wfn.org | Church World Service Commends Liberian Interfaith Leaders

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLOBAL NGO COMMENDS LIBERIAN INTERFAITH LEADERS FOR CALMING WATERS OF 
WEEKS VIOLENCE, CHURCH BURNINGS IN MONROVIA

Initially Feared As a Muslim-Christian Conflict, Fighting Now Blamed

On 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 Liberias interim government, fighting resumed 
on Sunday the final day of the countrys 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 Liberias 
civil war a year ago.  Yesterday (Wed 11/3) Liberias three former warring 
factions formally announced that they had disbanded their forces and had 
disarmed.

  The source of last weeks 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.

High number of unemployed young people whose future is at stake

CWS 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 Services 
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.

LCCs Lartey is scheduled to visit Church World Services New York 
headquarters next week to report on Liberias 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 
agencys multi-year Africa Initiative.

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CONTACTS:

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