Eyeing International Outrage, Tutu, Others Drum Support for Ellen Against TRC

08/13/09 - Rodney D. Sieh, rsieh@FrontPageAfrica.com

TUTU'S BLESSINGS: Your Excellency, I write to let you know we are praying for you and are distressed at the TRC finding and recommendation which would dump your country back into the fiery furnace just when you are leading her to revival. Hang in there. God bless you + Desmond Tutu. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in a message to Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf from a new chain of email exchanges obtained by FrontPageAfrica, galvanizing support against the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Monrovia -

n American consultant is drumming up a team of high-profile international players including South African ArchBishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Prize winners Eli Wiesel, John Hume and even the U.N. Special envoy to Liberia Ellen Margaret Loj - in support of Liberian President Ellen JohnsonSirleaf in the wake of a recent recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calling for a 30 year ban from political activities of Sirleaf and several key players of the 14-year-old civil war, FrontPageAfrica has learned. The move is the clearest hint yet that Sirleaf will definitely be in the hunt to defend her presidency come 2011 against the recommendations of the TRC. Nadine B. Hack, Chief Operating Officer of beCause Global DREAM TEAM ROUND-UP Consulting and a former United Nations official is the brainchild behind

Consulting and a former United Nations official is the brainchild behind a chain of email exchanges in possession of FPA sent to what is described as EJS supporters intended to galvanize international pressure against the recent findings of the TRC. Steps to protect Ellen proposed An aide to Hacks New York City office said the consultant was out of the office. A message left by FPA was not returned Wednesday. In a communication dated Wednesday Aug 5, 2009, with subject line: Next steps to protect & support President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Hack writes: EJS supporters-As you see below, Desmond Tutu responded to my request to send her a message of support. Ive pasted the bottom of their exchange the email I originally sent asking for strategy suggestions on how we can best help her during this critical period. I welcome feedback from any of you: for now, Im blind copying everyone as I dont like to share e-addresses unless people specifically tell me I can. So, if you respond, let me know if its OK for me to open coy you on future emails I send. I really hope we can drum up international outrage and support that protects her. Swanee et al-I sent comparable email(see below) to other Nobel Peace Laureates who I thought Some portions of the email addresses have been left out to protect also might reach out to Ellen multiple sources. (i.e.: Wangari Maathai, Oscar Arias, Eli Wiesel, Muhammed According to Hacks website, the consultant has extensive experience Yunus, Shirin Ebadi, John with the United Nations, where she served as New York City Hume) and to some of the other Commissioner for the UN, Consular Corps, and International Business, Elders(i.e.: Kofi Anan, Gro the city's senior official liaison with the world's largest diplomatic and Brundland, Graca Machel, business communities. One of the sources who supplied the Jimmy Carter. But it made me communications to FPA suggested the Hack may have worked with think perhaps we ought to Sirleaf during the Liberian leaders employ at the U.N. Hacks bio on launch a more concerted her website says she has advised two UN Secretaries-General, various campaign: like reaching out to departments of the Secretariat, and many specialized UN agencies, as human rights activists(e.g.: Ilene well as heads of state and senior government officials, including Khan, Mike Posner, Larry Cox, President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines and President Nelson Ken Roth, Samantha Power, Bill Mandela of South Africa. She also has an extensive track record of Schulz etc. Should we also be success working with various corporations and organizations. trying to mobilize support from Ellen Loj and UNMIL? We need Tutu on Consultants board a strategy of what to ask them to do if we are going to be Ironically, Bishop Tutu is also listed as a member of Hacks board effective Nadine. members and was chair through 2005, raising concerns about his objective and support for the cause on Sirleafs behalf. Thanks - Nadine Archbishop Tutu was the chairman of South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC was created by Nelson Mandelas Government of National Unity in 1995 to help South Africans come to terms with their extremely troubled past. It was established to investigate the violations that took place between 1960 and 1994, to provide support and reparation to victims and their families, and to compile a full and objective record of the effects of apartheid on South African society. Bishop Tutu responded to Hacks original email on Tuesday Aug. 4, 2009 at 7:51am with the following message: Dearie-Thanks for your prompting so I could do this! Love, arch. On August 3, 2009, Sirleaf through her special assistant Eva Richardson writes in a message sent at 4:22 am in response to Bishop Tutu: My dear Bishop Tutu, Thank you so very much for your kind words of comfort and encouragement. I continue to rely on the grace of God and the support of the majority of the Liberian people and know that even this shall pass away. With regards and respect, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. In a message dated Saturday, August, 1, 2009, Bishop Tutu wrote the following message to Sirleaf:

