LiberianForum.Com - The Underlying Factors of the Liberian Civil War

The Underlying Factors of the Liberian Civil War

Written by Johnnie Gayechueay

Monday, 18 January 2010

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rebut

A Reaction to Bernard Goah's Article

On December 17, 2009, Bernard Goah wrote an article on this forum in which he heaped praises on Grand Gedeh County superintendent Chris Bailey and chastised others (Group acknowledges work of Sup. Bailey), Representative Rufus Gbeyor and the late President Doe.

In that article, Mr. Goah asserted that the blunders of the Doe administration were responsible for the fourteen years civil war in our country which led to the plight of our brothers and sisters from Grand Gedeh.

Few weeks after that article, Mr. J. Weelar Gaye also wrote on this forum and disagreed with Mr. Goah that Samuel Doe was responsible for the war in Liberia. However, Mr. Goah stood his ground and went on to name instances of human right abuse, which according to him were ordered by Doe and carried out by people from his home town of Tuzon.

The story of how his father was beaten because he was a member of the Liberian Action Party and how Manors and Gios were killed in Zleh Town following the November 12, 1985 abortive invasion is nothing new to people on this forum because Mr. Goah has told this story over and over again. But were these the actual cause of the Liberian Civil War?

I used to think that Mr. Goah was an educated person but based upon his line of reasoning, I am beginning to question thought of mine. If Bernard Goah is educated, then he is writing and disseminating miss information out of malice against Doe and his people, or due to ignorance or lack of knowledge of the history of Liberia.

Since Bernard Goah does not even know the history of his own country, let me regress a little so that I can point out to him some of the underlying factors of the war that destroyed our country.

For over 174 years of its history, the Liberian governments fostered ethnic hatred and political dictatorship. This national-ethnic rivalry and political dictatorship began during the early years of the Liberian state. The first political movement that was formed to oppose political dictatorship in Liberia was called "Independent Volunteer Company". This organization which was disguised by the African-American repatriates as a social organization was actually formed to check the political excesses of Jehudi Ashmun, the white American from Champlain, New York, who was sent out by the ACS and the American Government to run the colony. Ashmun was totally convinced that African-Americans were not capable of running their own political affairs, and therefore single handily ran the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the colony, although these powers had not been granted to him by the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society.

During the election for Vice-Agent in 1826, the Independent Volunteer Company candidate ran and won. However, when Jehudi discovered what had happened, he refused to confirm the chosen candidate in office, and stated his reasons, which were entirely of a political nature. That afternoon, the leaders of the Independent Volunteer sent out a circular, which protested the annulment in the following words:"...the right of election conferred by the Board of managers [of the American colonization Society] on the people of the colony, as it never had been, so it never should be interfered with by the Agent; consequently appointments to offices of trust in the Colony, once legally made by the concurrence of the popular choice, with his own approbation, should never be rescinded by any arbitrary act on his part; and that the actual incumbents must remain in their offices till removed in the only way prescribed by the provisions of Government; that is, by vote of a majority of the electors of the Colony." In response to their protest, Jehudi Ashmun noted that the leaders of the Independent Volunteer Company were, "high spirited young men, all excellent soldiers, but bad politicians." The Agent rescheduled another election, in which his handpicked candidate won the election under manipulative conditions. Commenting on the results of the new elections, Jehudi said, "The Agent...has the high satisfaction of finding himself sustained by a body of assistants, in whose good dispositions and capacity he has great confidence." Subsequently, the rigging of elections in Liberia became the norm over the years. This eventually led to a de facto one-party dictatorship.

This rigging of elections that started in 1826 was the premise used by our current president and her supporters to lunge the 1985 abortive invasion which bitterly divided our country. They will later on use or exploit that division to lunge the war that you said Samuel Doe is responsible for.

Institutionalized ethnic and racial hatred also contributed to the civil war in our country. Back in 1822, after the ACS and the American government took possession of the Liberian settlement through fraudulent means, the indigenous people who own the land rose up and attempted to evict the new emigrants through lethal means, but failed. For another 158 years, the struggle continued between the descendants of repatriate African-Americans and "Congos" (those recaptured by the American navy and settled in Liberia) on the one hand, and the indigenous people who attempted to gain for themselves, a prominent place in Liberian political and economic life.

Within the Liberian state itself, a bitter class struggle between the mulattoes and African-Americas of pure African ancestry divided the nation. In 1870, E.J. Roye the first African-American of pure African heritage was elected President of Liberia. In 1871 he was murdered in a civilian coup that was headed by Joseph Jenkins Roberts and a group of prominent leaders of the mulatto community.

When African-American of pure African heritage permanently seized political control of the Liberian government in 1884, they continued the "old-boys network", of political dictatorship. From 1944 to 1980, the administrations of William V.S. Tubman and William R. Tolbert attempted to rectify the political and economic conditions that divided the people. To some extent, they succeeded in bridging the gap that divided the Liberian people into an indigenous "country people" and "Americo-Liberian" class. However, the change was not fast enough and not substantial enough to hold back the political tidal wave that was coming. The old guards continued to dominate political power, through a de facto one-party state, which even excluded members of the Americo-Liberian class who wanted political change.

Liberia was a semi apartheid country in which indigenous Liberians were second class citizens in their own country. This is one of the reasons for which the late American Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., refused to visit Liberia when he was invited to visit the country in the sixties.

Americo Liberians sent their children and wives abroad to go to school and give birth when schools and hospitals in Liberia were none existent or in shambles.

The low ranking indigenous Liberians that served in the army were virtual slaves (known as audits in the army) to the Americo Liberians officers. These audits performed no military duties but instead washed, cooked, and cleaned for the officers to whom they were assigned. Indigenous Liberians were subjected to taxes and failure to paid, they were beaten and subjected to inhumane treatment that humiliated them before their family and broke their spirits. As if these were not enough, Liberians were forced into slave labor to work on cocoa plantations on the Island of Fernando Po. This scandal led to the resignation of president C.D.B. King in 1923 following a United Nations investigation which found the Liberian government guilty.

Americo Liberians were kings and queens while our people toiled and at the crumps from their tables. In every government office, there was a banner that said, "Do not forget the sons of the pioneers."

On April 12, 1980, that status quo was brutally reversed, when a group of noncommissioned officers, led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe stormed the Executive Mansion, executed President William Richard Tolbert, seized power, and declared military rule under the aegis of the People's Redemption Council, PRC. Samuel Doe was elected Chairman of the PRC and Head of State of Liberia; Thomas Weh-Syen was elected Vice-Chairman of the PRC; and Thomas Quiwonkpa, became Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

It didn't take long before cracks started developing within the PRC junta. On April 14, 1981, Major General Thomas Weh-Syen, Vice Chairman of the People's Redemption Council, and four other officers, were executed for plotting to kill Head of State Samuel Doe. Weh-Syen was considered leader of the left wing of the PRC, which opposed close relations with the United States.

In November, 1983, a plot by Commanding General Thomas Quiwonkpa was uncovered; Head of State Samuel Doe granted him clemency. However, Quiwonkpa was demoted to Secretary General of the PRC, a position that he refused. Subsequently, he moved to Nimba County where he led the infamous Nimba Raid which failed. During that raid, hundreds of ethnic Krahns residing in Nimba County were attacked and some of them killed. Among those killed were the cousin and son of then director of the LAMCO Plant Protective Force (LPPF) Charles Julu. Also Col. Robert Saye and others were killed by their own Nimba people. This brought about the infighting among the people of Nimba that continues to this day. Jackson Doe, Moses Duopu, Sam Dokie, John Yormie, Isaac Vaye, and other prominent Nimbians were killed by their fellow Nimba citizens because of this.

On November 12, 1985, Thomas Quiwonkpa returned to Liberia via Sierra Leone, and attempted to overthrow the government of Samuel Doe once again by means of an invasion. During the early part of that abortive invasion, Quiwonkpa announced on radio that Doe was overthrown and that he, Quiwonkpa, was in charge of the country. Members of Quiwonkpa's ethnic group, the Gios and Manors, went on the rampage arresting Krahns and other government officials; beating and killing some of them in the process. The late Willie P. Nebo died as a result of injuries that he sustained from that incident.

Major Julius Keseley, who was, then second in command with the 4th Infantry Battalion, in Zwedru was named battalion commander by Quiwonkpa. Keseley and a group of soldiers, mainly from Nimba County got in a convoy of cars going from place to place in search of government officials and prominent Krahn citizens. Krahns and other government officials that were been rounded up in Monrovia by Quiiwonkpa's supports were taken to the Executive Mansion. What they, Quiwonkpa's supporters did not know at the time was that Doe and his men were fully in charge at the Mansion. So we can imagine what happened to them.

At the end of the day it became cleared that the coup has failed and Quiwonkpa ahd his supporters went into hiding. Quiwonkpa was later apprehended by Doe's forces, killed, dismembered, and according to reports, part of his body was consumed by his executioners. Nation-wide reprisals against the plotters, and the Gio people (Quiwonkpa's ethnic group) erupted into a national frenzy of executions, flogging, and imprisonment without trials. In other words, supporters of Samuel Doe were doing exactly what supporters of Quiwonkpa did at the beginning of the invasion and would have continue to do had the invasion been successful. From that time forward, the people of Nimba County and the Krahns from Grand Gedeh became entrenched enemies.

I will agree with Mr. Goah that indeed there were blunders by the Doe administrations; but can he point to any political administration in the world, past and present, that is without blemish. In his article Mr. Goah also wrote, "The then president was not thoughtful enough to put the country and the interest of our county first…" If Samuel Doe did not put the interest of Liberia first, then who did? I want Bernard Goah to know that the developments undertaken by Doe in the less than ten year that he was in power surpasses that of all his predecessors for a combined period of one hundred and seventy four years.

So Mr. Goah, what blunders did Samuel Doe commit that led to Nimba Raid? Don’t forget that several individuals from Nimba County, among them Harry Nuah, were apprehended and they confessed on national television of their complicity in the raid but were pardoned by President Doe. Those same individuals returned and were part of the 1985 abortive invasion.

Since you said you are out for the truth, why are you not telling what those from Nimba also did to the Krahns that prompted reaction that they got? Instead of just blaming one side for everything, why are you not telling the whole story? I am not justifying the killings of innocent Gios and Manors in Zleh Town as you have alleged. I am not saying that it was right for your father and others who did not support Doe and his party to be victimized. If this actually happened, it was wronged and disheartening. However, Krahn people also lost relatives and friends at the hands of Gios and Manors at various time periods in the country. We are not talking about these things not because the lives of our people are not as valuable as those from Nimba but because we have decided to put the past behind us. You Bernard Goah on the other hand has decided partially dig out things that will have the propensity of further dividing our people.

So Mr. Goah, since you are ignorant of the facts when it comes to the Liberian Civil War, let me point out few facts to you and set the record straight once and for all. But first I have a few questions for you.

If the war was fought as a result of Doe's blunders, why is it that Charles Taylor during his first interview at the beginning of the war said that they came to revenge the thirteen men that were executed during the April 12, 1980 coup? Why didn't Taylor say that he lunged the war because Bernard Goah's father was beaten and 250 Gios and Manors were killed in Zleh Town? The truth of the mater here is that those who brought the war did not give dime what happened to your father or to the Gios andManors in Zleh Town because they already had their agenda. They exploited those incidents to accomplish their mission. Now time for some facts:

Fact: The war that was fought in Liberia was not because of Samuel Doe's administrative blunders but because the Americo Liberians who were driven from power were bend on reclaiming what they perceive to be rightfully theirs and theirs only. After the April 12 coup, most American Liberian fled abroad and their first order of business was how to regain power at all cost.

Fact: The principal architects of the war are your current president, Harry Greaves, Baryon Tarr, Amos Sawyer, and others. They started planning the war even before your father was beaten or the killings in Zleh Town as alleged by you.

Fact: Thomas Quiwonkpa, Prince Johnson, Harry Nuah, and other elements from Nimba County contributed to the war by allowing themselves to be used by the Americo Liberins to lunge various attacks on their own country.

Fact: The People of Nimba contributed to the war by getting mixed up in military affairs and attacking Krahns and other government officials during the time of various invasions. These attacks later led to reprisals by the Krahns and government officials when the invasions failed.

Fact: Samuel Doe and the Krahn people contributed to the war by their indiscriminate reprisal on the people of Nimba and those they suspected of engaging in anti government activities.

Fact: Most Liberians contributed to the war by spreading lies and falsehood as about Doe which inflamed the minds of many people who did not know the truth.

So Mr. Goah, the war that was fought in Liberia was the result of an accumulation of factors and cannot squarely be laid at the feet of a single individual.

Comments (53)

	1. 19-01-2010 05:59
	Another revenge is necessary ! Johnnie Gayechueay, Incredible research on the home land, I always fed that those who financed such a war on Liberia shall surely be rewarded some day. The revenge for 13 people and political power has led to total destruction of lives and properties Liberia. The like of April 12 1980 shall return to Liberia to revenge for those killed during the revenge of the 13 (STUPID) PEOPLE. Because the current revenge team leadership has failed to address poverty and suffering of the masses, especially in rural Liberia. The new revenge team might be created from amoung the suffering masses. The poor and neglected people of Liberia. The ineffectiveness of the current leadership is creating the conditions for another revenge team every day. The representatives’ and senators completely turned their backs on their people, and living BIG in Monrovia. Many participants on this forum tends to forget the real history of Liberia.

Thomas Doe

	2. 19-01-2010 10:04
	insanity if repeat Thomas Doe and others why can't you poor guys shut up when you don't know the cause you're only accusing players if those folks refuse to play there will be others plays...how on earth poor people like you folks will know about security of that nation. Thomas Doe and Sekou Donzo always accuse me I have right to my opinion like you guys who were nobody at that time but only live with parents. for the mere fact is Liberia was not ready to listen to one guy sitting on the throne for ever the country was tired with the bullshit. therefore any thing Doe did to abuse human rights in the eyes of the international communities will be brush under the rug. plus, M/sgt. Doe did a lot of bad things all you folks trying to do now is making the dead to carry the living at this moment.

Gargar

	3. 19-01-2010 11:07
	Johhny, you are related to Doe But Johnny, you took only few parts of Bernard Goah's article and make issues out of it. How did you understand these lines the boy wrote in his article: "Their failure to make a paradigm shift in attitudes and judgments has brought us where we find ourselves as a people today. Our hopes of a brighter day at that time did not happen due to continuous allegations of failed administrative policy, human right abuse, authoritarian decision making style, and the lack of leadership judgment exhibited by our government under the late Samuel K. Doe." Johnny, Was Bernard wrong? Lets be real here. You Johnny...you are related to Samuel Doe. You live in the Military Barracks Liberia. How in the world you think readers will take you article seriously? If you Tuzon people continue to behave like this, the rest of us will ask you people stay by yourselves. And if anything happens to this little boy, you all will be held responsible. He has the right to say what he saw. Thank you. Zoe Genie

