VZCZCXRO9889
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0030/01 0111407
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111407Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9630
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OPENS 
FIRST HEARINGS 
 
REF: A. 07 MONROVIA 864 
     ¶B. 07 MONROVIA 462 
     ¶C. 06 MONROVIA 1637 
     ¶D. 06 MONROVIA 1439 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  The GOL Truth and Reconciliation 
Commission (TRC) opened public hearings January 8 for the 
first time in its history.  This round of hearings will 
continue through July 31 and carries the theme "Confronting 
our Difficult Past for a Better Future."  President Sirleaf 
called on all Liberians to participate in the TRC process and 
apologized for the government's role in the country's 14-year 
civil conflict.  While the TRC process has been slow in the 
past, the start of the public hearings marks a new chapter in 
its progress and has sparked greater public interest.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
OPENING CEREMONY FOR TRC'S PUBLIC HEARINGS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) 
held a ceremony to mark its first day of public hearings on 
January 8.  This marked the beginning of the all important 
public hearing phase of the TRC,s work. Since the TRC was 
formally launched in mid-2006 up until now, it has focused on 
extensive statement taking in Liberia and among the Liberian 
Diaspora. The hearings carry the theme "Confronting our 
Difficult Past for a Better Future" and will continue through 
January in Monrovia.  After that it will travel throughout 
all 15 counties of Liberia until July 31. 
 
¶3. (U) In her speech at the ceremony, President Ellen Johnson 
Sirleaf called upon all Liberian citizens to participate in 
the TRC process and apologized for the role the Liberian 
Government played in the fourteen years of civil war.  TRC 
Chairman Jerome Verdier encouraged Liberian citizens to see 
the process as key to "a national renaissance."  The most 
compelling testimony was that of the TRC's first witness, 
David D. Sayweh, which was given during the ceremony and in 
front of President Sirleaf.  Sayweh tearfully testified that 
he was just 10 years old in 1994 when 25 rebels invaded his 
village and gang raped and killed his 16-year old sister.  He 
alleged that "Sundaygar Dearboy," a famous rap artist, was 
the leader of the gang.  The TRC said it will give Sundaygar 
Dearboy the opportunity to vindicate himself from the claim 
made by Sayweh. 
 
SHOULD THE HEARINGS REALLY BE PUBLIC? 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) These public hearings raise security questions for 
both the witnesses and the accused.  Local press called 
Sayweh "fearless" for having the courage to stand up publicly 
against a celebrity and possibly face retribution from the 
rapper's supporters.  Likewise, those accused may also face 
extra-judicial retribution from the public.  UNMIL helped the 
GOL coordinate a TRC Security Protection Plan with the 
Liberian National Police (LNP) and UNPOL but, as the hearings 
just started, it has not been fully utilized. 
 
HEARINGS MARK A NEW CHAPTER IN TRC PROCESS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) The TRC process has, up to this point, progressed 
slower than expected.  Poor management, staff shortages, and 
infighting between Commissioners hindered its effectiveness. 
The pace has quickened, however, throughout 2007 and has 
improved further still since USAID's audit of the 
institution's finances last October.  In total, approximately 
14,000 statements have been taken throughout Liberia and the 
Diaspora.  The Commission selects which statements merit a 
hearing and will use the hearings to decide if it will 
recommend anyone for prosecution or to receive restitution in 
its final report.  The start of the public hearings therefore 
marks a new chapter in the TRC process.  The hearings have 
been well-publicized and the public has taken an interest in 
the process.  Many citizens eagerly await the Commission's 
final report, due at the end of 2008. 
 
U.S. MAKES ADDITIONAL $500,000 GRANT TO TRC 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) In a January 10 signing ceremony, Ambassador Booth 
announced a U.S. grant of $500,000 to support the ongoing 
work of the TRC, including continued statement taking, 
national awareness, increasing the involvement of civil 
society in supporting the TRC's work, and to help finance the 
final report of the Commission.  Ambassador Booth said that 
the grant was one component of U.S. assistance to rule of law 
and democracy, adding "at the core of the TRC process is the 
 
MONROVIA 00000030  002 OF 002 
 
 
restoration of human dignity."  This latest grant is on top 
of $400,000 the USG has previously provided the TRC. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT. Until the start of these public hearings, 
the TRC itself was not sure what it was going to do with the 
14,000 statements it collected (and continues to collect). 
Only a small fraction of those who gave statements will ever 
be called into a hearing, but the very fact that some people 
are testifying gives the institution credibility in the eyes 
of the public.  While the Commission has been plagued by poor 
management and inefficiency, it appears to have improved its 
operations since its October 2007 USAID audit.  The opening 
of these public hearings shows that they are making progress. 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) Whether the TRC can be the vehicle for a veritable 
healing process, however, remains to be seen.  That depends 
directly on how well security is maintained for the witnesses 
and alleged violators.  It also depends on how well the 
public receives the Commission's final report.  The TRC can 
recommend people for prosecution and recommend that others 
receive restitution payments but frankly has no resources to 
do either.  Nevertheless, the fact that the hearings have 
made the public more interested in the process overall is a 
success in its own right.  END COMMENT. 
Booth