Your Excellency, I write to let you know we are praying for you and are distressed at the TRC finding and recommendation which would dump your country back into the fiery furnace just when you are leading her to revival. Hang in there. God bless you + Desmond Tutu. In another message dated August 1, 2009, Nadine Hack writes: Swanee et al-I sent comparable email(see below) to other Nobel Peace Laureates who I thought also might reach out to Ellen (i.e.: Wangari Maathai, Oscar Arias, Eli Wiesel, Muhammed Yunus, Shirin Ebadi, John Hume) and to some of the other Elders(i.e.: Kofi Anan, Gro Brundland, Graca Machel, Jimmy Carter. But it made me think perhaps we ought to launch a more concerted campaign: like reaching out to human rights activists(e.g.: Ilene Khan, Mike Posner, Larry Cox, Ken Roth, Samantha Power, Bill Schulz etc. Should we also be trying to mobilize support from Ellen Loj and UNMIL? We need a strategy of what to ask them to do if we are going to be effective Nadine. On Saturday August 1, 2009 at 4: 11 PM Bishop Tutu wrote: Thanks so much dearest. I sent a message thru the email address you supplied. It would be tragic if she were to step down at such a critical moment. Love, arch. Tutus message was in response to a message dated August 1, 2009 sent by Hack to Tutu and former Irish PM Mary Robinson. The message reads: Dearest Arch and Mary First, congratulations on receiving our US Presidential Medal of Freedom: richlyearned and well-deserved for both of you! Second, I think a word from each of you, as friends of hers, would mean much to Ellen. Use(I gave them her e-address) to communicate with her. Jerry joins me in sending much love,- Nadine. On Friday, July 31, 2009 at 6:51 PM writes Sirleaf and copied: Tamela Hultman; Peggy Dulany; Abigail Disney; Swanee Hunt with the subject line: Supporting our sister the President, Always The message reads: Dearest sis Ellen- Those of us, who know everything youve endured since we met you in the 1980s, supported you first 1997 campaign and continue to support the extraordinary work you now are doing as President with the same remarkable unbreakable spirit that is your trademark, always will stand by you. Please know you can count on us to mobilize whatever forces are needed to protect you and to help you fight this latest attack. In addition to Abby and Swanee, Im copying Peggy and Tammy as I know they both adore you as much as we do and also are ready for you to let us know what we can do. You have a powerful brigade of sister/support globally and we will not let you down ever. Love, - Nadine. One of those listed on the email, Swanee Hunt, President, Hunt Alternative Fund and Chair, The Institute for Inclusive Security replied the following message to Hack on Friday July 31, 2009 at 2:56PM To: Abigail Disney; Nadine Hack FYI. Lets all remember, when were tired, what a burden she is bearing. She was charged by the Truth Commission as being unfit to be in the office because she was not remorseful about a $10,000 donation to Charles Taylor, when he was running. (Youll recall that Jimmy Carter called the election, and Taylor, exemplary.) The commission said she should be barred from office for 30 years. I think getting brief emails from around the world gives her strength. Im sure shed love to hear from you. XXOOX Swanee. In reply to Swanees message, Sirleaf wrote on July 20, 2009 at 12: 18PM Dear Swanee, A thousand thanks for the lifting conveyed by your email below. Once again, a small group propels us to self-destruct just when we are ready to take off. I remain undeterred and know that the majority of the people are with us. Sincerely, Ellen. Swanee Hunt wrote on Tuesday July, 14, 2009 in a subject line headlined: Oh, my dear I just heard about the Truth Commission report. What nonsense. Oh, that you have to spend even one minute thinking about this is really a shame. I know you are level-headed and strong, but I wanted to add my voice to your hundreds of thousands of supporters, throughout the world, to say how much we appreciate your tireless effort on behalf of millions of others. Take care. Keep the faith. Swanee.

