Liberian women group Disturbed Over war Threats

 

The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted November 4, 2003



The Liberian Women Initiative(LWI) says it is disturbed by the frequent vacillating from peace talks to war-mongering emanating from LURD's Chairman Sekou Damate Conneh.

In a press release issued yesterday, the LWI said Mr. Conneh's constant threatening remarks brings into sharp question his sincerity to the comprehensive Accra Peace Agreement of which he is an integral part and a signatory.

"We are of the opinion that one of the most pressing preoccupations of all Liberians at this time should be an unhindered working relationship with the United Nations peacekeepers to ensure an effective and successful DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) program for those under arms especially the child soldiers.

"Lest anyone forget, the efforts of the U.N. will not be thwarted for any reason and should be reminded of the given mandate under Chapter VII, which explicitly calls for the use of force when the peacekeepers and unarmed civilians are threatened", the LWI asserted.

"Let it be made emphatically clear that this time around, neither Liberians nor the peacekeepers for that matter be held hostage nor noosed at anyone's whim and caprice.

"Samuel Kanyon Doe came as a Redeemer, Charles Macarthur Taylor came as a Freedom Fighter. We had the ULIMOs as the Liberators, the LPCs as Peacekeepers, etc. On the current scene are the Reconcilers and the Democrats. Liberia has known too many liberators and defenders of the people's rights, who have only come to enslave them. For once let someone live up to their grandiose names that history may judge them kindly", the LWI press release signed by its Secretary General Etweda A. Cooper concluded.


© 2003: This article is copyrighted by The Inquirer newspaper (Monrovia, Liberia) and distributed by The Perspective (Atlanta, Georgia). All rights reserved.