This article is not intended to insight people, but to make people think and to make people remember the past.  The key to our future is truth, no matter how painful that can be.  It is not about what tribe we are from, but about the fact that we are all from Liberia.  I can only share what I remember, what I have been told, and what has been documented.  I cannot of course speak to what I have not seen or heard.  I gladly invite other people to share what they remember and what they have been told.  If we work collaboratively on colleting the stories of our past we can perhaps have a more accurate shared history.

I am saddened that people do not want to talk about the past.  Often their reservations come not from the pain the past brings up, but because they are unable to hear the truth.  We should not be ashamed or scared of the truth.  The Bible states, in John 8:31-32, “the truth will make you free.”  We should embrace our past both the bad and the good.  We are all human and therefore we have flaws.  This is not a secret, so why are we trying to be so secretive about the past?  Through admitting transgressions we heal the pain these actions caused.  Some might suggest we cannot admit the transgressions of those who are no longer able to speak for themselves.

I disagree.  I hold a perception and am viewed in a particular way by others based on what my tribal men have done.  I do not want to be judged based on their actions.  I do not want to judge others based on their tribal affiliations.  My tribal history is important to my identity but it will not dictate to me who I respect, hold malice toward, or any other feeling.  This can be a challenge, but one I feel is imperative to peace in Liberia.  I know some are hurt that I am speaking out about President Samuel K Doe, because I am Krahn.  This should not be the case.  I can and have spoke to many wonderful things President Samuel K. Doe did during his administration as well. However, I am not just Krahn, I am Liberian.  I, like so many, have suffered under a countless string of corrupt administrations.

The most important thing to me is to write what I know, to the best of my ability, and have seen as my vision permitted me to see as a boy during the scariest days of President Samuel K Doe’s administration.

Others may argue in defense of the late President Doe that his administration was not corrupt and that there were no human rights abuses. What they may not know or perhaps may have forgotten is that there are several accounts of human rights abuses, witch hunts, and abuses of power during Samuel K. Doe’s administration.

I was a young boy living in Zleh Town when the Nov. 12 1985 incident took place. That is why, I am confident to write what I know and what I saw on that day as far as I can record.  One may ask why I recount these things when the war is over and the killing of these people has long since passed. One would even wonder why it is that this story is now being told.  Why not ever since?  My answers to these two questions are as follows:

It is now that I feel comfortable to write publicly about these things. It is now that I am able to speak out for those who were killed. Since the killing of the Manos and Gios in Zleh Town, there has never been a stable government in Liberia until now. Therefore, there was no audience ready to listen to what happened.  It is now that I am ready to say these things because those who committed these acts have refused to acknowledge their wrong doing. Instead, they continue to justify the killing of their fellow human beings.

General Thomas Qwewonkpa staged a military coup against the Samuel K. Doe regime on November 12th 1985.  Many would have thought that the Mano and Gio living in Zleh Town would have rejoiced, but they did not.  They were very calm, silent, and kept to themselves.  Perhaps this was because they were afraid of a back lack from their Krahn neighbors.  Later in that same day Doe announced over the radio, that he was still in charge of the country, instilling fear within the Manos and Gios.

Perhaps because the Mano and Gio living in Zleh Town were so civilized during the coup, the people of Zleh Town helped them. Many Manos and Gios living in Zleh Town took refuge in the homes of Krahn people who gladly helped as they were neighbors and friends. The people of Zleh Town hid the Manos and Gios because they knew that soldiers from Tuzon would storm the town and kill them. In the late afternoon of November 12th, a group of soldiers from Tuzon stormed Zleh Town demanding the people to produce all of the Gio and Mano people that were living there or else the entire town would be classified as Thomas Qwewonkpa’s supporters. 

What I will recount next is something that was burned into my memory that day.  Over 250 Mano and Gios were stripped naked, put in a straight line, and bound with rope, all while guns were being held to their backs.  They were paraded through the principle streets of Zleh Town. Mr. George Gunno, was among those who were paraded in the streets of Zleh Town. They were taken to the center of town and were flogged severely with hard army belts. It was here too, that Leadopea Weayee, the Borkey Junior High School prefect, was arrested right in front of Peter Carr, the School Headmaster.  He was tied up, flogged, and thrown into the tractor wagon along with dozens of other Manos and Gios.

I remember there was only one tractor, it continued to drive away full and return empty.  It always went and came from the direction of Towah Town.  A Peace Corps man, John Delay, was at the scene when all of these things took place. The Rev. Father of the Catholic Church OLA in Zleh Town was still in the town when these things took place. There are many witnesses who can attest to what happened on that day in Zleh Town. I was a boy, but I saw what happened.

For many hours after the soldiers left, people speculated about what happened, but I believe at least the adults knew the truth.  The Gio and Manos were murdered that day. I can remember hearing talk about them being killed and that they were taken to the outskirts of Towah Town.  It was months later, when some friends and I went to Pour Town that we stumbled upon the decaying bodies.

I would like to address Johnnie Gayechueay ’s concerns about my earlier article praising Chris Bailey in which I mentioning Samuel K. Doe’s administerial blunder..  Johnnie Gayechueay  argued that I did not balance my article as well as my comment. He mentioned in his article that I should have talked about what happened in Nimba and other places before and during Nov.. 12, 1985. I did not, to my recollection, preface my article with something saying this was “the” history of what happened.  It was simply one story of among perhaps hundreds.  Again the only one I was present for, and therefore the only one I can recount from memory.

This is not and should not be an argument about whether Samuel K. Doe was a good person; this is between Samuel and his maker.  What are up for argument are the facts, what really happened on November 12th, 1985 and what, if any role, did Doe have in it.

Johnnie Gayechueay  argued that Samuel Doe could not have ordered the killing of the Manos and Gios in Zleh town while Doe was under siege in Monrovia on Nov. 12 1985. This statement is erroneous because the AFL had radios to communicate across the entire country. Gayechueay argues also, that Samuel Doe cannot be held responsible for the killings because he did not do them physically. Is Bin Laden not being hunted for 9/11?  Is Taylor not being held in The Hague for his part in what occurred in Sierra Leone?  Also, the question of responsibility only becomes an issue if we agree that Doe did in fact order the killings, of which some will say he had no part. Some had said the Zleh Town people killed the Gios and Manos, of which I and many others know is not true. While I was not in the room with Doe when he did or did not order the killings, who else would have or could ordered these killings?

Gaye said that perhaps I have something personal against Doe’s family o the Krahn people, this is not the case. This article does not intend to carry the title “Bernard Goah vs. Samuel Doe soldiers” nor does it intend to carry the title “Bernard Goah vs. the Tuzon people”. It rather attempts to encourage my brothers and sisters from Grand Gedeh and Nimba counties to join me in the advocacy of becoming better people. To share what we know and what we saw, in an effort to bring healing to ourselves as well as to pave the way for genuine reconciliation.  Without making what we know, what we have seen, as well as what we have heard public our hearts will continue to burn. If we choose to keep these things secret, they will continue to eat at us.  Our failure to reveal these things puts us in continuous conflict with ourselves because we know that these things are true.  Let us not craft justifiable reasons and twist reality, because nothing can change the fact that the events of November 12th and others like them happened.

As a child I always thought that when the Elders of the land said “Let bygones be bygones,” “Let’s put it behind,” and “Let’s forget it” meant all was well and that henceforth, no one was allowed to talk about it, and those who were victimized must live with burning feelings within their bellies and illegitimated truths.

My childhood thoughts could have been right if the Liberian people had said “Let us forget about the TRC” the war is now over, it is OK now. My childhood thoughts would have been right if everyone had said the war is over now, let us not talk about the cause of the war at all.  My childhood thoughts would have been right if the internet was free from complaints of corruption in the current government in Monrovia.. My childhood thoughts would have been right if the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas had said let us just forget about who ate money or not.

My childhood thoughts would have been right if leaders of the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas did not choose to go to court for allegations of disenfranchising some members of its association. My childhood thoughts would have been right if all people were unable to think or talk.   My childhood thoughts would have been right if I had not, to this day, witnessed the conflict within Liberia because of the horrible administrations we have been under.  What happened to forgetting about the past?

The fact is we must talk about what happened, because the past brought us to today.  We must not hate one another for what happened, and we should not judge one another for talking about it.  It is our truth, the Liberian truth, all good and all bad.

Healing must come to our two counties and Liberia.  We must develop ways in which people from Grand Gedeh and Nimba can come together, without fear of judgment or revenge.   The most durable solutions to the problem Liberia faces today is for people to be free to talk about what took place in Liberia.

