WE CAN OVERCOME OUR DIFFERENCE IF WE LEARN HOW TO FORGIVE & PUT OUR PAINFUL PASS TO REST

JOINING HANDS TOGETHER IN UNITY TO PICK UP OUR BROKEN PIECES FOR TOTAL RECONCIALATION WRITTEN BY: BISHOP STEVEN LIBERTY SR & EDITED BY: MARIE DARAMY

THE SWEET SIDE OF THE COIN THAT IS PRESENTED TO THE WORLD

PROLODGE This document was issued by the United States Department for State (Democracy in Action) on December 3; 2010 Copy From http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/6618.htm

Official Name: Republic of Liberia

PROFILE Geography Area: 111,369 sq. km. (43,000 sq. mi.). Slightly larger than Ohio.

Cities: Capital--Monrovia (pop. 1,010,970). Principal towns--Ganta (pop. 41,000), Buchanan (pop. 34,000), Gbarnga (pop. 34,000), Kakata (pop. 33,000), Voinjama (pop.

26,000).

Terrain: Three areas--Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast, wooded hills and semideciduous shrub lands along the immediate interior, and dense tropical forests and plateaus in the interior. Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.

People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Liberian(s).

Population (2009): 3.955 million.

Annual population growth rate (2008): 2.1%.

Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20%, Bassa 14%, Gio 8%, Kru 6%, 52% spread over 12 other ethnic groups.

Religions: Christian 85%, Muslim 12%, other 1.5%, no religion 1.5%.

Languages: English is the official language. There are 16 indigenous languages.

Education: Literacy (2008)--58%.

Health: Life expectancy (2008)--58 years.

Work force: Agriculture--70%; industry--15%; services--2%. Employment in the formal sector is estimated at 15%.

Government Type: Republic.

Independence: From American Colonization Society July 26, 1847.

Constitution: January 6, 1986.

Political parties: 20 registered political parties.

Economy GDP (2009): $876 million.

Real GDP growth rate (2009): 4.9%.

Real per capita GDP (2009): $128.

Average annual inflation (2009): 7.4%.

Natural resources: Iron ore; rubber; timber; diamonds; gold; tin; possible offshore deposits of crude oil.

Agriculture: Products--coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, cassava, palm oil, bananas, plantains, citrus, pineapple, sweet potatoes, corn, and vegetables.

Industry: Agriculture (61% of 2009 GDP); rubber; diamonds; gold; iron ore; forestry; beverages; construction.

Trade (2009): Exports--$148 million (rubber 61%). Major markets--India (26.5%); United States (17.9%); Poland (13.9%). Imports--$551 million (rice 29%; machinery/transport equipment 23%). Major markets--South Korea (27.2%); Singapore (25.5%); Japan (11.8%).

PEOPLE There are 16 ethnic groups that make up Liberia's indigenous population. The Kpelle in central and western Liberia is the largest ethnic group. Americo-Liberians who are descendants of freed slaves that arrived in Liberia after 1820 make up less than 5% of the population.

There also are sizable numbers of Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals who comprise part of Liberia's business community. The Liberian constitution restricts citizenship to only people of Negro descent, and land ownership is restricted to citizens.

HISTORY Portuguese explorers established contacts with Liberia as early as 1461 and named the area Grain Coast because of the abundance of "grains of paradise" (Malegueta pepper seeds).

In 1663 the British installed trading posts on the Grain Coast, but the Dutch destroyed these posts a year later. There were no further reports of European settlements along the Grain Coast until the arrival of freed slaves in the early 1800s.

Liberia, "land of the free," was founded by free African-Americans and freed slaves from the United States in 1820. An initial group of 86 immigrants, who came to be called Americo-Liberians, established a settlement in Christopolis (now Monrovia, named after U.S. President James Monroe) on February 6, 1820.

Thousands of freed American slaves and free African-Americans arrived during the following years, leading to the formation of more settlements and culminating in a declaration of independence of the Republic of Liberia on July 26, 1847. The drive to resettle freed slaves in Africa was promoted by the American Colonization Society (ACS), an organization of white clergymen, abolitionists, and slave owners founded in 1816 by

Robert Finley, a Presbyterian minister. Between 1821 and 1867 the ACS resettled some 10,000 African-Americans and several thousand Africans from interdicted slave ships; it governed the Commonwealth of Liberia until independence in 1847.

In Liberia's early years, the Americo-Liberian settlers periodically encountered stiff and sometimes violent opposition from indigenous Africans, who were excluded from citizenship in the new Republic until 1904. At the same time, British and French colonial expansionists encroached upon Liberia, taking over much of its territory. Politically, the country was a one-party state ruled by the True Whig Party (TWP). Joseph Jenkins Roberts, who was born and raised in America, was Liberia's first President. The style of government and constitution was fashioned on that of the United States, and the AmericoLiberian elite monopolized political power and restricted the voting rights of the indigenous population. The True Whig Party dominated all sectors of Liberia from independence in 1847 until April 12, 1980, when indigenous Liberian Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe (from the Krahn ethnic group) seized power in a coup d'etat. Doe's forces executed President William R. Tolbert and several officials of his government, mostly of Americo-Liberian descent. One hundred and thirty-three years of Americo-Liberian political domination ended with the formation of the People's Redemption Council (PRC).

Over time, the Doe government began promoting members of Doe's Krahn ethnic group, who soon dominated political and military life in Liberia. This raised ethnic tension and caused frequent hostilities between the politically and militarily dominant Krahns and other ethnic groups in the country.

After the October 1985 elections, characterized by widespread fraud, Doe solidified his control. The period after the elections saw increased human rights abuses, corruption, and ethnic tensions. The standard of living further deteriorated. On November 12, 1985, former Army Commanding Gen. Thomas Quiwonkpa almost succeeded in toppling Doe's government. The Armed Forces of Liberia repelled Quiwonkpa's attack and executed him in Monrovia. Doe's Krahn-dominated forces carried out reprisals against Mano and Gio civilians suspected of supporting Quiwonkpa.

