Rights Group Wants Independent National Human Rights Commission Set Up in Liberia

News

By Semantics King.,Jr,Minneapolis

An anti-war advocacy wing of the Progressive Action for Change(PAC) known as the Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia, is launching a massive campaign for the setting up of an Independent National Human Rights Commission as a statutory arm of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission(TRC) responsible  to implement all recommendations coming from the TRC.

In a press release signed by its  National chairman Mulbah K. Morlu.,Jr on Jan.17 in Monrovia, the group said it embraces statements attributed  to the TRC that it has finally concluded recommendations for the creation of a Special Court to prosecute those bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes ,crimes against humanity and the violation of international humanitarian law in Liberia.

“As we have insisted and campaigned tirelessly for the creation of a Special Court to prosecute Liberia’s supreme war actors”, the group stressed, “the TRC’s acquiescence to this legal and logical document does not come as a surprise since international law imposes duties and liabilities upon nations to adjudicate the widespread commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity as seen in Liberia during its conflict era.”

The group added that the declaration of the TRC to recommend the formation of a Special Court, consistent with article 26(g) of its act is a required legal move,the group considers the decision a new beginning in their quest to ensuring that said Special Court is created to prosecute those responsible for the commission of widespread abuses in Liberia.

“Now that the commitment we long sought from the TRC has come,” the advocacy group said, “we hereby announce the elevation of our campaign to a new level,which is the unconditional setting up of the Independent National Human Rights Commission.”

“Consistent with this obligation,we shall,as of this hour and in coming months,ensure an absolute commitment to a relentless and vigorous public campaign determined to create a national awareness or the scrupulous institutionalization and function of the Independent National Human Rights Commission.”

Mr. Mulbah and his advocacy group are not taking anything for granted. They say they will continue to carry their activities to a new level because,though the act for the setting up of an Independent National Commission on Human Rights came into force in 2005,the Human Rights Commission is not operating because the Johnson Sirleaf administration has been and continues to be reluctant in appointing commissioners for the Human Rights Commission.

“This apparent deliberate reluctance and the president’s decision to amend the prosecutorial powers of the Commission is intolerable and a serious national risk,” the release said.

“Hence,if this attempted detour is not discouraged,the intents and purposes of the TRC shall be jeopardized because under article X,(reporting and Recommendations),section 46 said ‘the Independent National Human Rights Commission shall be seized with the responsibility to ensure that all the recommendations contained in the report of the TRC are implemented and that civil society organizations and moral guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Accord(CPA) shall have the responsibility to monitor, and campaign for the scrupulous implementation of all recommendations contained in the report… all recommendations shall be implemented.”

The group said the unconditional and immediate setting up of  the Independent National Human Rights Commission of 2005, is a national priority that must coalesce  the collective efforts of all Liberians to include civil society,churches,mosques,the international community,academic institutions,marketers and many more.

Meanwhile the group is announcing a national symbolic  funeral for all victims of the Liberian civil war and foreign nationals.

In the same news release, the group said the mass burial event will take place on Feb. 20 with Liberians from all walks of life gathered before the Brivate Washington Harris Episcopal High School on Broadstreet in the Liberian capital Monrovia beginning at 6a.m.local time.

At the event, 16 caskets bearing the symbolic mortal remains of victims from the 15 political sub-divisions of Liberia and one casket(for foreign victims like the murdered catholic Nuns,Lebanese  and other nationals, ECOMOG Soldiers),making them 16 in total will be interred.

It said interment will take place in a mass grave on Peace Island behind the new Ministry of National Defense where a monument will be built in memory of the more than 250,000 innocent lives lost in Liberia.

But the issue of creating an Independent Human Rights Commission may not be that easy, given that many prominent Liberians,probably including even the current president,may have a key role to play .

In fact, recent media reports from the Liberian capital,Monrovia indicated that former rebel leader,now Senior Senator of Nimba county in the Sirleaf Johnson administration, Prince Johnson(no blood relations to president Johnson Sirleaf), revealed what he considered  a secret document prepared by the TRC to indict all former warring faction leaders for war crimes.

As a result of that reported indictment document, Senator Johnson warned that any attempt by anybody to arrest them( former faction leaders) will be met with serious resistance.He even appealed to the president to intervene in order to abort what he sees as “potential trouble”

Though the Communications person for the TRC,James Kpargoi said assertion by Senator Johnson was strange and surprising to the TRC,credible  sources say the indictment possibility is seemingly in the offing for abusers of human rights in Liberia, and that could mean a lot, politically speaking.

Editor @ January 17, 2009