country’s multiple civil wars. Between 1989 and 2003, 250,000 Liberians died from the fighting, and thousands more were conscripted as child soldiers, raped, suffered loss of limb, and other traumatic experiences. Since that time, not a single war crimes trial has occurred in Liberia as part of the country’s judicial process.

The hearing is expected to be hosted by Christopher H. Smith Member of Congress Co-Chair, TLHRC and James P. McGovern Member of Congress Co-Chair, TLHRC

At the same time the statement named the following as witnesses

1. Ysyndi Martin-Kepyei, Executive Director of the Movement for Justice in Liberia (MOJUL),

2. Jerome V. Verdier, Esq, Executive Director, International Justice Group and former Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Liberia

3. Michael Mueller, Chairman of the Global Initiative for Justice

4. Dr. Alan W. White, former Chief of Investigations, Special Court for Sierra Leone

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