Despite Doe's poor human rights record and questionable democratic credentials, he retained close relations with Washington. A staunch U.S. ally, Doe met twice with President Ronald Reagan and enjoyed considerable U.S. financial support.

On December 24, 1989, a small band of rebels led by Doe's former procurement chief, Charles Taylor, invaded Liberia from Cote d'Ivoire. Taylor and his National Patriotic Front rebels rapidly gained the support of many Liberians and reached the outskirts of Monrovia within 6 months.

From 1989 to 1996 one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars ensued, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displacing a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened in

1990 and succeeded in preventing Charles Taylor from capturing Monrovia. Prince Johnson--formerly a member of Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)-formed the break-away Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL).

Johnson's forces captured and killed Doe on September 9, 1990. Taking refuge in Sierra Leone and other neighboring countries, former AFL soldiers founded the new insurgent United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), fighting back Taylor's NPFL. An Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) was formed in Gambia under the auspices of ECOWAS in October 1990, headed by Dr. Amos C. Sawyer. Taylor (along with other Liberian factions) refused to work with the interim government and continued fighting. After more than a dozen peace accords and declining military power, Taylor finally agreed to the formation of a five-man transitional government. A hasty disarmament and demobilization of warring factions was followed by special elections on July 19, 1997.

Charles Taylor and his National Patriotic Party emerged victorious. Taylor won the election by a large majority, primarily because Liberians feared a return to war had Taylor lost.

For the next 6 years, the Taylor government did not improve the lives of Liberians.

Unemployment and illiteracy stood above 75%, and little investment was made in the country's infrastructure. Liberia is still recovering from the ravages of war; pipe-borne water and electricity are generally unavailable to most of the population, especially outside Monrovia, and schools, hospitals, roads, and infrastructure remain derelict. Rather than work to improve the lives of Liberians, Taylor supported the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone (see Sierra Leone Country Background Note). Taylor's misrule led to the resumption of armed rebellion from among Taylor's former adversaries. By 2003, armed groups called "Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy" (LURD) and "Movement for Democracy in Liberia" (MODEL), largely representing elements of the former ULIMO-K and ULIMO-J factions that fought Taylor during Liberia's previous civil war (1989-1996), were challenging Taylor and his increasingly fragmented supporters on the outskirts of Monrovia.

On June 4, 2003 in Accra, Ghana, ECOWAS facilitated peace talks among the Government of Liberia, civil society, and the LURD and MODEL rebel groups. On the same day, the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone issued a press statement announcing the opening of a sealed March 7, 2003 indictment of Liberian President Charles Taylor for "bearing the greatest responsibility" for atrocities in Sierra Leone since November 1996. In July 2003 the Government of Liberia, LURD, and MODEL signed a cease-fire that all sides failed to respect; bitter fighting reached downtown Monrovia in July and August 2003, creating a massive humanitarian disaster.

On August 11, 2003, under intense U.S. and international pressure, President Taylor resigned office and departed into exile in Nigeria. This move paved the way for the deployment by ECOWAS of what became a 3,600-strong peacekeeping mission in Liberia

(ECOMIL). On August 18, leaders from the Liberian Government, the rebels, political parties, and civil society signed a comprehensive peace agreement that laid the framework for constructing a 2-year National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), headed by businessman Charles Gyude Bryant. The UN took over security in Liberia in October 2003, subsuming ECOMIL into the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), a force that grew to over 12,000 troops and 1,148 police officers.

The October 11, 2005 presidential and legislative elections and the subsequent November 8, 2005 presidential run-off were the most free, fair, and peaceful elections in Liberia's history. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defeated international soccer star George Weah 59.4% to 40.6% to become Africa's first democratically elected female president. She was inaugurated in January 2006. The president's party, the Unity Party, does not control the legislature, in which 9 of the 20 registered political parties are represented.

The political situation has remained stable since the 2005 elections. President Johnson Sirleaf enjoys good relations with international organizations and donor governments, with whom she is working closely on Liberia's development. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in 2005 to investigate and report on gross human rights violations that occurred in Liberia between January 1979 and October 2003. The TRC's final, edited report was released in late 2009. The Liberian Government has yet to address many of the recommendations.

The Johnson Sirleaf government won substantial donor support for its new poverty reduction strategy at the June 2008 Liberia Poverty Reduction Forum in Berlin, Germany.

In order to maintain stability through the post-conflict period, Liberia's security sector reform efforts have led to the disarmament of more than 100,000 ex-combatants, the wholesale U.S.-led reconstruction of the Armed Forces of Liberia, and a UN-led effort to overhaul the Liberian National Police. The mandate of UNMIL was extended in September 2010 to September 2011, and its current troop strength remains above 8,200. Within that mandate, a newly-established Peace Building Commission will focus on promoting rule of law, security sector reform, and national reconciliation. However, the Government of Liberia has continued to avoid taking action on freezing assets of former President Charles Taylor and his supporters, as mandated by the UN Security Council. Liberia’s executive and legislative branches have brokered a compromise regarding the constitutional requirement for application of redistricting results (from the 2008 census) in preparation for presidential and legislative elections on October 11, 2011. The Election Commission is preparing a constitutional referendum for August 2011 as a necessary prelude.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS Liberia has a bicameral legislature consisting of 64 representatives and 30 senators. The 2005 election placed a spectrum of political personalities in the legislature, most for 6-year terms. Senior senators were elected for 9-year terms. Party structures remain weak, and politics continues to be personality-driven. Historically, the executive branch heavily influenced the legislature and judicial system.

International efforts are aimed at shoring up the capacity of the judiciary. Liberia's court system is divided into four levels, including justices of the peace, courts of record (magistrate courts), courts of first instance (circuit and specialty courts), and the Supreme Court. Traditional courts and lay courts exist in rural areas of the country. Trial by ordeal, though officially outlawed, is practiced in various parts of Liberia. The formal judicial system remains hampered by severe shortages of qualified judges and other judicial officials.