God bless Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties, and Liberia.

Thank you,

Bernard Gbayee Goah

503 646 1896

Comments (16)

	1. 24-01-2010 23:07
	Keep it up. Thanks Bernard. Keep it up.    James

James

	2. 24-01-2010 23:59
	Knowing the Truth Bernard Goah,  You talk about not hating, but this is exactly what you are doing. How many times have you heard a person from Nimba talking about how the Gios and Manors killed innocent Krahns and Mandingos in that county?   You quoted John 8:31-32, “the truth will make you free.” If you have followed the principles of grammar, you should have placed three dots before the word the, since you left out some words. The full quote there is, If you know the truth, the truth will set you free.” The key word here is to know. The fact here is Mr. Goah, you do not know the truth with regard to what caused the war so how can you confidently say it was started by Samuel Doe? That was Johnnie’s point and I agree with him. You clearly stated in your article above that you do not know what took place in other parts of the country. Since you do not know this, then how did you come to the conclusion that Doe was responsible for the war?  Johnnie never argued against what you said happened in Zleh Town from the beginning. All he said was that the war was caused by an accumulation of factors and he tried to give you and others an idea. But since you and others could not reason and continue to narrow the cause of the war to events that took place in Zwedru and Zleh Town on November 12, 1985, this is why Johnnie started questioning the Zleh Town events.   A man from my town who was working with the fire department of LAMCO was killed during the Nimba Raid just because he was Krahn. His mother never recovered from that incident until she died herself. It was wrong for Krahn people to take the lives of innocent Nimba people. It is equally wrong for the people of Nimba to take the lives of innocent Krahn people. The fact that they all engaged in this kind of uncivilized behavior resulted to the war.   Many people have said that Doe was paranoid and that was why he was killing people. The fact that people came forward during the TRC hearings to corroborate every accusation of coup plot that Doe has made has disproven this notion. We heard people testified before the TRC of how they were involved in various coup plots against Doe outside the country. Isn’t it justifiable to say that these people contributed to the problem also?  Ralph Geeplay said in one of his postings that President Sirleaf was in and out of prison because of her fight for human rights. Hahahaha. The only time that lady ever went to prison in Liberia was after the same November 12, 1985 coup. She was accused of being involved in the coup which she denied. So what can we make of the accusations of Tom Woewoyou and Tarlor Quiwonkpa implicating President Sirleaf of being involved in the plot? Do you know that the president has never one day denied her involvement in that invasion?  So Mr. Goah, if you have just told your story and left it there, I would have supported you and I am sure Johnnie would have had no problem with you either. But the fact that you made that story the premise of the war, just reviled that you are not abreast with events that took place in the country that led to the war, since you were a little as you said.  I am not a fan of Samuel Doe and his Tuzon people. Most of them were illiterate and didn’t know what to do with power when they got it. But to say that they are the cause of the war is an over statement. I think you have allowed the fact that your father was victimized by the Tuzon people to cloud your objectivity     Alex Zamie

Alex Zamie

	3. 25-01-2010 09:17
	Zamie, pls read with understanding, ok.. Alex Zamie, you have questioned you level of understanding big time.     Mr. Goah said there are several accounts of human rights abuses, witch hunts, and abuses of power during Samuel K. Doe’s administration."      If you read his previous article entitled “Group acknowledges work of Sup. Bailey” you would have understood that Mr. Goah did not say it was only Samuel Doe who caused the war.       This is what Mr. Goah said in his article that preceded this one:       “In these tough times in the history of Grand Gedeh County, as they undoubtedly were from time to time since our existence as a county, but as they increasingly got in most parts of the county when our expectations were very high in hopes of a brand new day between 1980 to 1989, our hopes were dwindled before our very eyes between the two years as a result of dominantly administrative blunder on the part of those who were steering the wheels of the country.”      Mr. Zamie, how do you understand the word dominantly? If you fully understand this word you would not have said Mr. Goah put all of the blames on Samuel Doe.      “Some allegations that were brought against Samuel Doe’s government from 1980 to 1989 resemble the truth to the best of my knowledge. I say to the best of my knowledge because I am a living witness to some of what took place at that time. While it may be true that parts of said allegations against Samuel Doe were more than mere allegations, others were false.”      Mr. Zamie the above paragraph means although some allegations were true but others were false. So, Mr. Goah spoke in part in favor of Samuel Doe.    “Those who brought these allegations against the Doe government did not choose to go through proper redress or through the legal system. They propagated rumors of yet more negative allegations and encouraged these rumors to poison the entire country as such, culmination of these rumors resulted into a so to speak, popular uprising.   In fact the uprising was severe and unstoppable as you are fully aware. Most horribly it was contra positively popular only against the common good of the Liberian people especially so, innocent citizens of Grand Gedeh County.”      Mr. Zamie the above paragraph means it was not Samuel alone that brought the war. He even mentioned about rumors of negative allegations. Which one you are incapable of comprehending?      So Zamie, Please read with understanding, ok. Do not let others question your school of thought.     Mr. Goah points are worth taking.    have a nice day.      A.M. Beh