Zoe Genie

	4. 19-01-2010 11:12
	For the readers to understand Let the readers speak for themselves. I have post the aricle written by Bernard Goah here: Operation We Care for Grand Gedeh acknowledges the work of Superintendent Christopher B. Bailey Of Grand Gedeh County Liberia West Africa Honorable Superintendent, 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. Their failure to make a paradigm shift in attitudes and judgments has brought us where we find ourselves as a people today. Our hopes of a brighter day at that time did not happen due to continuous allegations of failed administrative policy, human right abuse, authoritarian decision making style, and the lack of leadership judgment exhibited by our government under the late Samuel K. Doe. Permit me to give a little synopsis on where I stand concerning developments in our county as well as other issues affecting us as a people. From 1980 to 1989, the leader of our country was totally confused. Although very new if I may put it this way…to the compound complex political atmosphere in Liberia, he did not prefer to seek help from his fellow citizens who were knowledgeably grounded in the politics of the Liberia. He refused to seek administrative help from external experts who willingly offered to help. If he ever incorporated any competent resident from Grand Gedeh County, he controlled their imports in their area of expertise as if he had idea in such area. Those who professed themselves as gurus and progressives of the land but more confused as they were; were his closest confidants. The then president was not thoughtful enough to put the country and the interest of our county first, He and his core of officers stock to the “I, me, and myself” and the "I will teach him lesson” attitude. Such attitudes of course drove the entire country into an abyss causing deaths of the most innocent and the suffering of those who had no fish to fry in the whole hullabaloo for a very long time. 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. 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. As you know, the Samuel Doe government was attenuated as a result of “the” uprising and thousands of our brothers and sisters from Grand Gedeh County were forced to go into exile all over the planet. Up to now, there are thousands of our brothers and sisters still in refugee camps around the world listening to hear good news of encouragement since the war is now over, in order to return home. Honorable superintendent, Instead of hearing good news from back home, some of your colleagues are in the habit of spreading lies and fear to scare us from returning home. We as a people cannot, and must not afford to continuously house such attitude amongst ourselves while significant developments continue to go on in the county after the war. I do not cite all of these ugly memories to sadden your heart but so that your heart will be strengthened, and your mind will be more focused on everything you do as a leader. A while ago one of our sons currently working in the Liberian government exacerbated the situation on the ground by giving us misinformation and disinformation about the true happenings in Grand Gedeh. The son questioned has brought allegations that have no iota of truth against your honorable office. Up to now, he is still spreading news that will create division amongst our people both abroad and at home. I recommend that your honorable office see reasons to arrest this kind of ugly situation to prevent further division amongst our people. I am aware that you have dedicated your entire administrative activities toward creating a better Grand Gedeh County that was a virgin forest yesterday because of the good news I get from the county. I do not intend to stand by and see some nefarious individuals create a situation that has the propensity to evoke another hardship on our people in any way. As a citizen of Grand Gedeh County, I am also aware that it is a difficult task to function as a leader in a county such as Grand Gedeh. Especially so, after the war, where distrust and suspicion of one another has sky rocketed amongst our people. Such unwanted behavior is now deeply rooted in our people and if I may say, has become endemic to Grand Gedeh County. An endemic of this kind has manifested itself amongst the leaders of Grand Gedeh in foreign lands today. To be specific, our leaders here in the United States continue to go from court to court on issues they could have settled if they wanted to, amongst themselves. Our leaders have destroyed the image of Grand Gedians here in the United States to such an extent that the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas has two presidents, each claiming to be legitimate. Things have fallen apart completely amongst our people because the central leadership can no longer hold. In fact the speeches of some of our older folks make no sense these days. Wisdom has totally vanished from their mist as if a supernatural force has tampered with their way of thinking. Our tradition is at stake, and may vanish forever if nothing is done! To make matters worse, mostly embarrassingly, Honorable Superintendent, the representative of whom I mentioned some where above, from one of your districts in Grand Gedeh County, came to the United States and gave us information that created panic of epic proportions among our people. To be specific, the honorable representative of Gbarzon District Rufus Gbeor alleged that you, Honorable Superintendent, have mismanaged funds intended for the purpose of developing the county. Some of us would not have known that Representative Gbeor was economizing the truth about development in Grand Gedeh County had you and others not cleared the air on radio Gbarzon a few days ago. Some of our opinion leaders, and elders heard what the Representative said, yet they continue to play tight lips on the issue, while Honorable Gbeor continued to demonize your appellation and good character amongst Liberians in the Diasporas. I have my family in Zwedru Grand Gedeh County. I talk to them every week. They have told me of the numerous development projects going on in the county. Both my friends and family living in Grand Gedeh County all praise your tireless efforts in developing the area. I also started a little business in Zwedru with the hope of creating employment opportunity for our people back home. Those who run the business bring me good news of your good work as well. I personally called Dowegee Town yester night and got a convincing conformation from opinion leaders in that town that your administration is considering the voice of the people at all levels. I was told by some residents of Dowegee town that your administration is doing very well for our people. Let me side bar a little bit to thank the Gbarzon District Association in the Americas for the new school building erected in Dowegee town. The people of Gbarzon are a great people when it comes to development. I say thank you plenty. Honorable Superintendent, while there are notably poor performances in some areas in government that must be handled by those concern, I wholeheartedly like to thank the government of Liberia through your Honorable office for the extraordinary effort your office continues to make in bringing the people of Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties together in a very successful reconciliatory meeting held in recent time in Monrovia. Such initiative marks a good leadership. Your administration has proven that young people can do even more good things when given the chance to lead. Honorable Superintendent, you are amongst the caliber of people who simply ask: What can I do to help? And then do it. You do not expect a reward or acknowledgment as such, I am grateful to your administration for responding to the request of the people of Grand Gedeh in this way. As a young man from Grand Gedeh County, I am proud that you are doing all of this in a society that often takes this way of doing things for granted. I do not take your efforts for granted and I hope others do the same. I am convinced that you just assume this is what good people do in a County such as Grand Gedeh in which its citizens need help the most. It is this generosity of your spirit and the actions you have thus far taken that give me cause to celebrate and give support to your administration. I have decided to purchase three hundred electronic text books fit for college students from Grand Gedeh County. Please let me know where I can mail this package as soon as possible. There are other project I have in mind which I shall personally inform you about in due course. I am aware that the case of Grand Gedeh is no ordinary situation. It requires urgent and sustain response. You put your personal character and safety at risk by getting involved with leadership of this county. A county like few others in Liberia, where it was almost impossible to anticipate what response you would get from the people. Honorable Superintendent, beware that there are many representatives like Gbeor out there whose sole intention is to inflict casualty on the characters of good people. Don’t mind the numerous Gbeors out there. They are always like that, criticizing without recommending a solution. In fact they are an enemy to progress. Honorable Superintendent, you have put not just your physical safety but your emotional safety at risk - dealing with people who were once devastated as a result of war, who have experienced fear, anger, pain, grief and uncertainty, in a society as volatile as the weather. As you know, you are not only dealing with a civilian population. You are also dealing with former combatants, front-line commanders, soldiers, people who were disabled by the wrath of the war, as well as those who seemed to have no hope at all. These people are your people. Please do not let their grievances and their calls fall on deaf ears. Investigate their demands without been obsequious but make the right judgment as you always do and continue to do. Above all else, remember that you are a mere servant of the people. Thanks a million for keeping the people of Grand Gedeh both abroad and at home abreast about development activities that are taking place in the county. You have cleared the air and we have no doubt in your leadership. As I have learnt in recent times, your administration continues to develop ways for our people to be organized in what to prioritize and I want to thank you for the job well done. Most of our people are abstaining from castigating one another accept one of us mentioned above who has chosen an opposite path. We all know that it is not an easy task to instill into everyone the capacity to submit to the appropriate authorities. Other people are just unmanageable no matter what positions they hold in government they always do horrible things that will make them live the life of a pariah. The war is over. We must all put on our working gears and work even harder. Other counties are moving forward and time is never on our side and will never be at anytime. Thank you Honorable superintendent, for appreciating the strength of community spirit, and for paving the way for us all to see the spontaneous generosity of strangers who want to help us. I thank you for bringing the Chinese housing investors to Grand Gedeh County. I have learned that they have agreed to build four hundred housing units in Grand Gedeh County through the initiative of your office. This will help to alleviative the housing problem in the County. I believe that universally people who always want to help others are the great optimists in life and you, Honorable Superintendents, have exhibited such optimism when you reveal to us recently that it is your dream that Grand Gedeh County will be one of the most developed counties in Liberia. I thank you for the recreation center that is currently been enjoyed by our young people in the center of Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County. I have also learned that it is one of the best in the entire Liberia. There are those who will sit and only complain. As for you, Honorable Superintendent, you hate anything that is associated with idleness; I have known you as a motion and “do it” type of person. Your efforts have given a flicker of hope and trust to the surviving mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters, and fathers of Grand Gedeh County. Enthusiasm such as yours will help our people through the challenges still to come, that they will bear out of the spotlight, as the process of re-building their lives is undertaken. On behalf of “Operation We Care for Grand Gedeh”, I want to thank you for the great contribution that you have made, and I'm sure will continue to make, to the people of Grand Gedeh County. May God continue to bless the works of your hands, and all of your undertakings, and may He bless Grand Gedeh County, and Liberia.

	5. 19-01-2010 13:00
	For the readers to understand Hi Johnnie, I think you did a pretty good job by trying to give a historical context for the total break-down of ethnic relations in Liberia, especially from the '80s till the end of the civil war and to some extent, up to now. This entire unfortunate aspect of our history is made the more sadder in that we find ourselves trying to derive a rationale for the illogical and the irrational. Ultimately, what our problem boils down to is the readiness to find a justification to treat those who are not like us as less than equals. The anatomy of this history is an unbroken chain of irrational actions, where one irrational action is the justification for a surpassing irrational action. What I find disturbing in this ongoing debate are two-fold: 1. the inferrence that somehow it matters at whose hands one is victimized and 2. retaliatory violence is okay so long as we or our etnic group is not the target. I find this reasoning very troubling that somehow the killing of innocent Nimbaians at the hands of 'their own people' is worse than if they had been killed, i.e, by Krahn people. And the same argument would suggest that the killing of innocent Krahns by Nimbaians is better than if it were done by Krahns. What about the idea that it is wrong for anyone to kill an innocent human being? It is troubling that according to this sort of mindset, killing other innocent people is not a bad thing, so long as they are not one's own. What is the important determining factor is making sure they don't belong to one's ethnic group. Everyone who is not from one's group, by virtue of being different, become fair game. Have we come to a point where we cannot bring ourselves to call evil what it is, even when it stares us in the face? Ethnic cohesion is not a bad thing if it is promoted for the right reasons. If, however, our need for ethnic unity is superceded by the need for national cohesion, then we are condemned to repeat the very mistakes that fueled the violence that led to the destruction of our country. In my own mind, I'm not clear exactly as to the importance of telling and retelling of these horrific experiences and events. If there are any therapeutic benifits hear, then perhaps it needs to be done. But I think what we need above all is to seek true reconciliation so that we can live together as brothers and sisters once again. \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

Lee Wuanti

	6. 19-01-2010 13:25
	For the readers to understand Thomas Doe check this site.... http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/US_ThirdWorld/dictators.html

Gargar

	7. 19-01-2010 13:45
	For the readers to understand GENERAL SAMUEL DOE President of Liberia ----------------------------- Samuel Doe came to power in a bloody 1980 coup, a Master Sergeant in military gear. Today, he is a self-made General in a suit, living on US aid and corporate kickbacks. But while Doe and his cronies live in luxury, the rest of Liberia dwells in squalor. Under his regime, the gross domestic product has decreased by 13%, the country's health statistics are among the world's worst, 80% of the population is illiterate, all opposition parties but one were forbidden to participate in the 1985 national elections, and those who protest these inequities are jailed or killed. Doe, a pro-American anti-communist, received $500 million in U.S. aid between 1980 and 1985. When Congress threatened to cut off funds because of Liberia's human rights abuses, Doe requested "American financial advice" as a show of good will. The U.S. sent 17 accountants, bank examiners, and economists to help Doe balance his budget, but they realized a difficult task lay ahead when they learned that Doe had purchased over sixty $60,000 Mercedes Benz cars for his government ministers and had given the Liberian soccer team $1 million for winning a match against rival Ghana. Ultimately Doe refused to allow access to records concerning 40% of Liberia's funds, for this "second budget", revenues from gasoline and lodging taxes, goes directly into the President's bank account. The American advisors returned home in 1989, mission not accomplished, and Samuel Doe remains in office, despite early 1990 rumblings of rebel plots against him.

Gargar Brown

	8. 19-01-2010 13:50
	For the readers to understand "The Underlying Factors of the Liberian Civil War Written by Johnnie Gayechueay" I would prefer you to say some of the underlying factors according to your recollection.