Locally, political power emanates from traditional chiefs (town, clan, or paramount chiefs), mayors, and district commissioners. There are 15 counties in Liberia. The Supreme Court confirmed the president's power to appoint city mayors and county superintendents in a February 2009 ruling.

Principal Government Officials President--Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Vice President--Joseph Nyumah Boakai President Pro Tem of the Senate--Cletus Wotorson Speaker of the House of Representatives--J. Alex Tyler Chief Justice of the Supreme Court--Johnnie N. Lewis Minister of Foreign Affairs--Toga Gayewea McIntosh Minister of Finance--Augustine Ngafuan Minister of Justice--Christiana Tah Minister of Defense--Brownie Samukai Liberia maintains an embassy in the United States at 5201 16th Street, NW, Washington DC, 202-723-0437.

ECONOMY Liberia was traditionally noted for its academic institutions, iron-mining, and rubber.

Political upheavals beginning in the 1980s and a 14-year civil war (1989-2003) largely destroyed Liberia's economy and brought a steep decline in living standards. The Liberian economy relied heavily on the mining of iron ore and on the export of natural rubber prior to the civil war. Liberia was a major exporter of iron ore on the world market. In the 1970s and 1980s, iron mining accounted for more than half of Liberia's export earnings.

Following the coup d'etat of 1980, the country's economic growth rate slowed down because of a decline in the demand for iron ore on the world market and political upheavals in Liberia.

The 1989-2003 civil war had a devastating effect on the country's economy. Most major businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged, and most foreign investors and businesses left the country. Iron ore production stopped completely, and the United Nations banned timber and diamond exports from Liberia. UN sanctions on Liberian timber were removed

in 2006; activity in the timber sector was expected to resume on a large scale during the October 2008-May 2009 dry season. Diamond sanctions were terminated by the UN Security Council in April 2007, and Liberian diamond exports have resumed through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Gold deposits, some of which are nearing production, should contribute to government revenues and provide employment. Liberia's revenues come primarily from rubber exports and revenues from its maritime registry program. Liberia has the second-largest maritime registry in the world; there were over 3,000 vessels totaling nearly 100 million gross tons registered under its flag, earning some $20 million in maritime revenue. There is increasing interest in the possibility of commercially exploitable offshore crude oil deposits along Liberia's Atlantic Coast.

Liberia’s economy has continued to grow modestly, despite the global economic downturn, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects strong GDP growth through 2012.

The inflation rate in 2009 averaged 7.4%. The Liberian Government’s budget for the 20102011 fiscal year (ending June 30, 2011) reached $369 million, 0.5% lower than the final budget the previous year. Despite rich natural resources and potential for self-sufficiency in food production, Liberia’s productive capacity remains depressed by high unemployment, low literacy, poor health, corruption, and the absence of basic infrastructure. Only about 15% of the workforce is employed in the formal sector. The adult literacy rate is estimated at 55.5%, and 68% of Liberians live below the poverty line.

An estimated 35% of Liberians are malnourished, only 28% are fully immunized, just 25% have access to safe drinking water, and only 36% have access to proper sanitation.

Sustained economic growth is also hindered by inadequate roads, water, sewage, and electrical services. Nevertheless, Liberia’s HIV/AIDS rate is under 2%, and the government is conducting prevention campaigns. The government is in the third year of a 3-year Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), which ends in June 2011. In September 2009, Liberia concluded the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP) and reached Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point in June 2010.

Liberia remains open to foreign investment, having attracted over $100 million in new investment in the first half of 2009 and announcing 39 reforms to the business climate in 2008 and 2009. Liberia cleared its arrears to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and African Development Bank (approximately $1.6 billion). It cleared nearly $1.4 billion in arrears to Paris Club creditors in September 2010. Reform of the budget process continues. The government publishes detailed copies of the final budget and quarterly fiscal outturns. The final 2010-2011 budget of $369 million is 6.3% higher than the initial budget submitted to the legislature. In FY 2010-2011, the Liberian Government committed to allocating 60% of its budget to Poverty Reduction Strategy goals, and its expenditures for health and education increased by 10%. Low-income tax payers received a tax break in 2010, with their effective tax rate dropping from 25% to 20%. U.S. Treasury advisors are working with the Ministry of Finance to improve tax administration, strengthen internal controls, and increase revenue collection. The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) continues to operate successfully in its third year, and Liberia was only the second country to obtain EITI compliance. In 2010, the government enacted several

pieces of legislation to modernize commercial transactions and expand commercial activities. In fall 2010, Liberia became the first West African country to enact a Freedom of Information Act. The Central Bank of Liberia has maintained low single-digit inflation since 2009, thanks in part to stable commodity prices. The government is trying to privatize the Freeport of Monrovia, which will lower import costs for consumables and capital equipment. In early September 2010, Delta Airlines inaugurated direct flights between Atlanta and Monrovia, and President Johnson Sirleaf signed a 3-year deal with Chevron to explore for oil offshore.

However, Liberia’s economy remains less competitive because of the high cost of operating in country. The need for private security services, the lack of basic infrastructure such as road networks, electricity, and water/sewage systems and limitations on local human resources all drive up the costs of doing business. The costs of rebuilding damaged infrastructure are enormous. The economy is heavily dependent on the infusion of funds made available by international donors, the presence of the UNMIL peacekeeping force, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Foreign assistance ($425 million) still exceeds the national budget. Ongoing economic reforms are squeezing entrenched interests, possibly leading to stronger resistance to further reform. Delays in initiating transparent, commercially sustainable export of timber continue to have a negative impact on the budget. Concerns about possible corruption and lack of transparency in timber, iron ore, and agricultural contracts increase the uncertainty of the investment climate and threaten the resumption of these once-vibrant industries. The ongoing dominance of the import and wholesale/retail economy by Lebanese and Asian businesspeople continues to breed resentment. The government still favors policies protecting Liberian ownership of some sectors of the economy. Laws limit foreign employment in particular sectors, even, in practice, when a qualified Liberian may not be available. These laws have discouraged long-term investment by foreign-owned/operated businesses. Modernization in the sectors reserved for Liberians has been hampered by lack of capital and technical expertise. Liberian nationality laws restrict citizenship (and thus land ownership) to those of “Negro descent.� Despite having enacted laws on intellectual and industrial property and copyright, the government has failed to enforce these laws.

