PROVIDENCE — In an attempt to heal their war-torn country, Liberian government officials are reaching across the Atlantic to find Rhode Island residents with ties to the West African nation who will give statements about how a quarter-century of conflict affected them and how the country can move forward.

Volunteers in Providence yesterday began taking statements that will be forwarded to the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission was inspired by a similar agency that brought healing to South Africa after the racial separation system of apartheid ended there. The Liberian commission was established as part of a 2003 peace agreement that ended civil war that had raged sporadically since 1989 and that stemmed from unrest beginning in 1979.

The commission, known by the initials TRC, has been charged with striking a balance between retribution and forgiveness that will help bring Liberian society together so that it can move on from the conflict without continued reprisals.

“The TRC process is not just a matter of bygones be bygones,” said Ahmed K. Sirleaf of Advocates for Human Rights, the Minnesota organization coordinating the statement-taking process in the United States.

“These statements bear witness to the human-rights abuses and humanitarian law violations that occurred during the civil crises that have plagued Liberia throughout the past two decades. This groundbreaking project gives Liberians in the diaspora a voice in the promotion of international justice and human rights as part of the truth, justice, accountability and reconciliation processes in Liberia.”

The commission wants to hear from members of the Liberian diaspora — people who emigrated and their descendants. Statement-givers, as they are called, are asked to describe what happened to them, to their friends, family and acquaintances and to their property between 1979 and 2003. The commission also wants statement-givers’ opinions on the future of Liberia, as well as recommendations for prosecutions, government reforms and specific forms of reconciliation. And statement-givers are encouraged to say why they left Liberia and how the conflict has affected their adjustment to life in the United States.

“Truth and reconciliation commissions in post-conflict societies like Liberia have provided opportunities for healing, justice and accountability for these societies as they transition from violence to more peaceful, democratic societies for a shared future for all,” Sirleaf said. “We believe this work would not be complete without involving the critical voice of Liberians in the Rhode Island region, as this city, this state, has served in the past as a historic haven for the Liberian people during both times of crises and peace.”

Mator M.F. Kpangbai, president of the Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island, urged all Liberians to participate.

“After nearly two decades of devastating civil war that claimed the lives of more than 200,000 and displaced more than half a million Liberians, both internally and externally, we are pleading with our fellow Liberians to come out in numbers to support the mission of the TRC; that is, to investigate the root causes of our conflict, violations and abuses that occurred and to set the stage for some measure of justice, some measure of justice and reconciliation so desperately needed in Liberia.”

The Rev. Claudius Cooper, of Christ Center of Praise Full Gospel Ministries, underscored Kpangbai’s plea. “If we don’t come up and give these statements, we stand a chance of repeating what happened in the past.”

The national organizers said they hope to get 40 statements from Rhode Island, but local organizers are aiming for 200 from a Liberian population they estimate at 15,000.

Elizabeth Tobin Tyler said statement-takers will meet with Liberians virtually anytime, anywhere. “We want to make it as easy as possible for people.”

Tobin Tyler, of Roger Williams University’s law school, is coordinating student volunteers who will join lawyers in taking statements. Statements can be taken in people’s homes, at their workplaces, at local restaurants or other meeting places. Also, “clinics” will be organized where statements can be given at a central location, such as a church. And statements will be taken nights and weekends, as well as weekdays during business hours.

The process began yesterday and will continue until the fall.

To sign up to give a statement, call (800) 799-3688, (401) 780-6718 or (401) 954-2836.

pparker@projo.com