TRC's Media Officer

Monrovia, Liberia

Following controversy surrounding a “2005 Act that grants immunity from prosecution,” to members of the former warring factions, the Government of Liberia has been challenged to clarify circumstances surrounding the act.

TRC Media and Information Officer, James Kpargoi, says it is now time for government, which is the custodian of public trust and documents to inform the Liberian people about the existence or non-existence of such act.

Mr. Kpargoi believes that it is time for government to break its silence on this controversial act.

Most disturbing, Mr. Kpargoi says, is the apparent complicity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in archiving the act, which, is now being obtained by some individuals from the Ministry’s archive.

“I must now challenge the government to either confirm or deny the existence of this act. I demand this because it is the government’s constitutional responsibility to do so.”

Mr. Kpargoi said if the existence of this act is confirmed by government, then its prosecution attorneys acted repugnant when they charged and indicted former government frontline commander General Benjamin Yeaten with murder in connection with the killing of former deputy ministers Isaac Vaye and John Yormie in 2002.

Mr. Kpargoi said if the existence of the purported act can be confirmed, the government will be compelled to quash the indictment against General Yeaten, thereby rendering his Interpol arrest warrant unlawful.
He said it was extremely disgusting to hear senior members of the ruling Unity Party, members of the National Legislature and government’s public relations operatives making reference to the controversial act especially in the wake of the release of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC).