wfn.org | NCCCUSA HEAD'S STATEMENT ON LIBERIA

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

40NCC4/24/96                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCCCUSA GENERAL SECRETARY JOAN CAMPBELL
STATEMENT ON LIBERIA

The People of Liberia have suffered through six
years of civil strife that has resulted in the death
of more than 150,000 of its citizens and the
displacement of more than half of its two million
population.  The infrastructure of the country has
been destroyed and life in Liberia has been stripped
of all normalcy.

The civil strife in Liberia is perpetuated by
"factions" and individuals who offer no discernable
ideological, political, social or economic agenda
for Liberia.

Despite the efforts of the United Nations and others
to promote a peace process, the present situation in
Liberia is one of anarchy.

Given the rich history of the relationship between
the people of the United States and the people of
Liberia, we share the agony of the Liberian people
as they go through this difficult period, an agony
that must be brought to an end as soon as possible.

To that end, we call upon our churches to pray
earnestly for peace in Liberia.  We call upon the
United States Government to use the full influence
of its diplomatic capability in support of peace in
Liberia, which should include substantial resources
in support of regional peacekeeping and peace
initiatives and the efforts of the United Nations.
We call upon the United Nations to continue its
peacekeeping operations in Liberia and to ensure the
provision of special protection for women and
children, the most vulnerable civilians in
situations of war.  Finally, we urge the
international community to provide humanitarian
assistance to the people of Liberia.

The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell
General Secretary
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
U.S.A.

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