The mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), by the provision of the Accra Peace Accord, which established it, should be over by the end of the year, pending the conclusion of its work, but that seems to be impossible, owing to the workload before it. 

Apparently based on this, the commission has written the National Legislature, begging for additional time span to enable it conclude its mandate.

In its letter to the National Legislature, the TRC asked that it be given additional six months, December 2008 to June 30, 200, to enable it complete its mandates.

The contents of the letter, which was read during Tuesday Session, according to our reporter include, among others things, detailed presentation of the reasons why it wants its mandate extended.

In the communication, the TRC informed the legislators that summary of the activities to be completed during the requested period of extended tenure, and a report of the commission’s ongoing work to date.

The Commission, in the communication, expressed hope that the legislators, in their wisdom, will see it fit to entrust it (TRC) with the vital tasks of investigating the conflict, providing a forum in which Liberians could share their experiences and issuing recommendations to the government on how best Liberians can move beyond the conflict.

The commission also indicated in its letter to the legislators that it hopes the body will recognize the importance of granting an extension of tenure in order to ensure that the work of the TRC adequately reflects the admirable vision of the national legislature for the TRC.

“We are most gracious for your timely consideration of this urgent matter and trust that our request will meet your approval, in the interest of peace and national reconciliation,” it noted in the letter of request.

Following the reading of the letter in plenary and without much discussion, Lofa County Representative Eugene Fallah Kpaka moved that the communication be referred to the House of Committees on Judiciary as well as Peace and Reconciliation.

 Having gone through their legislative protocols, lawmakers present in session overwhelmingly voted on the motion of Rep. Kpaka. The body has mandated the two committees to study the nitty-gritty of communication and make recommendations to plenary, as to what to do, in a week time.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) came out of the Accra Comprehensive Accord, which brought together political party leaders, warring factions leaders and civil society groups to find a way to the carnage the engulfed the country at the time when forces loyal to then government battled forces of LURD, a rebellious group that sought to overthrow the Taylor administration.

The commission, which finally began work in 2005, was mandated to investigate and document the root causes of the Liberia’s nightmare from 1979 to 2003.