Catholic Church Calls for War Crimes Tribunal, Says It Would Set Deterrence

Liberia - The Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia says the establishment of a war crime tribunal in Liberia would be a necessary step in helping to curtail future human rights violation in the country.

In a statement Wednesday on the prevailing situation in Liberia, the Catholic Archdiocese said while it does not oppose any setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission or any other transitional justice systems, it believes that the war crimes tribunal is an additional mechanism to correct the wrongs.

The Catholic Church emphasized that the establishment of a war crimes tribunal would set a deterrent for any future recurrence of inhumanity that has visited Liberians for more than 14 years.

Touching on the disarmament process, the Catholic Archdiocese warned that the process must not be disrupted or manipulated by warlords of former combatants, adding that the warlords and combatants should remember that their cooperation is essential to the success of the process.

The Catholic Church reminded the power-sharing government of its obligations to face social, economic, political and other issues of the people with transparency and honesty.

"The Government must be at the service of all the people or our ancestral land rather than promote selfish or kinship interests," the Catholic Church stressed.