8 July 2009
Representative Malian Jallabah has said it is the duty of the Legislature to review the report of the TRC and the dissenting opinions to ensure that the Commission did its work in accordance with the Constitution of Liberia and all relevant laws. She said this is the reason the TRC Act requires that the final report be submitted to the National Legislature.
In a statement issued at the Capitol yesterday, Representative Jallabah said the Lawmakers would not blindly accept a report not done in line with the provisions of the law and professional guidelines. She said whatever that involves legally depriving people of their liberty and other rights must be done in accordance with the law and transparency if we want to prove that the nation is opening a new page.
The Lawmaker said that the claim made by one of the TRC Commissioners that the Commission's work contradicted the Constitution and Statutes of Liberia is a grave issue that must be dealt with. She said Commissioner Pearl Brown Bull's statement questions the credibility of the TRC and will be investigated fully by the National Legislature.
Meanwhile, Hon. Jallabah has called on the General Auditing Commission to begin an immediate auditing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission since the commission has now submitted its report. Rep. Jallabah said the TRC was a multi-million dollar project with contributions from the Liberian government and international partners, and the Commission must now give account to the Liberian people through a professional audit by the General Auditing Commission.
The Lofa Lawmaker said with members of the TRC itself and public pointing to violations in the work of the TRC, it becomes particularly important for the Liberian people and their partners to know how the millions of dollars were used.
Madam Jallabah said the National Legislature would conduct its own investigations on the methods and processes the TRC used to come out with its recommendations and it would be useful for the audit to take place. She said the accounting exercise will help to determine whether the TRC work was professional, transparent and lawful.
Traditional Chiefs Appeal For Calm
The National Traditional Council of Liberia (NTCL) is appealing to all Liberians, even those recommended by the TRC for prosecution and other actions to remain calm and exercise restraint as they are prepared to look into the issues arising from the TRC report.
The Chairman of the Traditional Council Chief Zanzar Kawah, speaking on behalf of his colleagues yesterday, said they as chiefs and even ordinary Liberians did not want problems and that those fuming with rage should rest their peace.
"Nobody wants war again," he said, stressing that the situation that led Liberia into war will not be allowed again. "The mistake happened because we not together."
Now that they are together and that Liberians are sick and tired with war, he urged everyone to remain calm. The Traditional Council's appeal comes against the backdrop of threatening statements coming from former warlords the TRC recommended for prosecution that they will resist any attempts to arrest them.
"Our children must listen to us. Liberia is not ready for trouble," Chief Zanzar Kawah said while his colleagues looked on with a deep sense of approbation.
"No body fool us again; we call them so we can tell them that the war is over," he said and added they should ably be informed of any plans intended to destabilize the country. "Let by-gone be by-gone. We got nowhere to go. We do not have red cars, or other means to leave this place now."
At the same time, the Traditional Council of Liberia has, in like manner, appealed to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf not to commit or make any statement regarding the TRC report. The TRC in its report recommended that the president should be banned from holding public office for 30 years.
The traditional council wants the president to keep quiet until she hears from them, but observers say the president may not commit on the report not because the Council has asked her not to do so but because "she is going thru the report, digesting and analyzing it before making any official statement."
While appealing to the president to remain quiet and urging Liberians to exercise calm, the council is appealing to the TRC and other concerned authorities to furnish them with copies of the report to enable them go through it as well.
The council wants the report in three days time to enable them go through it and have an informed position. The council intends to discuss the issue with all the chiefs across the country during the official dedication and opening of the office. What they did not say is what they will do if their appeal was not given any consideration by concerned authorities.
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