President George Manneh Weah has assured the Liberian Senate that the government will give timely and due consideration to the recent recommendations regarding the full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report.
According to a Senate press release, President Weah on Thursday, August 12, 2021 officially communicated with the august body by expressing his thanks and appreciation to the Liberian Senate for taking the time to deliberate on the TRC Report.
In his communication to the Upper House, President Weah said, “I have taken due note of the advisement contained in the comprehensive report of the Honorable Senate, aimed at bringing to closure the issues of reconciliation and justice arising from the Liberian civil conflict.
“I would like to assure you that I shall give these recommendations timely and due considerations.”
It can be recalled that, in September 2019, President George M. Weah officially communicated with the Liberian Senate to seek advice from the august body with respect to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. The matter was subsequently forwarded to the Senate’s leadership.
The leadership of the Senate, in its full report to plenary, recommended a public hearing of stakeholders.
During the legislative proceedings, the Liberian Senate took weeks to debate the leadership’s report and, at the same time, invited key stakeholders to seek their expert opinions on the report, for onward action by plenary.
Key amongst the experts invited were representatives from the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the Solicitor General of Liberia, as well as civil society and justice actors.
The Liberian Senate, in its final report, advised President George Weah to set up what they called a “Transitional Justice Commission (TJC)” that would analyze and investigate the findings of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), amidst diverse public opinion on whether or not to implement the recommendations of the report and the establishment of a war and economic crimes court.
In the past few years, and since the sitting of the 54th National Legislature and inauguration of President George Weah, there have been debates on how to proceed with the implementation of the TRC Report. One group has been calling for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court to prosecute those who committed heinous crimes during the civil crisis, while on the other hand another group of Liberians have been calling for a palaver hut mechanism through which the perpetrators and victims would be brought face-to-face.