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
