New York: The United States House of Representatives has passed resolution 1055 to reaffirm strong U.S.-Liberia ties and call for full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations.
On the House floor prior to the vote, Chairman Ed Royce said during his time as Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, he held hearings and passed legislation to bring attention to the brutal civil war in Liberia and Sierra Leone that killed 200,000 people and displaced more than 1 million – one of whom, who was also orphaned by this conflict, worked in his own office in Congress.
He said the Africa Subcommittee worked across party lines and alongside the international community and the people of Liberia to apprehend the notorious warlord Charles Taylor who remains behind bars.
In 2003, the Government of Liberia, rebel groups and political parties signed a comprehensive peace agreement.
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created, which recommended the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to ensure justice for the people of Liberia.
Unfortunately, however, this war crimes tribunal has never been established, although Liberian government figures and activists alike have continued to call for one.
This resolution repeats this important call, Chairman Royce said.
The H Resolution 1055 is a bill sponsored by Representative Donovan Daniel M. Jr., who lost the recent US Midterm election
