wfn.org | Episcopalians: Episcopal Church in Liberia caught in renewed fighting

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

May 21, 2002

2002-131

Episcopalians: Episcopal Church in Liberia caught in renewed 
fighting

by James Solheim

(ENS) As more details filter out of Liberia, the violent 
confrontation between the government and a coalition of rebels 
is threatening the nation's institutions--including churches.

In a letter to members of the board of trustees for 
Cuttington University College (CUC), President Melvin Mason 
described the tensions on campus as the fighting came closer. 
The evening of May 6, Mason and staff made plans to evacuate the 
campus. Using a satellite telephone he contacted the National 
Police offices in Monrovia and, as a result, President Charles 
Taylor sent six buses to transport students to the capital.

On May 7 buses returned to campus to evacuate staff and 
faculty and on May 8 they rescued valuable documents, equipment 
and a few more people. An attempt on May 9 to return for the 
families of security personnel was blocked at the gate because 
of "security conditions," according to Mason. Using a back 
entrance the bus drivers were able to deliver some food to the 
security personnel and evacuate family members, a few staff 
members and more equipment. At this point there were 22 security 
men and a few National Police on campus, "trying to prevent 
looting and destruction of property."

By May 15 and 16 a committee in Monrovia was arranging 
temporary accommodation for CUC to resume classes and finish the 
academic year. It will be the first class to graduate since the 
college was abandoned during the seven-year civil war that ended 
in 1996. Several institutions in Monrovia offered classroom 
space, according to a May 17 letter from President Mason, and he 
announced May 18 that classes would resume.

Conditions in the capital are still grim, according to 
college officials, with reports of a black out and no sources of 
power. All faculty and students are safe, however. Teams sent 
back to the campus reported that there has been looting at the 
college and Phebe Hospital across the road. 

In an e-mail note to Margaret Larom of the Office of Anglican 
and Global Relations in New York Bishop Edward Neufville of the 
Diocese of Liberia thanked U.S. Episcopalians for their concern 
and said, "At the present moment it seems as if we are sitting 
on a time bomb. However, our prayers go up daily to Almighty God 
for his mercy and protection to allow this cup to pass over us."

The bishop added that "our people are distressed and hungry" 
and that the "cost of essential commodities have doubled. Most 
people have turned into beggars. It is rough. However, church 
attendance continues to grow and our people are praying daily." 
He said that he is meeting with the diocesan staff "to console 
and give hope and visit churches to give them hope also. With 
your prayers, knowing that you all are there for us, we muster 
up courage every day."

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--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.