GOT NAMES MEMBERS OF THE TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND

UNCLAS LOME 000249


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TO
SUBJECT: GOT NAMES MEMBERS OF THE TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND
RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

REF: LOME 64


1. Summary. More than a year after the start of country-wide
consultations concerning the composition and mission of a
Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) for
Togo, the Council of Ministers issued a decree announcing the
members. In a June 16 meeting with the Ambassador, four of
the members described the task at hand and issues they
foresee as Togo begins to address its contentious and often
violent political history. End Summary.


2. The mission of the TJRC is to make recommendations to
bring to light acts of violence from the past of a political
nature and to study methods of appeasement for the victims.
The commission is responsible for organizing
awareness-raising campaigns to ensure the Togolese population
understands its work. It will write a report explaining the
nature, the extent, and the cause of political acts of
violence and should research the context that produced the
violence. The TJRC should also, in the course of its work,
identify the authors, institutions, organizations and others
responsible for human rights violations. Finally, the
commission should propose possible methods of reparation and
recommend how to avoid such situations in the future.


3. The doubts regarding whether the TJRC will actually be
able to properly carry out its assigned task have only been
reinforced by the release of the names of the members of the
committee. While some are respected members of Togolese
society, others will probably themselves be accused of
political atrocities or corruption during the process.

President- Monsignor Nicodeme Anani Barrigah-Benissan: Known
for integrity

Vice-President- Professor (Ms.) Kissem Tchangai-Walla: Former
minister, served as the president of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (CENI) during the 2005 presidential
elections, is widely blamed for certifying fraudulent
election results

First Reporter- Professor (Mr.) Koffi Ahadji-Nonou: President
of the University of Lome, believed to be a friend of
President Faure

Second Reporter- Mr. Bona Djato Ketewuli: President of the
association "Positive Differences," former Minister of
Communication

Member- Ms. Pepevi Kpakpo: Director of the Journalism
Institute at the University of Lome

Member- Ms. Sirina Kourabodji: Trainer at the Islamic College
of Lome

Member- Ms. Claudine Ahianyo-Kpondjo: National coordinator
for the West African Network for Peacebuilding

Member- Mr. El Hadj Imam Kassim Mensah: Member of the Islamic
Union of Togo, teacher

Member- Mr. Togbui Agboli Agokoli VI: Tribal chief of Notse,
a town located an hour north of Lome

Member- Mr. Ogamo Bagna- Businessman, former minister

Member- Professor Koffi Badjow Tcham (Mr.): History professor
at the University of Lome


4. Ambassador Hawkins met with several members of the
commission, including the president and vice-president, on
June 16. They stated that the main goal of the commission is
to reconcile the various factions of Togolese society.
Barrigah-Benissan noted that Togolese have different
perceptions of history, and it is the commission's job to
examine the facts to bring the country to resolution. He said
that the commission will remain in the preparatory phase for
weeks to come. The commission plans to consult with
specialists from other countries which have already gone
through the same process.


5. The Togolese League of Human Rights (LTDH),a respected
local human rights organization, expressed concern about the
composition of the commission. While TJRC members told the
Ambassador that President Faure held numerous consultations
to decide who would be appointed to the commission, the LTDH
feels that inclusion of several members was to advantage the
GOT. In a letter sent to the Minister of Human Rights, LTDH
interim-president Kpande-Adzare notes that Ms. Tchangai-Walla
was the president of the CENI when the results of the 2005
elections were contested by everyone. Mr. Bagna, a former
Minister of the Interior and former director general of the
Togolese national phosphate company, is suspected of
embezzling funds from that company and supposedly had fallen
out of favor with Eyadema before his death. Finally, Mr.
Agokoli is mentioned as simply not being "politically
innocent." Kpande-Adzare feels that the inclusion of these
members throws into doubt the political will of the GOT to
address past contentious issues.


6. Comment. The members of the new TJRC are by and large
well-respected figures in Togolese society. However, the
inclusion of several controversial members, especially
Tchangai-Walla, calls into doubt the neutrality of any
recommendations the commission might make. Her role in the
2005 presidential elections is well-known by the population,
and it seems strange that President Faure would appoint
someone to the commission who will more than likely herself
be accused of being part of the problem. As the TJRC members
finish their training and start to set their internal rules
for deliberation, it will be interesting to see if they
actually concentrate on addressing the grievances of the
Togolese population or if they just continue to sweep the
issues under the rug and attempt to rewrite history. End
Comment.


HAWKINS