Liberia: Rights Teams Criticize Appointment of Accused Economic Legal Lewis Brown as UN Ambassador as Liberia Seeks Worldwide Assist for War Time Justice

Two main Liberian human rights organizations have condemned President Joseph Boakai’s nomination of Lewis Brown, an accused econimic legal, because the nation’s ambassador to the United Nations simply because the nation is asking the worldwide group to assist a conflict and financial crimes courtroom.

By Anthony Stephens with New Narratives

Mr. Brown was a trusted ally of Charles Taylor when he invaded Liberia to launch a revolt underneath the National Patriotic Front, that devastated the nation. When Mr. Taylor was elected president in 1997, largely as a result of the voters believed it was the one option to cease him preventing, Mr. Brown held various positions, together with nationwide safety advisor. President Boakai nominated Mr. Brown to the publish final week.

“It is paradoxical and betraying to have President Boakai requesting the approval and support of the United Nations to prosecute alleged war criminals in Liberia and at the same time nominating a notable alleged war criminal who is one of those indicted by the (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) TRC for prosecution, to coordinate such efforts at the United Nations,” stated the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association (Limasa), the most important victims and survivors group, in a press release. “Limasa says such an appointment only points to the president’s insensitivity to the plight and welfare of thousands of war victims and survivors who continue to live in destitution and misery as a result of the actions of Mr. Brown and his National Patriotic Party of Liberia and other factions.”

Mr. Hassan Bility, head of Global Justice Research Project, which has helped collect proof in 15 circumstances of accused perpetrators in Liberia’s civil wars for regulation enforcement in Europe and the United States, echoed the victims’ opposition.

“The appointment of Lewis Brown to the UN is a pointed and nasty slap in the face of the president’s efforts to establish the Liberian War and Economic Crimes Courts,” stated Mr. Bility in a WhatsApp message. “We call on the president to reverse such decision. While it’s true that there’s no evidence against anybody mentioned in the TRC, the president must be cautious about appointing people over whom hang suspicious clouds. Liberia’s international partners – especially potential donors – are viewing this an affront to his dream of establishing the court. We are watching.”

Ambassador Brown was recommended by Liberia’s TRC as one in every of 26 “individuals responsible for committing economic crimes.”  The NPFL dedicated two in each 5 violations reported to the TRC, together with homicide, rape, torture and compelled labor.

When reached for remark, Mr. Brown expressed remorse that he couldn’t reply by deadline and promised to reply in full a day on Wednesday, however didn’t achieve this.

Madam Kula Fofana, the presidential press secretary, didn’t reply to requests for touch upon the matter.

Ambassador Brown will must be confirmed by the Senate, as he did underneath the Sirleaf administration. He might face opposition by the chamber which handed a decision to determine the conflict and economics crimes courts earlier this 12 months.

Abraham Darius Dillion, who has overtly supported the courts, is the present chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which confirms the overseas minister and ambassadors of Liberia’s overseas service. As with different committees, the overseas relations committee contains different senators, together with Prince Johnson of Nimba County, who tops the TRC listing of “most notorious perpetrators.” Limasa known as on the Liberian Senate to disclaim Mr. Brown’s affirmation. It additionally known as on the US authorities to disclaim Mr. Brown a diplomatic entry visa to the nation saying , “America and the United Nations should not be a haven for alleged war criminals.”

President Boakai isn’t the primary president to place Mr. Brown within the function. He additionally served as ambassador of Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations underneath ex-presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah. Both have been criticized by human rights advocates for taking little or no motion on accountability for previous crimes.

Mr. Brown’s appointment comes as Liberia’s conflict and financial crimes courts efforts have gathered steam after President Boakai appointed Dr. Jallah Barbu as the brand new government director of the Office of War and Economic Crimes Courts. Mr. Brown’s UN nomination is upsetting fury amongst human rights advocates and victims and survivors teams, particularly months after the president had requested the UN for monetary and technical assist for the courts.

This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as a part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was offered by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia which had no say within the story’s content material.