…Cllr. Gongloe rallies support for War Crimes Court Establishment 

By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I 

The immediate past president of the Liberia National Bar Association, Cllr. Teawon Saye Gongloe has admonished the Liberian senate not to be an Obstructionist of Justice by preventing the establishment of the war crime court for the second time.

“The Liberian people and the world are looking up to the Senate to concur with the House of Representatives. The Senate must not be an obstructionist, for the second time,” Cllr. Gongloe articulated.

Delivering the keynote address of the 2024 convention of the Liberia National Bar which was held under the theme “Addressing The General Question of Impunity in Liberia: The implications for Liberia’s rule of law system”, Cllr. Gongloe reminded his audience that at the LNBA assembly held in Kakata, Margibi County, in 2019, a majority of the lawyers who attended the assembly resolved to support the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), especially the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. 

He stated that after the assembly, the LNBA drafted the bill for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court and led an arid of representatives of the Civil Society organizations of Liberia to present 103 copies of the draft bill to members of the Legislature through the Chairman of the House Committee on Claims and Petitions, who at that time was former Nimba County Representative Gonpu Kargon. 

Cllr. Gongloe continued by referencing that the LNBA appeared before the Liberian Senate to support the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. Unfortunately, he said the Senate decided to obstruct the process of establishing the court by passing a resolution for the establishment of a transitional justice commission, ignoring the fact that the TRC was a transitional justice commission established by the legislature.

“LNBA even appeared before the Liberian Senate to persuade it to support the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. Unfortunately, the Senate decided to obstruct the process of establishing the court by passing a resolution for the establishment of a transitional justice commission, ignoring the fact that the TRC was a transitional justice commission established by the legislature.”

Based on the historical analysis, the former president of the LNBA therefore, called on the Senate not to allow the existing momentum for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court to go down the drain by resisting the establishment of the war crime court.

At the convention which was held on Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, Cllr. Gongloe lauded Cllr. Fonati Koffa, Speaker of the House of Representatives for the leadership demonstrated by him in the House of Representatives for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. Asserting that the House resolution for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court was done by hard work.

“We should not allow the momentum now existing in the country for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court, following the inaugural speech of President Joseph N. Boakai, to die. We commend our colleague, Cllr. Fonati Koffa, Speaker of the House of Representatives for the leadership demonstrated by him in the House of Representatives for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. Based on his hard work, the House passed a resolution for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court.”

He further lauded the Independent Human Rights Commission led by Chairman, Cllr T. Dempster Brown for their advocacy for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. Cllr. Gongloe called on all members of the LNBA to be proactive in advocating for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court in support of the LNBA’s 2019 resolution.

Meanwhile, Cllr. Gongloe admonished the LNBA to be more proactive in the call for the establishment of the War and Economics Crimes Court (WECC) in Liberia. He recalled 

that in 2019, the LNBA in support of promoting Justice through the Rule of Law, petitioned the legislature for the establishment of the war crime court, but now, he said it is the civil society organizations that are doing well in advocating for the establishment of the court. 

The immediate past LNBA President wants the LNBA to continue to play a leading role in advocating for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court. He asserted that it is time to speak out against impunity for justice to prevail.

“This Assembly is a wake-up call for the LNBA to wake up and continue its activism for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court, as recommended by the TRC, through the CPA, a part of the Liberian Law. It is time to speak out against impunity for justice to prevail. Our legal system cannot survive if we are not prepared to stand up for justice. Wake up.”

In furtherance, he called on all lawyers and Liberians to commit themselves to promoting adherence to the rule of law.

Further asserting that the rule of law is the only way to promote sustainable peace, progress, and prosperity. Therefore, he said there should be no debate among Liberians, especially those members of the legal profession on the issue of holding individuals to account for their unlawful actions against citizens and residents of Liberia.

Cllr. Gongloe noted that it does not make sense for any Liberian of sound mind to say no to the issue of whether or not there should be justice. He stated that the promotion of justice is the only way to address past unlawful conduct as a way of preventing future unlawful conduct.

“WE must commit ourselves to promoting adherence to the rule of law because the rule of law is the only way to promote sustainable peace, progress, and prosperity. Therefore, on the issue of holding individuals to account for their unlawful actions against citizens and residents of Liberia, there should be no debate among us as members of the legal profession.”

Gongloe: “The issue of whether or not there should be justice has only one holding for those who believe in peace, progress, and prosperity in Liberia and that is a resounding yes. It does not make common sense for any Liberian of sound mind to say no to the issue of whether or not there should be justice, because the promotion of justice is the only way to address past unlawful conduct as a way of preventing future unlawful conduct.”

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