The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Liberia released a report (which it retracted hours later) in which it recommended 52 people be publicly sanctioned for involvement in war crimes. Some names are not a surprise such as General Butt Naked. But, the report also cited President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president of an African nation. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf! The report was withdrawn hours after its release so there is no explanation for now. But, I also wanted to add a word in defense of Joshua Milton Blayir (General Butt Naked). Although his crimes are despicable, he has really turned his life around and done much good as a pastor of former participants in the war especially former child soldiers. When does rehabilitation and reconcialiation become more important than punishment?
The news article is at http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-02-voa31.cfm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Here is the problem... the guy is credited with some-20,000 deaths, and now he's doing good as a pastor preaching to ex-combatants. What is to stop him from, at some point, turning his life around a second time and unleashing some sort of unforetold carnage?
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken, this just bars people on it from holding public office; it's not designed to execute or otherwise punish the people on it, right? If that's the case, I'm fine with Butt Naked never holding public office again.
I think it is a matter of whether you believe people can change and be rehabilitated. I don't think in his case it is just a matter of him not holding public office as it is with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I would have to read the entire report which seems to have been withdrawn.
ReplyDeleteThe term "war criminal" is relative. Many times it's pretty hard to tell if they are or if they aren't. Somtimes it's easy: Stalin. Somtimes it's hard: Mr. Cadet (that's right, our CHS Latin teacher is accused of genocidal acts by certain groups in his native Haiti). The accusation tends to leave nearly as bad a scar as the reality. I don't know enough about EJS to have an opinion on her.
ReplyDeleteOn rehabilitation: people who carry out war crimes, yes, I believe they can be changed. People who organize them on a large scale, no, I don't think they can be changed (or given the opportunity, for that matter).