It is often said that truth hurts, but that it also heals especially when it is done with unbending sincerity. It was against this backdrop that stakeholders in the Liberian crises agreed in 2003 to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as opposed to war crimes tribunal.

The purpose: to provide a forum that will address issues of impunity as well as opportunities for victims and perpetrators of human rights violations to willfully explain their experiences in order to get a clear picture of the past to facilitate genuine healing and reconciliation.

Some called it 'the day of reckoning'. In order for the 'day of reckoning' to have meaning, it was also agreed that the TRC will, among other things, recommend measures to be taken for the rehabilitation of victims of human rights violations.

Now, after laying the groundwork for its mandate, the TRC kicked off the 'day of reckoning' with the first two victims appearing in what is called the 'statement taking process'.  But the nagging question is, “Will this exercise truly heal Liberia?”

With D. Sonpon Weah, The Analyst Staff Writer gives an account of what happened.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) yesterday commenced statement taking from perpetrators, eyewitnesses, and victims of the 14-year carnage that left the country in tatters and its population decimated.

Shortly after official ceremonies marking the beginning of the statement taking process ended, the first two witnesses took the stand to explain what they know or saw during the conflict period.

First to take the stand was Michael Biddle, son of former Secretary-General of the National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), Patrick K. Biddle who was reportedly murdered in 1990.

Michael told the dozens of Liberians and foreign dignitaries who graced the occasion that a rebel commander of Charles Taylor forces confessed to him that he murdered his late father.

Incidentally, Mr. Biddle left his home and ran into hiding in 1990. His whereabouts has since not been established, according to unconfirmed reports.  

Michael said following his father's disappearance and subsequent murder, rebel militiamen who he said belonged to Taylor's NPFL subjected his family and him to intimidation and extreme torture on grounds that his father was secretary-general to Doe's ruling NDPL.

He vividly recalled what happened between the Cocoa Cola Factory and the headquarters of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) when he was arrested by the son of a top NPFL rebel commander.

Michael, now in his 30s, said he was escaping escalating insecurity in Central Monrovia when he encountered the rebel commander's son who recognized him instantly and ordered him to step off the queue at a checkpoint.

He named neither the commander nor the son but indicated that had a group of women not pleaded for mercy on his behalf, he would have been dead because the rebels made it clear to him that they were going to make him atone for his father's role in the Doe government.

Notwithstanding the plea and the promise to release him, the rebels kept him up to 7:00 pm before they allowed him to board a bus bound for Ganta, Nimba County.

In Ganta, he said, his classmates identified him as the son of the former NDPL secretary-general and that on their testimonies; he was rearrested and thrown into a makeshift jail for several days without care. Michael said even though the action of the NPFL rebels devastated his family and affected his life gravely as a child, he harbored no malice for anyone, not even the perpetrators some of whom he said were still around.

After Michael, Mohamed Sheriff took the stance. Sheriff told the gathering that he was recruited by the defunct rebel United Liberation Movement (ULIMO) and attributed the breaking up of that rebel faction to the greed of Mr. Alhaji Kromah.

Sheriff said Mr. Kromah initiated conflict in ULIMO because he had wanted to take over the leadership. He gave no details of the breakup of ULIMO and its consequences upon the Liberian peace process, civilian death, and displacement but disclosed further that he joined forces loyal to the five-man transitional governing council of warlords as member of “government forces”.

According to him, Sam Bokarie for whom the international community mounted sustained pressure against the Taylor-led administration was on a military mission in Ivory Coast when he was ordered to return to Liberia by the then Director of the Special Security Service (SSS) Col. Benjamin Yeaten.

He said Col. Yeaten, who was the commander of government forces at the time, ordered the return of Bockarie in order to afford him the opportunity to reorganize his mission in Ivory Coast.

Sheriff said Bockarie obeyed Yeaten's order and returned to Liberia only to run into confrontation with Col. Yeaten, Joe Toweh, Vice President Moses Blah, and others at a border town between Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Claiming that he was with Bockarie at the time, Sheriff said Yeaten and his group told them that they only wanted to see field commanders and not bodyguards, thereby excluding foot soldiers from the border point encounter.

He said prior to their exclusion, Col. Yeaten accused Bockarie and his men of attempting to betray their Ivorian Mission. After accusing the fighters of attempting to betray the struggle, he said, Yeaten disarmed Bockarie and used the pistol to shoot him.

It is not clear whether Bockarie died on the spot, but Sheriff noted that after the shooting, Yeaten order his men to take Bockarie away. He said in addition to taking Bockarie away, the men beat his head with clubs, slit his throat afterwards, bundled his bloody body into a waiting jeep, and brought him to Monrovia.

Following the elimination of Bockarie, he said, Yeaten ordered one Col. Salima to kill Bockarie's wife, mother, and two kids in order to prevent them from testifying anywhere about his death. The first two testifiers said they were ready to prove their separate claims when the TRC begins proper hearing early next year.

They said they were ready to present factual and detailed accounts of how some of the perpetrators named in their initial testimonies tortured their victims, some of whom were hospitalized, before murdering them in the most gruesome manner imaginable.

Earlier, TRC Chairman, Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier Sr. called on those concerned to give the TRC the truth, collaborate with the process and to be available when invited to appear to give accounts of their experiences in whatever role they might have played during the conflict.

Cllr. Verdier thanked the invaluable support partners including the Liberian Government, ECOWAS, UNMIL, EU, UNDP, OSIWA and the US Embassy were  giving the commission.

According to him, the event marked the progress towards implementing TRC mandate and the beginning of a new era of accountability and empathy that would eventually lead to reconciliation in Liberia.

The TRC boss said his commission was dedicated to restoring the human dignity of victims and promoting reconciliation by providing a forum for the victims, perpetrators, and witnesses to give testimonies of violations and abuses.  

“Truth will facilitate reconciliation when we admit our errors and division, foster dialogue and build national consensus on how we can reform our social, economic and political governance processes and  institutions that will respond to our national development goals and respect for the  human rights of all,” he said.

 “The reality of our national existence,” Cllr. Verdier said, “has caught up with us and now staring us in the face. We have to face it and move our nation forward through seeking the truth, national healing, and reconciliation.”

Also speaking during the ceremonies, the European Union (EU) political officer, Michael Sulusi-Sjo urged Liberians to take ownership of the national reconciliation process to really find and enjoy sustainable peace and stability and start a proper healing process.  

The EU official revealed that the union was prepared to beef up assistance to Liberia through increased support the activities of the TRC. He said the TRC has a huge challenge ahead in fulfilling its objectives after decades of civil upheaval and conflict.

According to him the task will be surmounted only if Liberians approached it with transparency. He then urged TRC statement takers to be professional, transparent, and accountable to the institution, the country, and the people of Liberian, adding that objectivity, compassion, and impartiality must guide the reconciliation process.