WeeMee

	9. 19-01-2010 14:25
	watch our rhetoric Very insightful, Johnny Gayechuway. But Thomas Doe, please let us be careful with our rhetoric. Liberian history is full of a lot of unpleasantries and there are a lot of blame to go around. But we should not and must not wish on our country a repeat of April 12, 1980, or December 31st, 1989. We certaily do not want to wish on our country another invasion or military coup d'etat. Liberian people have suffer enough and whatever governance arrangement we have that is providing peace and stability, we must hold on to it and make improvement. Joseph K. Solo

joseph k. solo

	10. 19-01-2010 14:32
	Johnnie Gayechueay can lie Johnnie Gayechueay can lie. These are the actual stories about Samuel Doe administration. Read below: During his first years in office, Samuel Doe quickly re-established relations with the United States, especially during the administration of Ronald Reagan . He openly supported U.S. Cold War foreign policy in Africa during the 1980s (he even severed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union), and once even challenged diplomats to a fistfight when they criticized the U.S. in his presence. After Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, support for Liberia increased. Aid levels rose from about $20 million in 1979 to $75 million and then $95 million, for a total of $402 million between 1981 and 1985, more than the country received during the entire previous century. Ties with the Liberian army were strengthened; the military component of the aid package for this period was about $15 million, which was used for a greatly enlarged training program, barracks construction and equipment. Samuel Doe misused by under constructing these facilities. He was always in Tuzon his home town serving traditional mask dancers. Doe quickly became an important Cold War ally to cover up his administrative blunders, and Liberia served to protect important U.S. facilities and investments and to prevent the spread of Soviet influence in Africa instead of protecting Liberia’s interest. Doe closed the Libyan mission in Monrovia and reduced the staff of the Soviet Embassy. He also reestablished diplomatic relations with Israel not because he saw it to be something good but so that the USA would favor him the most. As part of the expanding relationship, Doe agreed to a modification of the mutual defense pact granting staging rights on 24-hour notice at Liberia's sea and airports for the U.S. Rapid Deployment Forces, which were established to respond swiftly to security threats around the world. Liberia’s rights to her own sea ports were limited. Soon after the coup, there were internal rifts, and Doe began to systematically eliminate Council members who challenged his authority. Paranoid about the possibility of a counter-coup, Doe began to favor people of his own ethnic background, mainly from his home town Tuzon, placing them in key positions. Meanwhile, the economy deteriorated precipitously and popular support for Doe's government soon evaporated as a result of his authoritarian decision making style. In August 1981, Thomas Weh Syen, who opposed moves by Doe that were perceived as pro-American, was arrested, along with four other members of the People's Redemption Council, for allegedly plotting to assassinate Doe; the alleged conspirators were executed a few days later. Samuel ordered the exdcution of Weh Syen family members but they fled to the Ivory Coast. At the same time as the modification of the defense pact with the U.S. Doe's government grew increasingly corrupt and repressive, banning political opposition and shutting down newspapers. Human rights violations were frequent. A portion of U.S. aid was suspected of landing in Doe's own pocket. After tolerating a relatively free press immediately following the coup, the regime began to react more defensively, banning some editions of newspapers and jailing reporters. In early 1984, the government shut down the leading daily, The Observer, edited by Kenneth Best, one of Africa's best known journalists. The PRC also used a ban on political activity, enacted in the aftermath of the coup, to crack down on critics. Even after the ban was lifted at the time of the referendum, the authorities refused to let students engage in political activities. A draft constitution providing for a multiparty republic was issued in 1983 and approved by referendum in 1984. On July 26, 1984 he was elected President of the Interim National Assembly. Doe had a new constitution approved by referendum in 1984 and went on to stage a presidential election on October 15, 1985, giving himself 51% of the vote. The election was heavily rigged, as he took the ballots to a secret location and had 50 of his own handpicked staff count them, and prior to the election he had murdered more than 50 of his opponents. It is also thought that Doe changed his official birthdate from 1951 to 1950 in order to meet the new constitution's requirement that the president be at least 35 years old. Thomas Quiwonkpa, who had been a leader of the 1980 coup along with Doe, attempted to seize power on November 12; the attempt failed after fighting in Monrovia and Quiwonkpa was killed and eaten by Edward Slanger and his group. Doe was formally sworn in on January 6, 1986. In the elections of 15 October 1985, nine political parties sought to challenge Doe's National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), but only three were allowed to take part. Doe was elected with 51% of the vote, and the NDPL won 21 of the 26 Senate seats and 51 of the 64 seats in the House of Representatives. Foreign observers declared the elections fraudulent, and most of the elected opposition candidates refused to take their seats. Doe's corrupt government became more repressive, shutting down newspapers and banning political activity. The government's mistreatment of certain ethnic groups, particularly the Gio (or Dan) and the Mano in the north, resulted in divisions and violence among indigenous populations who until then had coexisted relatively peacefully. In 1985, Doe then initiated crackdowns against rival tribes such as the Gios and Mano, where most of the coup plotters came from and about 600 hundred of them were killed in Doe own county Angeline Wight

Angeline Wight

	11. 19-01-2010 14:32
	Truth telling is the key. Good job Johnny, Thank you for reminding Goah about Liberian history . His problem is that he is trying very hard to please the people of Nimba County ,while putting Dr. Doe and others down . Goah failed to tell the readers on this forum how minister Nebo die . He(Mr. Nebo) die from the inflicted wounds he received from Nimba citizens' beaten . Goah also failed to point out how his own people killed those Gio and Manos in Zleh Town , but blaming Dr. Doe who was at the Mansion that very day . How Doe gave order can not be explaimed by Mr. 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

James Sohn

	12. 19-01-2010 14:33
	This Is bull-shit Johnnie Gayechueay, You are Gborho, krahn, and most likely ex-soldier; but, are you ready for this?

David Gborto Sr.

	13. 19-01-2010 15:54
	Shame The only fact displayed on here is that, this author is a poor writer. Thank you.

Gipoe

	14. 19-01-2010 16:52
	Sgt. Gaye blame yourself for what you ar Sgt. Johnny Gaye, you have put yourself in a huge trouble!!!! Johnny, when on active duty, you cannot participate in political campaigns or with groups with a political agenda. You cannot get in involve in foreign politics. You cannot support the killing of people in other countries nether can you defend killings in other countries. You cannot partake in foreign politics. You are shooting yourself in the foot. I spoke with Bernard today and he is preparing a letter to your command HQ. When you entered the US Army Johnny, you were told, and it was documented and signed by you that you cannot do these things. What you Johnny are doing is illegal. You could be charged for it. The US Army does not care if you participate in political campaigns or anything of that kind when you are discharged from active duty, but it is not condoned while on active duty. It is mostly not condoned for you to get involve in foreign politics for that matter even post your Army career unless you want to forgo your US status. You Johnny signed documents over the years that confirms what I am saying that is why I was outraged when I saw your written condemning the arrest of an ex army general in Liberia who was charged with treason on the Liberian forum while you were on active duty in the US Army. Plus, you have your writing all over the place. You either be loyal to the United States of America or Liberia. You cannot be both. Sorry my friend you got yourself into this. Burr

Burr

	15. 19-01-2010 18:27
	Idiots Gayechueay, What kind of foolish talking you have here? You want us to believe that if not for the AmericoLiberians the people of Nimba and all Liberians who were wronged by SKD would not have risen up? You are really a stupid man for thinking we will believe it. No boady is afraid of no damn krahn man. The people of Nimba rose up and paid the debt that was rightly due.

Fisayo

	16. 19-01-2010 21:07
	Goah is an educated Liberian Johnny all that you said is history that is known to most Liberians, but when you write to make a point, do not attack your fellow man, by saying "I thought Goah was an educated man". Oh, so only educated people hide the truth or what? Some brilliant Liberians, including yourself have cleverly analyzed the Liberian situation on this forum in many ways, while some others hate to hear that Samuel Doe will be remembered mostly for his evil deeds than the good he did because as a leader, his evil outweighed his good. For those of you who read the Bible, go to First and Second Chronicles. There you will find the deeds of Israel's Kings. History to tell us that every leader who forgot God's Holy Commandments did not end in a good state. So, like Idi Amin, Jean Bedel Bokassa, Lansana Konteh, and even the ancient Kalekula, every leader who kills or orders the killings of his people will pay the prize. No one on this forum is a stranger to Liberia, so the truth must be told with no fear or favor. I guess, the only wrong Bernard has done to some of you guys is to say that a krahn man killed a gio man, since he is himself a krahn man, but even some of us from Liberia know that some elements of the good and manos were also involved in the killings of other Liberians, including krahn people, one fact remains that God gave power to the krahn people and their misuse and abuse of it started the chaos. Why would all those bush gio and Mano boys and men come as far as Monrovia to take reprisals if Doe had used wisdom in ruling the nation? Would killers like Prince Johnson be a senator today, if Doe had played his cards well? Would the Congo people infiltrate our ranks and files if we the natives had held together? Charles Taylor might have had his secret agenda to get rich and avenge the 13 corrupt, evil people who were executed under the Doe' regime to the applause of the Liberian masses at the time, but if the gios and manos whom he armed had used wisdom and fought a just war by eliminating only those who were responsible for killing fellow Liberians, today the people of Nimba would have been hailed as a good people. But when they got to Monrovia, I was there, their attitudes were worst than the people they came to remove. Can Charles Taylor or a Congo man be blamed if a gio man takes gun and kill a krahn man, vice versa? No! We know that the krahns and gios have fought each other from time past, so, maybe some of those hatred and grudges were there, but also all the other Liberian people can not say they are neutral because they took sides and even joined the killings. now, the question is, who could have prevented all of this?Yes, Doe will take most of the blame because it was under his administration, yet there were elders in all of the tribes in Liberia and they did not give any sound advise to our leaders at the time. Some of them came and told the president to fight his enemies. So, look, Johnny and the rest of you on this forum, the Liberian situation can not be attributed to just all of those analysis that you guys brilliantly made. Our problem as a people is that we are poor, we lack love, we hate the truth and we will just talk and talk, but will never come to an agreement. That is why up till now in 2010, Liberia still lacks the basic neccessities like electricity, clean water, health care, the rule of law and education for all, etc. Thank God that an illustrious leader is coming soon to start the process of nation building. If everyone in Liberia had access to all of life's basic neccessities, who would care what tribe you are? And we have the resources, but corrupt leaders ate still misusing them. There is a wind of change blowing, and soon, you will see. There are still some good people left to make a difference. Join this cause instead of pointing finger at a brother like Bernard who only expressed a partial but acurate view of our past. I guess, the task is to make these wrongs corrected instead of standing up for someone who has wronged us. That is why we have even forgotten the list of other killers like Sekou Damante Konneh, who is originally from Guinea, claiming Liberian citizenship because Mandingo is one of the sixteen tribes. Do you know that even if Charles Taylor is being held for killing the Liberian people, then, Sekou Konneh, Prince Johnson and you know the rest, should be held accountable? Let us not come on this forum with our biases, but instead let us expose the truth even if the wrong doer comes from our family or tribe. The bigger picture is Liberia. United we stand, divided, we fall. Thank you. http://@yahoo.ca

