By Bill W. Cooper
As the calls for the establishment of the long-awaited War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) continue to intensify, Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, has reaffirmed his support for the establishment of the court in Liberia.
Dillon emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators of war crimes and economic crimes accountable for their actions, and stressed that ‘there should be no room for impunity in Liberia’.
The call for the establishment of the WECC in Liberia has been a long-standing issue in the country, with many advocating for justice for the victims of the civil war that ravaged the nation from 1989 to 2003.
The conflict, which saw widespread atrocities committed by various factions, with some members of these factions now occupying key positions in government, especially at the Legislature, also left thousands dead and displaced millions of Liberians.
Dillon, who has been a vocal advocate for accountability and justice in Liberia, echoed this call at a time when members of the House of Representatives have already signed a resolution and sent to the Senate for concurrence, calling for the establishment of the court in Liberia.
The signing of the resolution came as a result of the visit of United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Justice, Beth Van Schaack, to Liberia, where she met with Speaker Fonati Koffa, Vice president Jeremiah Koung, and President Joseph Boakai, among others.
But despite these efforts, those believed to be perpetrators of War and Economic Crimes in Liberia have been issuing strong statements, with promises to resist the establishment of the court in Liberia.
Key among those individuals are Nimba Senator, Prince Johnson, and Grand Gedeh Senator, Thomas Yaya Nimley, for war crimes, and Grand Kru Senator, Albert Chie, and Margibi Senator, Nathaniel McGill, for economic crimes.
Appearing on Spoon FM Monday night, March 18, 2024, Sen. Dillion reiterated his commitment to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes and economic crimes are brought to justice, regardless of their status or position in society.
According to him, the prosecution of alleged war and economic criminals will end the age-old culture of impunity in Liberia, noting, “We must end the culture of impunity in Liberia. If we do not punish bad behavior, bad behavior will appear to be the way to go.”
Emphasizing the need for accountability and justice in the face of egregious disregard for the laws and corruption among public officials, Dillon asserted that the establishment of the WECC will be a deterrent to avoid future occurrences.
He maintained that it is imperative to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions, and emphasized, “At a certain time, we have to be firm about what we want for our country. Somebody has to be afraid of a deterrent.”
“Every time you serve justice, though it does not stop the commission of that act, but the tendency of about ten people to repeat said act is impossible. So, if the resolution is brought on the Liberian Senate’s floor for voting, I will shout an overwhelming yes for the establishment of the court,” Dillon added.
He furthered, “We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the atrocities that were committed during the civil war. It is time for us to stand up and demand justice for the victims and their families.”
“We cannot move forward as a country until we address the injustices of the past, and we owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that those responsible for their suffering are held accountable.
Only then can we truly begin the process of reconciliation and healing, ensuring that our country gets on the right path of development, economic prosperity, respect for the rule of law, and the restoring of our lost image as a nation,” Dillon intoned.
Meanwhile, as Liberia continues to grapple with the impact of its civil war, the establishment of the WECC remains a crucial step towards achieving justice and reconciliation across the country.
