Sirleaf ban call: Your Comments

Liberia's truth commission has called for President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to be barred from office. Here are some of your thoughts on the story.

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COMMENTS FROM LIBERIA

The Commission has done its work but it raises more questions than answers. I do not believe it has laid the path to peace and reconciliation.
Oliver Gipli, Monrovia, Liberia

The president was at an African Union summit when the report was released

It's good, let justice be done. Let the president be banned from public office for even more than 30 years.
Alphonso Jah Jr, Liberia

I think the recommendations of the TRC are not fair, they have not done the work they were asked to do; we asked them to carry out this mandate to promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation. If you find out that I killed his person's Mother they were asked to call the both parties together and see how they can talk things over. Not to come and cause more confusion in the country.
Sarah Blackie, Montserrado County, Liberia

COMMENTS FROM OUTSIDE LIBERIA

I think the decision to bar her from office is right. If she was up for reconciliation, she could have reconciled with her predecessor and focused on rebuilding Liberia. The way forward for Liberia is to focus on national reconciliation just like what Namibia did under the leadership of President Nujoma. Currently Namibian are united and are building their own country together with their previous enemies. Why Liberia could not follow the same way?
Junias Kalimbo, Ongwediva, Namibia

The Liberian parliament has disappointed me. Mrs Johnson has brought Liberia out of turmoil and has come up with wonderful programmes. She admitted and apologised that she was fooled to believe that Taylor had a nationalistic cause. We appreciate Mrs Johnson and know that she did it for the love of her people, though she too was disappointed.
Nsereko Simon Peter , Kampala, Uganda

It was a grave mistake to allow her to run the presidency. But now the honourable thing for her is to accept the commission recommendation and resign. Does she have the morals to lead the country after supporting a dictator and war criminal?
James Levis, London, UK

Whatever opinions Sirleaf has, the commission has demonstrated the utmost independence that is lacked by a number of would be independent inquiry commissions in Africa. Sirleaf should please respect the independent view that is expressed.
Kasibante Moses, Kampala, Uganda

Mrs Johnson, try to defend yourself. If not, your failure will affect all the women around the World.
Marko Rou, Akon, South Sudan

I spent most of my life in Liberia and was there when Charles Taylor crossed the border. I think it is safe to say that a very great number of people, including me, felt that he would bring sanity to the political situation. How wrong we were. Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf is today Liberia's best chance - hope she has the stamina to continue to the end of her term.
Ed Hermelin, Le Beausset, France

I totally agree with the recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This will serve as a deterrent to would be warlords. President Sirleaf should step down and appoint an interim government.
Khalil Dukuly, The Hague

I highly welcome the banning of Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf from all political activities for thirty years. This will send a message to all would be rebel leaders,their financiers and other associates that Liberia and Liberians will not be used for their so-called revolution.Those former rebel leaders currently ruling our nation are not exceptional and they must be banned along with Mrs Sirleaf.
Tarjubuh, Australia

Personally I still have great respect for Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Whatever she may have done, I think she really believed it was for the good of Liberia. She is obviously very passionate about ridding the country of corruption and all its ills. None of this can ever erase all the good she has done for her country and the inspiration she gives to us all as African women.
Siya Miti, East London, South Africa

The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has recommended that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other partakers in the recently ended civil war be barred from public office for 30 years. But, does this also include all of those who were involved in overthrowing Tolbert's government in the 1980s? For all of those who were involved in the overthrow of Tolbert's government indeed were the initial rebels! They were the ones who started the destructive process which plunged Liberia into the dark ages! Also, the Liberian legislature is now in the process of debating on whether to ratify the recommendations of the TRC. But does even the Liberian Legislature have the moral and ethical authority to debate, yet ratify the TRC's recommendations? After all, a former rebel like Prince Johnson, is the senior senator of Nimba County?
Anonymous, USA

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