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Questions for Hassan Billity

• About Hassan Billity

Two related questions:

Q1. From Denise, Springs, LA:

What do you think is the first step activists around the world can take to help people falsely accused like yourself? Is there immediate help for people whose rights were violated?

Q2. From Denise, Springs, LA:

Thank you for your courage and light, and welcome to America. It is as hypnotically simple to blame others for inactivity in the face of such evil, as it is confusing to decide who is wearing such an evil mask this day, week, year, generation. Hassan, could you help direct me to some sort of action that I could take from our lives here in Oregon that could help people in your country and situation? Also, is there a good source of information where I could learn of the Liberian conflict in particular? Any help would be much appreciated.

Hassan Billity, Liberian journalist and human rights defender, responds.

Answer to Question One
For activists like you, I strongly suggest that you work to expose the human trgedy unfolding in Liberia. Organize symposium, debates where people versed in Liberia's political and human History will make presentations. In you community, you may write letters to your elected leaders to enact laws that will not allow people who abuse the rights of others to go free without accounting for their actions.

Answer to Question Two
I believe that the first step you can take is to advocate for justice. That is, those who were falsely accused, imprisoned, tortured and dehumanized are craving justice. They want the perpetrators the face justice. For example, a United Nations/ United States-backed war crime tribunal has been shut up in Sierra Leone, a neighboring country to Liberia. This court, headed by an American, David Craine, seeks to bring to justice those who committed crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone. I will like people like you to join us in our call for the Court's authority to extend to Liberia. It appears to me that crimes committed in Liberia are being forgotten. This is a serious matter and needs to be addressed.

When this is done, it will serve as a future deterrent against such human rights abuse. I believe this is the first step that needs to be taken and you can help in this effort by writing to or calling on you elected representatives to support such effort.

The United States is one of the main backers- both financially and morally-of that Sierra Leone Court and therefore has got influence in making sure that Liberia be brought under the Court's jurisdiction- I mean crimes committed in Liberia be investigated by the Court.

FOR BOTH OF YOU, JOIN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S EFFORTS TO DISPENSE JUSTICE. Amnesty has done a whole lot in exposing these crimes.  I am now working on setting up a website that will be devoted to identifying all those who committed crimes against humanity in Liberia in the hope of bringing them to justice some day.You may help in this regard. But remain in contact with Amnesty International for more details on this matter.