Your heads will be cut off

Former finance minister David Farhat defies warlords here and those Liberians opposed to calls for the establishment of war and economic crimes for Liberia that they lack the power to prevent such courts being established to deliver justice and end impunity. 

By Lincoln G. Peters 

Monrovia, Liberia, March 14, 2024 –Former Minister of Finance David M. Farhat descends on those opposing the establishment of war and economic crimes court for Liberia, saying rebel leader Senator Prince Johnson and other warlords’ heads will be cut off. Their bodies will be dismembered if they engage in any ugly act to prevent the establishment of said court.

Senator Johnson, leader of the defunct rebels INPFL, has sharply warned President Joseph Boakai’s administration to abandon plans for the establishment of the long-awaited war and economic crimes court, threatening that this could lead to violence.

The warlord-turned-evangelist, speaking at his regular Sunday worship in January this year, said that the guys who fought for him during the Liberian Civil War in the 90s will not sit and allow him to be arrested and taken before such court for prosecution. However, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia lists Sen. Johnson as one of those actors who committed heinous crimes and crimes against humanity during the civil crisis, and therefore, they should face prosecution.  

“The war is over; we need development. What is your contribution? Do you think those boys who fought before will allow you to come and catch us?” the ex-warlord asked. 

But responding to PYJ in an interview with reporters following the celebration of the 95th birth anniversary of the late women’s leader Mary Brownell, Mr. Farhat said ex-soldiers or ex-fighters are not stupid enough to do anything crazy in the country again.

“Let me tell you something; there can be ex-soldiers; they are not stupid to do anything, you understand. They are not stupid. If they do anything, they will cut their heads off and cut their bodies in pieces. They should stop that nonsense about war and ex-soldiers in the bush. They are afraid now, and so they are running”, the ex-minister noted. 

Mr. Farhat, who served under the administration of slain President Samuel Doe, says Liberia needs to set up the court because it will set an example and standard for the younger generation, and the nation has a large young population.

He says ex-soldiers have sense, which is why they are running; therefore, they don’t have the means to bring war or prevent the establishment of the war and economic crimes court for Liberia.

Mr. Farhat: “Except the government is not strong. Except the government is stupid before what Prince Johnson said will happen. The court will bring no division but rather unity. You killed my people; it’s not division, but justice is division.” 

He urges the court to come because he and many Liberians have long waited for this so that warlords can account for their actions. 

“You think what these people did in this country was easy and small? Some of us are still suffering from it; that is why we are still working hard. Everything I had was destroyed. With this country, it’s an opportunity for people to be free and for those found culpable to face Justice.” 

He noted that, like the war crimes court, the economic crimes court is also necessary because those who stole government money must be held accountable. 

“So, we welcome the war and economic crimes court; it’s a hellajuah. I was listening to Senator Yaya Nimely saying that our population is young, and I agreed with him, and that is why we need the court to set an example for the younger generation,” he maintained. 

The senior citizen argued that people learn by what they see, not what they hear, and so the court means that when people do heinous things, they will not go free and unnoticed; rather, they will pay for their crimes and actions. 

“The Bible says the iniquities of their fathers will visit the third and fourth generations. Now, we need to set up the court. We welcome it. People now need to know that what they did will not go free”, he emphasized.

Many officials here, especially warlords, many of whom are now legislators, are against the establishment of the court that aims to stamp out impunity.

But President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is resolved to have the court established for Liberia and has already begun holding discussions with international partners, including the Government of the United States, to have the court into being. Editing by Jonathan Browne