Almost immediately after the President, in her State of the Nation Address, tied the implementation of report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to the Constitution, a group of ex-warlords rushed to the court and filed a petition to declare the report and its recommendations unconstitutional.

It is not yet clear when the Civil Law Court will hear their petition and rule on it, but the ruling will be pregnant with political and therefore security implications. If their petition, filed on behalf of those affected by it, is granted, it would mean the end of the TRC reprieve for all those indicted in the report. If it is rejected, many of those now vying for public offices may have cause to worry.

All those listed in the report for punishment in various forms, including war crimes trials and sanction form public office for 30 years, have declared their right to contest the elections, clearly signalling that the report is now in the dustbin.

And it is. The Senate has acted against it, throwing it out until the president can report to it. . In her speech, the President left some of the recommendations she previously endorsed, such as the 'Palava Hut' approach that could have redeemed some of those accused, hanging. She said she and the Legislature must find means to raise resources for its implementation. With barely 2 years to election, implementing it is almost impossible. All these factors and many more provide clear evidence that the TRC report, which cost so much money and time, has been executed.

Both the UN and the US have said the implementation of the TRC report is a matter for Liberians, indicating there will be no international pressure to for or against the report. This is clear when US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, commenting on President Sirleaf's decision to contest, declared: "I was delighted to hear that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said she will stand for re-election," a statement that some have labeled as an endorsement.

Mrs. Clinton praised Sirleaf for her role in combating gender violence, and the creation of special programs for the protection of women and children affected by violence during 14 years of brutal civil wars.

Added to this, Senator Prince Johnson son, listed for war crimes as one of the "most notorious" in the TRC report, has ignored it and declared his candidacy for the presidency. There are reports that many more, listed for economic crimes and other war crimes.