|
Liberia:
Regular Updates on an Irregular Situation
 Author:
Samuel Duworko II
Posted: Ongoing
Reprieve from Fighting
in Monrovia
Author: S. Kpanbayeazee
Duworko, II
Posted: 1 July, 2003
Monrovia, the Liberian
capital, is today gradually returning to normal after nearly four
days of fighting which left some 500 persons, mostly children and
women, dead.
The fighting between
government forces and those of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation
and Democracy (LURD) began last Tuesday, nearly a week after the
govt, LURD and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia signed a peace
accord in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
The fighting resumed
after forces of LURD launched an attack on the capital in a bid
to oust President Charles Taylor from power. This was their second
attempt on the capital since the rebels started their rebellion
in 1999.
Meanwhile the peace talks
in Ghana were suspended since the renewed fighting started. In another
development, US President George Bush has called on President Taylor
to resign.
[END]
Liberia: Catholic Archbishop Says His Security Is in the Hands
of Govt....
Author: S. Kpanbayeazee
Duworko, II
Posted: 24 June, 2003
The Most Rev. Michael
Kpakala Francis says his life is solely and squarely in the hands
of the government of President Charles Taylor. The prelate who is
Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia made the statement
last night in his regular "Conversation with the Archbishop"
which airs on Radio
Veritas.
The Archbishop said that
a few days ago when he met with President Charles G. Taylor concerning
the current crisis in Liberia, he mentioned the threats which have
been made against him by Representative Sando Johnson of Bomi County,
who on numerous occasions have accused the Archbishop of connivance
with the rebels to toppole the Taylor led government.
According to Archbishop,
"the president never commented on the issue." Therefore,
the Archbishop said that his life was now in the hands of the
security of the state.
The Catholic Bishop said that he has written the Pope and other
officials of the Vatican about the issue. The outspoken cleric who
has consistently denounced violence as a way of assumming power,
said however, if God wanted him to die during this period, then
he is prepared to go, but that those who will take his life,
"will like, Judas, pay for it."
Meanwhile today, despite
govt.'s call that schools should resume today, schools have still
not resumed. At the University of Liberia, the state owned instution,
classes did not start today as was anticipated. At the Catholic
run Don Bosco
Polytechnic Institute, the faculty resolved to resume classes this
Wednesday in order to complete the semester. The administration
of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary also resolved to complete
their semester this week
[END]
Liberia, Chuck Taylor
and Those Eeeeeviil Americans
Author: Samuel Duworko
II
Posted: 15, June 2003
Liberian President Charles Taylor has said that any settlement of
the current situation in his country must take into consideration
the security of his person and members of his cabinet.
The President made the
statement yesterday at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia when he
addressed the nation. He said the political situation in Liberia
must be solved by a smooth transition process that will take into
consideration the Liberian constitution and the presidency. Making
clear that he was not going to leave power until his term expires
next January, he said power will then be transferred to his vice
president. President Taylor repeated his earlier statement that
any attempt to arrest him will be "bloody and disatrous,"
adding "it will take years to disarm thousands of fighters
that might be lodged throughout the forests in Liberia."
On the question as to
why he was not arrested in Ghana after the UN sponsored Special
Criminal Tribunal in Sierra Leone issued an indictment for his arrest,
President Taylor said his arrest would have set a bad precedent
in Africa; hence, his colleagues in the African Union did not allow
his arrest to take place.
President Taylor said the Special Criminal Tribunal was designed
to perpetuate a western hold on Africa. He noted that if it had
happened to "Charles Taylor, it could happen to Robert Mugabe,
Paul Kigame Yoweri Musveni or Tejan Kabah tomorrow." The Special
Tribunal had issued the indictment on June 4 while President Taylor
was in Ghana to attend an ECOWAS peace initiative on Liberia. The
Ghanaian government of President John Kuffor did not carry out the
Special Tribunal's mandate; but provided adequate security for President
Taylor and his entourage.
Upon his return home,
fighting erupted in the suburbs of Monrovia between government troops
and the forces of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation
and Democracy (Lurd). The fighting sent some 200,000 persons fleeing
for their lives in the city centers. However, at yesterday's press
confab, President
Taylor said government forces had beaten back the rebel advance
on Monrovia, the nation's capital. The Liberian leader said the
LURD rebels had been
supported and ferried by Sierra Leone and two big powers, a reference
to Britain and the United States of America. Again yesterday, he
accused the American
government of failing to assist Liberia since the country gained
independence in 1847 as a home of freed and repatriated slaves from
the US.
Meanwhile, the wave of
antiAmerican sentiments continued to be heard on President Taylor's
KISS FM radio. Since the President's press confab, the radio
has alleged that residents of the Brewerville area reported seeing
a helicopter with American flag dropping green boxes. A few days,
Tom Gorgla, a noted
political commentator and writer, aired a two part commentry accusing
American President George Bush of masterminding the crisis in Liberia.
Author: Samuel Duworko
2
Email: duworko2@yahoo.com
|
