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Liberia: 'Normal Judicial Process Will Not Trouble Me,' Says TRC Boss
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Monrovia
In the wake of denials from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that its Chairman Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier did not grant an interview to reporters indicating that Commissioner Pearl Brown-Bull remained suspended, the Management of The NEWS says it stands by its story.
In the Thursday, May 1, 2008 edition of this paper, Cllr. Verdier insisted that Commissioner Bull will remain suspended indefinitely. His comments came minutes after the Supreme Court issued a writ of prohibition on him in Gbarpolu County where the TRC hearing was taking place.
Regarding the stay order, Chairman Verdier wondered whether the Supreme Court can undo what the TRC has done.
Additionally, Cllr. Verdier indicated, "a normal judicial process in Liberia will not trouble me. I will be troubled if there are attempts to interfere with the TRC process."
He stressed that the TRC is an independent commission that governs its own process adding, "it is guided by its own rules and regulations; we believe that it is essential for all of us to leave the commission alone to do its work for the future of this country."
Cllr. Verdier emphasized that the TRC is a national institution with a different task from other institutions in the Republic of Liberia.
Responding to questions as to the contents of the Writ of Prohibition, Verdier said "while it is true I have not read it, I do not know what the contents are; but what is essential is that whether political, financial, military, judicial and Legislative interferences should not be encouraged into the work of the TRC."
He questioned the role of the Supreme Court in a matter that has to do with the TRC and its commissioners, emphasizing that the Constitutional court only intervene when an individual citizen comes in conflict with the rules of the TRC.
Maintaining his grounds for suspending Cllr. Bull, the TRC Boss pointed out that the commission has its rules and regulations just as the Supreme Court is guided by its rules and any other independent body.
"All our respect goes to the witnesses and the people of Liberia. They have the greater day. I will do all to ensure that the rights of witnesses are respected. As it is, Commissioner Bull is suspended indefinitely," Verdier insisted at a news conference in Gbarpolu County upon receiving the Supreme Court's stay order.
He further said Commissioner Bull is a member of the TRC who signed and helped to draft their rules and cannot seek redress at the Supreme Court, stressing that she is different from ordinary citizens who are not part of their rules.
The publication of the statement made by Cllr. Verdier seemed not to have gone down well with the TRC.
In a release issued last Friday, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission denied that Cllr. Verdier recently spoke to the press in defiance of the Writ of Prohibition of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
The release claimed, "The TRC refutes this report in the strongest term as it bears no iota of truth. The report is only intended to undermine the integrity of the commission and to create a false impression that has the potential to engender friction between the Supreme Court and the TRC."
The TRC said its Chairman had at no time made any public statement regarding the indefinite suspension of Commissioner Pearl Brown-Bull after receiving the writ of prohibition from the Supreme Court of Liberia on April 22, 2008.
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However, the Management of the NEWS says recording from Cllr. Verdier's press interview in which he stated that Commissioner Bull remains suspended indefinitely are available.
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