ICTJ in the News

April 27, 2005

Experts Want TRC Bill Ratified

The Analyst (Monrovia)

By D. Moses Wantu

Scores of national and international advocates have appealed to the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) to ratify the draft Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) bill. The Bill is currently before the NTLA pending legislative scrutiny.

According to reports, the TRC bill was to be debated by the Plenary last Tuesday, but because of other issues which the sponsor of the bill, Commany Wisseh termed "very important" it was postponed.

The Director of the United States based advocacy group, International Center for Transitional Justice, Priscilla Hayner, UNMIL Transitional Advisor, Raphael Abiem, the Executive Director for Center of Democratic Empowerment (CEDE), Ezekiel Parjibo amongst others have called on the NTLA to ratify the bill.

Most of them in brief chats with journalists at the Capitol Building underscored the importance of the bill to the sustenance of the peace building process of Liberia, after years of civil nightmare.

"The importance of the bill is that it will afford victims of violence the opportunity to listen to the ordeal of others and to learn about forgiving those who perpetrated violence against them," remarked one of them.

The House Standing Committee on the Peace Process chaired by Representative Conmany Wesseh has had series of public hearings at the joint Chamber of the Capitol. The hearing brought together scores of national and international human right experts, majority of whom called for the ratification respectively.

Mr. Wesseh, during one of his discussions with the press disclosed that if the bill was ratified, witnesses' statements during testimony before the TRC would not be used against them in any court of competent jurisdiction.

He then challenged Liberians, as stakeholders, to engage in exercise that would help to detraumatize victims of violence.

The Civil Society Representative said at the time that bill would have been brought before the Plenary for ratification on last Tuesday, but that is not case.

"There is an overwhelming support for this bill among my colleagues because they know the importance of the bill," Mr. Wesseh concluded.