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Former Liberian Warring Factions
Criticize Truth Commission Final Report
Courtesy: VOA
July 08, 2009
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Some former warring factions in Liberia’s recent civil conflict say
the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is
biased and politically motivated.
The Commission was established in 2003 under the Accra Comprehensive
Peace Accord to identify the root causes of the Liberian civil war and
determine those who responsible in committing domestic and international
crimes against the Liberian people.
Among its recommendations, the TRC called for the prosecution of all
warring faction leaders and 98 other associates for gross human rights
violations and war crimes.
But at a joint news conference Monday, the former warring factions said
the TRC did not live up to the intent for which it was created.
Former Foreign Minister in Charles Taylor's government Lewis Brown told
VOA the TRC failed to give alleged perpetrators the chance to confront
their accusers.
“What we have is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission largely motivated
for selfish political objectives. They are now recommending punitive
measures against individuals they did not provide an opportunity to face
their accusers or to confront evidence of alleged wrongdoing,” he said.
The warring factions that called Monday's news conference included
Charles Taylor’s former government, the Movement for Democracy in
Liberia (MODEL), and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and
Democracy (LURD).
Brown said they called the news conference to renew their commitment to
maintain peace, security, forgiveness and reconciliation in Liberia.
He rejected any suggestion that the former warring factions were trying
to scapegoat the TRC for the crimes they allegedly committed during
Liberia’s conflict.
“On the first count, the TRC…conducted an independent survey throughout
the 15 political subdivisions to determine whether or not the alleged
victims were interested in genuinely reconciling the country. Over 60
percent informed the TRC that they would prefer to confront victims
under an atmosphere of forgiveness and reconciliation rather than
retributive justice,” Brown said.
Brown said he agreed with those Liberians who argued that there can be
no true justice without accountability on the part of alleged
perpetrators. But he said accountability cannot be determined
prejudicially
The Truth Commission also recommended that President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf and 51 others be blocked from holding future public offices in
Liberia for 30 years for helping to form and finance warring factions.
Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh said President Sirleaf was still
reading the TRC final report, but that she has taken note of the
recommendation about her.
“She’s not only has seen that report, she has been listening to many
Liberians who are very astonished because of that part of the
report…many are concerned that this is a democratically elected sitting
president. And a report that suggests barring her from public offices
for the next 30 years, what does it mean for this democratically elected
popular president,” he said.
Bropleh said Liberians elected President Sirleaf in 2005 even though
they knew she had admitted being one of the financiers of Charles
Taylor’s rebel movement.
“The Liberian public and the world knew that institutionally, through
the Association for Constitutional Democracy in Liberia at the time
headquartered in Washington, D.C. President Sirleaf, being an executive
member of that association gave $10,000 to Charles Taylor,” he said.
Meanwhile, some TRC members continue to allege that they are being
threatened by unidentified individuals or groups.
Bropleh said President Sirleaf has brought back rule of law to Liberia
and that any member of the TRC who feels they are being threatened
should report such to the constituted authority.
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