With Reports of Harassment in Guthrie Women Group Urges LURD to Take Decisive Action

September 16, 2004 - (The Inquirer - Monrovia) A cross-section of women, under the banner "Traditional Women United for Peace", has urged the leadership of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) to take a decisive and prompt action thus bringing to a halt news reports about some of its men causing trouble at the Guthrie Rubber Plantation in Bomi County.

Reports filtering from the plantation suggest that LURD fighters are still occupying the plantation and carrying out the illegal sale of the estate's rubber.

The reports said the LURD fighters are armed and recently, they allegedly opened fire on a group of employees of the plantation who had gone on an assessment for possible reopening of the plantation.

According to the reports, two employees of the plantation's assessment team got wounded from the action of the LURD fighters who have vowed not to vacate the plantation on grounds that they have been told by their bosses to hold on to the plantation and carry out the sale of rubber during the two years transitional period.

Predicated upon these reports, the Traditional Women United for Peace over the weekend, called on the leadership of LURD through its Chairman Mr. Sekou Damate Conneh to take a decisive and prompt action that would stop the alleged arbitrary exploitation of the Guthrie Rubber Plantation.

The Traditional Women United for Peace's call was contained in a special remarks made on their behalf over the weekend by the Supreme Zoe of Liberia, Mama Tumah, in Brewerville outside Monrovia, when the group gowned and held a special honoring ceremony for the Chairman of LURD.

Speaking further Supreme Zoe Tumah urged the LURD Chairman to do all within his purview in making sure that his men who are still occupying strategic locations in the country including rubber plantations, lay down their arms and vacate these areas.

She said they as traditional women, were prepared to a accept the former fighters as their children and forgive them for the wrongs they committed during the war.

Madam Tuman said what the former fighters need to do, is to drop the arms so as to alleviate the fear in the minds of the traditional people as a way of encouraging them to return home.

She said they as traditional people are eager to return to their villages and towns in areas such as Kolahun, Foya District, among others, adding that their major priority is to live in an environment of peace that will be free of arms.

Responding shortly after he was gowned and welcomed by the traditional women when they presented him a kola nut and white chicken, Mr. Conneh assured the women that he is working with UNMIL in dealing with the situation at the Guthrie Rubber Plantation facilities.

Mr. Conneh used the occasion to call on all fighters of his former warring group to comply with the deadline set by UNMIL by turning in their arms.

He said the war is over and as such, there is no need for anyone to still hold on to arms, stressing that any fighter who will not listen by cooperating with the time frame, would have himself to blame.

Mr. Conneh said he is prepared to assist any fighter who will comply with the disarmament process but was quick to say that for those who will not comply they should not expect him to answer for them or say any thing if they are caught with arms after the October 31st deadline.

He promised that he will remain committed to peace and would work with UNMIL in making sure that lasting peace returns to the country.

He assured the women of his support in addressing their needs and said he would work to make their towns and villages free of arms so that they can return home. He then presented a cow and some cash to the women.

In a related development, citizens from Bomi and Grand Cape Mount County, over the weekend visited the Congo Town residence of Mr. Sekou Conneh pledging their support and loyalty to him. The citizens commended him for his role in bringing peace to the country.

In his response, Mr. Conneh assured them of his commitment to the CPA and his determination to reunite the Liberian people. He urged all fighters to disarm to UNMIL.

Meanwhile, one of the two security officers who were allegedly manhandled by some men to be ex-fighters of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy(LURD), Pvt. Anthony Fayiah, an employee of the DOSAR Security Agency, is recuperating slowly from the injuries he sustained during the attack.

Recently, LURD men at the Guthrie Plantation attacked security officers who had gone there to ensure that the area was safe for operations. The security officers went in the area following declaration by the United Nations Mission in Liberia(UNMIL) that the area was safe.

In a related development, the ex-combatants have vowed to eliminate the head of DOSAR Security Service, Col. Jacuba M. Dolley if he continues to send security men to the area.

According to the DOSAR Security's Deputy Director for Operations, Major Tarnue G. Johnson, who led the team of officers to the plantation, the ex-combatants threatened to eliminate Col. Dolley.

"You guys are lucky he did not come or else we would have given him what he deserves for trying to send security here. The two others must tell him the story better", the ex-combatants were quoted as saying by DOSAR's deputy director.

Col. Dolley a seasoned security personnel has since been trying to institute the requisite legal means against those who have threatened his life.

The DOSAR Deputy Security Chief is therefore calling on UNMIL, NTGL and other parties to prevail on the ex-combatants to leave the area.

Recently, LURD General Joseph Nyumah denied the report about some of his men continuing to harass people on the plantation.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200409160841.html