VZCZCXRO8725
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0937/01 3510840
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170840Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1520
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1595

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000937 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM SOCI EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: FINAL, EDITED TRC REPORT RELEASED AFTER MUCH 
DELAY 
 
REF: A) MONROVIA 465 B) MONROVIA 487 C) MONROVIA 549 D) MONROVIA 602 
E) MONROVIA 691 F) MONROVIA 906 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  After many delays, the final, edited version of 
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report was released on 
December 8.  It contained few changes, mostly the addition of 17 
names to lists of perpetrators and more statistical analysis. 
Implementing the recommendations is still a topic of debate in 
Monrovia, and the Independent National Human Rights Commissioners, 
which by law is charged to oversee the implementation of the report 
recommendations, will not be appointed to succeed the TRC until 
after the Legislature returns in January. Unlike in July, President 
Sirleaf reacted immediately, publicly praising the Commissioners for 
their work and vowing for the reconciliation process to continue. 
She has also been consulting with Nairobi-based Centre for 
Humanitarian Dialogue representative David Lambo regarding 
supporting a National Reconciliation Conference.  USG funding will 
be used to transport TRC documents to Georgia Tech.  END SUMMARY. 
 
FINAL REPORT RELEASED LATE, WITH LITTLE FANFARE 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (U) After much delay, the final, edited version of Liberia's 
Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report was released at a 
December 8 press conference and printed copies of the updated 
version are being distributed.  The report was also uploaded on the 
TRC website at: https://www.trcofliberia.org/ 
 
¶3. (SBU) The release of the final report follows repeated delays 
that pushed back its official publication and announcement from an 
October window to November due to ongoing problems with the printing 
service in Ghana and transportation of the 1,500 printed copies from 
Accra to Monrovia.  UNMIL assisted with transport from Accra, 
airlifting 1,250 copies of the final report from Ghana on November 
¶29. 
 
¶4. (U) The content of the final document remained largely unchanged, 
with a few additions.  Ten names were added to the most notorious 
perpetrators list, five names were added to the economic crimes 
section, and two names to the sanction from public office section. 
The names and nationalities of 102 foreign fighters were also added, 
along with statistics on victims, perpetrators, categories, 
violations by warring factions, and gender of victims and 
perpetrators.  As well, 702 names of lesser category of perpetrators 
and people who expressed remorse during the hearing phase were 
recommended for "palava hut" methods of reconciliation.  Volumes I, 
II and III were printed, but Volume IV, comprising 10,000 pages of 
testimony, was not printed, due to lack of funding.  One appendix of 
Volume III contains the descriptive statistics from testimony 
compiled by Benetech, which was funded by DRL. 
 
UNRESOLVED ISSUES PERSIST 
------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Under the TRC Act, the TRC will now disband to be succeeded 
by the Independent National Human Rights Commission (Ref D), but the 
Senate has not yet approved the INHRC commissioners, and one 
nominee's name was withdrawn from consideration after he was 
implicated in human trafficking.  Furthermore, several issues 
related to TRC records storage and finances remain unresolved.  TRC 
staff members' salaries have not been paid in nearly six months due 
to the removal of funding for TRC administrative issues from the 
most recent budget. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The USG is working with the TRC and Georgia Tech on a plan 
for the final disposition of the TRC's paper archives.  Using USAID 
funding, the documents will be shipped to Georgia Tech, which will 
pick up the cost of electronically copying and archiving the 
documents.  There is no set plan for the return of the paper 
documents. 
 
REPORT RELEASED WITH LITTLE FANFARE 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The release came with less fanfare than the release of the 
unedited version in July, but the report continues to be carried in 
the press, and Commissioners claim to be receiving renewed threats 
against them.  All TRC commissioners are maintaining a low profile 
and some are considering leaving Liberia for one or more years. 
Former warlord and Senator Prince Johnson, named prominently in the 
report, issued a statement on December 8 stating that "the TRC final 
report is fit only for the dustbin."  He also accused Chairman 
Verdier of being an ex-combatant and pledged to show documents to 
that effect. 
 
¶8. (U) However, President Sirleaf immediately released a statement 
through her spokesperson praising the work of the commissioners, 
calling on legislators to discuss the report with their 
constituents, and saying that "a process is underway to formulate 
the right strategy for implementing the report, taking into account 
 
MONROVIA 00000937  002 OF 002 
 
 
that national reconciliation, peace and harmony are the cornerstone 
of any vibrant society," without providing specifics.  This is in 
contrast to July, when the president waited at least two weeks 
before commenting on the release of the unedited report. 
 
NEXT STEPS REMAIN UNCLEAR 
------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) TRC Chairman Verdier expressed his hope to Poloff that the 
recommendations contained in the final report will be fully 
implemented.  The act establishing the TRC requires the Independent 
National Human Rights Commission to ensure implementation of the 
report's recommendations and the president is required to submit 
regular reports to the National Legislature on implementation of the 
recommendations.  This implies that the president has some 
responsibility for carrying out the TRC's recommended actions -- 
including those involving her. 
 
¶10. (SBU) At the same time, the search for a path paralleling the 
politicized-TRC process is already underway in Liberia.  David Lambo 
of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) told Ambassador that 
President Sirleaf has sought his organization's assistance in 
putting together a conference of civil society organizations to 
formulate a strategy for national dialogue.  CHD plans to host a 
small brainstorming session in Nairobi in January 2010 with key 
stakeholders from civil society to strategize on the way forward. 
Secretary General Benjamin Lartey, speaking for the Liberia Council 
of Churches, told Ambassador on December 7 that their split with the 
TRC came early in the process, and that they favor healing and 
reconciliation over prosecutions (Ref F). 
 
¶11. (SBU) COMMENT:  There remains a distinct possibility that the 
GOL may decide to shelve the report and explore other means for 
continuing the country's reconciliation process.  Many Liberians 
question the TRC's motives for including the president among the 
sanctioned, while so many others who committed violent acts were 
omitted.  Indeed, the decision to include the president for still 
undocumented reasons has made President Sirleaf's task more 
difficult, and at this point she seems to be the only person with 
sufficient influence to direct the process.  Her positive comments 
on the TRC report suggest that she still wants to find a way 
forward.  Also key in the process is the Legislature, of which 
several members are named in the report. 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD