Liberian TRC to reconcile war
2006-06-23 21:01
Monrovia - Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has opened its doors to begin documenting evidence on wartime atrocities, said its chairperson on Friday.
"The TRC is now formally opened to the public. We are awaiting Liberians who were victims of perpetrators of atrocities in the civil crisis," said Jerome Verdier.
The TRC has been tasked with investigating abuses during Liberia's successive civil wars.
It is expected to hear both the perpetrators and victims of human rights violations that occurred during the 24 years of conflict and to lay the groundwork for reconciliation.
"Our duty is to find a common understanding between those who committed the atrocities and those who were the victims," said Verdier.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who established the nine-member commission in February, formally inaugurated it on Thursday.
"There will not be lasting peace, nor will there be unity and reconciliation, if the truth of the crisis remains speculation, assumption, and hearsay," said Sirleaf.
TRC can recommend amnesty
Modelled on South Africa's TRC, the commission will investigate rights violations including murders, extra-judicial killings, economic crimes and sexual abuse committed by all parties in the country's conflict.
"Our country cannot afford to evade justice and the protection of human rights throughout our land, especially the kind that will restore our historical place among civilised nations," said Sirleaf.
The TRC can recommend amnesty, upon application by perpetrators after full disclosure of their wrongs and remorse, but this will not apply to violations of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity.
'Face up to the crimes'
Sirleaf said her government "would ensure those perpetrators of crime against humanity would face up to those crimes, no matter who they were".
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is currently facing prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Taylor is seen as the single most powerful figure behind the series of civil wars in Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Leone between 1989 and 2003, which left about 400 000 people dead.
In the absence of a war crimes court for Liberia, Taylor has not been indicted for crimes committed in his home country.
Liberia's unrest began with food riots in 1979, followed by a coup in 1980 that toppled then president William Tolbert.
Ten years later, the conflict intensified with a rebellion by Taylor and the subsequent ousting and assassination of then president Samuel Doe.
The nine-member independent commission, assisted by three international advisors, has been given two years in which to conduct its business.