[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


Work Toward the Disbandment of Lurd

The NEWS (Monrovia)
EDITORIAL
June 9, 2004
Posted to the web June 9, 2004
Monrovia
The Chairman of the former warring faction of the Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) this week reiterated some salient points in
reaction to his reported suspension as Chairman of the group. In an interview
from Senegal, the LURD Chairman, Sekou Damate Conneh, reiterated that the war
in Liberia was over and it was time that all former warring factions submit to
the peace process.
Sekou Conneh pointed out that squabbles for jobs and positions at this time
within the movement was tantamount to trouble making and has the potential to
undermine the peace process. He reminded his colleagues that in view of the
ongoing disarmament and demobilization exercise, the Executive members of LURD
should now concentrate on working toward disbanding the group.
He also reminded his colleagues who are interested in jobs or positions to take
advantage of the political process leading to the October 2005 presidential and
general elections.
Sekou Conneh made these points following a news briefing during which some
Executive members of his group announced his "indefinite suspension" as
Chairman of the group.
For some time now, there have been rifts within the former rebel Movement over
the removal of the Finance Minister. Some individuals on the Executive
Committee of LURD had threatened to commit the group into a non-cooperative
posture within the power-sharing Transitional Government unless the Finance
Minister was removed.
But the LURD Chairman sees such moves as an attempt to undermine the peace
process. He has therefore made it clear that he would not be a party to any
attempts that would derail the Peace process.
With this development, it would appear to us that some individuals are still
maintaining a war mentality, failing to allow their conscience to serve them
right.
For we find it unacceptable that after all that has happened, there would still
be individuals calling themselves Executive Committee members of a former
warring faction who are clearly bent on placing their personal interest above
the national interest.
Let it be restated that the Liberian people have suffered unbearably under
shattered lives and dehumanizing conditions as a result of 14 years of warfare.
As such, the preoccupation of everyone should now be the restoration of the
country to better and decent living standards instead of fomenting trouble that
could retard our National efforts toward lasting peace and stability.
We see the recent attempts by some executives of LURD to have their Chairman
suspended as insignificant as far as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is
concerned.
Under the agreement, Article XXI section 5 states that, "The LURD, MODEL and
all irregular forces of the GOL shall cease to exist as military forces, upon
completion of disarmament".
With the disarmament and demobilization exercise now midway, we expect that the
executive committee members of LURD would begin to disband LURD and redirect
their energies toward establishing political parties or simply joining one of
the 18 existing political parties of their choice.
But to behave in a way and manner not indicative of attempts to disband LURD is
an act of national betrayal. We therefore call on the Executive Committee
members of LURD to work toward disbanding their group.

   

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