Shocking testimonies at Liberia’s TRC hearings.

Source: (2008) New York Amsterdam News. 01/24-01/30, 2008. 99(5): 2.

Jan. 22 (GIN)—”Ghastly, horrible
testimonies” was how one newspaper
described the public hearings of
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
now underway in Monrovia,
Liberia.
Confessions of killing, torturing
and burning have been emerging in
great detail from victims and perpetrators
of the country’s 14-year civil
war, along with indictments of former
government officials said to
have masterminded some of the
horrific events.
On the eighth day of TRC hearings,
witnesses described the socalled
Duport Road Massacre of
1992, a heinous bloodletting drama
during which nearly 30 Liberians
were butchered in cold blood.
James Makor of Liberia’s nongovernmental
organization Save My
Future says the public statements
still contain surprises.
“One musician around here, I
had never knew that he was a general,
but during the public hearing,
we got to know that he was a general,”
said Makor. “So in that case
now, most of his songs he had
always won public sympathy that
he was victimized, instead people
now know that he was one of the
guys that had a lot of power to himself”
Makor was referring to Michael
David, known as Sundaygar Dearboy.
Witnesses have accused David
of rapes and beatings. One of
Liberia’s most popular stars, he
sang the campaign song for
Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, when she ran for office in
2005.
Makor says it is good for Liberians
to know the truth about what
happened.
“It is necessary that we get to
know some of the people, what they
did. For us to have the past information,
so we can know how to interact
with them,” added Makor.
Out of 88 cases, the commission
has heard only 16. According to the
timetable set by the TRC, it has
about roughly 11 more days to hear
the balance of 72 cases before going
to other counties. (Excerpt from Author)