War and Economic Crimes: U.S. Congressman Chris Smith Welcomes Cllr. Massaquoi’s Appointment As ED of OWC

By New Republic Liberia

MONROVIA-Following the appointment of  Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi  as Executive Director of the Office of War and Economic Crimes, US Congressman, Chris Smith has embraced  the appointment and commended president  Joseph Boakai for such move.

This was known in a statement released this week on his official website: https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413265.

The statement by  Congressman Smith, who chairs the House Global Human Rights Subcommittee, has been seen as a great boost for the War and Economic Crimes Court in the country.

“With this critical appointment, President Boakai continues to show his commitment and eagerness for justice,”  Smith said in the statement.

“His expeditious pursuit of accountability for the people of Liberia has strong support here in the U.S. Congress, and we will continue to support him when he stays the course for justice in the face of the inevitable pushback from those guilty of crimes or trying to undermine the process,” Congressman Smith further added.

His statement further stated that Cllr. Massaquoi’s appointment comes on the heels of a U.S. congressional hearing chaired by Smith last week that examined the next steps toward accountability for those responsible for the egregious human rights violations suffered by hundreds of thousands of Liberians in recent decades.

The statement added that Cllr. Massaquoi’s appointment  as Executive Director of the Office of War and Economic Crimes is tasked with establishing a court that will bring to justice individuals who committed untold human rights abuses—with near-complete immunity to date—during Liberia’s civil wars between 1989 and 2003, when 250,000 Liberians died from fighting, and thousands more were conscripted as child soldiers, raped, suffered loss of limb, and endured other traumatic experiences.

“The people of Liberia—who suffered brutal human rights violations and economic crimes for so many years—deserve nothing less than justice,” U.S. Congressman Smith said.

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Alphonso Toweh

Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets  including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and  did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters 
 He holds first  MA with honors in International  Relations and a  candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict  Resolution from the University of Liberia. 

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