Official Report On The Mediation:
Conflict Within The Steering Committee Of The All Liberian National Conference For Peace, Reforms And Reconciliation
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
March 3, 2005
BACKGROUND
Although
the mediation process has been a source of valuable lessons, it was not without
its own challenges and difficulties, including spending sleepless nights,
holding long meetings and experiencing vitriolic emotional outbursts from
members of both parties to the conflict as well and some members the Liberian
Community.
The mediation effort has gone through several
stages:
Stage 1
The
mediation initiative began with rigorous and laborious behind-the-scenes
discussions which led to an understanding and determination of the core issues
and causes of the conflict. The mediating team was able to develop an informed framework
upon which the mediation was carried out.
Upon the consent of the parties to participate in mediation, the
mediation initiative entered the next stage.
Stage 2
The
mediation initiative became formal as the parties to the conflict officially
recognized the Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, ALiMUSA to mediate
the conflict. Official communications and press releases on issues of the
conflict were sent out to the parties to the conflict and the Liberian Community
respectively. Upon the consent of the parties to the conflict, a Reconciliation
Summit was organized under the auspices of the Peace, Justice and
Reconciliation Commission, ALiMUSA. The
summit physically brought together the representatives of the both parties to
the conflict. The Steering Committee headed by Mrs. Mardea Karpeh was
represented its chairperson, Mrs. Mardea Karpeh, Mr. Abraham Masssaley, Counselor
Tiawon Gongolo, and Mr. Francis Dwanna. The Steering Committee headed by Dr.
James Tarpeh was represented by Rev. Edwin Lylod and Mr. Bodioh Siapoe. The
Summit was held in the edifice of the Bethel World Outreach Church in Silver
Spring, Maryland on February 12, 2005.
After 7 hours of deliberations on issues surrounding the conflict, decision
was reached that the resolution of the Summit would be binding on the parties
to the conflict.
Stage 3
After the conference in which all parties agreed to the decision reached at the Summit, the binding power of the resolution was undermined when members of the Steering Committee headed by Dr. James Tarpeh, subsequently refused to accept the Reconciliation Summit’s resolution on grounds that those who represented the Tarpeh-led Steering Committee at the Reconciliation Summit, were not given the mandate to commit that Steering Committee to resolutions that would be binding. Consequently, a new framework to further mediate the conflict was established: a full report of the Summit was sent to the parties for their review and official reactions.
Stage 4
The
actions and responses of the parties to the conflict were carefully studied by
members of the mediating team. After prayers and deliberations, we resolved the
following:
1.
That
the mediation process has reached an impasse occasioned by the unwillingness of
the Steering Committee headed by Dr. James Tarpeh to negotiate in good faith:
o During deliberations at the Summit, a resolution was evolved
premised on the understanding that it would be binding on the parties to the
conflict. The binding power of the resolution was later undermined by the
Tarpeh-led Steering Committee on grounds that their representatives were not
authorized to commit the Tarpeh-led Steering Committee to any resolution that
would be binding. Additionally The Tarpeh-led Committee contended that the
leadership role of its chairman, Dr. James Tarpeh was not clearly defined.
o In the process of the
negotiation, the Tarpeh-led Steering Committee suggested that the report of the
Reconciliation Summit be submitted and they will respond in 48 hours. The
suggestion turned into a new framework to further mediate the conflict. Both
sides to the conflict were required to respond to the Summit’s report. On 15th
February, 2005 the Reconciliation Summit’s report was sent to both parties to
the conflict for their review and official reactions. The Tarpeh-led Committee’s
response was delayed for a period of one week.
o The Tarpeh-led Committee, contrary to the advice of the mediating
team, continues to hold town hall meetings and make pronouncements on the internet
regarding activities of its All Liberian Conference. In stark negation of the spirit and intent of the entire
mediation effort, the Tarpeh-led committee has already published an itinerary
regarding their All Liberian Conference.
The mediating process also encounters
problems from the Karpeh-led Steering Committee in the following ways:
a.
Reactions
to issues surrounding the conflict on the internet in ways that defied the advice
of the mediating Team and may have provoked unhealthy exchanges.
b.
Failure
to appropriately channel complaints to the mediating Team.
Based
on the impasse in the mediation process, the Mediating Team would like to make
the following recommendations to the parties to the conflict:
a.
That
the entire process leading to the hosting of the All Liberian National
Conference for Peace, Reforms and Reconciliation, be postponed for the period
of two months beginning March 1, 2005, to allow for a peaceful resolution of
the current leadership conflict between the two Steering Committees, and to
facilitate adequate planning for a national conference befitting the
aspirations of the people of Liberia.
b.
That
the parties to the conflict and their friends and supporters refrain from any
negative publicity and profane exchanges on the internet or through other media
outlets, as this will only undermine the unity, peace and progress of our
people.
Accordingly,
the Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Commission,
ALiMUSA
remains willing and ready to continue the mediation process, so as to resolve this
conflict in the best interest of our nation and people. Also, we earnestly
appeal to all Liberians to consider the disgrace we have faced as a nation for
nearly two decades. And accordingly, we call on all of our people to positively
influence and impact both parties in such a manner that will facilitate the
timely, peaceful, and permanent resolution of this conflict, which in fact, is simply
a Liberian family feud.
We
remain profoundly thankful to both parties to the conflict for the confidence
manifested in us by consenting to have us mediate. We are particularly thankful
to the voices of reason on both sides of the divide and to all Liberians and
friends of Liberia who showed appreciation for the mediation effort, for their
courage and inspirations. As Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and as
ambassadors of reconciliation, we stand willing and ready to encourage our
people and to come and reason together in the best interest of our nation.
May
God richly bless you all, prosper the works of our hands, and reconcile the
people of Liberia.
Respectfully
submitted this 26th day of February A.D. 2005,
Robert
Mawlue Karloh
Executive
Director,
Peace,
Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (PJRC)
Association
of Liberian Ministers in the United States of America
Bishop
Gabriel Lardner Rev. J. Emmanuel
Z. Bowier, M. Div.
Chairman,
ALiMUSA
Member, PJRC, ALiMUSA
Rev.
Dr. Napoleon Divine Bishop Alfred Reeves
Member,
PJRC, ALiMUSA Council
Member, ALiMUSA
