By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
A two-day conference aimed at creating a forum for diverse stakeholders to provide the space for critical reflection and in-depth discussion on critical issues and advance recommendations for national reconciliation has begun in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.
The conference, which opened on Thursday, is being held under the theme: “Pathways to National Reconciliation and Social Cohesion in Liberia,” and it is organized by the Institute of Policy Studies and Research at the University of Liberia in collaboration with the Civil Society Platform for Peace Building and State Building.
Delivering the keynote speech on behalf of Internal Affairs Minister, Varney Sirleaf, the Executive Director of the Liberia Peace Building Office, Edward Mulbah, said in order to have genuine reconciliation, there is a need to create the enabling environment for dialogue.
According to Mr. Mulbah, people must be given peace, perpetrators should tell the truth, victims be given justice, forgiveness be rendered and respect given to those who died and thrown in mass graves in several parts in the country.
“The government and its international partners are yet to undertake the community reparation, he said.
“We should adopt the nonviolence means of addressing our differences.” Mr. Mulbah added.
The government must demonstrate the political will by funding the reconciliation process, because “we cannot continue to depend on our international partners because they are facilitators. “
“We must encourage the process by pouring in resources in order for to take ownership so as to restore the broken relationships.”
We as a government must ensure that the national peace plan has trickier down effect on the ordinary people.”
In remarks, the Swiss Ambassador, Ingrid Wetter, said national reconciliation and social cohesion are important issues for peace and democratic growth in Liberia.
She cautioned Liberians not to allow emotions and feelings take the space that over shadow the vision for the future development in the country in the nearest future.
Ambassador Wetter also advised Liberians to advance practical ideas that will to total peace and reconciliation in the country.
She assured the Liberian government that the Swiss government will work with other partners in bringing the needed reconciliation in Liberia.
For his part, the President of University of Liberia, Dr. Julius Nelson, cautioned the audience to be mindful on how they review the documents and resources that are available during the deliberation because they drafted mostly during the war days. .
He expressed the hope that the conference should comprise the representation of youths and women groups, trade unions, politicians, traditional leaders and students because they are the groups that experienced the blunt of the crisis. .
Dr. Nelson said this is the time to shift the paradigm because it is not an event but it is process in order to determine the king of reconciliation that is better suited for Liberia.
“Tell the politicians the new way you want for this country to be governed.”