A.M. Beh

	4. 25-01-2010 10:11
	Education and common sense Goah, gradually you are becoming educated fool. When are you suppose to complete your master in public adminstration? Maybe actually earning the degree will help but for now you think you are educated, uh.

Jackson

	5. 25-01-2010 11:20
	Bernard Goah First, let me correct you on the issue of communications on the morning of november 12, 1985; there was no way for Doe and his people to communicate, because the systems were jammed.Secondly, what was the jusitifiable reason(s) for Doe to leave people in Monrovia and order soldiers to kill Manos and Gios in Zleh Town? Are you seeking employment in the Ellen government? Do yourself a favor youngman, just write positive things about the government and you will land a job in a shortest possible time, instead writing lies in the name of being different.  We know your mother is a gbuzzy(LORMA)woman from Lofa County. But you cannot use yourself krahness to lie and defame good people characters.   Will you be happy if someone fasely write that your brother nyakahn Goah was killed in the Ivory Coast because he was fighter? You have to think twice before writing lies.    Whatever you are trying to prove is a long way for anyone to believe you except idiots.    Good Day! \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' target='_blank'>http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nyanteh Z. Gaye

	6. 25-01-2010 11:36
	comment As you righty said Alex, the people of Tuzon, like many other country people in Liberia are very well illerate. What do they know about politics to get involved into political matters those days. If there was anyone from Tuzon who was ever involved in an act as refernced by Bernard many times, I think he now has the opportunity to bring the name forward to prove his case. There was no one in Tuzon that had ever victimized his father. His father was a kannah man. If there was any one who might have done something to him, I think it should be people like gen. Smith and old man Bai Gbala, which I even doubt, because how important was Goar so much for these intelligent kannah people to get at him. Bernard is making new for himself and his late father. His father was not even a politician who might have had something politically to offer to Grand Gedeh county; he was just an elementary school class room teacher. Why should people try to get at him? Who was him? He was one of the very least persons in our county. Nobody was ever after him for any reason. And he died from his own creation. The brain tablets or charms that he ordered from India to make him and the rest of you the children clevel in the class room in school had turned against him with a serious adversed effect. That was how he got sicked and died. So, who do you want blame other people for your father own messy he created. How about your older brother, Yankan Goar who stole an Ivorian devil face (mash-dancer) in guiglo and died just from this criminal act along with five other Liberians in my very eye in Ivory Coast... would you say he was killed by Samuel Doe? I really want to thank Johnny for educating you and you seriously need to be educated. More to come!

Thomas Kwi

	7. 25-01-2010 19:27
	Henry Glay and JD Slanga Henry Glay AKA Thomas Kwi and JD Slanga AKA Nyanteh Z. Gaye    How funny! How stupid you all sound.     Ha ha ha ha all lies! Henry Glay, You are too old to lie like this. I know the Goah family very well. Henry, you and your brother William can lie. I thought you both told me that you were working with the US congress? If you Henry Glay do not stop writing, I will put your dirty stuff out side.     JD, it looks like the $88,000 you stole from Liberia that helped you to get a cow internal organ is making you drunk. You will see more information on yourself soon if you do not stop all these lies. Bernard Goah's article is very clear.     Soldiers from Tuzon killed 250 Gios and Manos in Zleh Town. It was even proven by Henry Glay brother in-law Jackson Zleh Town who father town is right near Zleh Town. What is your argument against his points? So, it is true that you guys only know how to shoot gun and kill human beings? Say something guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Henry Glay and JD Slanga. But please do not forget to include your real name. It becomes difficult if you both continue to hide behind other names.     Bernard, Please forgive Henry and JD. They do not know what they are doing. You guys think we are stupid? We will not forget about the issue of the killing of the Gios and manos in Zleh Town. I have read Bernard article, I think we is suggesting some good ideas about reconciliation.     Boley

