Taylor Attacks UL Students; deaths reported

The Perspective
March 21, 2001

Reports from Monrovia say Government security forces Wednesday invaded the University of Liberia and severely attacked students protesting the arrest of journalists of The News newspaper. Unconfirmed reports speak of a number of deaths.

The President of the University Dr. Roberts, a well-known Taylor loyalist, had earlier warned the students against solidarity with the journalists.

The students have been opposing Charles Taylor's policies, including clampdown on the press, free speech, and corruption. In a series of statement recently issued, the students called for reconciliation through the establishment of a truth commission. They said this was necessary since Taylor was demanding confession as a precondition for the release of 13ethnic Krahn political prisoners.