Monrovia — "I have not come to boast about killing Commanding General Thomas Quowonpa," a member of the former Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Edward Slanger said Monday at on-going Thematic and Institutional Hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Mr. Slanger admitted commanding a group of AFL soldiers who arrested and killed Quowonkpa following the 1985 abortive coup.

Mr. Slanger who refused to provide detail information about how Quowonkpa was arrested and killed said "it was a military operation," which he can't publicly boast about.

He indicated that going into the depth of how Quowonkpa was arrested and killed in 1985 could spark ethnic tension similar to that generated following the testimony of Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson.

"I can't discuss in detail how Quowonkpa was killed. He was my cousin. It is even unfortunate to discuss how he was killed, Mr. Slanger who claimed that he understands and speaks Mano and Gio said.

"I am sorry that it happened. I am sorry that the people of Grand Gedeh and Nimba fought one another," Slanger said claiming to have achieved his primary education from Nimba County.

He argued that the persistent request from members of the TRC for him to explain details surrounding the death of Quowonkpa is intended to sour relations between the peoples of Grand Gedeh and Nimba counties.

"It has been 23 years since the incident occurred. We have forgotten about what happened. It is behind us," Mr. Slanger indicated.

He said it was only prudent that he provides financial assist to Quowonkpa's family rather than reminding them of how their son was killed.

When pressed again by a commissioner to provide detains on the incident, Mr. Slanger emotionally said the arrest and killing of Gen. Quowonkpa was not anything hidden, adding "the event was video taped and published in local dailies."

Making reference to Prince Johnson's testimony which created tension, Mr. Slanger said you people want the President to once again intervene between the people of Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties.

However, following persistent persuasions from commissioners of the TRC for him to say the whole truth, Mr. Slanger agreed to provide detail information on how Quowonkpa was arrested and killed.

Touching on other issues, Mr. Slanger said he could have prevented slain Samuel K. Doe from going to the Freeport of Monrovia where he was arrested and killed by Prince Johnson's forces had he been in Monrovia.

Mr. Slanger who was commanding AFL soldiers in Grand Gedeh County during the onset of the war in 1990 denied committing any atrocity including the murder of late Robert Phillips, adding "I was not in Monrovia at the time of the incident; I was in Grand Gedeh."