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Liberia: Emotions Run High As TRC Hearings Begin
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ALLAFRICA BLOG
10 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008
Boakai M. Fofana
Monrovia
The dust is finally settling after the brutality that characterized the 14 years of civil upheaval that overtook Liberia in the 1990s. The war took the lives of about 500,000 persons and displaced thousands of others across the sub-region.
Almost every Liberian experienced one or other physical or emotional scar but people have never had the opportunity to reveal their ordeals. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) now seeks to provide them a forum.
The commission had its official opening on Tuesday January 8. Its first hearing began afer a colorful ceremony graced by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, most of her cabinet and members of the diplomatic corps.
The TRC, which is modeled after the one established in post-apartheid South Africa, has a mandate to cover the period from 1979 to 2003. The period stretches from the year before Samuel Doe, who led the country throughout the 1980s and was later killed in a coup, took power, to the year former President Charles Taylor stepped down.
Many Liberians think that bringing alleged perpetrators of atrocities to the hearings will be a difficult task, as most currently hold high positions in society. However, the President dismissed this concern by asking all Liberians to avail themselves to the TRC when called upon. The commission has the power to subpoena anyone – the President included.
Much anxiety has surrounded the commencement of the hearings. Now that it has taken off the ground and the enormity of the brutality inflicted upon the country is becoming clear, emotions are running high. Some are questioning the commission’s very existence. Former presidential candidate Winston Tubman said that he foresees tensions building in the country as some of the processes involved in the hearings are “flawed and unconstitutional.”
For instance, one taxi driver on Wednesday asked: “How can I forgive a man who comes up and says yes, I killed your mother, but I want you to forgive me?”
One piece of testimony that has generated widespread discussion took place on the first day of the hearings, when Liberia's most popular musical artist, Marcus Davis - otherwise known as “Sundaygar Dearboy” - was accused of ordering the rape and killing of a teenage girl. The allegation against an artist famous for the campaign and victory songs he did for the President shocked the nation. No one ever thought he was once, as a witness testified, a “rebel commander.”
In other evidence, a woman explained on Wednesday the humiliation she faced when she was forced to drink her own urine. These testimonies, which have sparked anger in some quarters, have renewed suggestions that a war crimes court should be established, a body which would have the authority not only to hear perpetrators ask for forgiveness, but also to prosecute.
However, others think that we have gone through a lot in Liberia and that it is now time for healing. They claim that it is only by confessing that one gets “cleansed of his sins.”
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Liberian society is now polarized, with many clinging onto their past alignments. It is certain that the political climate will get even hotter when the testimonies start to point to the names of those most responsible for atrocities.
The dust is not finally settling especially so when THE TRC is opening wounds that will never be cured. The TRC hearing is very bad and ugly for ellen johson sirleaf Unity Party led government to carry on this unconstitution act. Will ellen johnson sirleaf be called upon to tell the Liberian people he role she played in the suffering, killing, displacing Liberian over the world. I must and must stop thus far for everlasting peace in Liberia. Which African countries/states Liberia is emulating for this unconstitutional act.
I wanted to know when will be the next presidential election in Liberia & why is it that the 15 thousands UN peacekeepers is still in Liberia? Do the Liberian government not trust herself, etc.?
Right now, I am looking at been a city mayor for River Gee County , but can I be elected by my people? because my beleive is I will make a change for my people to rebuild their lifes, change that will help Liberians through out the world, change that will bring power lights ELECTRICITY through out to newly River Gee County that they... [Read Full Text]
In the first place I think the creation of a TRC is a step in the right direction taken by the Sirleaf administration and I frankly applaud that. Moreover, I would wish with all my heart that my countrymen, Liberians, change their pattern of viewing this move taken by the government, by embracing the fact that telling the truth or being caused or given the chance to tell the truth no matter how shameful or gruesome, is a rare privilege in our African setting, especially in our traditional setting. Much more it gives the aggrieved party a platform to... [Read Full Text]
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