Ellen Causes Stir on TRC

News and Events

Ellen Causes Stir on TRC: Avoids Elaborate Comments
Daily Observer:Fatoumata Fofana
July 28, 2009

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf caused stir at the official program of the Independence Day celebrations in Gbarnga, Bong County, yesterday when she commented for the first time on the TRC final report that seeks to ban her from holding political office and prosecute warlords for their roles in the Liberian conflict. She received standing ovation at the ceremony that was attended mostly by government officials and traditional chiefs when she said: “I have dedicated my life to navigating a future for Liberia free from war and fear and grounded in individual freedom and opportunity.

Sometimes, the circumstances were opaque, the distinctions between evil and good were not so clear this is the nature of conflict and war.”

The Liberian leader stated that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) spent three years interviewing tens of thousands of Liberians and others in the Diaspora on their views and roles in Liberia's political turmoil. She said the Liberian people had her steadfast commitment to work with all branches of government, the Independent Human Rights Commission, the religious community, civil society and the media to actualize its recommendations.

President Johnson Sirleaf pointed out that this was as much as she could say to the Liberian people as she was named in the report for sanction and had been advised that it would be legally imprudent for her to give a more extensive comment on the report.

“Also, my comments could be misinterpreted as an attempt to influence whatever action the National Legislature might take on the report …The report is currently before the Legislature.
“I do not intend to do so. I believe in the wisdom of the Liberian people and I am convinced that they will make a proper judgment on the TRC's Final Report,” the President said.

The Liberian Chief Executive received another round of applause when she stated that like thousands of other Liberians at home and abroad, she had always admitted to initially supporting Charles Taylor to challenge the brutality of a dictatorship. But she said it became equally clear that when the true nature of Mr. Taylor's intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process.

“I have talked about this openly over the past 12 years and expressed remorse to the Liberian people for my misjudgment. In turn, the Liberian people rendered their judgment. In 2005, I was elected President of the Republic of Liberia. My mandate was to return hope to the country and to make the children smile again. During the past three years, my Administration has remained true to the faith that the Liberian people bestowed to me in that election.

“We have made gains toward restoring our security and our prosperity and more importantly restoring our belief in ourselves, our potential, and our love of God and country. I know that there is much work to be done to bring the benefits of this work to all Liberians and my Administration will not rest until the gains of peace are felt by all. I strongly believe that Liberians, through their vote, have an inherent right to determine the direction of the nation, just as I believe that they each, in their own way, has the wisdom to know truth and the desire to seek reconciliation,” the President asserted.

Also in her Independence Day speech, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf categorically stated that the vote for her during the 2005 general and presidential elections was a vote for change; a vote for peace, security and stability; a vote for individual and national prosperity; a vote for healing and leadership.

She expressed humility in the enormity of the challenges that lie ahead to heal the country's wounds, redefine and strengthen its purpose, make democracy a living and effective experiment, promote economic growth, create jobs, revitalize the country's health and education facilities and services, and quicken the pace of social progress and individual prosperity in Liberia.

Acknowledging that Liberia still has a long way to go in its recovery process, the President also noted that the country's growth rate had averaged over 6 percent in the past three years, adding that Government was close to the end of the program “that will bring us relief from the US$4.9 billion external debt which we inherited”.

“Our Central Bank international reserves have gone from US$5 million to US$50 million. The University of Liberia will move next year to its US$20 million renovated Fendell Campus. The Tubman Technical College renamed Tubman University will reopen its doors in September to be followed by the Technical College in Sinje. Plans for other county colleges are well advanced in planning. We have attracted private investment of over US$8 billion in our mineral, agriculture, forestry and oil exploration potential.

“We have increased revenues from US$80 million to more than US$347 million, pensions from LD$50 to LD$1,000, civil servants salaries from US$15 to US$80 with a floor of US$100 for security, teachers and healthcare workers. The JFK Hospital is undertaking a program of major physical renovation and capacity building and is on an irreversible path to recovery. We have started judicial action for recovery of illegally sold government physical assets in five of our diplomatic missions,” the President disclosed.

The Chief Executive added that a nation rises to its potential when its people are prepared to seize the opportunity, to capture the moment, to accentuate the positive, emphasizing, “A nation rises to its potential when its people are proud of their achievements, are prepared to extol their values, are ready to rise above self-interest in demonstration of nationalism and patriotism.”