General News of Tuesday, 28 January 2003

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NRC Has No Basis To Invite Rawlings Yet

The Director of Public Affairs at the National Reconciliation Commission, Miss Annie Anipa has stated that, no compelling evidence has been brought before the commission that could lead to the invitation of former President Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, to appear before it.

Miss Anipa told Peace Fm on Tuesday that, after two weeks of hearing, the commission has still not had a basis on which the former president should be invited. She said the former president?s name came up at the commission?s hearing last week, in connection with a law passed by his government.

She stated that, if the commission receives a report on human rights abuses under the PNDC/NDC regime, purported to have been committed by a public official, that official would be served a notice to appear before the commission, and not the former president. She stressed that, currently no invitation has been sent to ex-president Jerry John Rawlings, to appear before the commission.

Miss Anipa opined that, witnesses who weep in the course of giving testimonies should not be prevented from expressing their emotional feelings. According to her, such emotional feelings cannot influence the commission?s report to the president, as to how to deal with such people.