Easy Going

	17. 19-01-2010 23:04
	Respond to Post#5 Lee Wuanti, Thanks a lot for your comments in post #5. However, I want you to please do me a favor. In your posting, you said this, "What I find disturbing in this ongoing debate are two-fold: 1. the inferrence that somehow it matters at whose hands one is victimized and 2. retaliatory violence is okay so long as we or our etnic group is not the target." Mr. Wuanti, Can you please point to me in my article where I said that retaliatory violence was okay so long as a person's ethnic group was not the target. I also want you to show me where I said that it matters at whose hands a person is victimized. Maybe you did not get the essence of my article. I wrote to refute the accusation made by Mr. Goah that the blunders committed by Samuel Doe were the cause of the war. I did not defend Doe or anyone in my article. What I said was that if Goah wanted to point out the wrong doings of an individual or group, he should point out those of all the players in the body politics of our country and let the readers decide for themselves. Besides self defense and preventing and killing someone in order to stop that person from killing someone else, I believe that taking the life of another person is wrong and there can be no justification, apart the ones given above. So please let us stick to the issue that is been discussed and stop the window dressing. I did not justify anything that Doe or the Krahn people did. All I said was that the problems in our country were not the making of Doe alone and people from his home town as is been purported by Goah and others. So that is what we need to address.

Johnnie Gayechuway

	18. 20-01-2010 05:35
	Post #2 & 9 Gargar, Postint # 2. You stated that you have a right to your opnion. Just so you know, I've similar right. Every one is trying to narrow johnnie's writing to the Doe era. vs American slaves. Every one has the right to his or her opinion, but the real history of liberia, and how we got here as a nation will not change. The history of Liberia starts with a country founded by America slaves. On this forum any one who tries to tell the true, is relate to samuel Doe. You Gargar have called me Samuel Doe brother. But here in your post #2 you contridicted yourself by saying that I was nobody during the Doe's era. And that is the living true, I was first a student, then a senior technical officer at Liberia Telecoms. The bother of the president of Liberia, is nobody in Liberia? Postt #9 Joseph k. solo, I shared your concern. I do not wish for war on the home land in any way. But the current conditions on the ground are pointing to another war. Had it not been for the presence of the U.N. Peace keepers, the story could have been different by now. Rebel leader Taylor, prince Johnson, and other warlords have got supporters on the ground. Majority of these people are living in low level poverty, and sufferig. Thousands are going to bed hungry, no food. Even the international community has predicted from the conditions on the ground, that Liberia is header toward another conflict, these facts are visible, is not my personal prediction. If our NPFL/OLDMA is running for the second team, to stay protected from war crimes prosecutions. She will Win, even if she lose. We've had Peace now for over five years, how long will the U.N stay in Liberia? Besides corruption cases out of Monrovia, what is being done, to secure our country after the U.N. PULL OUT? Is not me who is wishing for war on the home land, is the ineffectiveness of the war lord government in Monrovia, that is setting the condition for another war. Even God approved war on a nation as a form of corrective measured. If the Liberian people are tired of war, how long they are willing to live in poverty, suffering, hungar, unemployement, discrimination (who know you? who you know?) In a country with so many resources? Who sponsor the resistance against dictator and warlord Taylor? Did I wish for it, on Taylor? NO. Whatever will be will be.. SO YOU SEE, WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT ME...

Thomas Doe

	19. 20-01-2010 10:42
	Post #2 & 9 Johnnie, No, perhaps I didn't articulate well what I meant to convey. I'm in agreement with practically all you said. I was not talking about you at all, rather I was talking of those on both sides of this argument who seem be more offended by the killings of innocent people only when the victims are from their ethnicity. When evil is rendered to subjectivity, although all the key variables are basically the same, then it is reasonable to conclude that atrocious behavior is not necessarily wrong to those who would qualify it. I don't believe that this is a view that you hold. On the contrary, clearly in this article you are neither defending nor condoning what transpired in Liberia. I was speaking more to those from either Grand Gedeh or Nimba who would talk only of how their side was victimized but will not admit or accept how their side victimized the other. This, my friend, is what I said I found disturbing or troubling. Johnnie, I am not only from Nimba but I lived there during the several months of the bloody invasion. From the beginning i had thought that the lawlessness would subside once we were behind rebel lines, but it didn't take too long to find I was definitely wrong. What I began to realize was that things would get worse before thay got better. I had a cousin who was murdered by the NPFL on suspicion of being a government spy. I was detained twice for several hours and threatened with violence after being accused of being a Mandingo and a government spy. I had a teenage brother who like many child soldiers was recruited and perished senselessly for what I had concluded earlier on to be a useless cause. Severral people I know including my dear cousin who was married to a Krahn gentleman, perished in the Lutheran Church massacre in 1990. Like many in Nimba during those terrible days, we found ourselves wedged in between a government that thought we were its foes and rebel forces who preyed upon us at will. The happiest day of my life was Oct. 17th, 1990 when I crossed the border into the Ivory Coast. It is only by the grace and mercy of God that I'm alive today. I saw some things which up till recently had been a subject of many nightmares. There is no denying that there are any number of reasons, other than stubborn denial, why people don't want to talk about these things. As for me, my faith requires of me to have no enemies and God has enabled me to understand wisdom in forgiveness. Now and then I have an inward struggle with forgiveness especially when I take into account the manner in which I had been, disrespected, insulted or hurt. As a human being I'd rather be bitter and vidictive. But there is nothing positive or constructive that can ever come out of revenge, except the arming of the victim to come back swinging. Rather than finding windows to dress, my friend, I want the blinds to drawn back so that evil can be exposed in its entirety. What is going on in these discussions should really be seen as a process whereby I hope we can empathize with each other and acknowledge that we are all survivors. But more importantly, what I hope we can walk away with is the realization that we need to make peace with each other even when we had not personally harmed each other. \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

Lee Wuanti

	20. 20-01-2010 11:40
	Truth Telling is the Key Most people on this forum, and probably most Liberians, have constituently and continue to point out the misdeeds of Samuel Doe and to forget about the good things that he did during his stay in power. I am not surprised because Mark Anthony, once said, “The evil that a man does lives after him, but the good are buried with his bones.” I am sure this shall be the case with Doe. I want to reiterate once again that I am not here to defend the legacy, be a good or bad of the late Samuel Doe. What I am interested in is for people to tell the truth and the whole truth. The fact here is that thousands of innocent Krahns, who had no relationship to Doe or the government, were killed and victimized in many ways during the war just because they were Krahns. The justification given by the perpetrators of these acts was that Samuel Doe did the same things to their people. Most of the things that are being said by Bernard Goah on this forum are either partial truth or outright lies. So if those of us who know the truth do not respond to these conjectures and innuendos, we will be telling those that killed innocent people because of the actions of Samuel Doe that they were right in doing so. Bernard Goah said that he was in Grand Gedeh during the November 12, 1985 abortive invasion when the incidents that he alleged took place. What he failed to forget is that he wasn’t the only person there. Let me bring to your attention some of the claims that he made and point to some of his inaccuracies: 1. The man that he referred to as Boniface Nah in post # 1 of Weelar Gaye’s article is actually called Athanasius T. Nah. He used to own a stationary store in Zwedru and ran for Representative for Tchien District during the 1985 elections on the ticket of the Liberian Action Party. So I do not know from where Goah got the name Boniface. 2. He stated in that same post, “The only reason provided to the citizens of Grand Gedeh by Samuel Doe was that since Thomas Qowonkpa appointed Julius Kesseley to a position during the Nov. 12 1985 cope, Kesseley had to be killied whether he Kesseley was aware of such appointment or not.” This is an outright lie. Doe wasn’t in Zwedru when Kesseley was killed, and nobody asked him for an explanation. Secondly, where and how did Doe give this explanation to the people? Was it in a town hall meeting, radio broadcast, or press conference? Goah also went on to say that, “Other people pleaded for the release of Kesseley but to no avail.” This is another big lie. Kesseley was never imprisoned at any time after the invasion. Julius Kessely and my father were best friends and he is one of the nicest human being I have ever known. It breaks my heart that his name will be dragged onto this forum but the truth has to be told since Goah wants to dig up the dead. On the morning of November 12, Kessely and other soldiers, mainly from Nimba, were driving around in a convoy of cars. We were sitting in front of our house when his convey drove by. When he saw me, he stopped and got out of the car. He asked me how I was doing, and I told him I was fine. He then told me go inside or go to a friend’s house. A soldier by the name of Togba also got out of one of the cars and came to where I was sitting with members of my family. Togba knew us very well because he was married to a girl from our village and they had two daughters. He asked if we had seen a certain government official who lived right behind our house and we said no. That was the last time I saw Kesseley. Within a day or two, we heard that he was dead. So when was he in prison and people were begging for him? 3. Goah again stated that 250 Gios and manors were on November 12, 1985, and he also blamed this on Doe. But is it really possible for Doe to be in Monrovia, under siege, with no means of communication and give orders for people to be killed in Zleh Town which is miles away from Zwedru? The fact of the matter here is that these people met their untimely death at the hands of Bernard Goah’s own people in his town. I have lived in Zleh Town before and I know a lot of people there. I know people who can attest that whatever took place in Zleh Town on November 12 was carried out by the people of Zleh Town themselves. If the killings were carried out by outsiders, as Goah wants us to believe, how did the outsiders manage to know who was Gio and who was Manor in the town? This man that most of you are hailing as a truth teller on this forum is nothing but a fraud and a liar. He is blaming everyone else except himself and exonerating the folks in his town when his town stands in the middle of a gruesome story. 4. Goah also said, “I believe that if we should hold others responsible for what is took place in Liberia pre, during, and post the war, we must be in the position to leave no stone unturned if it means acknowledging our own short comings.” I agree with him very much on this issue. Unfortunately, he is leaving a lot of stones unturned and telling a one sided or partial story as stated by Lee Wuanti in post # 5.

