FORUM FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WAR CRIMES COURT IN LIBERIA 

 - THE ANTI-WAR ADVOCACY WING OF THE PROGRESSIVE ACTION FOR CHANGE

1^ST STREET, SINKOR

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Mobile @ 077268265

28 December 2006.

Honorable Edwin M. Snowe

Speaker, 52^nd House of Representatives

Capitol Building

Republic of Liberia

PETITION TO PREPARE A BILL OF IMPEACHMENT FOR THE REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF, FOR ACTS OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Dear honorable Snowe;

On the behalf of your colleagues, please accept heartfelt Season’s greetings as we all strive towards the building of a new Liberia, one developed upon the unshakeable foundations of the rule of law and the invaluable practice of good governance.

We would like to commend your positive role in the continuous process leading to the creation of a democratic environment as we move away from a 14-year fracas that extremely undermined the rule of law and the existence of a functional democracy in Liberia.

As we retrospect many scores of dark and checkered history, we see over a century of endemic political corruptions in our various sociopolitical structures and systems. And a background disclosure of these ills reveal widespread corruption carried out in an organized way. The 1800s and 1900s leave behind a country struggling under the wanton pillaging of national resources so prevalent that it has become a noted record in the current political scheme of things.

Today, after 14 years of brutal civil conflict, the masterminds and orchestrates of that war argue that the presence of endemic corruption then, coupled with other social ills were justifiable grounds for the incursions. Fortunately enough, some of the most prominent advocates of the campaign for good governance and equitable justice in the 1970s and 1980s, are today leaders of a new political order in our country. Based on their incessant mixture of political and military campaigns geared toward effecting a regime change for “the promotion” of political pluralism, the ordinary Liberian looked forward to a new government that would depart from the scarring past.

Unfortunately, the ills and corrupt practices that is said to have been the justifications for the lunching of the Liberian invasions are being reincorporated into various agencies of government since the inauguration of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as President of Liberia.

As we campaign for accountability and a hybrid court process for perpetrators of war crimes it is also a part of our mandate to join rank in the fight against sociopolitical ills because, we are all under obligation to prevent a repeat of the past through check and balances of national leaders.

It is within the scope of this context that we have been investigating various activities of our current political leadership. In the process, we are frightened by the silence and lack of firm action by the President in numerous abuses, ethical transgressions, customary violations and, constitutional breaches carried out by officials of government; cabinet ministers, heads of autonomous agencies of government, etc.

Of the numerous breaches, we have documented the following:

(a) The gross violation of our public procurement act (i.e. granting of contracts without bidding, ex. the issuance of crude oil lifting and refining contract to a foreign firm, the granting of rice importation contract to the Sinkor Trading Company without bidding, the awarding of the current Broad Street beautification project’s contracts to  surrogate firms without bidding, etc);

(b) Claims and counterclaims of corruption allegations amongst commissioners of the Government Reform Commission (GRC) and the subsequent interference of President Sirleaf in a court process between Dr. Amos Sawyer and colleague, Mr. David Kortie. We believe this unconstitutional interference of President Sirleaf in the Sawyer/Kortie lawsuit had the underlying motive of concealing relevant details that would have exposed corruption at the commission mandated to pave the way for good governance. This was the second time the President had interfered with the independence of the Judiciary Branch of Government, the Judge Zota case being the first.

(c) The most recent corruption scandal at the Forestry Development Authority;

(d) The failure of government to prosecute Col. Al Karnley, former Deputy Police Director, dismissed for theft of gas slips worth hundreds of thousands of dollars;

(e) Government’s shielding of Col. Chris Massaquoi and his men from prosecution in the murder of one SSS personnel “Silver J”;

(f)   The surreptitious printing and issuance of new bank notes and its accompanying contradictions: Finance Minister earlier denied knowledge of a banknote bearing her signature, President Sirleaf also denied knowledge but however put the total banknotes printed to LD$1.5 billion dollars, Central Bank governor, Hon. Mill Jones announced a total figure of LD$ 175 million dollars printed in all, contrary to the President’s disclosure, etc. From the foregoing contradictions, the clandestine nature characterizing the entire printing process runs diametrical to the spirit and intent of the anti corruption act passed by your predecessors.

