The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) like the Executive Director of the Public Interest Law and Advocacy Center (PILAC) have all expressly welcomed the appointment of Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi as Executive Director for The Office of War & Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
The Network said investigations conducted on the character and work history of Cllr. Massaquoi established that his many years of legal practice has not only been marked by professionalism and integrity, but there is no trace of his involvement into moral and ethical transgressions.
They group said nominee is a legally revered and respected lawyer, with outstanding performance among the cream of legal practitioners in Liberia mentioning, “We are of the strongest optimism that President Boakai’s appointment of Cllr. Massaquoi is in the right direction, as it will lead to the ultimate establishment of The War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.”
The Network said it is noteworthy to state that the Supreme Court Bar appointed Cllr. Massaquoi as Amiscus Curie (friend of the court), where he wrote two different opinions that are used today by the Supreme Court to render down opinions on relevant cases before them adding that Cllr. Massaquoi’s opinion on the cases: LTA Vs Orange Liberia and the (GOL) Vs Amos Brosius are among the reference opinions of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
The Civil Society Network of Liberia sees as legally and substantially flawed argument from a handful of Civil Society organizations, under the banner of the Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes in Liberia and Human Rights Community of Liberia, that Cllr. Massaquoi is unqualified to head the Office of The Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, primarily because he provided legal representation for Madam Agnes Reeves Taylor, when she was on trial in the United Kingdom for alleged war crimes, and for that of a war crimes indictee from Sierra Leone, Mr. Gebril Massaquoi.
“We view this argument by these group of CSO institutions as a sidetracking attempt against the critical steps that the Liberian Government has taken to end impunity and institute justice and accountability in Liberia,’ the group expressed.
They said the faulty logic of these few individuals, that by Cllr. Massaquoi’s representation of the legal interest of persons allegedly accused of war crimes makes him unqualified and compromised to serve as Executive Director is inconsistent with Article 21 (i) which gives all accused, including war crimes “the right to counsel” and absolute immunity from any government sanctions or interference in the performance of legal services as a counselor adding, “As provided for under the lawyer client relationship, where lawyers are not party to a case, there can be moral and professional question over the character of Cllr. Massaquoi.”
The PILAC boss, for his part, hailed President Joseph Boakai for the appointment of Cllr. Massaquoi assuming that he possesses the requisite skills, moral rectitude, human rights records, as evidenced by his legal defense of many indigent clients and political activists who faced prosecution and persecution from past governments.
The group also agreed that Massaquoi possesses the legal experience and knowledge to serve his country in such position, as Executive Director noting, “Both Cllr. Massaquoi and I provided legal representation for political commentator, Henry Costa, when he was persecuted by the CDC government under a bogus defamation suit.”
“We were legal counsels of records in the case against former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott. I do believe and trust that Cllr. Massaquoi will make the country proud in his new role,” Cllr. Aloysius Toe attested.
Cllr. Toe said he disagrees with and rejects the argument of his former colleagues in the human rights community, objecting to and criticizing the appointment of Cllr. Massaquio, simply because Cllr. Massaquio provided legal presentation for Mrs. Agnes Taylor and others,” he explained.
Toe wondered that it is utterly ironic that his former human rights colleagues, seeking to protect human rights legacy, would at the same time blatantly undertake and seek to violate the fundamental rights of Cllr. Massaquio, without due process of law.
It is common knowledge that Chapter III, Fundamental Rights of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, provides under Article 18 that Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi, like “All Liberian citizens shall have equal opportunity for work and employment regardless of sex, creed, religion, ethnic background, place of origin or political affiliation, and all shall be entitled to equal pay for equal work.”
Moreover, it is unforgivable that human rights advocates would premise their objection to Cllr. Massaquio’s nomination merely because he provided legal representation to individuals alleged to be involved in the Liberian civil crises.
Cllr. Toe reminds his former human rights colleagues that Cllr. Massaquio’s representation of any person, regardless of the allegations against the person, is protected under Article 21 (i) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, which provides that “… no lawyer shall be prevented from or punished for providing legal services, regardless of the charges against or the guilt of his client…”
Toe wondered how human rights advocates would grossly seek to violate the Constitution of our land, by their advocacy.
Toe is calling on human rights activists to refrain and desist from objecting to the appointment of lawyers in government, merely because they provided legal representation for accused individuals, most especially where the lawyer has not participated in the commission of a crime or committed ethical breach.
Toe said, he would like to refresh the memory and recollection of our human rights brothers and sisters, that the current Chairman of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Cllr. Dempster Browne, provided legal representation for the late General Charles Julu in a Treason Trial, during the presidency of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Although it is a known fact that General Julu was accused of committing egregious crimes during the Liberian Civil War, Cllr. Brown still represented him when Julu’s rights were under attack by the Government.
Cllr. Brown is heading the highest human rights office in the land with distinction and dedication, because there is no moral or legal bar to his chairmanship, simply because he represented a client accused of committing crimes.
Toe said as the progenitor and one of the founders of the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG); as one of the architects and visible advocates for the passage of the TRC Act, and the establishment of the former TRC as well as the implementation of its findings; as former national coordinator of the International Campaign Against Impunity (an international network of civil society organizations in 169 countries); as former human rights activist, whose fearless and uncompromising human rights work landed him in prison for eight months on bogus Treason charges; as former renown, vocal and highly visible former human rights campaigner with international distinction who became the second and only Liberian to have won the prestigious Reebok International Human Award in 2005 in the United States; and declared a Prisoner-of-Conscience in 2005 by the London-based Amnesty International, Toe said he has earned the right and he possesses the human rights authority to speak on this subject.
However, over 70 other Civil Society Organizations are said to be rejecting Cllr. Massaquoi’s appointment as head of the War and Economic Crimes Court and suggest that his role remains administrative rather than being the chief prosecutor.