wfn.org | Liberia Peace Still Shaky

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3391 notes).

Note 3390 by UMNS on Jan. 23, 1997 at 16:22 Eastern (2484 characters).

SEARCH:Liberia, U.S. government, disarmament, peace
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                        36(10-21-31-71B){3390}
         New York (212) 870-3803                     Jan. 23, 1997

NOTE TO EDITORS:  This story may be used as a sidebar to UMNS
story #36 {3389}.

Liberian peace
remains shaky  

     NEW YORK (UMNS) -- Although a new peace process for Liberia
was initiated last August, its prospects for success remain shaky,
according to a fact-finding report from a nongovernmental
organization called Friends of Liberia.
     The report is based on information gathered in October. That
fact-finding process included co-sponsorship of a two-day
conference in Monrovia on demobilizing and reintegrating
combatants.
     "The failure of 13 peace agreements make Liberians and the
international community skeptical about the country's latest plan
for peace," the report's summary said. "The anarchy and
humanitarian crisis that followed the collapse of last year's
peace plan is a grim reminder of the consequences of failure."
     Acknowledging that a partial foundation for peace does exist,
the report expresses concern that there is "no strong plan, nor
the resources to support it, for comprehensively disarming,
demobilizing and reintegrating combatants." Nor is it likely that
violations of the ceasefire can be deterred, it says.
     "Dragging the entire process is the failure of the
international community to fully provide resources and
leadership," the report adds.
     To bring the war to the end, the report concludes, the
international community must help Liberians neutralize the
economic aspects of the war; hold faction leaders personally
responsible for compliance to the peace process; achieve
agreements on all details and identify resources to implement the
accord; ensure that the United Nations shows greater political
leadership in the peace process and determine whether the current
peacekeeping force is viable.
     The U.S. government, with its historical responsibilities in
Liberia, is called upon to take international leadership. "It is
time for U.S. diplomacy to match its considerable humanitarian
commitment," the report says. "Relief aid, so far generously
provided, can no longer serve as an excuse for the lack of
political action."
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