On Christmas Eve 1989, the defunct National Patriotic Front of
Liberia (NPFL) led by convicted war criminal, Mr. Charles Taylor, launched a
genocidal rebel incursion into Liberia. The
subsequent years were characterized
by the senseless innocent civilian including women, children and the elderly,
as well as the destruction of properties. All emerging warring factions in the
conflict eventually adopted the ruthless modus operandi of the NPFL: rape,
torture, recruitment of child soldiers, pillaging of the natural resources,
looting of private and public properties, deprivation of life, and many more
unspeakable acts of violence against innocent civilians.
In 2003, after several years of unsuccessful attempts to end the
destruction of Liberia, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in
Accra, Ghana, which brought to an end the Liberian Civil War. All the
belligerent parties to the conflict, the International Community, and Civil
Society Organizations signed the CPA.
Article VIII of the CPA specifically calls for the creation of the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that would address the question of
impunity in addition to providing a forum where perpetrators and victims alike
of war crimes would be able to tell their stories either to exonerate
themselves, seek forgiveness, or grant forgiveness. The CPA Charter also
mandates the TRC to investigate the root causes of the conflict and above all
to make necessary recommendations.
After two years of relentless efforts, and at an estimated cost of
$10 million US dollars of taxpayer money from international governments
including the United States, the TRC issued its final report in 2009. The TRC
recommendations include, but are not limited to reform, reconciliation, and the
prosecution of individuals most responsible for acts in grave violation of
International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws and more importantly, the
banning of individuals in said category from holding public office in Liberia
for thirty (30) years.
Ironically, the report recommended the sanction of several members
of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government including Madam Sirleaf herself from
holding public office in Liberia for 30 years, due to their well-documented
role in the catastrophic Liberian civil carnage. Nearly a decade, the TRC
report, regrettably, has no genuine impact or general will for implementation
in Liberia. Instead, the nation of Liberia remained very fragile with economic,
political, social, and cultural biases at an all-time high. It is in this
regard that the Liberian Historical and Civil war Memorial will address these
graphic history of Liberia from its foundation to present through:
1. To promote peace, reconciliation,
human rights, and democracy by documenting and memorizing catastrophic events;
2. To raise funds, solicit
contributions, and conduct other fundraising and charitable activities related
to this historic center;
3. To accept gifts, contributions, and
other funds in furtherance of the memorial’s public purposes; and
4. To carry out such other acts and to
undertake such other activities as may be necessary, appropriate, or desirable
in furtherance of or in connection with any of the foregoing purposes.
Henceforth,
the Liberian Historical and Civil War Memorial activities are coordinated
through a network of professional individuals and organizations across the vast
Liberian diaspora and homeland of Liberia. The leadership is comprised of
Liberian professionals from diverse political and social persuasions. The
leadership structure is based on mutual interests in justice for Liberian war
victims. The organization activities are supported by individual member
financial, intellectual skills, and the collective passion for justice as
defined by the All Liberian Diaspora Conference (ALDC).
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