It seems the Liberian Senate, fondly called the House of Elders, is awake from its slumber, or is just simply saying ‘enough is enough’ in the raging, lingering controversy about war and economic crimes court (WECC) in the country. Calls to prosecute alleged war and economic criminals have over the years been weaponized by various segments of the population for their respective purposes to intimate, coerce and subdue their opponents and the Government of Liberia. There are others, of course, who have been genuinely concerned about justice and the need to set deterrence. Now, the Senate, specifically its leadership, is taking the bull by the horns. They have released a powerful statement with elaborate recommendations to the President of Liberia, something most pundits believe will nip the WECC debate in the bud once and for all. But the proposition is left for fiery debate today by Plenary before it is finally submitted to Liberian Chief Executive, President George Manneh Weah. The Analyst reports.
A showdown is expected at the chamber of the Liberian Senate where Plenary will be sharing wisdom and some fighting egos towards determining whether a position statement authored by the leadership of that august body is fit for the final submission to the President of Liberia over how all the fuss about war and economic crimes court should be settled.
The Position Statement, titled, the Senate’s Advice to the President of Liberia on the Implementation of the TRC Recommendations dated June 22, 2021, will be on the Senate floor for inputs from the much-politically heterogeneous membership of the upper house.
Apparently, the Senate’s position is predicated upon the September 19, 2019 letter from President Weah seeking the august body’s advice on how to proceed with the implementation of the TRC recommendations.
The recommendations of the TRC have since their submission provoked controversy, something that directly impacts their implementation by a sitting Liberian president.
But amongst recommendations advanced by the Senate Leadership, the Senate is asking President Weah to set up a “Transitional Justice Commission”, to be enacted into law, to perform and carry out a wide range of activities and programs prescribed by the Senate.
See full text of the Senate’s Position on Pages 6, 7, 8 & 9 of this edition
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