Boley

	8. 25-01-2010 20:11
	Thomas Kwi can lie big time! Thomas Kwi,  I will not back what you have mentioned about this family. You are providing false information. Because of that, I have concluded that you can lie. Let us address the issue of the Killing of the Gio and Mano people as the author has mintioned.  Thank you,  JD

JD

	9. 26-01-2010 06:49
	Healing comes throuth lying for (Goah) Goah, Iam very much suprised to know that your hatre for Samuel Doe had clouded the good mind you once owned . You have confused we the readers on this good forum by binding all of your stories. You are now telling us that it is not your habbits to write about things not witnessed by you. Isn't that a contradition by telling this forum that your so-called uncle was killed by Doe in Tuzon when infact you Goah weren't there? How do you Goah know that it was Doe that ordered the Gio and Mano to be killed in Zleh Town when the entire military communications were jammed that very day? According to some survivals of that mass killings in Zleh Town,the total number at the time was 91 Gio and Mano living in Zleh Town. So as you can see ,Goah infact inflacted the number of people killed inorder to tarnish the people of Tuzon. Infact how do Goah know that the soldiers that carried out the killing are Tuzon people? Why is he hiding oldman Borkay from being responsible for the mass killing of the Gio and Mano in Zleh Town? We will no longer be fooled by you(Bernard Goah). \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' target='_blank'>http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

John Gboloweah

	10. 26-01-2010 11:16
	comment What I have written JD, is also part of issue of the killing of the Gios and Monoes as alleged by Bernard. Iam insinuating that the Goar's family charm for brain or clevelness has created a perennial problem for them. This charm is a demon that has inflicted sickness on old Goar himself that caused his death. The same demon crazily led Yankan to stealing a country devil face (mask dancer)in guiglo for money and that was how he got sicked and died along with five other Liberian refugees. This demon has also made Joe Goar to appear like a dummy and more or less like dumb. Clevel as he was, he now appears so dummy and just smiling with people all days with out reason. If you even tell Joe right now his mom past away, the only thing he would have to offer you in response is a smile with an unsound face. Now, this is the very demon that is crizily driving Bernard to saying things that never happened. This recent attitude on his part signifies that the Goar's family demon has taken possession of him too. In modern world, family can normally have doctor or medical practioner but the Goar family has demon instead. These people believe in spiritism. And people who believe in spiritism can eventually end up with this kind of terrible behavior that has evidently developed in recent time in Bernand Gbayee Goar. They want to be clevel or bright students in school, so the father, oldman Goar ordered charm for them from india. This is why all of them became so bright but the end result, as you have seen JD, is the craziness we are now experiencing at the hand of Bernard. Because this charm eventually has nothing to offer in life anymore better than madness. More to come!