There is widespread sale of pirated CDs, counterfeit drugs, and knock-off electronic products. Persistent corruption and a culture of patronage inhibit open and transparent concession and procurement processes. The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) have yet to develop the capacity and political will to offset fully these influences. Efforts to reform the procurement process at government ministries and agencies have slowed government expenditure and continue to falter due to lack of institutional capacity.

FOREIGN RELATIONS Liberia has maintained traditionally cordial relations with the West. China and Libya are prominent international partners in Liberia's reconstruction. Liberia also maintains diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Liberia is a founding member of the United Nations and its specialized agencies and is a member of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Development Bank (ADB), the Mano River Union (MRU), and the Non-Aligned Movement.

During the administration of Charles Taylor, relations between Liberia and its West African neighbors became seriously strained. West African countries backed by the African Union and the United Nations negotiated a peace agreement in Accra, Ghana that subsequently led to the exile of Charles Taylor to Nigeria in August 2003. With the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia has seen significant improvements in relations with its West African neighbors and the wider world. Relations between Liberia and its immediate neighbors in the Mano River region are back on track, and efforts are underway to strengthen relations with other countries. Liberia signed a non-aggression pact with Sierra Leone when newly elected President Ernest Bai Koroma visited in September 2007. Liberia is a major proponent of regional integration.

Liberia has taken steps to forge closer ties with Western countries, especially the United States. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has visited several Western countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Spain, France, and Germany. President Johnson Sirleaf has also visited China and Libya.

U.S.-LIBERIA RELATIONS Congress appropriated $100,000 in 1819 for the establishment of Liberia (and resettlement of freemen and freed slaves from North America) by the American Colonization Society, led by prominent Americans such as Francis Scott Key, George Washington's nephew Bushrod, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and Presidents Monroe, Adams, and Jackson. The first group of settlers arrived in Liberia from the United States in the 1820s. The United States, which officially recognized Liberia in 1862, shared particularly close relations with Liberia during the Cold War. The outbreak of civil war in Liberia and the long dominance of Charles Taylor soured bilateral relations. However, Liberia now counts the United States as its strongest supporter in its democratization and reconstruction efforts. Since the end of Liberia's civil war in 2003, the United States has contributed over $1 billion in bilateral assistance and more than $1 billion in assessed contributions to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). In February 2008, President George W. Bush visited Liberia, where he held his fourth one-onone meeting with President Johnson Sirleaf since her inauguration in January 2006. Peace Corps volunteers returned to Liberia in 2008 for the first time since 1990. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid an official visit to Liberia in August 2009. President Johnson Sirleaf met President Barack Obama and Secretary Clinton in Washington on May 27, 2010.

In Monrovia, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implements its second-largest development program in Africa. USAID's post-conflict rebuilding strategy focuses on reintegration and is increasingly moving towards a longer-term development

focus. Rehabilitation efforts include national and community infrastructure projects, such as expanding access to electricity, building roads, refurbishing government buildings, training Liberians in vocational skills, promoting business development, and improving livelihoods while protecting Liberia's forests. USAID also funds basic education programs, improving education for children, focusing on girls, and training teachers. USAID programs also include primary health care clinics, HIV/AIDS prevention, and a large malaria program. Further, USAID supports rule of law programs, establishing legal aid clinics and victim abuse centers, training judges and lawyers, community peace building and reconciliation efforts, and anti-corruption projects to promote transparency and accountability in public sector entities. USAID is also providing support to strengthen the legislature and other political processes, and is strengthening civil society's role in delivering services and advocating good governance. U.S. bilateral assistance totaled almost $230 million in FY 2010. In July 2010, the Government of Liberia signed a $15 million Threshold Program with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to strengthen indicators in land reform, girl’s education, and trade.

However true this report is; yet there is another side of the story that was left out and if left unchecked; Liberia might find itself going back to the corridors of a war more dangerous than before. Are the boys and girls actually unarmed and out of combat? Where they are today and how are they being reintergrated into society? What about those who were traumatized by the actions of their children ;how prepared are they to receive their children back home and lastly is Liberia safe enough for the Peacekeepers to returned home? These are questions of grave concern and should be examine carefully if we don’t want another Somilia in Africa. That is why it is necessary to examine the other side of the coin.What will happen now that the Truth and Reconcliation Commission of Liberia have heard from some of the key players of the conflict. Did they hear from all the major players; if so how close are they to reconciliation?Is the ground fertile enough for elections and the withdrawal of the Peace Keepers?

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN Many years have come and gone since the Liberian conflicts/Civil, ethnic, religious, tribal, wars; which unleashed a lot of suffering, death and destruction on its inhabitants and neighbors and many are of the notion that all is now on the way to returning to a normal life, but there remains evidence of an under ground volcano of hatred that have not been properly dwelt with and might show it’s ugly head one day in the very near future. Some of the fighters in the bloodiest conflicts have been disarmed and a sense of semi normalcy has returned with the election of legitimate governments (except for Ivory Coast as I write). Yet there is growing evidence that many of the War Lords still have total control over their former fighters and in certain cases some are been loan out to fight in active combat in the region. Were all the rebel groups properly disarmed or did some returned to their bases in other countries and distributed their boys strategically in camps, etc around the region? There also remains the psychological healing and there are signs that this was not handled well and is gradually showing its ugly head in many forms, traumatic excombatants afraid to return home; comments from fighters about a possible next war at the least spark of fire, fighters for hire fueling the crisis in neighboring countries etc.

Most of our children who were too young and exploited by these War Lords have been dump aside and left to fend for themselves. To date many reside in odd places like the slums, gettoes, cementaries; because they are afraid to return to their towns and villiages. If there must be total peace there must be a complete solid reconciliation that will property enhance reintergration among every citizen; regardless of who you were; what you did or where you came from. It is time the truth be told and towns and villages receive back their children who are afraid to go home for fear of reprisals and more emphasis be place on trauma healing programs for both the civilians and fighters alike.

