Philadelphia - An honoring program made history Saturday when some members of the Liberian Mandingo community in the USA voluntarily declared they would start telling their stories to the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

The Commission's effort to get as many Liberians, including the Mandingoes in the Philadelphia area to give statements has been unsuccessful. However, it got on good footing Saturday when several ethnic Mandingoes affected by the deadly Liberian civil war overwhelmingly and voluntarily signed the appointment forms in order to tell their stories.

The sudden eagerness from Mandingo residents in the Philadelphia and its adjacent areas to give their testimonies to the Truth commission for the first time, has created some type of excitement. In fact, there are plans by the Liberian Mandingo Association (LIMAP) to organize a bigger event to woo more of their kinsmen to come forward to explain what happen to them during the war.

LIMAP President Mohammed Bility said his organization will collaborate with the African Islamic Community Center (AICC), the elders, the women groups and the youth to organize the statement-taking event. "TRC process is a blessing in disguise, so we will do what we can to support the process," Bility said. He was joined by LIMAP Secretary General, Alieu Jabateh to book their respective appointments for the statement taking process. Like others who also signed the appointment forms, both men appeared excited to tell their stories. "I think it's time we do this," noted Jabateh.

The Saturday, November 24th program was organized by the Association of Former Students and Alumni of the Muslim Congress High School in Monrovia based in the US, in collaboration with the AICC, and LIMAP to honor TRC Commissioner Oumu Syllah and Liberian Assistant Minister of Information, Abu Kamara,  in recognition of their continuous sacrificial services in promoting peace, unity and reconciliation between and amongst the Liberian people in their respective capacities.

The honorees, both former students of the Muslim Congress High School presently in the United States on an official mission were presented an award each by the Liberian Mandingo Association of Pennsylvania (LIMAP). The ceremony was also a reunion for most of the students who have not seen each others for years.

The visiting TRC Commissioner Syllah smiled. "I am very happy that my people are beginning to respond to the TRC process, which is very important for us to participate by simply telling our stories," she said excitedly. Commissioner Syllah made passionate appeals to Liberians to work with the experienced statement takers to document their stories.

Other community leaders at the program including former National Board Chairman of Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA)LAA, Anthony Kesselly and Mohamed Jormandy, former Liberian chief of protocol joined the call for Liberians to support the truth-telling process. They pledged to take the lead and called on the community to utilize the process by giving their statements. Kesselly strongly underscored the importance of the TRC, saying, "It's very important that we tell our stories."

Mohamed Jormandy challenged the community leaders to make the first move to encourage others to follow. "Why should we (leaders) be asking others to give their statements to the TRC when we are not making any attempt to support the process?" He urged his kinsmen to take advantage of the TRC process and make history. "This process is good for our community. I urge all of you to come forward."

TRC Advisors Slewion Togba and Muhammad Sherif expressed delight that Liberians were responding to the truth telling process. Slewion observed most Liberians in the US are responding as expected due to a distrust factor. "I think the distrust factor has been holding lot of people away. Most people not trusting other people taking statements, especially when the statement takers are Liberians, but as we continue to make progress, we will continue to see our people coming forward to give their statements. Today is a classic example of that." Togba said.

Show the proofs

TRC advisory committee member Muhammed Sherif noted that documenting "what happened to you in the war is the surest way forward. We know Mandingoes and other tribes were killed, affected one way or the other during the civil war, but we have to prove that these happened to us. TRC process is that way for us to document our experiences, our stories for generation to generation to read. When you and are gone from this earth, these documents would be read generation after us, but if we sit and don't do anything, our stories would die a natural death and no one would hear about them. So let us tell our stories without fear," Imam Sherif emphasized.

The law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Sarah H. Paoletti, who received the signed appointment forms is expected to come up with a date and time for the statement taking. In fact, there were suggestion that the AICC should be used as one of the statement-taking centers in the southwest Philadelphia.

Varflay Dorley blasts TRC

Former Liberian lawmaker, Varflay Dorley blasted the TRC process, saying "how can we be talking about peace and reconciliation when our people are being subjected to cruelty in Liberia." He made specific reference to the land dispute in Nimba County, where returning ethnic Mandingoes from exile are being reportedly denied possession of their properties.

The former Social Security deputy boss maintained that TRC work would be successful if those conditions that have the propensity to create violence in Liberia are resolved. "It would be a complete mockery to ignore those vices that continue to permeate our society."

He lauded the visiting TRC Commissioner Syllah for the bold steps in reaching out to her community to participate in the TRC process. "We are happy that you came, but please convey this message to your colleagues when you return home. We, the Mandingoes are not happy that our properties are being taken away from us in Nimba County and other places, with no one doing anything to resolve it. We are crying, so Madam Commissioner, please, I want TRC to look at those issues."

The out-spoken former Liberian lawmaker also used the occasion to challenge the Liberian Mandingo community to unite, noting that "united we stand, divided we fall."

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