The Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia has pounced on the National Legislature for placing a "Stay Order" on Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Final Report, which was submitted to that august body in June of this year.

The group, in a statement issued yesterday, said it is dismayed by the action of the National Legislature to place a "Stay Order" on the Report until next year when it shall have returned because such action is unlawful and urged the august body to reverse the decision in 7 days time, or face Supreme Court actions.

According to the Forum, a "childlike scrutiny of the act creating the TRC enacted into law on 12 may 2005, reveals huge legal disharmony and embarrassing contradictions characterizing the actions of the honorable Legislature."

Contrary to the action of the Legislature, the group said in the statement that it believes the TRC has provided the best roadmap to peace and justice, two inextricable elements that cannot be disunited in moving this country forward. More than that, the Forum said with the submission of the TRC, they have never been hopeful that, at long last, the missing-link needed to restore the lost fabrics of our democracy has just arrived.

Giving reasons why it is pushing such harsh line against the action of the Legislature, it said "The significance of our Teflon approach of accountability and justice requires that we consistently remind local and global audiences of our earnest desperation to see Liberia become impunity-free after years of senseless barbarism."

The war crimes advocacy group has accordingly written the both Houses of the National Legislature and their committees on peace and reconciliation, registering its opposition to the Stay Order decision it took on the TRC Final Report .

According to excerpts from the official communication sent to the two houses of the Liberian Legislature, the war crimes group said "We categorize it as extremely horrible your continuous moonwalk into the shadows of the scarring past, especially the trajectory you have adopted on 'Volume II: Consolidated Final Report of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia."

Though it tolerates mixed views of the TRC report expressed by Senators and Representatives as a healthy component of our democratic franchise, it however maintained that the Joint Resolution of 15 September is extremely contrary to law, particularly Article X, Reporting and Recommendations, Sections 46 & 48 of the TRC act.

"In furtherance, that 'Joint resolution' of 15 September is not only a threat to our most promising post-war recovery roadmap unveiled in the 'Final Report', but absolutely disrupts the implementation schedule of the Independent Commission on Human Rights, the statutory institution upon which the legacy of the TRC is bequeathed," the group observed.

It used the statement to draw the Legislature's attention to Section 48 of the TRC Act, which says "The Head of State [to] report to the National Legislature within three months of receipt of the report of the TRC, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, as to the implementation of the Commission's recommendations all recommendations shall be implemented. Where the implementation of any recommendation has not been complied with, the Legislature shall require the Head of State to show cause for such noncompliance."

Relying on this provision in the TRC Act, the Forum reminded the Legislature that in the wisdom of the law, authorization to suspend the implementation timetable, as it has 'unlawfully done', is outside its jurisdiction, as its allotted role remains to 'Require the President to show cause in the event of noncompliance.'

"In the face of this unwarranted determination against the state and people, we are obliged to have you kindly reminded of your statutory duty to ensure that the implementation timetable of the submitted TRC Final Report is unquestionably adhered to. In this light, it will interest you to note that as of 1st July 2009(the date of the submission of the Final Report), you are mandated to ensure that the 'Head of State' reports to you on or before 1st October 2009 on the implementation of the Commission's recommendations," the group said.

While looking forward to unconditional compliance with the TRC's schedule of implementation, the group said it would however not hesitate to file an appropriate writ before the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia to undo your "unjust 'Joint Resolution', and to compel your timely actions on the TRC final report. In this vein, we would respectfully accord you a 7-day ultimatum to reconsider your decision as per the above pursuit."