Reviewing of initial statements from statement takers (TRC press release)

December 1, 2006
http://www.trcofliberia.org/press.htm

In accordance with its workplan and timeline for the implementation of various phases of its mandate, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is currently reviewing initial statements from statement takers in the field.

Contrary to media reports that the statement taking process has been halted due to the lack of funding, the TRC wishes to clarify that the initial phase of gathering statements is now being evaluated by the Commission with the intend to modify or improve the forms and process.

According to Statement Taking planning, Statement Takers were intended to be deployed for an initial period of 2-3 weeks and thereafter, the standardize statement taking forms will be reassessed for possible faults. Once the testing and preliminary evaluation of the forms is conducted with improvement made, Statement Takers will resume collecting statement from the public.

This process of pre-testing the field and assessing initial statement is a universal acceptable standard of any research project which is not unique to the Liberian TRC.

Meanwhile, Statement Takers have been paid for the initial process and will be redeployed following the modification of the forms.

However, the process is still in peril due to the lack of funding.


Juliane Westphal
Director of Media and Outreach