Thomas Kwi

	11. 27-01-2010 02:51
	Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declaration to see Source: http://www.voiceofliberia.org/ellenreelection012610.htm      Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declaration to seek reelection in Liberia undermines justice    Tamba D. Aghailas | January 2009    When President Johnson of Liberia ran for election in 2005, she made numerous promises to the war-weary people of that nation, promises that have yet to be honored. She pledged then to serve only one term (although there is no law in the constitution that makes such a pledge binding); she promised to make corruption "public enemy number one" (corruption under Sirleaf's watch is rampant and mismanagement of public funds is the order of the day); she promised to combat poverty, crime, and injustice (all these ills continue to plague the country). President Sirleaf initially accepted to fully implement the findings of Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC); recommendations which called for the prosecution of war criminals like Prince Johnson and al, and a thirty-year ban on war financiers, including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Harry Greaves and many others.         After failing to live up to her campaign promises and side-stepping the TRC's report, President Sirleaf declaration to seek reelection undermines justice. The President's decision has the propensity to derail post-war development, reconciliation, and in bringing justice to the people of Liberia.         As many Liberians observed in awe appointments made by the President, the same old goats that changed skins and are now acting in sheepskin, are the ones being named to top government jobs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf poverty reduction strategy has only benefited her political appointees who continue to steal and mismanage public funds that would have otherwise been used for development projects and to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.         Since taking the helm of this war-ravaged nation on January 16, 2006, President Sirleaf has embarked on a mission to reward loyalists and campaign funders – the same old folks – with high power government jobs have pillaged the local economy and maintained the same oligarchy Liberia's founding fathers instituted for more than a century ago.         Over the course of her presidency, Ellen has continuously argued that she seeks to facilitate the building of a nation that is peaceful, secure, prosperous, where the rule of law and good governance are cornerstone of that vision. However, Ellen has demonstrated the contrary by her failure to hold political appointees accountable for corruption. Her declaration to seek reelection is yet another indication that she will go down in history as a president who chose to disregard the voice of the masses. This is the last straw that broke the camel's back and it has the propensity to lead to the president's eventual downfall.        Corruption has become the norm    Ordinary Liberians have seen dictators come and go, while politicians, both elected and appointed, pillaged public good and crippled the economy. The likes of William V.S. Tubman, Samuel Doe, and most recently warlord Charles Taylor accelerated Liberia’s corruption decadence. More than one and half century of independence, yet Liberia has little to show in terms of development or better living standards (see the CIA fact sheet on Liberia). The country and its ordinary citizens have been respectively reduced to rubble and beggars. Ellen and her government has only continue that tradition.         In an ECOWAS audit report published on June 18, 2005, several former government officials were implicated in the embezzlement of state funds and outright abuse of the trust of the people. Former vice interim chairman, Wesley Johnson, former interim chairman Gyude Bryant, former minister of commerce Samuel Wlue, former finance minister Lusine Kamara, among others were accused of stealing, falsification of official documents, and misappropriating public funds. The case against Mr. Bryant was lost by the government due to poor preparation by state prosecutors.         In a 2007 report by the US State Department Human Rights, the group noted that corruption and impunity is continuing in many levels of the Ellen Johnson-led government. The former managing director of LPRC (Liberia Petroleum and Refinery Corporation), Harry Greaves, was subsequently forced out after he was caught trying to cover up his corrupt deals at the state-owned corporation. He was never prosecuted.         The same year the Auditor General of Liberia, John Morlu termed the Liberian Government as three-times corrupt than previous regimes. Since then, the General Auditing Commission (GAC) has uncovered several corrupt practices and mismanagement of public funds within government ministries, including finance, telecommunications, gender, information and other public corporations.         Flash forward to 2009, an Elwood Dunn special commission report surrounding the Willie Knuckles scandal, a confidant of the president, linked Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to a $600,000 (six hundred thousand dollars) illicit deal conducted through the president's personal computer. The report, after the reaching the president's desk, was swept under the rug. Mr. Knuckles was eventually forced to resign. He was also never prosecuted (see a frontpageafrica piece).        Several other audit reports have found gross mismanagement at the Finance Ministry and corruption at the Information Ministry. Like Greaves and Knuckles, Minister Larry Bropleh was recently forced to resign so Ellen could save face, yet Bropleh has not been charged for stealing. The Gender Affairs Ministry; the Telecommunication Ministry's board, among others, the GAC found through its audits, have all mismanaged public funds.         The GAC has gathered enough evidence that can be used to prosecute top government officials caught stealing the Liberian people's monies, but Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been skittish about pursing those officials cited in audit reports. The reason, Ellen may be trying to save face. But it may be too late.     (see GAC's website)        A call to action     President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf decision to contest the 2011 elections in Liberia only reinforces the rationale that she may be running away from facing prosecution for corruption. Her decision also jeopardizes efforts by the International Community, especially those who have tirelessly worked to bring about an end to impunity on the African continent. It also frustrates the efforts of human rights organizations in that country. What can be done?         Ellen must be pressured to abandon her plans to contest in the next Liberian elections to save Liberia another round of civil conflict. If allowed to run, the war against impunity and war crimes would have been crippled by the decision of one single person, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. This will only embolden accused war criminals like Gen. Prince Y. Johnson, Gen. Adolphus "Peanut Butter" Dolo, Gen. Butt Naked, Warlord Sekou Demateh Konneh, Alhaji Koromah, among others to resist prosecution by all means necessary.         If we (Liberian patriots, human rights campaigners, and our supporters, the International Community) can bring Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to bear the responsibility of her decision to fund the Liberian war in the 1990s, to respect and implement the TRC's recommendations, other warlords and rebel financiers can be held accountable for their actions and crimes against humanity.         If not, then Liberia may return to a long struggle to end impunity, combat corruption, and bring to book those responsible for crimes against humanity. And I can assure you that we will get the support we need and God's willing, we shall overcome.         Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit http://www.voiceofliberia.org/ to lend us a hand in bringing to book war criminals in Liberia.         The author is a freelancer activist and founder of The Voice of Liberia. He is a contributing writer for several online news portals, including the www.voiceofliberia.org, www.TheLiberianTimes.com, liberianforum.com http://www.voiceofliberia.org/

