|
THE LAST WAR
Charles Taylor could no longer stay president of Liberia, said George Bush, said Kofi Annan,
said ECOWAS, said its neighbors, said the African Union, said the global community, said the people
of Liberia, said the LURD, and said its Chairman Sekou Damate Conneh, Jr. AND... LURD HAD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Sekou Damate Conneh
|
|
President
Thabo Mbeki
South Africa
|
President
John Kufour
Ghana
|
For the sake of the Liberian people and in its self-interest, LURD had to take tough, but we believe,
essential steps to restore peace, civil rights, prosperity, and democracy-to ensure the survival of
our beloved Liberia and its peoples. LURD could not wait any longer. Regardless of who took one step
or another- we had no other option left then to move forward- we had to take action- and we hope you
will support us. The cost may be (too) great, but most importantly, the cost of doing nothing would
undoubtedly be greater for future safety of all our citizens, the sub-region, and the international
community.
N E W S - I T E M: ===AUGUST 11, 2003===
Liberia, once proud of its strong economy and democracy, had neither. The time came for a BIG
change. A time for peace, freedom, democracy, stability, mutual respect, prosperity, and reconciliation.
Time to reject repression and the detour towards fear and greed. Time to look out upon the world for
friends, not enemies. Time for those who have much to help those who have little. Time to show the
world that we wish to be their partner in peace. Most of all, it is time for Liberia to become a
land where dreams come true because the government is on the side of its people. There had to come
an end to the struggle and suffering of a whole nation. LURD insisted Charles Taylor to step down
by any means necessary. It happened on August 11th 2003, but it should have happened years ago.
August 11, 2004
President Charles Taylor's Last day in Office
|
August 11, 2004
Former President Charles Taylor leaves Liberia
|
August 11, 2004
|
August 11, 2004
Former President Charles Taylor in exile to Nigeria
|
T H E - F U T U R E - S T A R T S - T O D A Y !
It's time we get a democratic elected President in 2005, a leader who will provide the only real economic
security: peace and paid jobs. So people get money in the pockets and will spend it. A strong economy is
the first test of our national security, crime policy, education, and civil rights agenda.
We need leadership with the strength to take on the tough fights and the courage to make the tough choices.
We need to challenge ourselves; we need to match what is best in our history and reach for what is best
in our future. Sekou Damate Conneh did not flee from his responsibilities into the luxury comfort of a
remote country when Liberia was in crisis. He stayed among the real heroes of our beloved nation -brave
men and women liberating the suffering people of Liberia. Together with other visionary politicians and
honest businessmen, Sekou Damate Conneh invested time, money and efforts to make Liberia a better place
for all. He is one of the few who already made the difference.
In Liberia, we do not have to choose between making our country safer and better. We have to do
both. We need to set a higher standard for national leadership. The Liberian people want their
leaders to honour their values, respect for human rights, make their country safe and strong, and
give them a chance to make the most of their future. Not only the government but also the people of
Liberia bear the ultimate responsibility for achieving peace and national reconciliation.
The people of Liberia and the international community demand a government that is committed to governing
the country in an impartial and transparent fashion, and the hard work necessary to rebuild the country
will have to begin in earnest. Individual liberties, checks and balances, the separation of powers. All
these will be the distinctive bequest of Liberian democracy.
All of these were in danger till 11 August 2004. Since many years Liberia’s hope was in peril.
When Liberians lose faith in the meaning and the value of their vote, it is a fading of hope.
When (former) leaders installed fear in the Liberian people, they extinguished hope. A climate of fear
cannot make a safe Liberia. Individual liberties are the source of strength. Our freedom must be the
root of private enterprise and citizen initiative - the source of prosperity.
Liberia is a nation out of shambles. It requires effective planning and long-term commitment.
The international community like they did in Mozambique and now in Sierra Leone must commit themselves
to taking the country through its reconstruction period. More hands-on will be required even if this
means having some members of the international community serving has counterparts for a number of
years in government ministries and key commissions and agencies. Liberia will need this before its
elites can be trusted again with the full running of their nation-state.
There are many things Liberia once had. Running water, electricity, sewer system, telephone lines,
and garbage collection. With these up and running again, we will be able to solve many problems.
Years of civil strife and repression have destroyed much of our economic infrastructure, reduced
fair/transparant civil administration nearly to zero, and brought economic activity virtually to a
halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most
business people with their expertise and capital.
The reconstruction of Liberia requires the active participation of the private sector, but this
is only possible through the restoration of investor’s confidence and the provision of relevant
infrastructure and secure environments. Establishing an economic climate in which business can
flourish is the key to return fiscal ability, fiscal responsibility, and fiscal discipline. The
private sector is the engine that can drive economic growth. Everyone who works hard to accomplish
these targets deserves the opportunity to share in prosperity.
"People want work, not welfare. And while there ought to be welfare for those unable to work, there
ought to be work for those who are able to work and who want to work. And there is enough work to do."
Those are some of the reasons to support Sekou Damate Conneh in his crusade to place Liberia back
on the map.
A ROADMAP TO PROSPERITY AND PEACE
IN LIBERIA
|
