Document - Liberia: After the truth, Liberians need justice

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC STATEMENT

AI index: AFR 34/001/2009

Date: 23 January 2009

Liberia: After the truth, Liberians need justice

Amnesty International welcomes the preliminary recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to establish a criminal court with jurisdiction over “egregious domestic crimes, gross violations of human rights and serious humanitarian law violations” committed in Liberia between January 1979 and October 2003.

The organization also supports the plans of the Commission to recommend both communal and individual reparations, as well as reform of certain public institutions.

Amnesty International urges the Liberian government, with support from international organizations and donors, including the International Contact Group-Liberia (ICGL), to implement the Commission’s recommendations on prosecutions and reparations. Investigation and prosecution of all alleged perpetrators and a comprehensive reparations program should be part of a long-term action plan to address impunity in Liberia.

Finally, Amnesty International welcomes the Commission’s decision to not recommend amnesty for “gross violations of human rights or serious humanitarian law violations”. The organization recommends that the same decision is extended to all human rights violations and to all categories of alleged perpetrators.

Background

The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation of Liberia issued its Summary of Preliminary Findings, Determinations and Recommendations on 20 January 2009. It is expected to publish its final report and end its mandate in June 2009.

The Commission was appointed in February 2006. It is mandated to investigate gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law as well as abuses that occurred during the period from January 1979 to 14 October 2003.

For further information see: Liberia: Towards the final phase of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (AI Index: AFR 34/002/2008), 29 July 2008 http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR34/002/2008/en.

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Public Document

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