The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) has announced the postponement to a later date of the commencement of its hearings which was scheduled to begin on January 30, 2007 at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia.

"The commission wishes to state that 'while the commission has worked assiduously to stick to its work plan regarding the commencement of hearing, it has however assessed its readiness capacity to commence these hearings as scheduled.

And determined that much more is needed to be done to ensure that the public is fully aware and informed to participate in the proceedings of the hearings'," a TRC release said yesterday.

Further, according to the release, the decision to defer the hearings to a later date was reached following broad consultations with stakeholders and local and international partners of the TRC.

Meanwhile, the TRC has extended thanks and appreciation to the general public for its continued support and participation in its processes, noting that a new date for hearing would be announced shortly.

The TRC, since its commissioning in February 206 has been engaged in an extensive process preparatory to hearings including outreach and sensitization, statement taking, women and Diaspora engagement with the process in the face of serious resource and logistical constraints, concluded the press release signed by TRC Chairman Commissioner Jerome Verdier, Sr.

Setup Land Reform Commission

Mr. Murana Sheriff has called for the setting up a Land Reform Commission to help address the unequal land ownership and the illegal land sale that is undermining the peace process in the country.

Mr. Sheriff, who is the technical assistant to the Minister of Land, Mines, and Energy, told newsmen Wednesday last week that the commission was necessary because disputes over land were not only becoming violent but they were also undermining the nation's peace and reconciliation process.

Without giving further details, the Lands, Mines, and Energy Ministry technical assistant further recommended that when formed, the commission should be headed by the minister of Mines and co-chaired by the minister of Justice with the Minister of National Defense and the courts serving as members.

He said that the formation of such commission was necessary to curtail the illicit and illegal sale of land by people believed to be former fighters and warlord. Mr. Sheriff said that if such a commission is set up, the issue of just land distribution and acquisition would be substantially realized within 6-7months.

In a related development, Mr. Sheriff has appealed to the government to provide logistics to help ease the difficulties facing his office.

He used the occasion to thank President Johnson-Sirleaf for ably steering the ship of state for the period of one year, said a press release signed by J. Baitermeayea Hilton, III.