21 February 2008
Testifying before the TRC recently, a victim Linda N. Komah, said fighters of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) raided their town, Bakoko and killed scores of people.
The victim explained that when the NPFL fighters were repulsed from the town by fighters of the Liberia Peace Council (LPC) in 1994, they conscripted civilians to join them during which time her father and brothers were killed and several residents were severely tortured.
She disclosed that one John Sattee who was the commander of the LPC fighters killed two children and eight of her relatives in her presence. She appealed to the TRC for assistance to recover from the trauma of the war.
Another witness, Amos C. Nyeka, said LPC fighters led by one General Toe forced residents including chiefs and elders of the District of Trihn in 1994 to climb a tree with an army of aunts where they were held captives for two hours.
He explained that during their ordeal with the fighters, 14 persons were summarily executed by the fighters, adding that the fighters looted cattle and other valuables.
Nyeka, 41, claimed that in 2003 fighters of the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) under the command of one Gen. William Toe also captured the area maltreated their inhabitants and looted their cattle.
He explained that three different fighting forces, the NPFL, LPC and MODEL occupied the area at different intervals and committed atrocities. Mr. Nyeka called on victims of the civil war to forgive perpetrators who voluntarily confessed guilt of atrocities committed against them.
Also testifying Monday, Alexander Sieh Quiah said NPFL fighters under the command of one Gen. David Diah raided the town of Benwon, Trihn District and looted valuables and cattle in 1993.
When fighters of the LPC captured the town in 1995, Quiah, 44, said, three of his brothers were killed after they opened fire randomly.
He also claimed that in 2003 fighters of MODEL captured the town and extorted money and other valuables from him and other inhabitants while his pregnant sister was flogged by the fighters.
Quiah said he was tied for two hours leaving him nearly handicapped. The husband of two wives and father of seven revealed that MODEL fighters forcibly conscripted young male and female inhabitants of the town to join their ranks.
A witness, Mwah Nagbe, said fighters of LPC killed his sister (Beatrice Ndobo) and uncle (Myers Dugbe) and burned down their town, Sasstown in 1994 after they captured it, forcing the inhabitants to flee into the bushes.
Nagbe: "After the fighters entered the town following heavy shooting we ran into the bush only to return and find of town burned completely."
Stanley Wilson of Trihn District said LPC fighters under the command of one Gen. Tiger killed his father and mother after they attacked their town. "Besides my father and mother, three other relatives were killed by the fighters who entered the town while we were asleep," he explained.
Wilson, 34, disclosed that the fighters who captured their town in 2003 subjected the inhabitants to forced labor, harassment, intimidation and looted all of their belongings.
Also recounting stories of atrocities committed against them by the various warring factions at Monday's hearing were Sunday Poe, Sarah Nyeka, Sieh W. Weah and James Weah Trueh.
The TRC is an independent body set up to investigate the root causes of the crisis, document human rights violations, review the history of Liberia, and to put all human rights abuses that occurred during the period from 1979 to 2003 on record.
The TRC mandate is to also identify victims and perpetrators and make recommendations on amnesty, prosecution and reparation.
Barclayville, Feb. 18 (TRC):- The Nationwide Public Hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia resumed Monday in Barclayville, Grand Kru County with a call for all Liberians to support the process.
In her opening statement, the superintendent of Grand Kru County, Rep. Rosalind T. Sneh said the TRC process is geared towards the restoration of national healing and the lost dignity of the country and must therefore be embraced by all Liberians.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Barclayville Central High School, the hearing venue, Mrs. Sneh said the TRC process will not only enhance national peace and security, but also foster good governance and the rule of law.
She noted that as the TRC Nationwide public hearings progress, Liberians must reflect on five basic questions: "who, what, when, why and how things happened during the years of conflict," adding, " we cannot as a people, enter our future without reflecting on our difficult past."
She appealed to all perpetrators to take advantage of the TRC process and come forward to recount their roles in the civil conflict which is the best way forward to achieve national reconciliation and healing.
She promised that maximum security would be provided as the TRC carry on the public hearings in Grand Kru County.
TRC Vice Chairperson Commissioner Dede Dolopei expressed thanks and appreciation to the superintendent and other stakeholders in the county for their warmest support to the TRC.
Commissioner Dolopei said the TRC was established to enhance national unity, security, peace and reconciliation and called on all Liberians to embrace the process.
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