My personal observation of the TRC report is that the report and resolution should stand for the purpose of recognizing that crimes are punishable.

 

However, the Liberian people should consider National Clemency on the thirty-year ban in the participation of political jobs for all concern. This gesture, however, should not be seen as a weakness of the Liberian people, or an excuse to let by-gone-be-by-gone.

 

While, indeed, people should be responsible for their actions, it is recognized that the level of savagery of the ugly war was brought upon us by the short sightedness of the founding fathers of our nation who created poverty, ignorance and a biased and poor governing system. Hence, you cannot ban people as a result of a system failure without first correcting the system.

 

Recognizing that our governing system was in an error built on socio-economic and political deprivation of the majority of the Liberian people for over a hundred years, the frustration created ordinary men into monsters and tribal divide is the crux of the Liberian problem.

 

Yet those who violated the Liberian people should not go free with impunity in the name of a blanket waiver of a just punishment. Rather, they should accept responsibilities to the extent of their culpability in the destruction of lives and properties of the Liberian people. They should willingly accept some punishment through the court system based on their individual involvement in the violence committed even if they acted upon the directive of others.

 

For example, if President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf can accept a one-year house arrest after she leaves office upon serving her first term in repentance of her role in the destruction of our country, it will be a right step toward reconciliation. And for once she will be viewed as the "First Living Hero" of Liberia after she leaves office. Even God who created heaven and Earth repented after destroying the world with water. Why not President Sirleaf?

 

But the disbarring of former war criminals from participating in future political activities for one or thirty year is not enough punishment nor a permanent solution, but simply a “cosmetic surgery “ to an acute pandemic of a poor governance system and a tyrannical political system. The current governing system of Liberia creates tyrants as a result of the absolute economic power the Executive branch of Liberia enjoys over other branches of government.  

 

Surprisingly, a Lofa County Representative relying on a temporary peace provided the international community asserted that those who personalized the war by going after innocent people should go unpunished with impunity. Congresswoman Jalleibah failed to realize that if some kind of justice is not served, victims of this war are sitting in the wings of a cosmetic peace waiting for an opportunity for revenge. 

 

To minimize this risk is to bring the accused to justice. After all, if you do the crime you should serve the time. It is obvious that Representative Jalleibah does not have a solution and does not want to step on the president’s toes. What she and her colleagues need to advocate is a referendum for the decentralization of government instead of a recipe for another catastrophe. The truth hurts, but let us not waver to be truthful to ourselves in the protection of our national future.

The solution to this constitutional pandemic is to dismantle the current political system through a national referendum and the creation of a new federation-style decentralized governing system, empowering the 15 counties of Liberia to be governed by their own elected officials for a transparent micro-managed decentralized governance.

 

Beginning with the election of Superintendents, and local county councilmen/women, congressmen/women, Clan and Paramount chiefs, surgeon generals, Governor of county National Banks, Chiefs of Police, or a complete micro-governing model of the current system that allows the counties to function as a quayside autonomous government; just to name a few of the advantages that will keep every county engage in it own developmental projects.

 

County Superintendents should have the power to negotiate international contracts with foreign governments and companies for the development of their counties. The ability to privatize road construction repayable by toll collections, Renewable Electric Energy, medical facilities, and manufacturing opportunities for the creation of jobs and other opportunities in the respective counties.

 

A decentralized system allowing the federation/national government to hold 40 percent of national interest in the affairs of the counties, with the exception of National security in protection of the country from foreign aggressions. 

 

As a constitutional provision of the decentralization of government and the industries, superintendents, Senators, and Representatives, but not limited to other qualifying organization heads to be determined should be the most qualified candidates for the presidency of the country. 

 

Qualification should also be determined by the socio-economic and infrastructure developmental contributions made by the candidates during their tenure as a leader in the counties they serve. To buttress 80 percent of long lasting peace and tranquility for Liberia , our leaders should be stock in an unknown straw hat until election time. The Liberian people should already know their prospective leaders before National Elections, and decentralization is the road map that will get us there.

 

What we need to continue to ask ourselves is what happens after the international peace keeping forces leave Liberia ? You and I know very well that they will eventually leave. How are we preparing to replace them? A decentralized governing system will also ensure decentralized military command posts and security system to ensure that every county maintain its own standard armed militia forces under the supervision of the national armed forces of Liberia to keep the peace in every county. The country needs to invest in its own security to the tune of $5,000,000.00 to preserve 1,000 strong personnel in every county; 13,000 strong to combat any would be rebel groups

 

Therefore, what we need right now is a constitutional referendum for a road map leading us to a balanced deliverance of governing powers and services for Liberia, not the level of sycophancy being displayed.

 

To conclude, as it is right now, even President Sirleaf is not aware of the tyrany she is under -  this disjointed governing system.

 

Let us rewrite our constitution to finally represent the dynamics of our time. A classic example is the motto. Let us scrap everything. “The Love of Liberty Brought us Here” has outlived the founders of Liberia . It dose not represent the complexity of the new indigenous citizens of Liberia who where left out of the governing of Liberia from its onset. 

 

The new Motto should at least be “The Land of Peace, Tranquility, & Prosperity for All”. Remove the Slave ship from the seal and replace it with A Dove, Palm tree, with Dawn of a new day in the backdrop. Let us find a new name unique to a new Liberia . We were not liberated from any nation; instead we only entertain a hand full of free slaves, but we are reminded of the ugly stigma of slavery.

 

You may consider this recommendation another topic for another time, but if we must change, we must change inside out, once and for all.

 

Elvis K. Tarkar is a resident of Trenton , New Jersey , and a local business man. He is former publisher of the Liberian times Newspaper in Liberia prior to the war.