TRC Must Be Policed With A TRC

PERSISTENT NEWS OF verbal and physical feud and assault and battery emanating from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is not only worrying; it is also disgusting and shameful. It is worrying because in the clear lack of political will on the part of the Sirleaf-led government towards national reconciliation, news of quarrel and violence shatters Liberians' hopes and aspirations for national healing and harmony through the TRC. And it is disgusting and shameful because it seems quite clear that it was a fatal mistake Liberians allow their healing process to be manned by individuals lacking all inclinations for peaceful settlement and reconciliation.

TO THE EXTEND that officials of the TRC cannot suppress their sense of loath and hate even in the full glare of the public eloquently suggest that millions of offshore dollars pumped in the operation of the commission as well as the national and international faiths in its work stand wasteful. The Lord Jesus Christ says it succinctly: you cannot reconcile except you were reconciled yourself. You cannot claim to love God whom you cannot see when you don't love your brothers and sisters that you see.

HOW CAN MEMBERS of the TRC claim to be working to promote peace and reconciliation amongst former bitter enemies when they demonstrate obsession to hatred and bitterness for one another. How can they preach forgiveness and harmony when they are torn apart by interpersonal rage and strife? Who will take their reconciliation sermons serious when they are seemed allergic to tolerance?

CLEARLY, THE CEASELESS feud amongst members of the TRC not only demoralizes the Liberian reconciliation process in the eye of the international community which bears the brunt of the financial burden of the institution, it also casts big question marks in the face of national harmony and reconciliation. And this situation is very unfortunate for a country or population that hungers for social healing and psychological repairs that are left behind by decades of conflict and war.

WHAT IS THE solution? Many answers are emerging. There are those who say the TRC must be radically restructured so that the less vetted commissioners will take their exit in favor of a more matured and purposeful team of Liberians. Some are saying conflict is a looming ghost that visits even Heaven; therefore, the cantankerous commissioners should be left alone. Others are saying only the quarrelsome commissioners should be wedded so that the TRC gains the peace of mind it needs to concentrate on its rather delicate mission and mandate. And some suggest that the quarrels amongst commissioners of the TRC are chronic and can only be resolved by prayer warriors.

FOR US, WITHOUT being comical about the matter, the best to do is to have a TRC on TRC; as the security experts would say, ‘security on security.' President Sirleaf and her cabinet, or better stay, the Legislature, should put in place a team of experts to be called TRC On TRC Committee. The mandate of such a committee will be to hear and adjudicate, behind close doors, all quarrels and acrimonies that may arise between and amongst members of the mainstream TRC. Without bothering the already cramped national budget, emoluments for the TRC On TRC Committee should draw its operational funds from remittances on the TRC commissioners' huge salaries and allowances, which some say are the source of the conflict rifting that very important institution.

ON A SERIOUS note, something has got to be done. The Liberian TRC needs to be sanitized. It's got to be restored to the dignity and esteem with which TRCs the world over are traditionally known and regarded. Other countries have had their own TRC times, but hardly did the world hear that those put forth as lead reconcilers were verbally assaulting one another, let alone throwing fists and bottles at each other in the streets. TRCs of other countries left on the pages of history the virtues of morality, tolerance and meekness. They led their various peoples from torn and bitter pasts to a new day of harmony and peace. It is unfortunate that ours are a complete antithesis; that they are fussing and fighting, lacking the willpower to self-restraint and social probity, and engaging into acts of violence and aggression. Our TRC must therefore be policed--Now!