Liberia will never be save for any growth and development until there is a machcanism put in place to enhance total reconcialition that will lead to reintergration of every Liberian regardless of who or what they were.

Reconciliation is not an easy task neither is it something that can happen in a single day or simply by listening to the confessions of people who hurt others or those who were hurt; but we can all contribute to the process. We must stop

living in the pass and opening old wounds; but look for ways to keeping the healing process in place. Our politicians need to be educated on a more mature way of politicking other then removing bandages from wounds that have grown a scalp but still raw beneath. Every Liberian can never be President; neither is the seat of the presidency the only seat that can make an impact on our nation; if we work with Liberia at heart and not our selfish interest. Our sociologist should also find a means to continue to formulate norms that will bring our people to the point of seeing each other as one big family instead of split units of wild tribesmens. They should be taught that we all must assume collective blame either by omission, or actions for what when wrong in our society. That is why we all must do our little bit to help bring forgiveness and total reconciliation to our people. I am writing this book and presenting the bigger picture not because I want to take you back to the pass but to alert you about a dangerous and uncertain future that lies ahead if we do not act swiftly and now. I want us to take collective blame when we examine the facts and see if we can join hands in good faith to bring about unity and peace to our only home!

The Liberian civil crisis is similar in every way to the entire crisis going on around the continent of Africa and any lessons learned applies to them all; the

manipulations at home and abroad, the victims, and brutalities. However it is rated as one of the bloodiest, cruel and barbaric conflict of the 21 century in Africa. Atrocities of unimaginable magnitude were committed and to date the flames of that war have yet to be totally abated. Cannibalism was openly practice and boasted about; pregnant women bellies opened, the blood of young babies drank for power on a daily basis for fourteen years and in one way of the other every one in the country victimized. Many of the lessons learned here can be applied to every other crisis. I know many have written on the problem but not many have consider the roots causes and solutions lies in fully helping the entire society to see the bigger picture , accept collective blame ,forgive each other and join hands as one big family to pick up our broken pieces. This is not possible unless the facts are revealed and the lines between what seem like impossibilities are broken. No matter how ugly the past may look, if we accept the facts that they cannot be undone, and a better future is possible if we forge ahead in unity and forgiveness; Africa wounds will be healed.

Many have forgotten their own parts played in the civil crisis (if such a decent name belongs to one of the most uncivilized wars of our time) and can easily point accusing fingers at others; laying the blame for various crimes committed during that period. But are we not all to blame? Students and other Liberians in the Diaspora held rallies after rallies against governments and the power that were at the time; who Superpowers Leaders of the day were unhappy with and watch or directly aided them to incite or disrupt those administrations with violence; coups or civil wars. The world watched and tolerated guerrilla training camps to spring up in the deserts of the world to train mercenaries for the purpose of destabilization of unpopular governments. Africa was slowly changing to so called multi-parties democracies from one party rules. This new system give birth to more chaos and blood shed because it was not properly taught and misinterpreted to mean hundred parties in a location of two hundred people. The rule of the Jungle had always been a part of Africa Leadership and the strongest survive the day; so with one hundred parties it was evident that the strongest would survive the day but only through the lost of much lives and blood shed. Because the Western powers wanted to impose

the system; they help give birth to the Charles Taylor, Foday Sankoh, etc. of our

time which backfire.

Rebels leaders like Charles Taylor of Liberia who serve the Liberian association in the Diaspora; as a popular, flamboyant speaker who could sweet talk their way into the very dark side of the White House and corridors of drugs and arms dealers; if need be were not expected to turn table on his friends who lobby to raise funds for what they thought was a worthy cause. He rose to prominence in the eyes of the Liberian Association in America after he led a demonstration in 1979 against President William Tolbert and team who was on a state visit to the United States and mission to the United Nations in New York City.President Tolbert openly countered his accusation in the public; but when Taylor became violent and wanted to incite those around him to take over the Liberian Mission; he was arrested by the New York Police. Taylor was later released and invited back home by President Tolbert. Liberians were also demonstrating at home by that time led by Gabriel Baccus Matthews. Both men grew in the eyes of the Liberian people at home and abroad.

In 1980 when Master Sargent Samuel Doe overthrew the Liberian government in what has been described as a C.I.A. backed coup in which President Tolbert was murdered his entire cabinet shot on the pole in a bloody and popular coup;

Taylor was invited to work along with the government as head of the agency in charce of purchasing materials for the government. He fell from grace in May 1983 when he embezzled 1,000,000 which he transferred to an American bank.

He fled Liberia but was arrested a year later on May 24 1984 by two duputy U.S. Marshalls in sommerville, Massachusetts on a warrant of extradiction to Liberia to face charges for the amount of 922.000 of government funds intended for machinery parts. Taylor and his lawyer former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark fought the charges by citing assassination by Liberian agents and was place in jail at the house of corrections in Plymouth Massachusetts where he decided to fight the case rather than return to Liberia.

How Taylor escaped or was released from jail is yet to be verified. The most popular version is that he was released from jail in by the C.I.A to overthrow President Samuel Doe who had fallen from grace with many of the Powers of the day. This version was confirmed by Prince Johnson who was his close associate during the early days of the revolution. He claimed before the Truth and Reconciliation commission on August 27, 2008 that Taylor was released in 1985 to engineer the overthrow of President Samuel Doe. It has also been confirmed by Taylor himself who stated during his trail in The Hague. He stated under oath that his escape from the the penitentiary in Boston was facilitated by the U.S.government. The other version states the Taylor broke jail, a maximum security prison along with four others by sawing through the window of an unused laundry room. The story says he and his friends dropped 12 feet to the ground by means of a knotted sheet and climbed a fence in order to escape. Taylor and two of the escapees were then met at the nearby Jordan Hospital by Taylor wife Enif, and Taylor sister in law Lucia Holmes Toweh. A getaway car drove them to Staten Island where Taylor dissappered. All four of Taylor fellow escapees including Enif and Toweh were later apprehended but Taylor was gone in the winds. It is said that after his escape Taylor ended up in Liyba and with connections from Bukina faso and Ivory Coast; he established the N.P.F.L

