Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONROVIA30
2008-01-11 14:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OPENS

Tags:  PREL PGOV ECON PHUM EAID LI 
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VZCZCXRO9889
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0030/01 0111407
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111407Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9630
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000030 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OPENS
FIRST HEARINGS

REF: A. 07 MONROVIA 864

B. 07 MONROVIA 462

C. 06 MONROVIA 1637

D. 06 MONROVIA 1439

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000030

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OPENS
FIRST HEARINGS

REF: A. 07 MONROVIA 864

B. 07 MONROVIA 462

C. 06 MONROVIA 1637

D. 06 MONROVIA 1439


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The GOL Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) opened public hearings January 8 for the
first time in its history. This round of hearings will
continue through July 31 and carries the theme "Confronting
our Difficult Past for a Better Future." President Sirleaf
called on all Liberians to participate in the TRC process and
apologized for the government's role in the country's 14-year
civil conflict. While the TRC process has been slow in the
past, the start of the public hearings marks a new chapter in
its progress and has sparked greater public interest. END
SUMMARY.

OPENING CEREMONY FOR TRC'S PUBLIC HEARINGS
--------------


2. (U) The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
held a ceremony to mark its first day of public hearings on
January 8. This marked the beginning of the all important
public hearing phase of the TRC,s work. Since the TRC was
formally launched in mid-2006 up until now, it has focused on
extensive statement taking in Liberia and among the Liberian
Diaspora. The hearings carry the theme "Confronting our
Difficult Past for a Better Future" and will continue through
January in Monrovia. After that it will travel throughout
all 15 counties of Liberia until July 31.


3. (U) In her speech at the ceremony, President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf called upon all Liberian citizens to participate in
the TRC process and apologized for the role the Liberian
Government played in the fourteen years of civil war. TRC
Chairman Jerome Verdier encouraged Liberian citizens to see
the process as key to "a national renaissance." The most
compelling testimony was that of the TRC's first witness,
David D. Sayweh, which was given during the ceremony and in
front of President Sirleaf. Sayweh tearfully testified that
he was just 10 years old in 1994 when 25 rebels invaded his
village and gang raped and killed his 16-year old sister. He
alleged that "Sundaygar Dearboy," a famous rap artist, was

the leader of the gang. The TRC said it will give Sundaygar
Dearboy the opportunity to vindicate himself from the claim
made by Sayweh.

SHOULD THE HEARINGS REALLY BE PUBLIC?
--------------


4. (SBU) These public hearings raise security questions for
both the witnesses and the accused. Local press called
Sayweh "fearless" for having the courage to stand up publicly
against a celebrity and possibly face retribution from the
rapper's supporters. Likewise, those accused may also face
extra-judicial retribution from the public. UNMIL helped the
GOL coordinate a TRC Security Protection Plan with the
Liberian National Police (LNP) and UNPOL but, as the hearings
just started, it has not been fully utilized.

HEARINGS MARK A NEW CHAPTER IN TRC PROCESS
--------------


5. (SBU) The TRC process has, up to this point, progressed
slower than expected. Poor management, staff shortages, and
infighting between Commissioners hindered its effectiveness.
The pace has quickened, however, throughout 2007 and has
improved further still since USAID's audit of the
institution's finances last October. In total, approximately
14,000 statements have been taken throughout Liberia and the
Diaspora. The Commission selects which statements merit a
hearing and will use the hearings to decide if it will
recommend anyone for prosecution or to receive restitution in
its final report. The start of the public hearings therefore
marks a new chapter in the TRC process. The hearings have
been well-publicized and the public has taken an interest in
the process. Many citizens eagerly await the Commission's
final report, due at the end of 2008.

U.S. MAKES ADDITIONAL $500,000 GRANT TO TRC
--------------


6. (U) In a January 10 signing ceremony, Ambassador Booth
announced a U.S. grant of $500,000 to support the ongoing
work of the TRC, including continued statement taking,
national awareness, increasing the involvement of civil
society in supporting the TRC's work, and to help finance the
final report of the Commission. Ambassador Booth said that
the grant was one component of U.S. assistance to rule of law
and democracy, adding "at the core of the TRC process is the

MONROVIA 00000030 002 OF 002


restoration of human dignity." This latest grant is on top
of $400,000 the USG has previously provided the TRC.


7. (SBU) COMMENT. Until the start of these public hearings,
the TRC itself was not sure what it was going to do with the
14,000 statements it collected (and continues to collect).
Only a small fraction of those who gave statements will ever
be called into a hearing, but the very fact that some people
are testifying gives the institution credibility in the eyes
of the public. While the Commission has been plagued by poor
management and inefficiency, it appears to have improved its
operations since its October 2007 USAID audit. The opening
of these public hearings shows that they are making progress.



8. (SBU) Whether the TRC can be the vehicle for a veritable
healing process, however, remains to be seen. That depends
directly on how well security is maintained for the witnesses
and alleged violators. It also depends on how well the
public receives the Commission's final report. The TRC can
recommend people for prosecution and recommend that others
receive restitution payments but frankly has no resources to
do either. Nevertheless, the fact that the hearings have
made the public more interested in the process overall is a
success in its own right. END COMMENT.
Booth