By S. Siapha Mulbah (Cub Reporter)
Residents of Bong County, Sanoyea District have showered praises on UNDP and the INCHR for initiating the Palava Hut Hearing mechanism to help resolve differences in the community.
Scores of residents in Sanoyea Town told the media that the process of peace in the county had been a major concern to them but that there had been no means or resources to initiate the process for reconciliation.
They said the United Nations Development Program sponsored Palava Hut Hearing implemented by the Independent Human Rights Commission has made many of them to voice out what had been considered malice in their hearts for each other.
Presenting their cases to the Hearing Committee For Reconciliation, some residents confessed, “We have been living in this place since the war ended with many of us holding things in our hearts against each other. For that reason, even our own people could not look at each other without feeling pains in their hearts.”
“Honestly, we have only been showing each other our white teeth but deep down our hearts had been black. Thank God that today, through our human rights people and the UNDP, we are able to let our friends know what had been in our hearts for them so that it can be settled,” a lady admitted to this paper.
“For me I have never felt peace in my heart since the war ended because I know that people held things against me for the role some of us played in the crisis, but at least today some of those I offended have freed me. Many of us were under things that were making us to do what we did. I thank you for coming to make peace reign among us again,” one of the accusers said after admitting to what he did in the past.
Under what was considered as a very conducive atmosphere for peace and reconciliation, many admitted that it was a difficult thing to forgive a person that used weapons to humiliate them during the deadly crisis.
“You and I know that it is very hard to just say that you will forgive someone that used certain power to disgrace you in front your family and other people. It’s hard to do most especially seeing them now; but, for peace to reign among us, we have to let it go and free them from our hearts. I let go of my own and I am a reconciled man now,” a victim stated giving thanks to UNDP and INCHR for the Palava Hut Initiative.
Authorities in the county then called on the residents to hold on to the peace using the Palava Hut method.
Bong County Superintendent Esther Walker said over 20 years ago the civil crisis was intended to carry Liberia backward with huge destruction that needs reconciliation in order for the citizens to rebuild the country.
“We, as a government, are going to work with UNDP, INCHR and other human rights organizations to make sure that the peace we are talking about is maintained. Reconciliation is a process and not an event,” she reminded.
She added that in order to have them reconcile with each other for the sake of peace in the county, the truth should be told so that forgiveness through honesty can be the hallmark for a lasting peace and reconciled Bong County.
