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Former Speaker Apologizes for War-time Role By: Alfred Chea Courtesy: Liberian Observer May 19,2009  MONROVIA,Morris
Momolu Dukuly, Sr., former speaker of the erstwhile Transitional
Legislative Assembly (TLA) of the disbanded Liberia National
Transitional Government (LNTG), has publicly apologized to the Liberian
nation and non-Liberians for 'any indiscretion' he may have committed.Addressing the special hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) yesterday in Monrovia, Mr. Dukuly told the commissioners: “I would like to ask your indulgence, Mr. Chairman and learned members of this Commission, to begin my statement this morning by doing the first two things that I personally consider important and compelling. First, I would like to observe a moment of silent tribute to all civil war-related dead: Liberians and non-Liberians alike, those who died in the bushes of this country, those who died in villages and towns, and cities due to hunger or due to common illness because treatment was unavailable - and those who were brutally and unjustifiably and criminally killed for one or another of bogus, trump-up reasons.” “Second,” Mr. Dukuly added, “I want to tender an apology to all Liberians, living and dead, at home and abroad, friends, associates, my church, my wife and my children - and my family. I played a role: I accepted to be the speaker of the Legislature, and whatever the underpinnings of that decision were or whatever my personal motivations or contributions were to the transitional process, I know different sections of our population saw me and may continue to see me even today through the lenses of their individual narrow prisms. “I wish I knew how I could make this apology to mean what I feel in my heart. Those who are listening to me and those who will read the script of this statement should be assured that it is written and is spoken here (TRC offices) with heartfelt sincerity and humanity. I want to say to all, in Liberian parlance: Your never mind, yah, I am very, very, sorry. I apologize today; I apologize tomorrow for any indiscretion that I may have committed - or revulsion that anyone may feel for any action or decision that I may have made or may have been perceived as being part of.” The former House Speaker was invited by the TRC to address its two-day Special Hearings. Dukuly said when he arrived at the Legislature in 1994 as speaker during Liberia's transition from war to peace, his first priority was to be seen and be accepted as the speaker of the entire Legislature. “I did not want to be viewed as the ULIMO or factional speaker of the Legislature. I reckoned that if I were seen as a factional speaker, I would fail miserably - and that such a failure would lead to the collapse of the Transitional Government led by Professor David Kpormakpo. “From all indications, at least from my perspective and conviction,” Mr. Dukuly told the Commission, “the Transitional Legislative Assembly (TLA) was designed to be the glue that held this new West African political conception of a collective presidency together.” He indicated that the TLA of which he was elected speaker, operated as closely as possible with Article 54 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia by conducting confirmation hearings to many of those nominated to public offices although at some point, Mr. Charles Ghamkay Taylor, former leader of the erstwhile armed group, National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), expressed his opposition to such undertakings then. “It was a challenge to lead three groups whose organizations and members were locked in a fierce and bloody civil war,” Dukuly added. The ex-speaker, however, told the Commission that his greatest achievement as speaker of the TLA was that he held the factions together. “I worked for peace by working with the individuals with whom I may have personally and strongly disagreed on a wide range of issues, including their advocacy of issues that I considered inimical to our Republic. I worked across factional, ethnic, and religious lines. And in the process, I earned the trust and admiration of many of my colleagues. “The fact that the TLA more or less disintegrated following my resignation in February 1997 is a proof of this,” Dukuly further told the hearings. He maintained that his tenure was also marked by small but significant achievement. “I tried to make the office of the speaker a professional, non-ethnic, no-factional, and non-religious work environment; and I provided the leadership on tough issues of our times,” he accentuated. Touching on the role of the National Legislature, Mr. Dukuly who spoke on the theme, “Independence of the Legislature and Conflicts of Jurisdictions between the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government: When Should the President Veto Legislation; When Can the veto be overridden?” said the National legislature is the symbol and manifestation of Liberia's representative democracy. “ Essentially, however, the expansive powers and authority of the legislature, which are contained in Articles 29 through 44 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia are summarized in its three core functions: Law-making, representation and oversight,” he said, among other things. |
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