Liberians Rally for Sanctions, Democracy

The Perspective

April 30, 2001

New York, NY ( April 30, 2001): Hundreds of Liberians, under the umbrella of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, ULAA, Friday (April 27, 2001) urged the United Nations to impose sanctions on the Liberian government.

Led by ULAA President Mydea Reeves-Karpeh, and coined "National Rally for Democracy in Liberia", the Liberians who demonstrated outside the Liberian mission to the UN, denounced Liberian President Charles Taylor for alleged human rights abuses.

They said the rally was organized in support of: "international sanctions and embargoes against the Taylor regime; for increased international assistance for the suffering Liberian people; against the violations of fundamental human rights, the abuse of power and the misuse of natural resources; against the deteriorating social and economic conditions in Liberia; and the democratization of the Liberian society towards the advancement of the Liberian people."

The ULAA President dismissed as "cosmetic changes" claims by Liberian President Charles Taylor that Liberia has met the conditions set forth by the UN to avert a May 7 deadline for the UN sanctions to take effect.

Ms. Reeves-Karpeh and her fellow Liberians then called on the United Nations to prosecute Taylor and others for war and economic crimes against the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Liberian Consul General in Manhattan, Dorsey Handsford, who was sitting in his dark office declined to comment on his government's behalf. His office and that of the Liberia Mission to the UN which have been without electricity since early March this year due to back rent owed, were partially closed, the Consul-General said. Most of the employees have not been paid for months.

ULAA chapters represented at the rally were Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Reported by: J. Wehtee Wion
Liberian African News Service, LANS
(718) 815-6203....LANS Newsline