The International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) has warned that unless there is justice, peace and reconciliation here, the current peace process is bond to fail, indicating a reverse to the nation's immediate ugly past.

"There will be no peace and future reconciliation without justice," United Kingdom's Political Counsellor, Gillian A. Dare, speaking on behalf of the ICGL, said at the opening of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) National Conference on Reconciliation Monday.

The ICGL is comprised of major international stakeholders including the UK, US, Germany, Ghana, Nigeria amongst others.

She said justice can take many forms but did not elaborate. Her statement comes as some former warlords have vowed to resist any recommendation calling for their prosecution. It also came after the keynote speaker former Chairman of the Sierra Leone TRC Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Humper warned, saying "impunity must not be sacrificed for personal aggrandizement or undue advantage against innocent citizens."

The British Political Officer, however, said TRC is a process and not an end, adding that it is a national exercise that needs the involvement of all Liberians.

Unfortunately, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who has touted national reconciliation was absent from the conference, which is expected to draw out a road map for a way forward and an input into the TRC's recommendation.

The letter of invitation addressed to President Sirleaf dated May 29, 2009, was received on June 1. But Presidential Press Secretary, Cyrus Badio when asked Monday said the President had received an earlier invitation from some church groups and could not honor the TRC's invitiation.

However, Madam Dare said the conference, which has drawn delegates from the 15 political sub-divisions of the country provides an opportunity for all Liberians to take ownership of the TRC's report.

The report, she said, if not fully implemented, means nothing has been achieved.

The TRC's weeklong National Reconciliation Conference is expected to afford Liberians a final opportunity in the current TRC process to impact the TRC's peace building initiatives, discuss the issues that led the nation to conflict and division and begin the process of reconciliation aimed at bringing closure to Liberia's conflict past.

The deliberations will also complement issues that featured during the TRC Regional County Consultations and the TRC process in general. Delegates from the political subdivision of Liberia, civil society and other stakeholders will make presentations on how cohesiveness and national reconciliation can be attained in Liberia.