Political Parties Want War Crimes Tribunal - for Warring Factions

The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
December 5, 2003
Posted to the web December 8, 2003
Monrovia
Registered Political Parties in the Country have called on the United Nations
to set up a War Crime Tribunal in Liberia in order to check human rights abuses
and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by warring factions.
The Registered Political Parties said the move is necessary in order to stop
the gross violations of human rights being committed against peaceful
Liberians.
In a release issued at the weekend, the Parties denounced in the strongest
terms attempt by the warring parties to insist on jobs in Ministries and
agencies allotted to the Political Parties and Civil Society Organizations
under the Comprehensive Accra Peace Plan signed on August 18, 2003 in Accra,
Ghana.
The Political Parties explained that the theory of "exclusivity" introduced at
this crucial point of the peace process by warring parties, when Liberians and
their international partners are poised on nothing less than the disarmament of
all combatants, was unfortunate, callous, deceptive and to further make the
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) weary.
The Political Parties called on Liberians, UNMIL, ECOWAS and the International
Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) to do all within their power to ensure that
disarmament is achieved.
The Parties advised leaders of warring factions to see reason to submit to the
disarmament process at this crucial time, especially so when they are
represented in the Government at the highest level and not to behave in ways
that would frustrate the peace process.

   

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