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Justice
for all: Charles Taylor and other war
criminals
Thursday,
14, 2007
By
Pianapue K. Early
Charles
Taylor, Liberia’s controversial former
warlord is now on trial for
his
crimes against the nation. I wait patiently for such time when justice,
equity,
and peace will return to Liberia.
Charles
Taylor (in handcuffs), is arrested as he fled
from authorities in Calabar, Nigeria in 2006.
As it seems, these three qualities that
Liberians want or wish for, are
not
coming. Our
(those who will agree with me) hope is that
the
Johnson-Sirleaf
government will persecute Taylor and the other
“lords
of
war,” some of who work in her government,
both as appointed and
elected
“officials.”
(I use the word “official”
sarcastically, not with its
usual
respectability and honor that go with it).
As a matter of disclosure, I am not
now, nor have I ever been a Taylor fan or
supporter.
I believe Taylor should be tried.
But I also believe that the rest of the
warlords, Alhaji Kromah, Foday Massaquoi,
Sekou Damate Conteh, George Boley, Roosevelt
Johnson, Prince Johnson, George Dweh, Isaac
Musah, among others, should go to The Hague
also, and not go unpunished.
After all, they contributed to the
death and destruction of Liberia.
Their involvement in the war is as
clear as the sun.
No pretensions here.
Taylor should not be the scapegoat.
All those war criminals, opportunists,
and so-called “liberators” should face
justice also.
If, out of
fear of reprisals, the Johnson-Sirleaf
government wants to forget about their crimes,
then the government must make that clear.
But to be tightlipped about these other
warmongers will be unfair, regardless of the
reason. My
main concern is to arrest those who have
killed and maimed Liberia.
I believe that when we get these heads
out of the way, we can begin to hope for
lasting peace.
Some of these people still have in mind
to be another Taylor, even if Taylor himself
is out of the way.
There are
Liberians who support Taylor.
From his initial entry on Christmas Eve
in December 1989, some still continue to
support him.
Good for them. Some did fall out with him.
Will justice be served if these
elements go unpunished?
It is not justice to grab Taylor, and
leave people like the Boleys, the Johnsons,
the Dwehs, the Kromahs, the Contehs, etc.
Otherwise, what is the purpose of
grabbing Taylor alone, if there were no
vendetta with some of our current leaders?
I don’t believe we should let
“bygones be bygones” because bygones being
bygones cannot take the place of justice.
It will not be fair to Taylor and to
the justice system.
I admire efforts of the current
government to ensure lasting peace and
tranquility.
But I sincerely hope that in the name
of justice, equity, and lasting peace, there
is plan somewhere that the other “lords of
war” will soon face justice.
I also think that
a better use of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, with Verdier in charge, is an
alternative way to get the remaining warlords
to confess their sins to the Liberian people.
Given our forgiving spirit, we should
give them the opportunity to admit their guilt
for their destruction of lives and property.
Even though forgiveness is a religious
(African Religionists, Muslims, or Christians)
phenomenon, we can only forgive when there is
confession.
Even when Jesus said, “Father,
forgive them for they know not what they
do,” the people who put him to death felt
remorse and they expressed regrets, for
killing an innocent person.
Blind forgiveness
is not going to work in this case, where
arrogance, bigotry, and pride dominate.
Let the warlords “fess up,” before
we can forgive them.
“Let Justice be
done to all,” not just all “men,” but
women also.
The new motto on the Temple of Justice
should read, “Let Justice be done to all,”
instead of “all men.”
Everyone deserves justice, not just
men. Peace
and blessings!
Pianapue K. Early lives in Richmond,
Virginia.
You can e-mail him with your comments
using this electronic address: pte4e@virginia.edu.
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