Barely few days after the Jerome Verdier led truth and reconciliation Commission released the Final report , a Local peace promotion organization has outlined what it called political Chicanery stressing that the reports leaves much to be desire. In a Statement issued during the weekend the Coalition for Peace and Tranquility in Liberia observed with great surprise and dismay the inexcusable political chicanery unleashed on the peace loving people of Liberia by the divided Truth and Reconciliation Commission under the pretext of a “final report” of its findings and determinations.The Statement stressed that the TRC’s report has the propensity to ferment chaos, derail the already fragile peace process and democracy, threaten the stability of the Liberian state and politically dislodge potential political leaders of Liberia.

The Coalition for Peace and Tranquility recalled that The TRC was destine to set the basis for genuine reconciliation, psychological relief and peace. But unfortunately the statement claimed that The Body’s has assumed the function of   a kangaroo court, arrogating unto itself the power to render guilty verdicts on individuals without hearing and due process, and further sentencing citizens on the basis of guilt by association. This approach to justice the Statement continues, finds no place in rule of law or our system of jurisprudence. To render people guilty on the basis of mere association without firstly conducting a hearing and by so doing establishing individual culpability is to criminalize the concept of association, which is a fundamental right under the 1986 Liberian constitution. This leaves us to wonder as to what the true motives of the some TRC members are.  

The TRC so-called “Final Report” says “All those associated with former warring factions, theirs leaders, political decision makers, financiers, organizers, commanders, foot soldier shall be subject to public sanctions in one form or another”. Association under our Constitution is not a crime. It is the commission of the crime itself that makes the difference.

 To do otherwise (as the TRC Report has done) is to not only render culpable the over 250,000 ex-combatants who fought for various defunct warring factions, but also to indict the entire citizenry of the country (inclusive of the commissioners of the TRC, some of whom are persons of interest and clear supporters of resistance to established anti-people leaderships). Some of these Commissioners in one way or another supported the civil upheaval in the country. In fact, ambiguously to say “foot soldiers” is to indict child soldiers who were recruited and forcibly conscripted into combat by various warring factions, including Key members of the TRC such as John Stewart. 

This unfortunate situation  of the TRC which claims to have used the South African model to inform its judgment  and proceedings  has diametrically performed in sharp contrast to that model; a process which has no precedence in the history of the existence of  TRC, the world over.

Another issue of concern The Peace promoters noted concerns  the fact that others whose names appeared on the so-called sanction of ‘thirty years ban from public office whether appointed or elected”  like Tarnue Mawolo, Nya Matein, Byron Tarr, Toga Gayewea McIntoshwere not accorded the opportunity to be heard. The act of one being considered guilty before being heard is unlawful and sharply projects the bias associated with the TRC process thus rendering the so-called final report questionable and a political tool of selective sanctioning with the sole intent to vilify the hard-earned enviable status and unimpeachable credibility of personalities who they see as potential threats to their selfish political ambition.

The report represents the view of a group of individuals who in their inherent cowardice and abject craving attitudes sees few persons as their prime targets for their personal vendetta. In the report of the TRC, people were forgiven because they were said to have spoken “truthfully”, while a certain group of people were recommended for prosecution and some should be banned for thirty years from public office.  The TRC has got the responsibility to move a step further and inform the Liberian people on what it calls “the truth” on the basis of which it now recommends clemency for certain category of perpetrators.

To all intents and purposes, for  a Jerome Verdier  who should be a lawyer  to have allowed himself to flagrantly bypass the due process of law which states, amongst other things, that one has to be heard before being condemned leaves anyone to conclude that the process was heavily remote-controlled. This is especially the case with    the likes of Tarnue Mawolo, Nya Matein, and Byron Tarr, Toga Gayewhea McIntosh et al who only saw their names strangely appearing on a suggested sanction listing.

If the TRC is using “association” as yardstick or barometer for determining guilt, then why the names of institutions and some individuals who were major and active actors in various warring factions and political groupings are conspicuously absent from this list. We wonder why institutions such as the Association of Constitutional Democrats of Liberia (ACDL) chaired by Dr. Amos C. Sawyer having members such as Cummany B. Wesseh, Ezikiel Pajibo, Dr. Patrick L. M. Sayon, Dr, Josehp Mamadee Woatee (deseased), and other members were left out while few members like Madam Sirleaf and harry Greaves were singled out for sanctioning. Were Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, Cllr. Francis Galawolo, Daniel Chea, Chief Cyril A. Allen, John Francis Whitfield, John T. Richardson (General Octopus) and others not active and major supporters of the NPFL?   Why are their names absent?

The question will be raised: What’s about Samuel Wulue, Orashall Gould, William Hamson, Zoe E. Pennue, Lusini Kamara and others? Did not they associate with LURD and MODEL? It is understandable that the founders of the Black Beret faction were not listed in this report for fear that the recruiting officer of the group, Commissioner John Stewart who as Assistant Minister for Special Services at the Ministry of State during the Sawyer’s interim regime, renovated the Kankan Military Barracks in Guinea for military training purpose  and served as one of the key controllers and beneficiaries of the Black Beret Training account at the Banque Islamique de Conakry in Guinea would be drawn into  the public smear had he exposed his accomplices.

It is said that he who comes with equity must come with clean hands. It is disheartening that these individuals with questionable record and credentials like John Stewart and Jerome verdier (who as Secretary General of ULSU solicited mass support for the removal of the Samuel Doe regime) and staged a demonstration on 27 June 1990 would present themselves as saint and puritans and render guilty verdict on others on the basis of mere association. The infighting and hurdling of insults amongst members of this Commission is a clear indication that it is saturated with divided opinion and less critical thoughts, as such this report  cannot reconcile the Liberia people and must not be given credence. It represents nothing but the wastage of the taxpayer’s money. In view of the above, we are calling on the National Legislature to disregard the TRC “Final Report” as nothing but a political document targeted at potential political rivals.

culled from the Inquirer