wfn.org | Church World Service Commends Liberian Interfaith Leaders

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

CONTACTS:

Jan Dragin, 24/7, New York/Boston, (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net
Ann Walle/CWS/New York, (212) 870-2654, awalle@churchworldservice.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE COMMENDS LIBERIAN INTERFAITH LEADERS FOR CALMING WATERS
OF WEEK9S VIOLENCE, CHURCH BURNINGS IN MONROVIA

Initially Feared As a Muslim-Christian Conflict, Fighting Now Blamed
On Land Issues, Rebels Resistant to Relinquishing Weapons

NEW YORK - Thurs Nov 4- Global humanitarian agency Church World Service paid
tribute to interfaith leaders in Liberia today for being instrumental in
helping restore calm following a fresh round of violence in Monrovia that
erupted last Thursday (Oct 28) and that was initially reported as being
between Muslims and Christians.

Following the burning of several churches, mosques and schools in the
Redlight and Jacob Town areas outside Monrovia on Friday (10/29), Christian
and Muslim religious leaders quickly met, then visited five area radio
stations and in broadcasts called for calm and cessation to further violence
and burnings.

On Friday (10/30), the Liberian interfaith team also met with United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) officials.

"UNMIL subsequently increased its patrol in the affected areas, posted
security around churches and mosques in the area, and assigned a military
escort to enable us to move around the area to help bring calm," reports
Liberian Council of Churches General Secretary Benjamin Dorme Lartey.

Despite a curfew imposed by Liberia9s interim government, fighting resumed
on Sunday- the final day of the country9s voluntary disarmament program.
Calm continues, but the violence and burnings produced 16 deaths and 208
reported injuries during the worst fighting since the end of Liberia9s civil
war a year ago.  Yesterday (Wed 11/3) Liberia9s three former warring
factions formally announced that they had disbanded their forces and had
disarmed.

  The source of last week9s violence has since been pointed away from
possible Muslim-Christian conflicts to a variety of other causes. "We
nonetheless commend the Liberian Council of Churches and the Inter-Religious
Council of Liberia for taking the lead in helping end this unrest- and
averting the development of future conflict between Muslims and Christians,"
says Moses Ole Sakuda, Associate Director, CWS Mission Relationships and
Witness Program.

UNMIL spokesman James Boynton reported on Tuesday (11/2) that the violence
seemed to stem from a polyglot of property issues and disputes between rebel
group and rebel splinter group members.

Church World Service partner in Monrovia the YMCA of Liberia said in a
statement that the violence erupted between people of the Mandingo tribe,
who are associated with the Moslem faith, and other tribal groups more
commonly associated with the Christian religion. "It is absolutely certain,"
the YMCA said, "that it did not begin as a religious issue, but rather a
land dispute." However, mosques and churches quickly became the targets of
many of the attacks.

9High number of unemployed young people whose future is at stake9

CWS9 Sakuda notes that while the immediate trouble seems under control,
"This continues to underline the challenges that still remain in Liberia
with its high number of unemployed young people whose future is at stake."

Sakuda told the Liberian church leaders that "Church World Service9s
"prayers are with you at this difficult time when everyone had to be
reminded all over again of the deep wounds of war and devastation."

Sakuda noted that "despite its other conflicts and tragedies, Liberia s
Christians, Muslims and animists have traditionally maintained good
relationships."

CWS continues consultation with the Liberian ecumenical leaders, who met in
Monrovia yesterday to plan how both faiths will work together to reach out
across the region to curtail further violence. The Liberian faith leaders
are now scheduled to meet with Liberian Chairman Bryant on a weekly basis.

LCC9s Lartey is scheduled to visit Church World Service9s New York
headquarters next week to report on Liberia9s most recent unrest,
disarmament progress and general humanitarian and economic needs.

Working through indigenous faith groups and non-governmental organizations,
CWS is a key supporter of conflict transformation, relief, displaced persons
and development programs in Liberia. Liberia and surrounding Mano River
Union countries are designated for special focus in the international
agency9s multi-year Africa Initiative.

###