Carter Center Shuts Down Liberia Operation
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000

ATLANTA, GA..The Carter Center has closed down its office in Liberia, where it worked for a decade to advance peace, human rights, and democracy.

In a strongly worded letter to Liberia President Charles Taylor, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said "prevailing conditions and the actions of your government have made it increasingly difficult for the Center and others to be effective in supporting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

"I am very disappointed about the course of events in Liberia over the last three years, especially given the hopeful opportunities that were present after your election in 1997 following a terrible seven-year civil war. Since then, and in consultation with your government, the Center has tried to work with civil society groups, the media, government officials, and others to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law, in the hope that this would help consolidate peace and reconciliation in Liberia," the letter said. "..On several occasions I raised serious concerns about developments in Liberia and unsuccessfully suggested specific actions your government could take to address problems." The letter cited concerns about serious human rights abuses and intimidation against journalists and the political opposition.

Based in Atlanta, the Center is a nongovernmental organization founded by President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, and dedicated to the promotion of peace and health worldwide. The Center worked to foster peace and democracy in Liberia since March 1991, when all sides in the country's civil war invited the Center to assist in the peace process taking place at that time. President Carter made numerous trips to the region to meet with interim governments as well as faction leaders in the conflict, to assist the country's movement toward peace and democracy. Subsequently, Center staff undertook projects to protect human rights, help NGOs in Liberia coordinate their efforts, and support a democratic electoral process.

In 1992, the Center established an office in Monrovia, which closed during the full-scale fighting in April 1996 and re-opened again in April 1997. At that time, the office monitored preparations for the 1997 presidential election. In 1998, the office began a multifaceted democracy and governance program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development aimed at strengthening civil society, institutionalizing respect for human rights, and encouraging a more accountable government. The Center worked to develop an independent media, train human rights monitors, and strengthen the capacities of local human rights NGOs.

The following is the full text of the letter from President Carter

November 6, 2000
To President Charles Ghankay Taylor

I write to inform you that The Carter Center has decided to end our work in Liberia because prevailing conditions and the actions of your government have made it increasingly difficult for the Center and others to be effective in supporting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

I am very disappointed about the course of events in Liberia over the last three years, especially given the hopeful opportunities that were present after your election in 1997 following a terrible seven-year civil war. Since then, and in consultation with your government, the Center has tried to work with civil society groups, the media, government officials, and others to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law, in the hope that this would help consolidate peace and reconciliation in Liberia. This work, of course, could only succeed if the Government of Liberia supported these goals in word and deed, and created an environment in which fundamental rights were upheld, and in which individuals and institutions could work freely and openly.

For a period following your election, you and I maintained a dialogue in which I repeatedly offered to assist you in efforts to demonstrate your commitment to building a genuine democracy in Liberia. On several occasions I raised serious concerns about developments in Liberia and unsuccessfully suggested specific actions your government could take to address problems. Unfortunately, however, the dialogue seems to have broken down, and it has become clear that your government does not share the same goals.

Much to our dismay, Liberia is a country where reports of serious human rights abuses are common, where journalists, human rights organizations, and political activists work in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and where there is little political space for meaningful democratic debate. Instead of being used to improve education, infrastructure, and
development, Liberia's resources have been diverted toward extra-budgetary uses. In addition, it is increasingly evident that Liberia's role in the conflicts of the sub-region has been a destructive one.

Over the years, I have committed a great deal of personal resources, in addition to the resources of The Carter Center, to promoting a just and stable peace and democratic government in Liberia. I am therefore deeply saddened by the situation that has led to this decision. Nonetheless, we remain committed to assisting Liberia and hope that there may be more fruitful avenues to support her in the future.

Sincerely,
Jimmy Carter