Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/trc1sirleaf070809.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 8 -- The UN system has praised both the Liberia truth and reconciliation commission and Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Now the commission has recommended that Johnson Sirleaf be barred from public office for thirty years, in part because she supported indicted war criminal Charles Taylor, including financially.
Inner City Press on July 7 asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesperson Michele Montas if Mr. Ban or the UN Mission in Liberia have any response to the recommendation, given both the UN's central role in Liberia and Sierra Leone and previous statements about Ms. Johnson Sirleaf. It is up to the Liberians," Ms. Montas said, "not for the UN to decide." Video here, from Minute 16:56.
From the UN's transcript:
Inner City Press: The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission has recommended that President [Ellen] Johnson-Sirleaf be barred from public office for 30 years for having supported Charles Taylor, including economically. Does the… given the central role in Liberia and Sierra Leone, what does the UN think of this recommendation?
Spokesperson Montas: This is a report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia, and the UN mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has received the draft of the Commission’s report. It will be up to the Liberians to determine how they want to take forward the reconciliation process. It is not for the UN to decide; it is for the Liberians to decide.
Inner City Press: What about the issue… because I have seen a lot of UN statements very laudatory of President Johnson-Sirleaf. She has acknowledged apparently giving $10,000 to Charles Taylor rebels at the time. Does that change the UN’s opinion at all?
Spokesperson Montas: I will not comment on this.
But the UN, particularly the UN Development Program, has supported Johnson Sirleaf including in her campaigns. Given reports that she gave $10,000 to Taylor's forces, which recruited child soldiers and cut off limps, shouldn't the UN have something to say now?
Inner City Press asked UN envoy to West African Said Djinnet, was briefing the Security Council on Tuesday morning, what he thought of the recommendation. Mr. Djinit declined to comment, noting that there is a UN Mission in Liberia, UNMIL. Inner City Press then asked Djinnit directly about what Inner City Press has quoted an African Ambassador as saying, that the UN offered Djinnit as a possible replacement for Rodolphe Adada in Darfur. Djinnit laughed and pointed at his ear.
On July 8, Inner City Press asked Ms Montas if the UN will be responding to the call by the Liberian Human Rights Campaign that UNMIL provided protection to the members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Ms. Montas wasn't sure; later in the day, UN Police Advisor Andrew Hughes answered Inner City Press by saying he wasn't the right person to ask. Said Djinnit thanked Inner City Press for not asking in public about the possible Darfur post. (Separately, a concerned diplomat told Inner City Press that "the West" likes Djinnet.) And then the following arrived:
Subj: Liberia and TRC Commissioners
From: unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 7/8/2009 3:27:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Regarding your question at today's Noon Briefing regarding Liberia and the TRC Commissioners: UNMIL already supports the Liberia National Police, (LNP) in the police's primary responsibility for ensuring day-to-day civil security in Liberia.Currently, there is no credible evidence of threats to any member(s) of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). If any such threat was made, UNMIL, in support of the LNP, would be available to assist in the protection of TRC Commissioners. To date, no requests for additional security support have been made by the TRC Commissioners.
But still not comment by the UN about the recommendation of the TRC Commissioners. Some rule of law...