No student, worker, refugee, etc from Liberia in the United States and many parts of Europe and the world were unaware of or did not participate in the creation of the revolution that brought Charles Taylor. They openly backed him

in interviews on the radios and television satellite stations; CNN, ABC, Nightline Africa, etc. Every politician of the day who worth their salt; knew about and backed and or supported Charles Taylor and Prince Johnson rebel training to upturn the unpopular Government of President Samuel Doe. None of them are innocent, including all the leaders who served as intern presidents or our First Lady President of today. One way or the other they backed and supported him until he turn tables on them and decided to go against their original plans of overthrowing the government of the day and giving them power. Liberia is a mineral rich country of logs, gold, diamonds ore, cocoa, coffees and it did not have to take much persuasion to rally guns, drugs and even greedy or ambitious Leaders of the world on their side. There are finger pointing at Russia, Ivory Coast, Bukina Faso, Lybia etc, but I am sure the entire story about where and how the arms, drugs and other necessities that created those Rebel groups came from is yet to be told. IntelNews.org identifies D’Onofrio Ruggiero a 40 year old C.I.A. agent as a close ally of Charles Taylor. His smuggling network and money lundering activies provided Taylor with outlets for selling stolen diamonds and buying illegal arms.How sure are we that Men who claimed to be working for God but using their ministries to support rebel activities in order to acquired personal gain like TeleEvangelist Pat Robertson from United States of America did not use his planes to supply arms to Charles Taylor. There are many such wolves coming to different parts of Africa like sheep who pity our situation but in fact are exploiting or helping to ruin us . It is also truth that Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast backed rebel groups too.

All these groups did not harm any of the members of the elite class of politicians or War Lords who families were lingering in comfort in other countries but the grass roots who had no where to run.

All the first world countries knew about those training camps because either their intelligence services protecting their own interest reported them or they had received satellite evidence. Worst of all some thought it would be an excellent way to spread multiparty democracies. There is strong evidence that both the United States and British government took active part in fueling the war because both Presidents Doe and Taylor were unpopular in their circle. At home after many coups had fail and reprisal killings; the ground was ripe for spreading seeds of discord. Many Liberians who were use to switching their allegiance to popular and strong leaders (like the change of the wind direction)

were in the ripe position to back a revolution. Majority of the Liberians were just comfortable at home and had not even travel outside the country or experience any major crisis. Little did anyone know what a war at home really was and the sufferings it would bring to them?

INTRODUCTION

Forgiveness has never been easy; even though there are people that try to make it appear as a cup of water that can be pour on the ground and dry up without a trace. Yet; I must say that forgiveness is possible. That is why in my very weak ways I am contributing this book to all those in the world who are fighting with issues of forgiveness and reconciliation. After reading this story it is my prayers that you will learn to forgive those who hurt you in the pass and move forward. Most especially I pray that the people of Liberia will see the light and move forward to a brighter day. I want them to see the bigger picture and stop apportioning blame on each other or certain group of people. Many lives were lost, many innocent were violated but the fact remains that wholeness can only return to us by putting the past behind us; teaching our people the truth about what when wrong and trying to unite in correcting our errors of the past. Let’s try to forget about who said what or who did what and put our hands around each other in support to raise our nations from the ashes of war.

There is so much to be achieved by loving each other and lose by hating each other.

The man ears had been cut off as he was fleeing from the fighting between U.L.I.M.O and N.P.F.L forces and trying to cross the Liberian Sierra Leone Border in 1990. His wife had been butcher like an animal and her heart and liver taken out and roast in his presence and all his children had died due in the attack. As he explained his story to me; he look straight in my eyes and asked: “Pastor why are you writing my story.” I replied: “to tell the world one day”. He held my hands tight and said: “They must know the truth; the raw truth that

war is not good oooo� He died with those words on his lips. I documented thousands of stories at the APPROVED SCHOOL Center in Sierra Leone where the first set of Liberian refugees who enter Freetown by ship were taken before being moved to Waterloo. I documented more at Gray stone in Monrovia where we fled the fighting twice and other African Refugees camps. The purpose is not to finger point any particular person or group of people but to pave the way for openining our minds to see our collective sin and how we can collectively healed ourselves through love and forgiveness.

The atrocities described in this narrative is not limited to anyone tribe or

warring faction. N.P.F.L led by Charles G. Taylor

led by Prince Johnson

, I.N.P.F.L,

I.N.P.F.L.-C.R.C, led by Tom

Woewiyu L.U.R.D, led by Sekou Kenneh and George Boley which was form with the assistance of the Ecomog General in Seirra Leone and

renants of the former U.L.I.M.O forces

L.P.C led by

George Boley

, U.L.I.M.O J. led by Roosevelt Johnson

,

U.L.I.M.O.K led by Alihaji G.V.Kromah

, It must be remember that U.L.I.M.O was first founded under the Leadership of Reliegh Seekie)M.O.D.E.L which was form by George

Dweh as a break away faction of L.U.R.D. with the support and backing of Ivorian President , Lofa County Defense Force which was form

by Francious Massaquoi

or the A.F.L. led by President Samuel K. Doe

or their Leaders .They all committed the same crimes against humanity and our nation. Even some those who came to help restored peace are accused of selling and distributing arms for diamonds and other valuable things and ripping the land by looting, raping and taking away any materials they could laid their hand on by ship loads; even though among them were many honorable men and women who sacrifice and died for our foolishness. But who are we to blame but ourselves? My people let’s lick our wounds and accept collective blame and join hands or we will find ourselves returning to the very state we were in a few years back; of ruthless killing, cannibalism, and crimes against humanity cause by a few selfish and misled men and women seeking power, wealth or vain glory at the expanse of our sweat, blood and tears. All these rebel leaders and politicians, or governments’ forces abused our children and people and dump them as useless garbage to fend for themselves while they sought asylum in comfortable homes aboard or sat in the corridors of power in Liberia. Some of us are pointing fingers at people who said they would burn down and rebuild the mansion; but we pointed fingers at many on the lines as they escape from the fighting and they were killed, whispered death or dismemberment for many who we said resemble the enemy tribe. We took part in monkey come down rallies across the world and at home and one way or the other; on one side or the other supported the war in our country. Every family had a member that by active action or omission contributed to the deaths in the country; so it is only wise to bury the past, forgive each other; reconcile and moved ahead.

