Liberian Supreme Court Squashes Truth And Reconciliation Commission Ban on Politicians
The Controversial 30 year ban from politics imposed on Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and a number of politicians and individuals by the now dissolved Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), for their alleged roles in the country’s atrocious war and other upheavals, has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Liberia.
According to a report, the ruling emanated from a challenge to the ban by Mr. Archie Williams, one of those affected.
The ruling indicates that there are no longer legal hurdles before those contesting office, including President Johnson Sirleaf who has expressed her desire to run for a second term.
The Court said Article 48 of the Act establishing the TRC, as well as Section 14.3 of the TRC’s report containing the recommendations, is unconstitutional.
Article 48 of the Act mandates the TRC to recommend to the President of Liberia the implementation of recommendations coming from the TRC, while Section 14.3 of the TRC report recommends that several politicians, including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, be banned from holding public office for 30 years.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court said the TRC’s recommendation ’is an option’, noting that “banning several individuals, including President Johnson Sirleaf, without their right to due process in keeping with law, is a clear violation of the Liberian Constitution”.
Liberia holds general polls, including presidential ones, in October this year.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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