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THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION (TRC) OF LIBERIA PUBLIC BULLETIN NO. 01



THE TRC ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS TO COMMENCE JANUARY 8, 2008 AND RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE HEARINGS SCHEDULE

WHEREAS, The objective and mandate of the TRC, as set forth in Article IV, Sec 4 of the TRC Act of 2005, shall be to promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS, Sub-section 4 (b) of the same said Article IV mandates the TRC to provide "...a forum that will address issues of impunity, as well as an opportunity for both victims and perpetrators of human rights violations to share their experiences in order to create a clear picture of the past so as to facilitate genuine healing and reconciliation...Article VII, Section 26(f) Helping restore the human dignity of victims and promote reconciliation by providing an opportunity for victims, witnesses, and others to give an account of the violations and abuses suffered and for perpetrators to relate their experiences, in an environment conducive to constructive dialogue between victims and perpetrators, giving special attention to the issues of sexual and gender based violence, and particularly to the experiences of children and women during armed conflicts in Liberia;" and

WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 26 (e) of the TRC Act empowers the TRC to "...gather information and receive evidence from any person or persons, including persons claiming to be victims of such violations or the representatives of such victims, individuals, groups of individuals, perpetrators, witnesses and institutions through the taking of statements and through evidence gathered through the conduct of both public and confidential hearings upon request of witnesses, informants, petitioners, either as victims or perpetrators, subject to the exclusive direction and authority of the TRC; and

WHEREAS, Sub-section 26 (p)(i)(b) of the same Article VII, provides that where the interest of justice and security of witnesses demand, "...The commission may direct that proceedings be held in camera and that the public or any particular individual or individuals shall not be present at proceedings or any part thereof if the security of perpetrators, victims or witness is deemed to be threatened...."

THE TRC HEREBY DECLARES:

1.Public Hearings will commence on Tuesday, the 8th day of January A.D. 2008 in Monrovia at the historic Centennial Pavilion on Ashmun Street and be opened to the general public at all times. Hearings will take three forms; Individual, Thematic and Institutional. This bulletin constitutes public notice to all and sundry.

2.Confidential, in-camera or closed door hearings will from time to time be held away from the public when in the interest of justice, national security or the security of witnesses, victims or alleged perpetrators, the TRC determines it is necessary to do so.

3.The hearings of the TRC, public and non-public, will assume a national character consistent with the following schedule:

January 2008Monrovia, Montserrado County

February 2008 Harper, Maryland County; Fishtown, River Gee County

March 2008Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County; Greenville, Sinoe County

April 2008Cestos City, Rivercess County; Buchanan, Grand Bassa County
Voinjama, Lofa County; Bopolu, Gbarpolu County; Tubmanburg, Bomi County

May 2008Robertspot, Cape Mount County; Sanniquellie, Nimba County;Gbarnga, Bong County

June 2008Kakata, Margibi County; Diaspora Hearings (USA)
Diaspora Hearings (Ghana)

July 2008Window Case Hearings
Lutheran Church, Monrovia (St. Peters Lutheran Church Massacre)
Individual Hearings (Centennial Pavilion)
Thematic Hearings on Women (Centennial Pavilion)
Thematic Hearings on Children (Centennial Pavilion)
Thematic Hearings on Youth (Centennial Pavilion)
August 2008Hearings on Contemporary History of the Conflict(Centennial Pavilion)

September 2008Thematic Hearings on Prosecution (Centennial Pavilion)
Thematic Hearings on Historical Review (Centennial Pavilion)
Hearings on the Role and perspectives of External Actors (Centennial Pavilion)
Hearings on Economic Crimes (Centennial Pavilion)
Hearings on Religious, Traditional and Cultural dimensions of the conflict

October 2008Institutional Hearings on Education and the Civil Service (Centennial Pavilion)
Institutional Hearings on Judiciary and the National Legislature(Centennial Pavilion)
Institutional Hearings on the Student Movement and LaborUnions

November 2008National Conference on Reconciliation

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE TRC ON THIS 31ST DAY OF MARCH A.D. 2008

SIGNED:

Jerome J Verdier, Sr. (Cllr)
CHAIRMAN, TRC

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This had been the official website of the Liberian TRC. The Commission ended operation
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