-As Liberians observe 20 years after the bloody civil unrest.
By: Jerromie S. Walters
ECOWAS Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, has recommended the need for Liberia to implement the Truth and Reconciliation report, and ensure psychosocial intervention for those affected by the trauma of war.
At a recent event commemorating the observance of 20 years of peace, Madam Josephine Nkrumah said, “Liberia must find the empathies to implement the TRC report,” as she believes only this will aid in delivering healing, national cohesion, trust building, love for country and Liberians.
“For a generation that experienced the trauma of war, I hold the humble view that due consecration must be given to intentional and deliberate psychosocial interventions, for a structure of society that suffered the atrocities and nightmares of war.”
This, she said will aid in avoiding said trauma from being redirected to another generation. She made a passionate appeal for nation government and political actors to enlighten the youths to contributed positively to nation building, as they are often the drivers of unorthodox acts.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) presented its final report containing findings, determinations and recommendations made by the Commission to the National Legislature.
The report contains major findings on: the root causes of the conflict, the impact of the conflict on women, children and the generality of the Liberian society; responsibility for the massive commission of Gross Human Rights Violations (GHRV), and violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL) as well as Egregious Domestic Law Violations (EDLV).
The report also determined and recommended that Criminal Prosecution for these violations, Reparations and a “Palava Hut” Forum is necessary and desirable to redress impunity, promote peace, justice, security, unity and genuine national reconciliation.
The TRC was agreed upon in the August 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Accra and created by the TRC Act of 2005. The TRC was established to “promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation,” and at the same time make it possible to hold perpetrators accountable for gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law that occurred in Liberia between January 1979 and October 2003.
From the establishment of the Accra Peace Agreement, to restoring diplomatic relations between Liberia and Guinea, ECOWAS Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, says the women she said the women of Liberia role in maintaining the peace is indescribable and can’t be overemphasized, as such, government and its international partners must to work towards deepening women inclusion at all levels.
“It was the catalytic role of women that led to the peace we are enjoying today.” With this, we admonished the government and its international partners, to work towards deepening women political participation in both the private and public sectors.
“It is in this vein that I urge all of us, national and international partners, to work towards deepening women inclusion at all levels of governance and decision making in both private and public sectors, for holistic peace and development in Liberia,” she added.
The ECOWAS Ambassador said, Liberians and the international community have a genuine reason to celebrate and observe the existence of the peace, as she believes the dark side of Liberia’s past teaches a lot to be skeptical about the future.
She extended the body appreciation to Liberians for maintaining the peace but believes Liberians and the international community must do all they can to maintain the peace.
Furthermore, she hailed Amb. Endee for committing herself to organizing the event, and contributing to the maintenance of peace in Liberia.
She wants NEC afford all political parties a level plain field, and the same edge in the pending elections. Accordingly, she’s hoping that all political parties will adhere to an issue based campaign.
From her end, UN Resident Coordinator, said during these electoral period, she sees dialogue as the way forward. Interestingly, she’s confident that the elections process will be peaceful.
She believes Liberia has gone through challenges, and as the country reflects on said oath, it brings joy to her and prepare them for true determination.
Moreover, she commended Liberians for believing in Unity and maintaining the peace. As someone that experienced war, she said it feels good to forgive and move on, reconcile and reconstruct a nation.
The 20 years of uninterrupted peace KUKATORNON “We Are One” peace initiative was held in commemoration of the comprehensive peace agreement which ended the Liberia civil war on August 18, 2004, in Accra, Ghana.
This year’s edition was held under the theme, Let’s sustain the peace”, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Liberia, on Friday August 18, 2023.
Twenty (20) years ago, on Christmas eve, December 24, 1989, Liberians and Foreign Residents listened to the most heart-breaking and disturbing news on the BBC, that Mr. Charles G. Taylor, leader of the defunctNational Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), reported that he and his rebel group had entered Liberia by way of Nimba County, in a Town called Butuo, situated on the Ivorian Border with Liberia to unseat Former President Samuel Kanyon Doe and his NDPL Government. This news went throughout the length and breadth of the Country with fear and terror.
However, from that day on, the rebel war fast spread in the entire Country; resulted to the assassination of Former President Samuel K. Doe by the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) at the Freeport of Monrovia, when the former President was in route to leave the Country; also, 250,000 people lost their lives; Liberians and non-Liberians, including the ECOMOG soldiers of the West African Peacekeeping force and Peacekeepers from the United Nations; amongst others.
The war, according to International Statistics cost the International Community (USS10,000,000,000) about Ten Billions United States Dollars, destroyed the properties of citizens and non- citizens, including the Liberian Economy, which is still struggling!
However, after many attempts to resolve the civil crisis, several Accords were held but to no avail.
Accordingly, on June 4, 2003, Eighteen Registered Political Parties, Civil Societies and Interest Groups under the leadership of ECOWAS, AU, UN and the International Community when to Accra, Ghana in order to find a peaceful solution to the Liberian Civil Crisis.
Therefore on August 18, 2003 in Accra, Ghana, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed by the Eighteen Registered Political Parties, the defunct warring parties, Civil Societies, Interest Groups and attested by Representatives of the International community, amongst others.
In so doing and in observance of the 20 Anniversary Celebrations of the uninterrupted and successful Peace in Liberia, the Signatories to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) are celebrating Peace in collaboration with Kukatornon (We are One) of the Crusaders for Peace.
Furthermore, in observance of this all-important occasion, Signatories of the Accra Peace Agreement (OSAPA), a subsidiary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), appreciations to ECOWAS, AU, UN, the United States Government, the International Contact Group on Liberia (1CGL), including other International Organizations that made it possible to find a permanent solution to the Liberian Civil Crisis; which resulted to the Signing of the CPA of August 18, 2003, in Accra, Ghana.