Using the names of existing towns and tribes in any one county do not necessary mean the action really did take place among those particular people or in those towns (except in the historical narrative by me in the story). I use real names and places because the real action happen in our country and other places in Africa and in some cases continues to date. This narrative is about what took place in nearly every town, village, or city in the crisis in the West

African region; most especially my native Liberia and happen among every warring factions (except the reconciliation part of the story which is yet to take place and heal our lands and the priority of this work); therefore it could be other area, tribe or persons. I am using live lessons from the Liberian crisis which was like a mother to the flame that blazed around; therefore I will leave no stone unturned as I point to the cause in order to find the solution. What is important here is that the action did take place and the solutions are possible if we all join hands to pick up our broken pieces.

As I write many of the victims of these crisis are roaming from crisis to crisis been sold for money by their former commanders or have not disarmed but lay low and being used by their former sponsers. Many were too young and did not enter school or did not go far in school. Other are afraid to every return home for fear of what took place in their lives or what they did. On the other side of the divide are those who were brutalize or traumatize by the events of the war. The United Nations program for refugee (or the NGOs that took contacts to rehabilitate them, who used half of the funds allocated to rehabilitate themselves and families in order to upgrade their personal status and bank account) does not have a proper trauma healing unit and majority of these victims are as traumatize as the day they left the war (so called trained or untrained). When the Liberian war was coming to an end and many fled to Ghana and other refugees camps for refuge; the camps were used as a recruiting base for mercenaries to fight in Ivory Coast and other parts of Africa.

Even to date as I write this book; these boys and girls are being use as fuel for the presidential crisis again in neighboring Ivory Coast and they are all anticipating the pull out of the United Nations Pace Keeping Force to return to war in Liberia.Remember that Ivory Coast has been accused of giving a hand to both N.P.F.L. and later M.O.D.E.L. and they question that remains unanswered to day is whether they actually disarmed as a force or only for the record sake.

If the world do not take heed and we as citizens of Liberia do not work extra hard to avert conflict again and reconcile; Liberia will be another Somalia in Africa; only this time worse!

Their innocence was violated and they committed atrocities at home that have made them uncomfortable to return and if they do return; have to live a life of violence. This is evident by the fact that many are so afraid that they rather

sleep in the grave Yard/ Cemetery than return home. The society hates them and this is evident in the fact that even those who were disarmed and returned home live in little units together with former commanders etc. The danger not yet being anticipated is that in less then twenty four hours these boys can regroup and be armed by their commanders. Many of the War Lords and commanders still have a vast grip over their fighting forces and are keeping them in combat fitness because they might have a hidden agenda after the elections or when the United Nation forces leave.

The Truth and Reconciliation commission has listened to the stories and documented them; but to what use is such a committee if some action is not taken. Only two types of actions can be taken after such proceedings. The first is to charge those who committed crimes against our nation and peoples and convict them. There is a big problem with implementing the first which will include charging and maybe jailing all who partook which include the presidents of Libya, Bukina Faso, Ivory Coast and many more; including some E.C.O.M.O.G , the United State and Britian who assisted the efforts in bringing about peace by creating rebel groups which also took the lives of our people.

The second is to forgive them. If the first is implemented there would be no enough jails in West Africa to hold those charged; therefore we are left with the second option which is forgiveness. However it must be taught and implemented from the very grass roots or it will be fruitless. It is only at the grass roots when fully implement can total peace and reconciliation return to our land.

The United Nations refugees’ agency policies for handling refugees have to seriously be reexamining for they need a trauma healing program in place that will fully help these victims back to some kind of normalcy. From my observation and experiences; many of those fighters that the U.N. claimed they resettled to the United States and other countries with out trauma healing comes back to fight and die or gain money. There are thousands of these around West Africa and if we as a people do not see reason to forgive, pick up our broken pieces and move on with our lives; the circle will continued. The silence of the guns does not necessarily means the war is over. Liberia will never be saved until we collectively put the weapons (both mental and physical) down and join hand as one big family to pick up our broken pieces for

total reconciliation. If that must be done it means all hands on board and starting at the right point this time. Liberia is this possible? Africa can we move forward to a new day of unity and close our eyes and ears to the violence of yesterday?

CHAPTER 1 The town of Wiensue is situated on the main high way from Gbarnga; the capital city of Bong County, along the major route to Lofa county, Guinea and Sierra Leone. It also link major villages in Bong County to the highway. The town was originally built up a hill; but because of population growth it now extends to the valley. Wiensue boast of a government build school and a couple of private Christian schools. Majority of its inhabitants are illiterate and believe mainly in the culture and traditional practices as taught by the Poro and Sande societies. Because of its unique position it is a very stragetic town. It was on a major route to one of Liberia Military base; the nearest town to Gbarnga from the Lofa Serria Leone –Guinea highway, a major route to enter Guinea from five or more directions and the fact that during the building of the Gbarnga –Lofa-Guinea-Seirra Leone highway during the Tubman reign, a sub station of the then Public Utility Authority was build there; the town had settlers from other counties and missionaries from other countries. Dominant in the town are the Kpelle tribe, next Mandingoes, Gios and a sprinkling of other tribes. During the period before the war; life in Liberia was very sweet and busy in its own ways. Palm wine tappers came mornings and evenings with fresh wine, hunters with fresh meat for sale and fishermen and women with their harvest of fish. Love and tolerance reign among most tribes and even those tribes that hated each other like the Kran and Gios intermarried.

