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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Policy on Disarmament of Liberian Combatants Stated
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Foreign Broadcast Information Service, June 29, 1992
Liberia: Sawyer States Policy on Disarmament of Combatants
</hdr>
<body>
<p>[Monrovia Radio ELBC in English 0900 GMT 26 Jun 92]
</p>
<p> [Text] The Interim Government of National Unity says it is
prepared to make any concessions that will lead to the complete
disarmament of all factions in the Liberian conflict. In a
major policy statement yesterday in Monrovia, interim President
Amos Sawyer said despite the progress being made in the
socioeconomic well-being of the people, Liberia is still in the
grip of fear because, in his words: We are technically still at
war.
</p>
<p> Thousands of youth, the president said, continue to bear
arms in the bushes and unless the arms can be taken from these
young people, nothing substantive can be achieved in this
country. The president said, disarmament of the fighters must
be a concern of all if the nation is to move ahead. Liberians,
Dr. Sawyer said, must mobilize themselves at all levels to
ensure that they (?campaign) for peace. Dr. Sawyer wondered what
the future Liberia will look like if the guns are not taken away
from the young ones. The small soldiers in the bushes, he
pointed out, are our future which must not be tampered with.
</p>
<p> Meanwhile, the president is calling on the Elections
Commission to face realities and speak out on the issue of
disarmament of former combatants. President Sawyer said if the
Elections Commission will have to depend on the presence of
ECOMOG [Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire
Monitoring Group] for security during its nationwide tour in
search of (?offices), without addressing the problem of the
disarmament, then it will mean that all activities leading to
the January elections in Liberia will depend on the security
presence of ECOMOG. Such an arrangement, the president said,
will require ECOMOG to guard each political party during
campaigning and voting, an arrangement, Dr. Sawyer described as
impracticable.
</p>
<p> Meanwhile, the Interim Government of National Unity has
(?allocated) $13 million for the rehabilitation of
ex-combatants. Of the amount, $8 million has been allocated by
government towards the rehabilitation program. Making the
disclosure yesterday in a major policy statement, the interim
president, Dr. Amos Sawyer, said despite the meager resources
of government, government was making the amount available
because of its concern for the well-being of those who lay down
their arms. Already, he said, more than 300 ex-combatants are
undergoing vocational programs at various schools in Monrovia
under government's repatriation program. More than 300 other
ex-combatants have already completed other vocational programs
under the sponsorship of the interim government. The president
said government is spending more than $3,000 on each of the
ex-combatants and is prepared to do more.
</p>
<p> On foreign assistance for the ex-combatants, the president
said the United States Government, the United Nations, as well
as other international donor agencies are prepared to provide
assistance toward the rehabilitation program of the government
but noted that such assistance is binding on disarmament of the
fighters.
</p>
<p> Meanwhile, the president is calling on every Liberian, who
believes that the combatants must be disarmed before elections
to show solidarity by wearing a white piece as a symbol to show
their support for disarmament. He said the white piece could be
carried anywhere, a handkerchief or just some white symbol to
show their support for the program of disarmament and
encampment.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>