Johnnie Gayechuway

	21. 20-01-2010 14:13
	Johnny Gaye is your real name not Johnni Johnnie Gayechueay, Johnny Gaye is your real name… right? Your father name is Johnny Gay. The commander who led the soldiers that killed the mano and gios in zleh Town had the name Johnny Gaye. Very very interesting. I am doing some investigation on that. I hope this does not draw your legs into this who stuff. Bytheway, you wrote as if you were there when these things took place. You did not even quote from any source. When you write other people ideas, you should put quotation mark so we all know the source of the information. As for Bernard Goah, he said he is an eye witness to what happened. How about you Johnny? Remember backing the killing of gios and manos by your section people is wrong. Killing is wrong, Johnny. Please admit, Johnny, you are a Gbohor man and Gbohor is the section of the late Doe. Besides you are a former AFL soldier. I wonder how many people did you kill before coming to the USA? Thank you. Alexander Menicom Beh

Alexander M. Beh

	22. 21-01-2010 01:34
	Johnnie Gayechuway can lie!!! Johnnie Gayechuway your father Johnny Gaye came to zleh town with soldiers right at the bantoes house demending that the elders show out the manos and the gios. How come now that you are saying it is the zleh town people? You are a killer Johnny. Did you also for get tell the United States government that you were an AFL soldier? You should not be living in the United states freely. Why you the Tuzon people want to prove? Most of you are evil people. But you all will pay for what you did back home. Now that there is no more Tuzon Gate, I will see how you people will arrest innocient people. What about the beating of Jacob York in Jessenville in Zwedru because he was an Action party man? So, tell Johnny, who kill Julius Kesseley? Tell me Johnny, admit it. Tell this forum what you did as well. M. Gbomena

M. Gbomena

	23. 21-01-2010 01:39
	Samue Doe brother Jackson E. Doe stone m Samue Doe brother Jackson E. Doe stone money in Liberia. Source:http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=10524&z=3 BUSTED: Jackson E. Doe’s Secret $US125K Deposit; Dubious Transfer Angers Ellen 01/21/2010 - Samwar S. Fallah, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 077-920-058 Monrovia - Just days after the resignation of the Liberian government's chief spokesman, former Information Minister Laurence Bropleh, another former minister and current head of the Board of Directors of the National Transit Authority(NTA) has been busted in a major scandal involving the deposit into an account bearing his name and signature - an amount of $US125,000, according to damning documents and vouchers in possession of FrontPageAfrica. The documents show how Jackson E. Doe, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the National Transit Authority (NTA) processed and deposited US$125,000 on a voucher dated December 22, 2009 from funds appropriated for the NTA into a new account at Eco Bank with Doe and another member of the NTA Board as the only signatories. Contacted late Wednesday, Doe told FrontPageAfrica that he was in a meeting with Grand Gedeh organization officials and could not respond to the President’s letter in possession of FrontPageAfrica. Asked when he would be available to discuss, Doe said in about an hour or two- as this story went to press, FPA was unable to obtain a response from Doe. Doe's action to secretly transfer such huge sum of money illegally comes amidst the growing transportation constraints facing residents of Monrovia and other parts of the country. Scramble for limited commercial vehicles in Monrovia in most instances turn physical with people engaging in fight to board a car, yet the NTA has failed to provide sufficient vehicles for Monrovia and environs least to speak of other counties. The few buses plying the streets under the guidance of the NTA break down on a daily basis and are usually parked at the entity's headquarters in Gardnesville not undergoing repairs. In the wake of these occurrences, Doe, who served as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and Transport prior to his appointment as head of the NTA Board deposited the money secretly claiming that he intends to use portion of the money to set up offices for Board members of the NTA. 'Dubious Transfer' Angers Prez Sirleaf Angered by the dubious transfer of the fund, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a harsh worded letter dated January 15, 2010 which leaked to FrontPageAfrica described Doe's action as wrong and unacceptable. “It is therefore wrong and unacceptable in your capacity as Chairman of the NTA Board to sign the referenced voucher, receive the check and deposit the amount into an account on which you are a signatory”, President Sirleaf frowned at the NTA Board Chairman. President Sirleaf stated in the letter that under the principle of good corporate governance, Board of Directors set policies and has oversight responsibilities of the entities and not direct use of corporation's funds. The Liberian leader also stated in her letter that Doe, as a long standing official of Government should know that appropriations provided by the government as subsidy to public corporations are processed by the management of the corporation and not the board of directors. “As a long standing official of Government, you should know that appropriations provided by the Government as subsidy to Public Corporations or State Owned Enterprises are processed by the management of the Corporation or State Owned Enterprises and not the Board of Directors”, President Sirleaf reminded Doe in the letter. Doe, believed to be a relative of former President Samuel Doe, is said to have stated that he intends to use portion of the money to set up offices for board members but President Sirleaf in her communication insisted that given the scarcity of funds the board would have to adopt a low profile by having meetings at the NTA offices and by refraining from undertaking expenditure other than moderate Board fees to cover direct out-of-pocket expenses. Don't use money, Prez warns President Sirleaf warned Doe not to use any of US$125,000 transferred to the Eco bank account “In light of this, you are hereby instructed to not make any payment from the account you have established at Eco bank until the management of NTA is constituted. I will subsequently meet with the Board to reiterate once again what is expected of them”, the President letter concluded. Board of Directors of Public Corporations have over the years been accused of serving as a basis for corruption as members of these boards who meet at least once every three months except in a case of emergency are paid thousands of United States dollars and other allowances. Liberia's Auditor General John S. Morlu, II delivering a statement in Gbarnga, Bong County at the celebration of the 44th anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) described Board of Directors as a cover ups for corrupt activities at public corporations. “We have also noted that the Boards are being used as cover ups to justify illegal transactions. We saw that in the corruption case involving the former officials of LPRC when the Chairman of the Board insisted that he authorized the transaction. We have seen it in the audit of the iron ore with LIMINCO, when a Board was hurriedly set up to regularize the irregular transactions of the officials when they distributed the US$7 million willy-nilly”, Auditor General Morlu stated. The Auditor General continued “Today, public corporations continue to argue that their actions were sanctioned by these inefficient and ineffective boards. Instead of the Boards focusing on developing strategic plans to govern the works of these public corporations, they busy themselves approving huge remunerations for the MDs and other senior officials, thus no vision for the future”. He stated that people have failed to realize that there are options to punish the Board under a concept “piercing the corporate veil.” “The Board of Directors can be sued for making wrong decisions to the detriment of the taxpayers and I believe Civil Society should begin a process of taking them to Court for sanctioning the waste of public resources. It is also argued that even the GAC can sue in a civil court to bring about financial remedy to the taxpayers against this Board of Directors. The General Auditing Commission could arguably file a derivative suit against the Board of Directors. This is an option the GAC is exploring”, the Auditor General noted. While expressing her disgust at Doe's actions, it is unclear whether the President will give the former minister the boot during her much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle. For many standing on long lines awaiting transportation, Doe's “unacceptable” act signals another sad chapter in Liberia's rugged post-war corruption era. As Sirleaf lamented in her letter to the former minister: “Moreover, it is even more unacceptable that, given the vast transportation needs and the limitation of buses, with hundred of citizens standing in line daily, that the board would put priority on its own needs rather than supporting the NTA management to use all available funds for repair and maintenance of existing buses or for the purchase of new ones”. Reporter Samwar S. Fallah can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 077-920-058

A. M. Beh

	24. 21-01-2010 10:48
	"Inside Story" Johnny, I will also like to know what took place at the Lutheran Church in Sinkor, and the allegation that Gen.Charles Julu put children in the well in Nimba. You're well informed about those incidents. call @ 443-939-4385 or e-mail me @ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jackson Zleh Towah

	25. 21-01-2010 16:57
	Samuel Doe Mr. Gargar I couldn't agreed with you more. This Doe issue is really the case of the dead leading the living. It's a pity that some krahns from Tuzon are still being control by this evil man. Doe was not a good leader. He knew it, I know it, the people of the Liberia know it and most importantly, the world knows it. If Johnny Gayechic from Butthole district in Tuzon wants to pay tribute to Samuel Killer Doe for committing actrocites against his fellow Liberians, then let him. The truth lies in our history. Doe came to power with blood on his hands and died with blood on his hands. My advice to rest of Grand Gedeans is to put this Doe saga to rest and join in unisome with the rest of the country. we love you, we are one people who were done wrong by our own kind.

Johnny just come

	26. 21-01-2010 20:44
	response to post#16 Mr. easy doing quote.."That is why we have even forgotten the list of other killers like Sekou Damante Konneh, who is originally from Guinea, claiming Liberian citizenship because Mandingo is one of the sixteen tribes" reply to comment...mandingoes does not meet the status of tribe but recognized at visible group in Liberia, like the Fanties, uraba, fula, congo. Madingoe, fanties, fulas...were black traders in Liberia not a major tribe. however the madingoes are the oldest black trading Africans in Liberia let clear that right away... not only the madingoes traders have children by ethnic Liberians...I can give much more example like the Fanties group, for example many of the Harris have Fanties back ground. don't let stupid COOPER/DENNIES/etc determined Liberia for us...fuck them.

