A Lofa County Representative opposes TRC’s recommendation - a war crimes Court in Liberia.

Jun 25, 2009Press ReleaseHon. Malian Jallabah, RepresentativeLofa County
A Liberian Legislator has called on the citizens and the international community to prevent the Truth and Reconciliation process from turning into another civil crisis in Liberia.Representative Malian Jallabah specifically called on the United States, the European Union, China, and the Economic Community of West African States to pay attention to the mounting tension in Monrovia and certain parts of the country as a result of threats coming from the TRC under Jerome Verdier. She said instead of bringing lasting peace to Liberia, the TRC might end up destroying the prospects for genuine reconciliation and harmony. If there will be durable peace, it will not come from the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in its present character, she said.In a Press Conference held in Monrovia this June 24, 2009, Hon. Jallabah said it is clear now that the activities of the TRC under Mr. Jerome Verdier have led to the creation of a dangerous climate for peace, and if it is not stopped, Liberia could run into another civil crisis. The Lofa County Lawmaker said it is evident that the Chairman of the Commission and a couple of other commissioners are not concerned about maintaining peace in Liberia. She said the conduct of Chairman Verdier and two of his colleagues are promoting the kind of injustice that led to the 1979 Rice Riots, the military takeover of 1980 and the civil war.Representative Jallabah said the recently ended Reconciliation Conference organized by Mr. Verdier did not reconcile anyone, as there was no parties or groups present at the conference to be reconciled. She said the meeting, which included delegates mostly selected by the TRC itself, was mainly intended to endorse a political decision already made by politicians in Monrovia and the United States working through some TRC commissioners to exclude their political rivals from the 2011 national elections. She said no Liberian has the right to exclude anyone from any elections.The Lofa Representative repeated that if anyone is to be prosecuted, it must be across the board, including all those who participated in the various crises, starting from 1979 to the present. Since this group will involve nearly all prominent Liberians, it is simply preferable to push on with the peace initiatives that were going on before the TRC was set up.Madame Jallabah said Liberia is facing more difficult problems of development and will only get worse and dangerous if some Liberians are allowed to manipulate the nation into chaos. She said she would not only continue to speak publicly against any activity that will undermine peace in Liberia, but she would also join others to mobilize those Liberians who want action for the way forward.On comments made by Mr. Anthony Kesselly who she said claims to be speaking for Liberians in the United States in recommending prosecution in Liberia during the reconciliation Conference, Representative Jallabah said Mr. Kesselly does not represent the majority of Liberians in the United States. She said she has received a lot of messages from Liberians in the United States condemning Mr. Kesselly’s statement.Madame Jallabah said Anthony Kesselly is part of the political clique in Monrovia plotting to undermine the prospects of their political rival through the TRC. She said a prominent member of the TRC and Kesselly were all part of the Interim government of Amos Sawyer that organized the Black Beret and participated in the armed conflict. She said it is sad and unfortunate that these individuals would be the ones talking in the name of justice but actually working for their political sponsors.The Lofa Lawmaker ended by again alerting Liberians and the international community to be decisive in preventing another chaos in Liberia.