Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, immune from prosecution or not … Written by Bernard Gbayee Goah President, Operation We Care for Liberia Unlike yesteryears when names such as Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor, Prince Johnson, AL haji Kroma, George Boley, and Roosevelt Johnson, were the only names associated with the destruction of Liberia, the world is now knowledgeable of other individuals who greatly influenced the demise of Liberia. Even with a controversial Nobel Peace price bestowed upon her, it is now public knowledge that the current President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is one of them. It took the world by surprise that Africa’s first female President who’s face appears so physically innocent would in fact be the master planner of the horrors that visited the people of Liberia. The records are there with the help of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As President of Liberia, Madam Sirleaf now finds herself in an extremely difficult position being a major contributor to the breakdown of her own country. Her level of involvement in organizing and prosecuting the brutal war that produced deep-seated anger, hatred and suspicion is undisputable. As the people of Liberia reach out to the international community for the establishment of a Liberian War Crimes Court, they have demanded that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf be prosecuted for the role she played during the Liberian civil war. However, unless the Liberian people pursue the route of impeachment, which is the current probable way to speed up the prosecution of Ellen and others in a war crimes court, under Liberian law, Ellen is currently immune from prosecution until she leaves office. The thing is, after 2017, Ellen will not be immune from prosecution under Liberian law. Let’s assume that by reason of insanity, before leaving office as president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was able to influence the lawmakers of Liberia to pass a bill that made all former presidents immune from prosecution. If that should happen, a lawsuit would still be possible against Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as an individual. But most interestingly, the people of Liberia are also aware that under international law, a lawsuit is possible at any time against Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for abetting and aiding international crimes in Liberia. They don’t have to wait for her to leave office in 2017. The Liberian people must no longer stand idly by and allow injustice to visit them. Madam Sirleaf and those suspected of committing war crimes should not be allowed to place their personal interests above that of the collective. Liberia cannot and will not heal or be rebuilt successfully under the leadership of persons who organized, participated in, or financed the mass killings. No matter their gender, and status in society, we should not delude ourselves into believing Liberia can emerge from its quagmire without holding accountable individuals bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It would be a crime on the part of all of us to allow the killings of over 250,000 people to go in vain, and millions to continue to suffer in order to protect a handful of merciless individuals.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:02:15 +0000
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