INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE GROUP (IJG) PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPORT OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OF LIBERIA(TRC) MOST SPECIFICALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WAR AND ECONOMIC CRIMES COURT FOR LIBERIA
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA CALLING FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OF LIBERIA (TRC) REPORT, MOST SPECFICALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR WAR AND ECONOMIC CRIMESCOMMITTED IN LIBERIA, SUBJECT OF THE TRC MANDATE
THIS PETITION BY THE INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE GROUP (IJG),MADE ONBEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF LIBERIA, IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIAN THROUGH:
HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE MANNEH WEAH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
HER EXCELLENCY JEWEL HOWARD TAYLOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA AND PRESIDENT OF THE HONORABLE LIBERIAN SENATE
HONORABLE BHOFAL CHAMBERS SPEAKER THE HONORABLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTIVE OF THE HONORABLE LIBERIAN NATIONAL LEGISLATURE
HONORABLE ALBERT CHIE PRESIDENT PROTEMPORARE THE HONORABLE LIBERIAN SENATE OF THE LIBERIAN NATIONAL LEGISLATURE
HONORABLE F MUSA DEAN COUNSELLOR AT LAW MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LIBERIA DEAN OF THE BAR OF THE HONORABLE SUPREME COURT OF LIBERIA
THE PETITION
WHEREAS, the work of the TRC of Liberia was commissioned by an Act of the Honorable National Legislature, supported by the International Community, represented by the UN, EU, AU, ECOWAS, USA, to enhance national peace, unity, security and national reconciliation,etc.;
AND
WHEREAS, in the ten years following theend of the work of the TRC and the presentation of its COMPREHENSIVE FINAL REPORT to the Government of Liberia for full implementation, whereby nothing substantial has been done to date towards the full implementation of all the Recommendations of the TRC Report.
AND
WHEREAS, June 10, 2021 will mark the 16th Anniversary of the establishment of the TRC by the then National Legislature on June 10, 2005, the Liberian people are disgusted and flabbergasted that to date since the TRC Final Report was submitted to the Government of Liberia, 12 years ago, nothing has been done towards implementation of the TRC Report 11 years later this year;
WHEREAS, Article X, Section 43 of The TRC Act provides that “The TRC shall submit a final report containing recommendations at the end of its tenure to the National Legislature and have key findings of the report published simultaneous with its presentation in at least three local dailies in pursuit of transparency and public interest objectives.” AND
WHEREAS Government is a going concern and the TRC has since July 1, 2009 presented its Report to the Presidency (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf) of Liberia, which REPORT was inherited by the George Weah Government since coming to power three years ago and yet the Government have done absolutely nothing to advance the implementation of the TRC REPORT; AND
WHEREAS, Article X, Section 48 provides that “The Head of State shall report to the National Legislature within three months of receipt of the report of the TRC, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, as to the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. All recommendations shall be implemented. Where the implementation of any recommendation has not been complied with, the Legislature shall require the Head of State to show cause for such noncompliance; AND
WHEREAS, The National Legislature has neither queried nor demanded the President to perform his duties in keeping with the law, make a report as required by law every three (3) months, even after three (3) notwithstanding that the US Congress passed a Resolution 1055 demanding the full implementation of the TRC Recommendations including establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court as demanded also by the people of Liberia, Liberia’s development partners, the UN, International Community and the people of Liberia; AND
WHEREAS, The Legislature has also reneged, abandoned and failed in its legal responsibilities to maintain check and balances in Government and demand the Executive makes its report on the Implementation of the TRC Report every three months, the Executive (The President ) has for the past three years failed to make such report in keeping with the law and the legislature has said nothing as if it’s a conspiracy to obstruct justice and endanger the peace process by keeping Liberia in transition just too long; AND
WHEREAS the International Community and the Liberian people have run out of patience and lost confidence in the commitment of the Liberian Government to good governance and justice in Liberia.
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE ARE THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR THRONE
– Psalm 89:14
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS THE PETITION OF THE IJG THAT:
- The GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA takes immediate steps and actions to begin the implementation of ALL the Recommendations of the TRC, including the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court of Liberia to bring to closure the prolonged period of war and devastation in Liberia without further delays.
- After three (3) years in power, the IJG does not believe that the GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA has the mindset and commitment to meet the demands of the Liberian people and the International Community to solidify the peace process and conclude Liberia’s long running transition process by the full implementation of all the recommendations of the TRC;
- The IJG supports the efforts of civil society under the auspices of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) to stage a demonstration at the Capitol Building demanding an end to impunity and the full implementation of ALL Recommendations of the TRC;
- The failure of the President and the Legislature to act after three years in power or even make an attempt to Implement the TRC Recommendations is an abdication of their constitutional duty to uphold the laws and Constitution of Liberia, thereby violating Article X, Sections 43 and 48 of the TRC ACT, the controlling law of the TRC Process;
- This is not the first time that the Government of Liberia, under the Presidency of Mr. George M Weah has flagrantly violated the Constitution and Laws of Liberia, engaged in widespread impunity and violation of the rights of the people of Liberia without any form of accountability, just cause or explanation;
- We condemn this flagrant and callous attitude of ignoring and violating the Constitution and laws of Liberia, for which they took a solemn OATH to uphold and defend and do hereby declare and demand that:
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- THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA MUST ACT NOW TO IMPLEMENT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRC BY WRITING THE UNITED NATIONS AND LIBERIA’S DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, EU, AU, ECOWAS AND MORAL GUARANTORS OF THE PEACE PROCESS WHO HAVE VESTED INTEREST IN THE SUSTAINED PEACE OF LIBERIA, WICH IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT JUSTICE, EXPRESSING SAID INTENTION ONBEHALF OF THE LIBERIAN PEOPLE AND REQUESTING HELP TO GET THE PROCESS GOING.
- THAT THE FAIURE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SO ACT WITHIN THE WEEK, THAT IS BY THE 14TH OF JUNE A.D. 2021 THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT WEAH AND HIS OBSTURCTIONIST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE MUST STEP ASIDE OR BE FORCED OUT OF OFFICE BY IMPEACHEMNT PROCEEDINGS, FORTHWITH.
- THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD REMAIN SEIZED OF THIS MATTER. AND THAT
- THAT ALL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS MUCH JOIN THE LNBA FOR A SUSTAINED EFFORT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION UNTIL THE FOREGOING IS ACCOMPLISHED LEADING TO THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRC REPORT, ESPECIALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WAR AND ECONOMIC CRIMES COURT IN LIBERIA.
with the law and the legislature has make which Recommendations were no progress has been made towards the full implementation of the