Written by Julius Kanubah
Source: Star Radio Liberia
Six of the seven nominees of the Independent National Human Rights Commission say they are not responsible to implement recommendations of the TRC report.
The INHCR nominees however said they are only tasked to ensure the full implementation of the TRC recommendations.
They made the statement Friday at a confirmation hearing before the Senate’s Committee on Judiciary, Claims, Human Rights and Petition.
The INHCR Chairperson-designate Cllr. Punchu Leonard Bernard said it is the responsibility of government to implement recommendations of the TRC.
During the hearing, Cllr. Bernard described herself as a senior lawyer, a reference to protest by a citizen that she was not qualified to head the INHCR as per its Act.
Cllr. Bernard however failed to say which Month of 2010 she was admitted into the Supreme Court as counselor-at-law, saying she has forgotten.
One of the nominees, reputatble Human Rights lawyer Cllr. Dempster Brown said it will be difficult to prosecute individuals listed in the TRC report because the Act was meant for reconciliation.
According to Cllr. Brown, there are no laws in Liberia to prosecute people indicted in the TRC report of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He warned unless legislations are passed by the Legislature to establish a special war crimes court in Liberia, war crimes indictees cannot be prosecuted under Liberian laws.
Other nominees who appeared for confirmation include James Torh, Thomas Bureh, Ms. Macdilla Howard and Ruby Johnson-Morris.
The other nominee Boakai Dukuly did not appear because he is said to be out of the Country.
