Liberian presidential candidate promises war crimes tribunal for justice

Liberian presidential candidate Benoni Urey has promised to set up a war crimes tribunal to bring closure to victims of the civil war.

The businessman said in a statement that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf failed to deliver justice through the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up after her election.

“Our citizens deserve closure. Only once justice has been delivered can genuine national reconciliation take place. And only when we are a nation as one can we build a new Liberia,” he said last Friday.

“If elected President, I will establish a tribunal to hold war criminals to account and heal the wounds of our past. The dark clouds of the past must be lifted if we are to create a just and peaceful society in Liberia,” he added.

Liberia suffered two civil wars: between 1989 and 1996 and between 1999 and 2003. The first civil war claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people and a million others displaced.

The second civil war left more than 250,000 people killed and nearly a million displaced.

Many victims of the two wars are yet to receive reparations.

Liberia goes to the polls on October 10, 2017 and 22 candidates are vying for president. Benoni Urey is among the top contenders including Vice President Joseph Boakai and Senator George Weah.

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