Gargar

	27. 21-01-2010 21:30
	response to post#16 I agree with the Sheriff for saying they're not part of Liberia nor Sierra Leone for the mare facts is they were sent by their homeland to trade for precious metals, the same like the Fanties were sent by their homeland to trade in Fishing. However the children that were born in Liberia are Liberians if they chose. The same applying to the Bassa and krue in Ghana and Sierra Leone but they do not have equal status as ethnic group in those countries however they went to these country on their own not Liberia government or company, some of them went through British company.

Gargar

	28. 21-01-2010 21:55
	response to post#16 The Fantes confederation formed in Ghana in 1868. The Ebo united Board of management form in Nigeria in 1865 and the kindgom of Grebo in Liberia respectively in 1865.

Gargar

	29. 21-01-2010 23:48
	I Am In Agreement With Goah. The main factor that led to the 14 years war is that a group of power-greed idoits led by Samuel Doe thought that the secure and possible mean for them to remain in power is by killing your perceive enemies. The coup of 1980 was the result of a dictatorial rule by some of the settlers' regimes. I am sure the people of Zimbabwe are not blaming their former colonial masters for their problems.

Menlee Nuahn

	30. 22-01-2010 00:19
	history Liberian need to know This tusk belonged to an African serving in the Royal Navy’s fight against the transatlantic slave trade in the 1820s. His African name is unknown, but the Navy listed him as ‘Jim Freeman, Head Krouman’. The Krou tribe from coastal Liberia and Sierra Leone were skilled seamen with local knowledge that was vital to the Navy’s operations in Africa. He was probably recruited at Freetown in Sierra Leone - the base of the West Coast of Africa Squadron which patrolled 3,000 miles of coastline from Senegal to the Congo, stopping, searching and confiscating slave trading vessels. He would have served for the time his ships were in Africa, but have been discharged when the ship left. As ‘Head Krou man’ he was the most senior African on board, was paid well and entitled to ‘prize money’ for the vessels which his ships captured. He probably learnt the traditional seaman’s craft of ‘scrimshaw’ from one of his British messmates. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/kE7UkIVWSd6yjE0zl1kxFQ

Rebecca Togba

	31. 22-01-2010 05:05
	Samuel K Doe Johnny just come, YOU HAVE GOT AN INTERESTING NAME, No doubt about your posting.. Taylor came to power with blood on his hands. Another Rebel group removed to jailed. "Steal cut steal".. Ellen johnson came to power with blood on her hands. The same rob that hang monkey can hang baboo. Da me talk it ! What happened to her lawsuit with the new papper? Where she was asking for 2Million dollars to make something happen? She covered that up too? What can Ellen show the Liberian people as benefit to the nation. For the four years of constant travel, playing foreign minister president. Just to be the one to recevid the money. Because government officials notice her keeping the money for herself. They too started STEALING everything they can get their hands on. To prosecute any official for STEALING. She may have to prosecute herself frist. She can not travel any more. No one want to host some greedy oldlady. Good thing Obama, just would not see her. She got most of the country money, at 72 she still runing to Force herslf on the Liberian people. And protect herself from WAR CRIMES PROSECUTION, WE WILL SEE !

	32. 22-01-2010 14:20
	We is off topic We, the topic here is Samuel Killer Doe and not Ellen Johnson sirleaf or Taylor. Don't be an idiot living in denial.

Jonny Just Come

	33. 22-01-2010 14:48
	Is that really you? Gargar, what's up!Comments made by you at time is laughable but should be taken very seriously. You must have had a bad head day when you said "don't let stupid COOPER/DENNIES/etc determined Liberia for us...fuck them". 'Inclusiveness' my brother! Various ideologies, hopefully working for the same cause for the betterment of all Liberian. There's a lot at stake it is bigger than anyone person or group. Cool it my brother, see another head stylist.

THEDOC

	34. 22-01-2010 15:27
	Samuel Doe My Foot! Lee Wuanti's perspective on this forum is always par excellence first rate. In post #5, your comments Mr. Wuanti exactly described and ardently subscribed to the thesis of Jonnie's article. He seem to be insinuating that Samuel Doe is being attacked unfairly, and just as we remembered all the killings and suppressions and the plethora of dictatorial tendencies of the son of Tuzon, so must we remembered that it was Doe who built the national football stadium, etc. Leaders come to power jonnie must be reminded to serve their people and not to kill them. anything short of that is highly indicative of what you will be remembered for. just as it a an obligation of parents to nuture their kids and care for them and not abuse them....anything short of that is a vice. etc Angeline Wright gives a break down of Doe regime, in what is just a tip of the iceberg of the man whose ten year rule in term of brutality surpassed the so-called 133 years rule of the Americo-Liberian hegemony he came to right on the morning of April 12 1980. Mr. Wuanti's writes in post #5 that: "What I find disturbing in this ongoing debate are two-fold: 1. the inference that somehow it matters at whose hands one is victimized and 2. retaliatory violence is okay so long as we or our ethnic group is not the target. I find this reasoning very troubling that somehow the killing of innocent Nimbaians at the hands of 'their own people' is worse than if they had been killed, i.e, by Krahn people. And the same argument would suggest that the killing of innocent Krahns by Nimbaians is better than if it were done by Krahns." For this is exactly what this brother is saying, and the proof is always in the pudding here's his articulation : "...This brought about the infighting among the people of Nimba that continues to this day. Jackson Doe, Moses Duopu, Sam Dokie, John Yormie, Isaac Vaye, and other prominent Nimbaians were killed by their fellow Nimba citizens because of this...." Ummm is this really true? But since I am not a Nimba or Grand Gedeh, I will speak as a Liberian who is witness to Liberia and its history during the ten years that the Samuel Doe led Liberia. That jonnie is even propagating that "Fact: The war that was fought in Liberia was not because of Samuel Doe's administrative blunders but because the Americo Liberians who were driven from power were bend on reclaiming what they perceive to be rightfully theirs and theirs only. After the April 12 coup, most American Liberian fled abroad and their first order of business was how to regain power at all cost," This is a false analysis. Liberians in general were tired with Samuel Doe and his "bullshit" and I write this BS in plain daylight because truly as a indigenous Liberian with no settler blood running through these veins, Doe did not only victimized the people of Nimba, but all Liberians from different stripes and tribes. We all felt the iron claws of his wrath. To not even mentioned that Doe stole a popular election and killed the hopes of the whole nation is symptomatic of whats wrong with people from Grand Gedeh and the inactive NDPL. they still are trying to sell Doe as hero who fell from grace the same way he came in. Do you think the average Liberian care about Samuel Doe and his legacy? Doe stands shoulder to shoulder with Taylor. He had to lead the country at all cost and was willing unleashed death squads in name of anarchy. I lived in Zwedru, went to school at the Multilateral, 1989, with Bernard, a fine Liberian of character who do not wear his being Khran on his sleeves and who sees Doe for what he was: a blood thirsty paranoid dictator. But at the end of the day you are fighting against a tide bigger than you Johnnie. You cannot right history where it is wrong. If you read the lawyers report "The Promise Betrayed," you will understand why your kin Samuel Doe will never ever have a place in the heart of the average Liberian safe for his Khran ethnic group. More so, that you write shamelessly, that "Fact: The principal architects of the war are your current president, Harry Greaves, Baryon Tarr, Amos Sawyer, and others. They started planning the war even before your father was beaten or the killings in Zleh Town as alleged by you," is interesting. What you and others do not understand is that the will and resolve to removed Doe from power was a popular calling gone wrong, because Taylor like Doe do not see vision, and both are men of extreme greed who subordinated the interest of the nation to their own caprice. Matter of fact where were you when Amos Sawyer headed a Constitutional Convention, and subsequently his house was brunt, where were you mister when university students were being brutalized by the General under his famous order "move or be removed, where were you when Sirleaf was going in and out of jail to protest the draconian policies of Doe, a right enshrined in our constitution,what say you to the extra judicial tendencies of your master Samuel Doe and the sword he wielded? but i agreed with you that " Fact: Samuel Doe and the Krahn people contributed to the war by their indiscriminate reprisal on the people of Nimba (and innocent Liberians you forgot to add that) and those they suspected of engaging in anti government activities. And by the way, what is an anti govt. activity? that a citizen of a country does not have the right to disagree with a govt. that purports to represent his/her interest? For to informed you since you seem well lettered, the narrow definition of a govt. is an entity own by the people and not those who lead it. in closing, I find your article highly interesting. It is easy to blame the Americos for all their transgressions for indeed there were, but Samuel Doe was a miserable failure who shamed all of us who called ourselves 'natives.' He represents not a popular memory marked with deference and reference of a leader who elevated our politics and changed the trajectory of the course of events that sustained great nations and promote lasting growth. Doe went to his grave a coward the same way he came to power, and for it Liberia will be a better nation. I said it! I did! May God safe our country, and may the Khrans Gios, Manos, Mandingoes, The Americos and all the other tribes find peace in their country of birth.

Ralph Geeplay

	35. 22-01-2010 16:19
	Samuel Doe My Foot! Why Liberians are so obsesses about Mandingoes speaking people? don't worry when mandingoes man don't see moneys they're gone, if you throw moneys at them so be it that's human nature to exploit if possible hell knows.

Rebecca Togba

	36. 22-01-2010 16:44
	Nilotic Africans Griots today live in many parts of West Africa, including Mali, the Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, and are presently among the Mande peoples in Sirra leone (Mandinka, Malinké, Bambara, etc.), (Fula), Hausa, Songhai, Tukulóor, Wolof, Serer, Mossi, Dagomba, Mauritanian Arabs.

