The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted January 19, 2004

Following a meeting of the leadership of LURD, MODEL and ex-GOL, UNMIL, the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) and the National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (NCDDRR), on Friday at UNMIL Force Headquarters, the following agreements were reached:

On 20 January 2004, the disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) programme will commence with a 15-day information and sensitization campaign for all combatants in locations around the country, to be identified by the leadership of the groups, and carried out by a joint team comprising representatives of LURD, MODEL and ex-GOL, NCDDRR, UNMIL, UN agencies, and NGOs and civil society groups.

Concurrently, three teams, composed of LURD, MODEL, ex-GOL, NTGL, NCDDRR and UNMIL Force, will be dispatched to identify and initiate the construction of reception centers and cantonment sites in Tubmanburg, Buchanan, Gbarnga and VOA (for Monrovia). It is expected that this phase will take approximately 20-30 days.

Upon the completion of the cantonment sites, the actual disarmament and demobilization process will commence concurrently in all those locations. A detailed schedule of implementation is currently being elaborated.