Liberia: War Victims, Survivors Protest at Court Office, Capitol as House Chairman Pledges to Put Court Bill Before Plenary Tuesday

Some of the protesters at the war crimes court office. Credit: Anthony Stephens/New Narratives. Hundreds of war victims, survivors and justice advocates protested at the war crimes court office and the Capitol Building, demanding approval of legislation to establish the long-awaited court. A disagreement erupted at the Capitol after a lawmaker said a legislative committee had decided to exclude economic crimes from the proposed court. Protesters objected, prompting another lawmaker to assure them that both categories of crimes would be covered. The House Committee Chairman pledged to bring the matter before plenary Tuesday, as the government’s timetable for establishing the courts faces uncertainty.

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Hundreds of victims and survivors of Liberia’s civil wars, joined by justice advocates, protested Thursday outside the government office overseeing the establishment of a war crimes court, temporarily disrupting operations, before moving to the Capitol Building, where a senior lawmaker pledged to place the long-delayed legislation before the House plenary on Tuesday. The peaceful demonstrations drew people with disabilities, rural women, elderly victims and survivors, young people, and traditional and religious leaders. For hours, protesters gathered outside the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court, holding placards demanding justice. One read: “REAL PEACE IS NOT THE SILENCE OF GUNS. REAL PEACE IS DISPENSING JUSTICE AND ENDING IMPUNITY. WE CALL ON THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY NOW… ” “What’s going on wrong? We are suffering,” said Korpo Dennis, president of the Women in Peacebuilding Network, her voice cracking as she broke down in…