The Mali empire

	37. 22-01-2010 16:55
	Nilotic Africans List of griot artists/groups Mandinka Griot Al-Haji Papa Susso performing songs from the oral tradition of the Gambia on the kora This ancient Baobab tree in the Réserve de Bandia, Sénégal, forms a living mausoleum for the remains of famed local Griots. * Ablaye Cissokko (Senegal) * Abdoulaye Diabaté (Mali) * Alassane Sarr (Senegal) * Alhaji Musa Dan Kwairo (Nigeria) * Alpha Oulare (Guinea) * Aly "Alisco" Diabate (Guinea) * Afel Bocoum (Mali) * Gokh-Bi System (Senegal) * Amadu Bansang Jobarteh (Gambia) * Atongo Zimba (Ghana) * Baaba Maal (Senegal) * Ba Cissoko (Guinea) * Baba Sissoko (Mali) * Badenya les Frères Coulibaly (Burkina Faso) * Balla Kouyate (Mali) * Balla Tounkara (Mali) * Bawa Abudu (Ghana) * Boubacar Diabate (Mali) * Boubacar Traoré (Mali) * Cheick Hamala Diabaté (Mali) * Daby Balde (Senegal) * Dan Maraya (Nigeria) * Dembo Jobarteh (Gambia) * Dimi Mint Abba (Mauritania) * Djeli Moussa Diawara or Jali Musa Jawara (Guinea) * Djelimady Tounkara (Mali) * Djimo Kouyate (Senegal) * Dou Dou N'Diaye Rose (Senegal) * El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyate (Guinea) * Etran Finatawa (Niger) * Foday Musa Suso (Gambia) * Habib Koité (Mali) * Famoro Dioubaté's Kakande (Guinea/New York) * Kasse Mady Diabate (Mali) * King Ayisoba (Ghana) * Lamin Saho (Gambia) * Malamini Jobarteh (Gambia) * Mamadou Diabaté (Mali) * Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye (Senegal) * Muhamman Shata (Nigeria) * Mory Kanté (Guinea) * Mansour Seck * Mariem Hassan (Western Sahara) * N'Faly Kouyate (Guinea) * National Instrumental Ensemble of Guinea (Guinea) * Nuru Kane (Senegam) * Oumou Sangare (Mali) * Papa Susso (Gambia) * Pape Kanoutè (Senegal) * Prince Diabaté (Guinea) * Rokia Traoré (Mali) * Salieu Suso (Gambia) * Backa Niang (Senegal) * Sanjally Jobarteh (Gambia) * Seikou Susso (Gambia) * Sherrifo Konteh (Gambia) * Toumani Diabaté (Mali) * Vieux Diop (Senegal) * Yacouba Sissoko (Mali)

The Mali empire

	38. 22-01-2010 19:18
	Doe Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is part mandingo.That is why Monrovia has become a filth. Where there is mandingo there is filth

I said it

	39. 22-01-2010 19:50
	Thank you Ralph Ralph Geeplay, thank you so much. Sgt. Johnny Gaye was an AFL soldier that is why he continues to back Doe wrong doing. Sgt.Johnny Gaye was a soldier when all of these things took place in Liberia. So, just get it. Thank you plenty Ralph. You are the proper medicine for these people. You have said it but some of us have many more things to say about the wrong doing of Samuel Doe and His Tuzon people. Like Samuel Doe, like Idi Ame of Unganda.

A.M. Beh

	40. 22-01-2010 21:50
	turf doc, now we see you now we don't see you isn't it? well I do everything possible to sit my ass here to do the best known to me... if those folks you mentioned were smart Liberia wouldn't be in this mess... may be you have not sat down to read about our past presidents and see what they did... but sure enough you've read and Masa Musa of the Mali empire and how great the madingoes isn't it? think about it you only want to support people you think you know at all cost have you read the book written by on of the Dennies? check it out, as for me I know a lot of stuff... keep the faith.

Gargar

	41. 22-01-2010 21:51
	We've To Take Responsibility Ralph Geeplay, It is taboo in Grand Gedeh to mention the political mess left by Samuel Doe. Even if they refuse to accept reality, my generation will take responsibility for the long growing tension. Johnny will soon publish an article that Jackson E. Doe was unfairly targeted by EJS.

Jackson Zleh Towah

	42. 22-01-2010 22:34
	We've To Take Responsibility Thedoc, check this site....http://www.amazon.com/House-Sugar-Beach-African-Childhood/dp/0743266242/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_3

Gargar

	43. 23-01-2010 10:48
	We've To Take Responsibility during the Barclay err the president was looking forward of chosen some one to stand for their party he was interested in one of the Coopers but eventually it change hand to Tubman and for the final show down Mr. Simpson and Mr. Tubman got on board Tubman won...well Mr. cooper son said his father was the chose of Mr. Barclay over Tubman.... when Tubman won many rumors said it was Fanti vs. Madingoe and Fantie won...Tubman was presented with Fanti shirts and Grebo knife...

Gargar Brown

	44. 23-01-2010 10:59
	We've To Take Responsibility WE BURIED in MONROVIA

unknown soldier

	45. 23-01-2010 13:06
	we shall overcome Thedoc, see how we killed one another as though we are not the same country men and women because there is no history to bind us as people but as separate entity, this is the result of stupidity and greed. NOW...we're at a dead end every body for themselves like a chicken without head...so help us all God.

Gargar

	46. 23-01-2010 22:43
	contradictions thedoc Thedoc quote.."Zobong, during a desperate time, these are the kinds of desperate decisions people make when they look at the cards they are dealt. However, I can understand not making the right decision and the ramification of that decision, especially at this crucial junction of our fragile democracy, after 14 years of uncivil war". Thedoc quote...'Inclusiveness' my brother! Various ideologies, hopefully working for the same cause for the betterment of all Liberian. There's a lot at stake it is bigger than anyone person or group. Cool it my brother, see another head stylist" Thedoc quote..As of Charles Taylor, criminal, war-lord become president, I say this, Taylor have been living in the jungle long enough to know that when lion kills, it’s the jackals that profit. See where he is and look how the jackals are profiting." Thedoc quote..."I'm not contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives,but these are tough and hard time it will take the total involvement of all working together, with an exceptional sense of commitments to break away from these kind of politicians and their platform of agitation. Until then ,you, sir can quote me on this, 'when facing horrors and destitution that many can scarcely imagine, our people will always be prey upon by these political predators. There are critical moments when decision making can be perplexing, nerve-wracking and people do things they wouldn't normally do." reply from Mr. A. Harrington "THEDOC,killing that killing! George W Bush putting forth of an unwarranted claim to the American people and the world in his first term.Dude killed American by sending them in harm ways and a lot of innocent Iragi got kill too. American people could have said bull crap,we had enough, but 'prevailing situtation' got him elected to a second term like the 'prevailing situation' in Liberia got Killer Taylor elected too" comment from...Gargar...thedoc, you sound like a nine years old kid walking out of the store with a pair of shoe on...trying to be hip. Mr. Caveman see you later....

Gargar

	47. 24-01-2010 18:21
	We've to take Responsibility Hi Gargar, the "now you see me, now you don't" disappering act was not intentional. I explained that in the comment section of an article titled, "CDC'S Standard Bearer's Christmas Message" I stated the reason I am unable to give a rapid response. However, my comment in post#33 was directed at these words that took me by surprise "Fuck Them." It is so, not you. I agree with you 100% that "COOPER/DENNIES/etc shouldn't determined Liberia for us," yet we shouldn't have to ridicule or insult to make this point. Over the years, I have come to admire your insight on the centuries of world history.I am sure you are aware of such an in depth knowledge you possess, and you have definitely exhibit it on this forum time after time. Your literary and artistic content/composition about African history is impressive. I am surprised that you would use profanity to express your thoughts. I implied that you "had a bad head day". Based on the preview interview, the author (Helen Cooper) of House-Sugar-Beach-African-Childhood the author, admits the nefarious behaviors of the pioneers/free slaves against the Natives. My take on that is as follow, I really don't need to purchase or read this lady's story. I lived my life with such a profound experience growing up in Liberia. The fact that, I was born and raised in Liberia and have experience the dynamic of divisiveness while growing up in a tangible way; from social encounters,social-networking,education to economic disparities.So sorry buddy,I don't need to read that book. Notwithstanding, if there were information that were exclusively prevalent to her back in the days that dealt with fear and culture biases. Meaning the so called pioneers nefarious policy, than one can admire her courage in providing some light on that. If not,than I say maybe it's a good read for those who want to play catch up

THEDOC

	48. 24-01-2010 21:35
	We've to take Responsibility Thedoc, the word Fuck them is used in this manner "don't mine them" this is what I meant my man. We the kids of the seventies admire late Hon. Cecil Dennies he was a revolutionist. plus, Mark Dennies, late George Dennies are my big brother friends so to speak. I think Helen appears frustrated I saw her on CNN. Thedoc the gap was so narrow but the two major groups but now I see we have gone back to where Tubman took us from...every efforts is gone.

Gargar

	49. 24-01-2010 21:50
	Liberia will raised Thedoc I can't believed the way our country turn out to be, almost all of our senior citizens with brain are dead in our hands.... I worrying and praying for a big come back so we can put everything behind us I strongly believed God will not lied he said there will come a blue sky over Liberia after the bloodshed, Liberia will be ten times better than what she is by God's help...there will a light end of the tunnel. by the way when we're growing up once in awhile the boys clash...boys will always be boys. PEACE UP...KEEP THE FAITH...I will never sit on this forum when Liberia will not become better, God promised better Liberia....MARK my words.

Gargar

	50. 24-01-2010 22:27
	Liberia will rised again THEDOC trust me Liberia will rise again because God told me so, or else I wouldn't be on this forum I am commercial by nature I don't waste my time.