The Independent National Commission on Human Rights of Liberia (INCHR) has expressed concern over the snail pace of support to the War and Economic Crimes Court Secretariat.
The Commission said by now, the Secretariat should have had the requisite support to speed the process of engaging the Liberian people on the modalities of the Court.
But on the contrary, the Commission said that the Secretariat has not received reasonable financial and logistical supports to start the process of running the Court.
In May, 2024, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai through an Executive Order #131, established the Secretariat of the War and Economic Crimes Court with the purpose of ending impunity for war and economic crimes, while promoting national reconciliation and sustainable peace.
The step is hailed as a major historic and courageous to bring justice and accountability for the atrocities committed in line with recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in 2005.
The Commission reminds the government that the duty to ensure the prosecution of war crimes is an obligation.
Thus, the government owed to the Liberian people and the international community to investigate and prosecute those who commit war and economic crimes in the coountry.
The Commission, meanwhile requests clarification from the Ministry of Justice, Attorney General on reports from the WECC Secretariat that security detail assigned to the Executive Director; at the premise of the WECC has been withdrawn without explanation, thus posing serious security risk to the officials and the premise of the Secretariat.
The Commission said this seeming retrogression leads to the delay in the establishment of the WECC undermines the hopes and aspirations of all Liberians.
Those Liberians are seeking accountability for relatives and friends that became victims at the hands of warlords.
The TRC Act of 2005 in Article 46, bequeathed the INCHR the responsibility ‘to ensure the implementation of all recommendations of the TRC, including conducting Palava Hut Hearings, Memorialization, Reconciliation and social cohesion and criminal accountability-notably the establishment of the WECC.’
The Commission will remain engage with the government and international community to ensure support to the work of the WECC Secretariat to combat impunity.