Several weeks back this blog discussed the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) activities in Minnesota. Since the American mid-western state of Minnesota houses the largest community of Liberians in America, and the TRC has been really busy here getting testimony of war crimes and other atrocities committed during the Liberian conflict.
The Liberian TRC is unique because it’s the first time that such an investigation has reached so far into the ranks of people who were scattered by a prolonged conflict. It’s heartbreaking to read that the commission has been suspended due to lack of funds:
“After three weeks of work in the field, we have recalled statement-takers because we have not been able to pay them,†the TRC’s acting chairman Deddeh Dolopai told reporters. “We have decided to take this decision because of lack of funds,†she said. Read more, via VisionOnlne
The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) begins its arduous task of investigating the root causes of the conflict in Liberia. The commission is “gathering statements in one of the most ambitious efforts ever by such a commission”, since it “will be the first time that such an investigation has reached so far into the ranks of people who were scattered by a prolonged conflict,” writes a local newspaper in Minnesota.
There are an estimated 25,000 Liberians in [tag]Minnesota[/tag], the largest in the United States; several of whom were victims and perpetrators of violence during the 14 year conflict killed about a quarter million people.
Continue reading…
Thousands of Liberians in the United States on the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) designation may have to go back to their country.
The TPS program is a temporary measure granted to eligible “non-resident foreigners who wish to avoid returning to their homeland because of civil strife or effects of a natural disaster of “extraordinary and temporary conditions,” according to U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) .
Some 20,000 Liberians were granted residency in the U.S under the TPS designation following the civil war that engulfed the nation between 1989 and 2003. Now that hostilities have stopped and there is a new democratic government in place, the DHS has deemed it appropriate to revoke the TPS designation for Liberians (pdf file), stating that the “extraordinary and temporary conditions that formed the basis for the designation have improved and no longer prevent Liberians from returning to Liberia in safety.”
While this is a factual statement, it is so far from reality. Liberia may no longer be at war, but it does amount to sheer fantasy to imagine that a country which is crawling out of several years of civil strife will be able to absorb the thousands of returnees. Wynfred Russell, a Liberian college Lecturer and resident of Minnesota, muses on the capacity of the Liberian state to absorb the influx in his article: Liberia Has No Capacity To Absorb “TPS” Returnees: Continue reading…
An Associated Press reports in a statement credited to Charles Taylor’s spiritual leader, the Indian evangelist Kilari Anand Paul, that the Nigerian security agents assisted Charles Taylor in his escape and abandoned him when they received order from “above” to terminate their mission:
“Nigerian security forces encouraged former Liberian President Charles Taylor to flee and helped him get to the Cameroon border before the same agents turned around and arrested him in a double-cross…”
Taylor definitely received some help to escape; however, to assert that his escape was probably orchestrated by the top hierarchy of the Nigerian security forces is troubling and warrants a thorough investigation.
Source: Taylor says Nigeria betrayed him, via CNN
Tags: Nigeria Liberia Charles Taylor
It’s on record that the Liberia’s new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said in an interview with The New York Times before her inauguration in January that “Mr. Taylor’s fate was a relatively low priority, given the myriad problems facing Liberia and the fragility of the peace there.”
The reason for the sudden change of heart is puzzling. Some have suggested that the Ms Johnson may have been pressured by Washington to prosecute Taylor or the US will “withhold aid to Liberia if she did not act”. So she asked Nigeria to hand Mr. Taylor over, and Nigeria agreed.
On the realization this he (Taylor) fled and almost made it out of Nigeria. Almost.
Charles Taylor has been captured. He was traveling in a Land Rover with diplomatic plates as he attempted to slip out of Nigeria into Cameroun.
Tags: Nigeria Liberia Charles Taylor
It appears Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf means business in Liberia:
“Liberia’s new President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has sacked the entire staff of the finance ministry as part of her anti-corruption drive.” –BBC.
The Liberian president states, “they [the sacked workers] would all have to reapply for their jobs and those who were successful would be given extra training to improve their skills.”
Just what President Obasanjo of Nigeria needs to do to many of the government agencies in his country. Does he have the guts to do this? After 7 years of mucky policies, it’s obvious he lacks this initiative.
Tags: Nigeria Liberia
After many decades of deadly civil strives, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was sworn in as the president of Liberia earlier today in the capital city of Monrovia. She is in fact the first democratically elected female African president.
Read more about this event and other tumultuous incidents preceding this day of glory in Liberia. You may start at any of these blogs:
Jewels of the Jungle, Black Looks, Nigerian Times, Sudan Watch, and Fire Angel
Any Liberian blogger/reader in the Parlor?
Keep the dreams and hope alive and CONGRATULATIONS!
More pictures, courtesy of the BBC:
Tags: Liberia Democracy