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Introduction
Liberia evolved
by the development in America of "freed blacks." That is the people who
had been freed from prior slavery.
The American Colonization Society (ACS) organisation
developed in the U.S. in 1816, with supporters from a humanist perspective
who believed "free blacks" would never receive equality, and others who
believed "free blacks" were trouble makers. Both sides of this political
equation believed the free blacks would be better off in "their own country."
In 1819 they received a $100,000 support from Congress allowing a ship,
The Elizabeth, to sail to Freetown, Sierra Leone,
then onto the island of Perseverance with 3 ACS and 88 "freed blacks."
More followed via the Nautilus in 1821, numbering several thousand allowing
a society which was indigenous tribes - Kru, Gola, Grebo - and Afro-Americans
which incurred internal warfare until the independent state of Liberia
was concluded in 1847. With its newly elected governor J J Roberts, the
new "country" had a 600 mile coastline.
Conflict with neighbouring countries followed over territorial issues
(notably Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast) but Liberia lost out due to
powerful colonial support from Great Britain and France.
Effect
on Capitalism
In 1923, the Firestone Rubber company arrived in Liberia and formed a
1 million acre rubber plantation at Harbal. Later public road works (roads)
were investigated by the League of Nations for forced labour.
The second world war saw the U.S. construct the port of Monrovia to assist
in allied troop movements. It also assisted the rubber plantation and
a new iron ore mining industry development. Later, hydroelectric plants,
water and sewage treatment followed. Today Liberia also has flourishing
timber and diamonds industries. Mano Projects - Diamonds - Liberia
Effect
on Democracy
Stability
was a feature of twentieth century Liberia until the coup by Samuel Doe
which brought down President William R. Tolbert, Jr., 1971 - 1980
Civil war followed after Charles Taylor`s National Patriotic Front killed
Doe. Further factional splits led to further warring until a final peace
treaty was signed in 1995, allowing Taylor to become President.
Neighbouring states of Ghana and Nigeria accused Taylor of supporting
war in Sierra Leone, while Taylor accused Guinea of supporting Liberian
rebels in the North.
The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD ) rebels in
2003 have secured vast swathes of land up to the bridges of Monrovia themselves,
in their bid to remove Taylor. BBC NEWS | World | From Our Own Correspondent | On Liberia's front line
Taylor who had agreed to stand down from office, has since changed his
mind on the news that he had been indicted for war crimes events in Sierra
Leone IHT: News analysis:
Immunity question clouds Taylor's departure
United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks - OCHA IRIN Africa
Summary
The general
instability of the area since 1980, combined with the availability of
illegal trading in diamonds, arms and timber for the Sierra Leone Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) has been a key concern for the West. The U.N. officially
accused Taylor of trading and conducted sanctions in 2001.
United Nations Sanctions Liberia: Diamonds Hazardous Substances ...
UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone - Background
Despite the apparent "concern" for "humanitarian
relief" in Liberia, western values seem to have followed the pattern of
all other international conflicts in recent years by the concern for natural
resources. The proximity to major oil concerns in Nigeria and Equatorial
Guinea appear to be close to comfort for some.
Mineral Wealth Fuels Africa's Most Protracted Wars - Security Council -
Global Policy Forum
Does US Bank Harbour Equatorial Guineas Oil Millions in Secret Accounts?
- Security Council - Global Policy Forum
The UN Security Council Resolution 1497 was passed
by 12-0 on 1-8-03 allowing a multinational stabilization force to Liberia,
but also contained US led conditions effectively allowing immunity to
US forces in Liberia against any action by the International Criminal
Court (ICC). ICC press releases. The
hypocrisy of wanting Taylor to appear before the ICC accused of war crimes
in Sierra Leone, while insisting upon immunity from American troops in
case they do the same is apparent from the explanation given by U.S. Ambassador Negroponte: Statement in the Security Council in Explanation
of Vote
Copyright S Coleman 2003
10 August 2003
| FEATURES REFERENCES |
Introduction
Liberia evolved
by the development in America of "freed blacks." That is the people who
had been freed from prior slavery.
