An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
- Winston Churchill

According to the Accra Peace Agreements signed on 18th August, 2003, the road to peace in Liberia is through appeasement. However, world history has shown time and time again that appeasement is not only dangerous, but in most cases futile. It does not offer benefit to the appeasers; but it whets the appetite of the appeased and fuels a volatile conflict.

In the words of Mr. Sceizo (the African Director for the Italian-based Catholic organization, Community Saint Egidio), lasting peace in Liberia can only be achieved through the August 18th 2003 agreement.

Mr. Sceizo, needs to revisit the consequence of appeasement through Italian and European history; only then would he be able to see the flaw in his statements. It would be fascinating to see the psychiatric evaluations of the delegation and mediators who participated in the drawing up and the signing the aforementioned peace agreement.

Perhaps Mr. Sceizo should have a talk with the Guinean president and the UN, in regards to the issue of repatriating Guinean citizens who have influxed into Liberia and catalyzed the Liberian conflict. It is only through resolving this issue, that Liberia and the region can achieve lasting peace. In other words, the roots of the Liberian conflict needs to be resolved.

The Human Rights watch report of November 3, 2003, stated: "The government of Guinea, which facilitated the illicit supply of mortar rounds, bears an important measure of responsibility for the atrocities. It has long provided military and logistical support for LURD-despite LURD's documented record of committing violations of international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes and serious human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch's most recent investigation of Guinea-LURD ties and their human cost indicates that the Guinean Ministry of Defense imported munitions from Iran in mid-2003 and arranged for these to be forwarded to LURD. This re-supply via Guinea, LURD sources have confirmed, made possible their final rebel assault on Monrovia."

The Guinean government should welcome it's citizens back to Guinea, and provide them jobs and improved social conditions for them; rather than providing them arms to kills Liberians who once provided a shelter for Guineans running away from the difficult conditions in their country.

In the 1970s Liberians in Ghana were repatriated from Ghana, and the Liberian Government welcomed it's citizens back and facilitated their resettling in Liberia. This effort was successful.

Perhaps the Guinean Government can attempt to apply this same strategy; as opposed to the Guinean president wishfully thinking that he can become a regional power and control Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast, by fueling conflict in the region.

Resolving this would go a long way to providing lasting peace in Liberia.

From where I sit….

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