AFRICAN PANORAMA
WARNING!!!
SUBPOENA THE LIBERIAN PRESIDENT OR SHUT DOWN...
The work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is very hectic. One that has the ability to heal or to re-ignite old wounds, thus taking the Republic of Liberia back to another state of anarchy. This is the kind of utopia Liberians can not afford. Citizens of the Republic have been traumatized from the fourteen years of civil conflicts infused on them by renegade politicians. For twenty-nine long years, these renegades have professed to have had the solutions to social and economic harmony, when in reality, they have created more social disorder, economic sabotage, and have desecrated the country. They terrorized the citizens, plundered and looted what hard working Liberians sweat and labored for. Not satisfy and determined by whatever cost, they threatened to vaporize the most densely populated demography where citizens were rushing to seek refuge. Then they implemented a new form of genocide on nearly five hundred thousand people, thereby eliminating one fifth of the population of this little country. Still not happy with the outcome, these renegades are designing plans to mortgage the entire country and to place future posterity into a bondage that will paralyzed them indefinitely.
Now, to add insults to injury, renegade politicians have mapped out a scheme to use the TRC to carry out some type of duty that resembles witch hunting. The TRC has been engaged in listening to complaints and releasing said complaints with names of other Liberians who are not working with or for the executive to the press. The TRC must realize that the world is watching,and while the print and Internet have published enough articles on the involvement of the executive in the Liberian Civil War, it is imperative to take note and act on these stories, and SUBPOENA THE EXECUTIVE to appear at once before the TRC to answer to these charges or allegations.
The Chairman of the TRC is a lawyer. In the court of law when a crime is committed and the criminal is unknown, especially the genocide of nearly five hundred thousand people, the justice system will act on whatever information they have to conduct proper investigations. Recently, we witnessed the arrest of former speaker George Koukou. The state based her decision on an email supposedly sent by Mr. George Koukou to Mr. Tom Woewiyu. There are numerous of articles that can be given to show cause and subpoena the president, so why is the TRC refusing to act on these articles, investigate, and if possible issue a subpoena to the chief executive to face the TRC? The TRC is clearly showing the world that it is not fit for the task at hand. It will be fair for the commission to HALT THE PROCESS INDEFINATELY since the chairman and the commission do not have the guts to stand up for justice. If the excuse given by the Liberian President is to avoid the TRC because she's writing a memoir, then it's only fair for all the other rebel leaders to claim the same thing. I don't know where the chairman claimed to have studied any law that states the accuse must be left alone to write a book or do not bother the accuse until he or she has written a book on the charges allegedly committed by the accused. Will the court in the Hague released Charles Taylor to allow him to write a memoir or a book on the entire war? Nonsense. Will you release a rebel leader or anyone who is a charged with war crimes but pursue the rebel army or the children conscripted as child soldiers? Like Bob Marley said, "you're playing smart and not being clever".
The TRC has a very important responsibility at this time in the history of the nation and you as the chairman have the opportunity of making a difference. A difference to make it work and save the nation or to fail and take the country back to the ugly past. If the TRC refuses to go after President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf but keeps on pestering the members of these rebel groups, it will cause the flame to re-ignite and Liberians could find themselves back to square one. If the negligence of the TRC causes any mishap during this fragile period, Liberians will hold you accountable to bear the consequences for the mishap. The nation can be healed through the TRC if the chairman and commissioners are willing to be fair or jeopardized by the application of injustice. Liberians deserve the chance to heal, therefore, it is paramount that the TRC do the right thing. Be very careful not to send the nation back to the past where anarchy became the order of the day. Subpoena Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf now or shut down the TRC. It's that simple. No one who is accused or a criminal gets away with murder to write a book. Usually, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, so President Ellen Sirleaf must not consider the presidency a safe haven and refuse to face the TRC. And you as the chairman of the commission should not be about practicing favoritism or injustice. Leave Prince Johnson and others alone until you decide to go after President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. When this happens then, Liberians will know that the TRC is able to do the task at hand. Liberians are watching the TRC more than you think therefore it is important that you play justice for all and not for some. Don't play smart and not being clever. You could resign now to save yourself from complications but if you decide to stay on board then this ultimatum is for you. SUBPOENA ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF OR SHUT DOWN THE TRC!
SENIOR STAFF AFRICAN PANORAMA MARCH 24, 2008
Cllr. Jerome Verdier/Chairman TRC
