Defense Minister Supports War Crimes Court –Says “It Is Inevitable”

By Alex Yomah

Liberia’s Defense Minister, Daniel Ziankhan, has allayed fear from the public indicating that there would be a nation-wide revolt if government results to   establishing War and Economic Crimes Court to prosecute and imprison Liberians culpable of murdering peaceful citizens as well as pillaging state’s properties during the 14-year civil insurgence in Liberia which led to the deaths of thousands of Liberians including foreigners.

 The Defense Minister made the remarks on Thursday on the Truth FM when he spoke on a wide-range of issues including issues affecting the wellbeing of officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) as well as gains made in ensuring regional peace. 

   Although the Minister said he could not go into the technical details for security reasons but asserted that Liberians or international community would not call for the court to be  established here-without setting-up the requisite infrastructure that would mitigate any would-be  encounters.

“War crime court establishment is inevitable,” he said. Responding to question of potential security implication, the Chief Administration of the   Armed Forces of Liberia retorted as saying; “ You think the people of Liberia or international community will call  for court and just ok,  and let it  happen the next day?, no,  there  are lots  that will  be looked at. Judges will be appointed; we will look at the security aspect. Infrastructure will have to be built whether it will be jail or court, all those will be looked at,” Defense Minister averred.

According to him, debate calling for the court did not  come from  the blue sky; it  is Liberians’ decision-referencing recent  recommendation  from the National Economic Dialogue – that was supported by  Chiefs and elders  of the land as well as scores of   several Civil Society Organizations, both local and international which  he said  signifies  national consensus.

Expressing his opinion on the war court issue, bringing the court is a must and if he were some of the potential witnesses, he would have braced it for once –since it is a consensus debate.

“We don’t have to keep dodging this- if I were a potential witness, I would have braced it because it is inevitable venture,” he opined.

Commenting on the  challenges,   Minister Ziankhan  said all is not well for the soldiers ; “ As I speak, we are not getting  what we should get as soldiers- we should be having 24 hour electricity,  medical attention (drugs), we should be looking for retirement package for soldiers, but  not forthcoming but howbeit,  we are discussing it because  we too are aware of the  economic problems affecting the government,” he said.

The Minister described challenges facing the soldiers as insurmountable in which he noted, consulting with the Commander in Chief of the AFL and the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah to find a lasting solution.

Meanwhile, the Defense Minister used the occasion to applaud the soldiers     for committing to regional peace despite internal hurdles. Adding, “We are committed to regional peace as you may recall, we are in Mali, Sudan and will be rotating our six batches; we are also concluding the 14-Militatry Hospital while some of our soldiers in Nigeria are going to school,” he said.