The American Colonization Society (ACS) organisation
developed in the U.S. in 1816, with supporters from a humanist perspective
who believed "free blacks" would never receive equality, and others who
believed "free blacks" were trouble makers. Both sides of this political
equation believed the free blacks would be better off in "their own country."
In 1819 they received a $100,000 support from Congress allowing a ship,
The Elizabeth, to sail to Freetown, Sierra Leone,
then onto the island of Perseverance with 3 ACS and 88 "freed blacks."
More followed via the Nautilus in 1821, numbering several thousand allowing
a society which was indigenous tribes - Kru, Gola, Grebo - and Afro-Americans
which incurred internal warfare until the independent state of Liberia
was concluded in 1847. With its newly elected governor J J Roberts, the
new "country" had a 600 mile coastline.
Conflict with neighbouring countries followed over territorial issues
(notably Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast) but Liberia lost out due to
powerful colonial support from Great Britain and France.
Effect
on Capitalism
In 1923, the Firestone Rubber company arrived in Liberia and formed a
1 million acre rubber plantation at Harbal. Later public road works (roads)
were investigated by the League of Nations for forced labour.
The second world war saw the U.S. construct the port of Monrovia to assist
in allied troop movements. It also assisted the rubber plantation and
a new iron ore mining industry development. Later, hydroelectric plants,
water and sewage treatment followed. Today Liberia also has flourishing
timber and diamonds industries. Mano Projects - Diamonds - Liberia
Effect
on Democracy
Stability
was a feature of twentieth century Liberia until the coup by Samuel Doe
which brought down President William R. Tolbert, Jr., 1971 - 1980
Civil war followed after Charles Taylor`s National Patriotic Front killed
Doe. Further factional splits led to further warring until a final peace
treaty was signed in 1995, allowing Taylor to become President.
Neighbouring states of Ghana and Nigeria accused Taylor of supporting
war in Sierra Leone, while Taylor accused Guinea of supporting Liberian
rebels in the North.
The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD ) rebels in
2003 have secured vast swathes of land up to the bridges of Monrovia themselves,
in their bid to remove Taylor. BBC NEWS | World | From Our Own Correspondent | On Liberia's front line
Taylor who had agreed to stand down from office, has since changed his
mind on the news that he had been indicted for war crimes events in Sierra
Leone IHT: News analysis:
Immunity question clouds Taylor's departure
United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks - OCHA IRIN Africa
Summary
The general
instability of the area since 1980, combined with the availability of
illegal trading in diamonds, arms and timber for the Sierra Leone Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) has been a key concern for the West. The U.N. officially
accused Taylor of trading and conducted sanctions in 2001.
United Nations Sanctions Liberia: Diamonds Hazardous Substances ...
UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone - Background
Despite the apparent "concern" for "humanitarian
relief" in Liberia, western values seem to have followed the pattern of
all other international conflicts in recent years by the concern for natural
resources. The proximity to major oil concerns in Nigeria and Equatorial
Guinea appear to be close to comfort for some.
Mineral Wealth Fuels Africa's Most Protracted Wars - Security Council -
Global Policy Forum
Does US Bank Harbour Equatorial Guineas Oil Millions in Secret Accounts?
- Security Council - Global Policy Forum
The UN Security Council Resolution 1497 was passed
by 12-0 on 1-8-03 allowing a multinational stabilization force to Liberia,
but also contained US led conditions effectively allowing immunity to
US forces in Liberia against any action by the International Criminal
Court (ICC). ICC press releases. The
hypocrisy of wanting Taylor to appear before the ICC accused of war crimes
in Sierra Leone, while insisting upon immunity from American troops in
case they do the same is apparent from the explanation given by U.S. Ambassador Negroponte: Statement in the Security Council in Explanation
of Vote
Copyright S Coleman 2003
10 August 2003
| FEATURES REFERENCES |
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