Fellow
Liberians and Partners;
One
month ago, we celebrated our 179th Independence Day. I had the honor
of sharing my Independence Day message with all Liberians and partners around
the world. One month later, I am again honored to address you through the same
media. I am grateful to everyone who read that message, and most especially to
those who commented on or called me directly to speak about it.
Today’s
message, like its predecessor, is a review of our transitional justice journey,
a solid appreciation of the steep cliff to the finish line, and an affirmation
of our resolve to boldly confront, at the peril of our lives and overcome,
every obstacle that will stand in our way.
Therefore,
as we commemorate Liberia’s 179th Flag Day, let us remind ourselves that
the “Lone Star Forever” is more than a cloth designed in red,
white and blue; and that it is not merely a symbol of our sovereignty. Our flag
remains a composition of our common history; is embedded with tremendous sacrifices;
is a pouch containing resolve to rise to heights unknown as a nation; and is a
reminder of our singular responsibility to build a just, peaceful, dignified,
and unified country - a nation where all of us are first, last, and always, “Liberians.”
Once
again, we have the glorious opportunity to renew our commitment to confronting
the painful legacies of our past. To achieve and sustain lasting peace, we must
remember, and not forget, the victims of Liberia’s wars; we must address serious
human rights and other violations. We must blend reconciliation with truth,
accountability, justice, and meaningful reparations.
On
behalf of OWECC-L therefore, I call upon all Liberians, civil society
organizations, victim and survivor’s groups, women, youth and young people
groups, traditional leaders, religious institutions, professional associations,
development partners, government institutions – all stakeholders - to join the
national advocacy to encourage the Honorable Members of the Legislature to swiftly
enact the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) Bill and the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Bill.
I
affirm my conviction that the Legislature has a historic responsibility. The
passage of these laws will provide essential legal and institutional
foundations for addressing grave violations committed during Liberia’s
conflicts and for strengthening the fight against economic crimes and
corruption. On behalf of all stakeholders, I respectfully urge our lawmakers to
act with the urgency that this historic moment demands, assuring of our
continuous availability and preparedness to provide the requisite technical
assistance.
At
the same time, as the arrowhead of the Government’s Technical Team on the
making of these courts, I commend His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.,
President of the Republic of Liberia, for his continuous commitment to
reconciliation, national healing, and unity, particularly through his drive
toward the establishment of a National Peace Memorial. This initiative
is important because a nation cannot build a peaceful future without preserving
the memory of its past and honoring those who suffered and sacrificed during
periods of national crisis.
I
respectfully remind us as we pursue accountability through the War and Economic
Crimes Court, that we must also recognize and accept that not every
conflict-related harm will necessarily be appropriate for adjudication before a
specialized war crimes tribunal. Justice must therefore be understood in a
broader and more inclusive sense.
I
submit that there is a critical role for community-based justice,
truth-telling, traditional reconciliation mechanisms, restorative justice,
memorialization, reparations, and other locally appropriate processes for
cases and harms that may fall outside the jurisdiction or practical reach of
the War and Economic Crimes Court. At the same time, we hold fast to the fact
that community justice should not replace criminal accountability for serious
international crimes; rather, it should complement formal justice and provide
victims and communities with avenues for healing, truth, restoration, and
reconciliation. It is such complementarity that we should envisage as a nation.
On
this 179th Flag Day, let us therefore reaffirm that justice and
reconciliation are not competing objectives - they are mutually reinforcing
pillars of sustainable peace.
Let
us stand together and urge the Legislature to swiftly pass the WECC and NACC
Bills. Let us support the President’s efforts to promote reconciliation and
national unity. And let us ensure that every community, every victim, every
transitional justice actor, and every generation, rightfully has a place in
Liberia’s journey from a painful past toward a peaceful and accountable future.
May
the Liberian flag, our national symbol if independence, fly even higher and
shine brighter, visibly brandishing our determination to build a nation where
justice prevails, truth is respected, corruption is confronted, victims are
heard, and peace is sustained.
Congratulations
to all Liberians on the 179th Anniversary of our Flag!
May
God Continue to Bless our Leaders with Wisdom and Love to lead our Great Nation
Well.
Long
live Liberia; Long live Peace, Justice, Reconciliation, and National Healing
and Unity.
YOURS IN THE PURSUIT OF PEACE AND RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
Dr. Jallah A. Barbu (Prof.)
COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW &
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – OWECC-L