Voice Of Liberia

	12. 27-01-2010 08:29
	Too old to particpate in this...... 99.9% author of post #10 is Henry Glay. can't you see the this fellow don't where ideas begin or end.

Nyanteh Gaye

	13. 27-01-2010 11:46
	Bernard thanks but I need your help! Bernard, thanks for the article. Fellow Liberians, I am sure Bernard wants the people of both counties to reconcile for real! His article does not mean that he dislike Samuel Doe. I have read lots of articles written by bernard. Most of his articles mentioned many good things about Samuel Doe and you the krahn people. I think Bernard should be a krahn guy I am not too sure...because his brother Joe is a krahn guy as well. I know this guy from school and he is a very bright fellow. When we were in school, he always carries his copy book in his back pocket even while we were on the basket ball court playing, for every rest he would look at his notes. He is a book worm!!! I mean it! I used to think the same way most of you are thinking until I realized that Bernard Goah used to study like crazy!!  Lastly, Bernard, can I send you my MS access 2007 database assignment? I heard you are very good with computers and building database and websites. I need some explaination on how I can include some VB and Java codes in it. My assignment is due three days from now.  Is this your email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ? Or Are you still using your This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ?  I would like to hear from you.    Lastly, are you working on your Masters at the moment? Is so, keep it up ok. Hope we can all meet some days. The good old days...    Your friend,  Melvin kangar  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' target='_blank'>http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Melvin kangar

	14. 27-01-2010 18:22
	JD with OPPONG? George Weah,    please! please!! take JD slanger from behind you, he will do you more harm than good. He is wanted by the Liberian government for stealing quarter of a million dollars.

PAB

	15. 27-01-2010 18:36
	Prince Johnson has announced he will fac Source: http://www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php?record_id=1770&sub=14      Scramble For Presidency Begins    Festus Poquie    The 2011 general and presidential elections euphora has surfaced with key war actors taking the lead in making known their intention for the presidency.    Ex rebel commander, now Senator Prince Johnson has announced he will face incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as a major challenger for the country’s highest office.    The Senator has named his senate colleagues Abel Massaley(Grand Cape Mount) as his running mate, claiming they will raise over US$10m to ensure that the ruling Unity Party is booted out of office for “failing the people.”    “Those that she downsized [redundant workers] and those she had failed will be our supporters. If she does not step down as promised, we will give her and the Unity Party a political disgrace and defeat,” the former INPFL rebel commander said Monday minutes after the President had declared she will seek reelection, despite her 2005 promise that should not seek a second term.    President Sirleaf and Senator Johnson were members of the erstwhile National Patriotic Front of Liberia- a rebel movement that played a dominant role in the destruction of the state coupled with systematic killings and looting as documented in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report.    Both seceded from then rebel leader Charles Taylor. Mr Johnson headed the breakaway rebels while Mrs Sirleaf abandoned the military campaign and return to political advocacy.    Both are named in the TRC report as financier and war lord respectively. President Sirleaf is being barred from holding public office for 30 years while the Senator Prince Johnson faces criminal prosecution for their respective role in the country’s civil war.    However, the President Monday cleared those obstacles when she implicitly froze the Independent Human Rights Commission’s legal authority to implement the TRC recommendations relative to public sanctions, criminal prosecution of war lords and economic criminals.    To make her stance legal, the President has proposed a legislation that will freeze the Commission’s authority relative to implementing those aspects of the TRC’s recommendations. http://www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php?record_id=1770&sub=14

Gbapa

	16. 28-01-2010 14:47
	Correction Boley,    Point of correction. The internal organ given to JD Slangger is billy goat organ and not cow as stated. some cows will think, but billy goat is of the hook. JD slangger think like goat true or false?

A. Layee

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