Monrovian women call for peace

Thousands of Liberian women converged on Monrovia’s city hall last Friday to call on the government and rebel factions in the Liberian conflict to “immediately cease hostilities” and begin peace talks.

The women, dressed in white, paraded through the principal streets of the capital, chanting peace slogans before heading to the adminstrative offices.

The head of the local charity, Women in Peace Building of Liberia, Leymah Gbowee, called on the rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), and the government to cease fire and begin “fruitful dialogue”.

“It is women and children, the weaker vessels of the human race, that are most affected during and after civil conflicts. Women and children die from a combination of factors: bullets, hunger, childbirth, rape,” she said.

In the statement, the women also urged the international community to monitor the ceasefire.

The LURD has been waging a three-year war against President Charles Taylor, himself a former warlord, who came to power in 1997 after a brutal seven-year civil war.

At least 15,000 civilians have been forced from their homes by the fighting.

Displaced women who also attended Friday’s rally told of their experiences.

“Even as I speak,” added an IDP from Jahtondo town, “I can’t give account of my three children. We can no longer sit and watch our children dying”.

“When we went to the D.Tweh Displaced Camp in New Kru Town yesterday and saw three little children dying slowly of starvation, we could not restrain our tears,” said another of the displaced.

“Liberian women are fed up. We want immediate peace”.

Some of the women wept openly, as the displaced gave their testimonies.

“I have not seen this child’s father,” another said holding up her 10 month-old baby for everyone to see.

“I was pregnant for him when I left Tubmanburg. But I have not seen her father. I am still running,” she added and burst into tears.

Liberians are concerned that no effort is being made to get the government and rebel groups to the peace table.

All hopes of a negotiated settlement evaporated when the rebel LURD turned down the chance of a meeting in the Malian capital Bamako.

Calls for dialogue have also been made in recent times by opposition politicians, religious and civil society groups.

The government is yet to give a clear position on proposals for peace talks.