Henceforth, it is our view that, the lack of prudent action against these vices is a form of social virus that is contaminating our ongoing democratic initiative and could set the basis for disenchantments and outbursts of crisis, thereby retriggering the sounds of the guns, if not addressed. More so, the President’s failure to take the necessary steps in curtailing these ills, spells danger for the practice of good governance in Liberia.

Most interestingly, please also permit us draw your attention to a recent action of the president of the Republic of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who, contrary to the constitution of the Republic of Liberia, clandestinely attempted to bribe several media institutions with intents to influence and pervert their ethical practice to the advantage of her office.

Evidence in our possession affirms that on various occasions during the celebration period of the Christmas of December 2006, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf parceled and secretly distributed gifts to notable media institutions. These gifts of ‘Christmas cards’ wrapped-up in envelopes, were enticingly loaded with checks of  US$500.00( approximately LD$28,000.00 ) per parcel, contrary to the financial policies governing public and private servants.

Such a surreptitious action carried out by the President under the camouflage of “Christmas gifts” runs diametrical to the national fight against corruption thereby encouraging “check-book journalism”, and clearly constituting an act of corruption.

Quite recently, you will remember that similar actions were carried out by the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation, Mr. Harry Greaves, who likewise parceled gifts meant to influence credible members of the civil society. Even though President Sirleaf   chided Mr. Greaves and categorized his actions as “wrong”, the repetition of the act by her office signals a dangerous trend that brings to question the sincerity of the anti-corruption campaign.

Besides, it is still fresh on our minds that the presence of entrenched corruption in government creates the basis for inevitable sociopolitical crisis that threatens the health and survival of the state. Hence, the repetition of the ethical and legal transgression enumerated above establishes an evil pattern indulged by the Unity Party-led government to influence the media and civil society leaders to look the other way when bad practices are being incorporated into government.

Even though President Sirleaf has admitted guilt and offered apologies at a press conference held at her office on 28^th December 2006, we cannot continue to ignore the constitutional violations in these matters. Unlike the Harry Greaves scandal, which passed without a legal redress, we are determined to use the weight of the law to discourage acts of legal transgressions and abuse of incumbency in the public and private sectors. This is why the ongoing steps have become highly necessary.  

Therefore, in reference of chapter VI Article 62 of the constitution of the Republic of Liberia, which quotes: “The President…may be removed from office by impeachment for treason, bribery and other felonies, violation of the constitution or gross misconduct”; and in view of Chapter V Article 43 of same, which gave you “The power to prepare a bill of impeachment”, we hereby kindly petition you to prepare a bill of impeachment for the removal from office of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, for acts of bribery and corruption. It is our fervent hope, in accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Liberia that said bill will be timely prepared and sent to the House of Senate for a full trial.

Furthermore, you will also remember that a petition was previously submitted to you for your consideration in our quest to have you pass an act creating a hybrid special court to prosecute key actors and financiers of war in Liberia. Please note that we are still very much in pursuit of that campaign and look forward to your timely legislation of said petition.

Additionally, please also remember that a petition letter dated 7 December 2006, seeking the expulsion of Sheikh Kafumba Konneh from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was submitted to you for your consideration. Please see attached a copy of that letter.

Finally, as acquiesced under Chapter III Article 17 of the constitution of the Republic of Liberia, we have concluded to have a peaceful demonstration on 15 January 2007 and will converge at your office premises in large numbers in support of our three different petitions submitted to you in sequence.

Thank you much as we look forward to your most serious considerations.

Kind regards.

Respectfully submitted,

Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr.

     CHAIRMAN

Sampson Tweh

Vice Chair/Adm.