Source: FrontPage Africa
UNCEREMONIAL CLIMAX: While some of them, such as the South African TRC, have yielded positive results, the impacts of others were never felt with a fear that Liberia might be heading in similar directions. In the case of Liberia’s, the jury is still out over whether the Truth Commission’s work has been clouded in controversy or the victim of a post-war government unwilling or perhaps still struggling to accept the findings of a body of work detailing the horrors of a brutal civil war.Monrovia -
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission tasked with the responsibility of promoting national peace, security, unity and reconciliation" by investigating more than 20 years of civil conflict in Liberia and to report on gross human rights violations that occurred in Liberia between January 1979 and 14 October 2003 closed shop Thursday, officially climaxing a body of work still swirling in a state of uncertainty.
Although a vetting committee is currently interviewing members for the Independent Human Rights Commission, tasked with the the responsibility under the TRC Mandate, Article X, to ensure the full implementation of the commendations contain in the TRC’s final report, the commission’s work has been eclipsed in controversy since it recommended a ban from political activities of at least fifty former and current Liberian government officials, including President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Alarming declaration: ‘Do so at your own peril’
OBLIGATION TO LIBERIA
“This obligation to report to the Liberian people quarterly on the implementation of all recommendations of the TRC is imperative and vital to our continued drive for lasting peace and reconciliation. We urge her not to renege, but be strong in faith and do what is right so that this glorious land of liberty will continue to exist under God’s command”.
Jerome Verdier, Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, RL
On Thursday, Jerome Verdier, Chair of the under-fire commission held a news conference without any of his fellow Commissioners in sight, in an office that was once busy and active but now stands dejected, the Chairman of Liberia’s erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) did not only formally declare an end to the Commission’s work, but was cautious with this warning to Liberians: “Therefore, if we ignore the TRC Recommendations, we do so at our own peril”.
After a year and one month of the TRC’s submission of its Report to the National Legislature in accordance with the Act that created it, Verdier, whose chairmanship was characterized by both internal wrangling and accusations of being biased, told a delayed news conference in the capital Thursday that it is important for Liberia to take the TRC’s Findings and Recommendations as the way forward to seeing the country’s return to stability.
Verdier added: “For generations to come, we will be haunted by the ghosts of the past.”
The TRC was chosen over a war crime tribunal as the means of dealing with the country’s ugly and unforgettable 14 years of civil war following its end seven years ago; but the Commission’s more than four years of operations which were twice extended by the National Legislature, faced serious challenges including allegations of impartiality, non-payment of staffs and worst of all, dissenting opinions on the submitted Final Report from two of its commissioners.
A brainchild of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) in 2003, the Commission was tasked to ensure the promotion of national peace, security, unity and reconciliation as its objectives and purpose by
means of investigating gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law as well as abuses that occurred. These included the Commission’s investigation of massacres, sexual
violations, murders, extra-judicial killings and economic crimes, such as the exploitation of natural or public resources to perpetuate armed conflicts, all which happened during the period January 1979 to
October 14, 2003.
Coordinating Committee Takes Over
While the TRC is officially closed, the Chairman of the erstwhile Commission disclosed the constitution of what he termed as the ‘TRC Coordinating Committee’ being established with two main objectives:
ensuring that Government pays the Commission’s outstanding liabilities and providing supervision leading to the establishing of the archive center.
Responding to whether the constitution of such an interim committee is not outside of the Act, Verdier replied: “Are you implying that all we have worked for such as the documentations of the entire process
should be left here to rot or eaten up by rats? Are you also suggesting that all those who entrusted us with their money should not be repaid?”
However, Section 47 of the Act states: “The archives of the TRC shall remain in the public domain except those records or documents classified by the TRC as “confidential” which shall remain classified for 20 years following the retirement of the TRC. This restriction extends to commissioners, staff and persons privy to such confidential and closed information by virtue of employment, assignment or their involvement with the TRC or otherwise”.
The composition of the ‘Coordinating Committee’ obviously consists of no ‘Anti-Verdier’ Commissioners in a committee that sees his close former workmates of Massa Washington, John Stewart, and Reverend
Gerald Coleman as Commissioners, leaving no room for his once-opposing former workmates in the persons of Councilor Pearl Brown-Bull and Sheikh Kafumba Konneh. Both former commissioners dissented on the Final Report.
Again chaired by Verdier, Nathaniel Kwabo, Elwood Netty, Felix Yallah, Millicent Garli and Thomas Demamu make up the rest of the ‘Coordinating Committee’ as Executive Secretary, Finance Coordinator, Finance Officer, Coordinator and Administrative Assistant respectively.
President Lagging Behind In Reporting
Section 48 of Article Ten of the Act that created the TRC mandates the Head of State to report to the National Legislature within three months of receipt of the report of the TRC, and on a quarterly basis
thereafter, as to the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations which has not been done satisfactorily from a TRC point of view.
A disappointed Verdier spoke frustratingly about the failure of meeting the statutory mandate of reporting to the National Legislature by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, herself an indictee of the Report which is recommending her for a three-decade ban from public life along with others.
“To date, Her Excellency, the President, is lagging behind in her statutory commitment to report quarterly on the implementation of the TRC Recommendations” Verider lamented, adding, “and not a voice including that of the National Legislature has been heard.”
Verdier bemoans what he termed as the entire country’s mute posture on the President’s non-performance on a “major duty should have happened more than a month ago”.
Though she did make her first quarterly report four months ago, Verdier criticized the manner in which Sirleaf did so, adding: “While not much was recognized in the President’s first quarterly ‘report’ in March 2010, it was noteworthy for recognizing the good work of the Commission on the future of Liberia”.
He continued: “This obligation to report to the Liberian people quarterly on the implementation of all recommendations of the TRC is imperative and vital to our continued drive for lasting peace and
reconciliation. We urge her not to renege, but be strong in faith and do what is right so that this glorious land of liberty will continue to exist under God’s command”.
Section 48 further states that the National Legislature shall require the Head of State to show cause in the case of non-compliance. It states: “All recommendations shall be implemented. Where the implementation of any recommendation has not been complied with, the Legislature shall require the Head of State to show cause for such noncompliance”.
‘Current Payment Laudable’
He disclosed during Thursday’s news conference that the Government has commenced the payment of the TRC’s liabilities, a situation which sparked rounds of public debate last week ,including that of the
National Legislature on the government’s refusal to pay the Commission whose official work ended over a year ago.
“The Government has commenced the payment of all TRC liabilities, for which we are exceedingly grateful as this is a major significant step towards full closure of this herculean enterprise”, he revealed.
The Liberian TRC joins over 30 other truth commissions established in 28 different countries of the world since the mid-1970s with eight African countries other than Liberia establishing truth commissions.
South Africa has had three truth commissions, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in 1995. Other African countries which have established such commissions are: Uganda (1974), Chad (1991), Nigeria (1999), Ghana (2002), Sierra Leone (2002), Democratic Republic of Congo (2003), and Morocco (2004) with negotiations are ongoing to establish one in Burundi.
While some of them, such as the South African TRC, have yielded positive results, the impacts of others were never felt with a fear that Liberia might be heading in similar directions. In the case of Liberia’s, the jury is still out over whether the Truth Commission’s work has been clouded in controversy or the victim of a post-war government unwilling or perhaps still struggling to accept the findings of a body of work detailing the horrors of a brutal civil war.