The email exchanges surface as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton makes a 4-hour stop in Liberia Thursday. Ironically, Tutu, who appears to have given his blessing to an overall support for Sirleaf against the TRC endured strong criticisms as head of the South African TRC whose amnesty committee faced mounting pressure to explain its decision to grant amnesty to 37 African National Congress members including Trevor Tutu, a son of the Archbishop. In the aftermath of the TRCs recommendations in South Africa, many of the African National Congress applicants, including a number of cabinet ministers, were granted amnesty on the basis that they accepted collective responsibility for offences committed by members of the organization's structures. Most of the applications did not specify the incidents for which amnesty was being sought. In Sirleafs case, the Liberian leader denied supporting Charles Taylors National Patriotic Front of Liberia but only offered humanitarian support. In the case of South Africa, the National Party and Democratic Party criticized the SA TRC's handling of the applications. At the time of the controversy, NP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk accused the TRC of breaking the law in granting what he called "illegal backroom amnesty" to ANC leaders, and said it faced its most serious credibility crisis yet. Van Schalkwyk said the commission's founding act specified that amnesty could be granted only to applicants who had made a full disclosure of all relevant facts on a specific offence. It did not provide for a general or blanket amnesty. The South African media also took Tutus TRC to task and newspaper editorials called on the amnesty committee to explain how it had arrived at its decision to grant amnesty to the ANC members, as well as to Tutu's son, Trevor. Trevor Tutu was granted amnesty for his conviction arising out of a bomb threat at East London airport in 1989. In its editorial, the Afrikaans daily Die Burger said the TRC had, in effect, granted a blanket amnesty to ANC leaders. "This reinforces serious suspicions over the aim and usefulness of the TRC," it said. The Business Day said the amnesty committee's integrity had been called into question by its "thoughtless" handling of Tutu's application. "In the public mind there is no prima facie evidence, and there never has been, that Trevor Tutu's motives were in any way political. "For the sake of its credibility, and for the entire truth and reconciliation process, the amnesty committee owes South Africa an explanation of its finding." In recent weeks, several reports have surfaced that the Executive branch have been involved in serious lobbying within the halls of the national legislature to have the TRC recommendations killed with some suggesting an amount of US$780K on the table to seal the deal. It is not clear how much weight Tutus support for Sirleaf and apparent angst against the Liberian TRC will factor in the outcome of the process now being studied by the Peace Committee of the national legislature. But FrontPageAfrica has learned that Sirleaf is not taking the TRC decision lying down. Sirleafs most detailed response to the report to date was on July 26 this year when she declared in observance of Independence Day that Liberians will make the right choice in deciding her fate. Sirleaf asserted in her address on July 26, that like thousands of other Liberians at home and abroad who did, she has always admitted her early support for Taylor to challenge the brutality of a dictatorship led by the late Samuel Doe. It was equally clear that when the true nature of Mr. Taylors intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process. I have talked about this openly over the past twelve years and expressed remorse to the Liberian people for my misjudgment. In turn, the Liberian people rendered their judgment. In 2005, I was elected President of the Republic of Liberia. My mandate was to return hope to the country and to make the children smile again. Sirleaf acknowledged that the TRC spent three years interviewing tens of thousands of Liberians in country and amongst the Diaspora and commended the body along with each and every person who participated in this process. Where the report lives up to its mission and mandate, the Liberian people have my steadfast commitment to work with all branches of government, the Independent Human Rights Commission, the religious community, civil society and the media to actualize its recommendations. Sirleaf further declared that her commendation and reiteration of her early support for Taylor was as much as she could say at this point in time due to the fact that she is named in the report for sanction and has been advised that it would be legally imprudent for her to give a more extensive comment on the report. Furthermore Sirleaf said her comments could be misinterpreted as an attempt to influence whatever action the National Legislature might take on the report, and I do not intend to do so. I believe in the wisdom of the Liberian people and am convinced that they will make a proper judgment on the TRCs Final Report.

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