The Gbelemasue family was from the Kpelle tribe. They were members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Gbelemasue had two children. He served as principal of the government built school in the town. He was an advisor to the Chief and a man of outstanding reputation in the Poro Society. The Gbelemasue family was friendly and generous to others. Their home usually had more visitors than any other in the town; therefore there were all sorts of

rumors about them. Some people said they were rich; while others said the husband stole money from the school fees and relief food, even though they had no proof of these allegations. Mrs. Gbelemasue spent her time sewing and tie dying clothes for sale. They had two children Yamah and Mulbah. Yamah was 12yrs old in the third grade and very smart and Mulbah was seven and in grade one.

Liberia is predominantly a Christian country but the type of Christianity practiced was the surface, Sunday worshipping type. Most of the people did go to church on Sunday but was greatly involved in traditional African gods worship, African spiritualism etc. The early missionaries who were mostly cold war agents/spies were more interested in documenting all they could about the people and system; spying on other countries working there and teaching bible stories. Every Liberian knew the stories of the bible by heart but not its applications to life; as was evident in the type of brutality witness later in the civil war and the Bishops greed for political power (one ex Lutheran Bishop even became the vice president to a rebel leader while a Methodist Bishop spear headed the churches in the interfaith decisions for the monkey come down march in Monrovia against the President; contradicting the Bible respect for authority and peace at all cost) and many pastors took part in active combat of killings, lootings, raping, etc. Double handed games were going on as the churches met both the Government of the day and pledge their loyalties and send delegations to meet the rebel leaders by night and pledge their loyalties.

Saye Yormie Wonyanyeen and his family came from Nimba County and settled in Wiensue during the early eighties; to head the A.G.M. school in the town. He was from the Gio tribe while his wife Nowah was from the Kpelle tribe. They had three Children; two girls (Tomah and Makadou) and one boy (Yormie Kerkula Wonyanyeen. Their family was among the elite of the town and Yormie was the only man who owned a private motor cycle within the entire district.

Nowah Kerkula Wonyanyeen cooked for the school and sold local produce in the market. The girls age fifteen and twelve were very popular in the town for playing kickball and singing. This was home for them by all means because life was so peaceful here growing up use enjoyable. Their friends were always at their heels assisting them in their daily duties so that they could go together to

choir practices or kick ball. Both girls love little children and led the AGM Sunday school class along with the teacher.

The people of Nimba County and the Kran had a long history of tribal conflicts over land. Men from both counties with a sprinkling of other tribes with the aid and backing of (big powers of the day commonly referred to as (Unknown Soldier; which many Liberians believe to be the United States of America CIA; this fact has also been verified by the late President Tolbert’s wife Victoria in her autobiography that she witness a white hand stabbed her husband and collaborated by Cllr. Chea Cheapoo who alledged during his testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the it was the C.I.A. which provided a map of the Executive Mansion for the rebels) some dark power toppled the government of President William Tolbert in a bloody coup and place his cabinet on firing squad. Because of their love for power and the selfish behavior of Liberians they killed the commander who led them and took power since they were in the right place at the time. Upon assuming power under the Leadership of Master Sargent Samuel K.Doe the Krans and Gios quietly got rid of all the other tribes in the group and later began to fight each other. This led to raids and coups and countercoups by all the parties involved; even Mr Unknown Soldier took part in a coup attempt popularly known as 50 calibers. Many lost their lives and other fled to other counties. The Krans became very powerful and some of their commanders carried out raids that massacre hundreds of the Gios in the 80s; allegedly mostly women and children. The Gios then join forces with the Americo Liberians in the United States and other places they fled along with the cream of the politicians of the day and try to troppled the

government through a series of coups.

Yormie on the other hand was always in the yard of the Gbelemasue playing husband and wife with his children. He and Yamah were always seen together, if not playing, walking and talking like young adults in love; then they were in the market helping Ma Nowah to sell or pack in the evenings. He was almost never home and the town folks called the two not by names when asking for the other; but always: “where is your wife or husband?” The two families were very friendly and both parents exchanged visits, play cards, drank orange juice or ate G.B. on hot hungry days. The friendship extended to their schools and they played games, exchanged visitations and teacher training programs.

Life was normal and healthy for both families until the beginning of the Liberian Civil crisis which began to surface physically little by little since the death of former President Tubman and finally erupted to its peak beginning December 24, 1989. This crisis violated the innocence of the innocent and made friends’ enemies. It abused the rights of thousands of children and drugged they partook in acts that they would not have carried out in their sober minds.

Today direct blame is placed upon them and many are ostracize from their communities, villages and towns and dare not return for fear of reprisals. But were these little ones really to blame? War is harsh and consumes friendship and brotherhood build for centuries. It tears apart and leaves a lasting trail of pain and horror. Most times the survivors do not take time to properly study the causes but lay blame sometimes on the wrong victim. In such cases hate runs deep and wounds are almost never healed.

Indeed life in Wiensue was very normal and healthy for both families until December 24, 1989. Late that evening as both men sat and chatted about their work; Old Man Sekou Kamara who owned the largest shop in town came running to them shouting: “Finally the people continue to play with fire until the forest is on fire “ “What are you saying Old Man Kamara ?” they both asked at the same time. “War has entered Liberia through the county of Nimba; the towns of Gbutou and Karnplay. The Rebel Leader is called Charles Gankay Taylor.” “What” both shouted again? “Stop making bad jokes Old Man Kamara; war is not funny business” said Yormie. “I swear to Allah” said Old Man Kamara.

Yormie was silent and the men begin to discuss the new events. He had lost both of his parents in previous claims of war or enemies attempting to enter Liberia through the borders of Nimba County. “I hope this is not an excuse to

kill Nimba citizens again” he thought. If this was true; what would he do? One thing was certain, he would never return to Nimba County. Bong County was now his home. They discussed the matter for some time and left it to report the new development to their families.

Chapter 2 The politics of war changes by events on the battle field. Those caught between the cross fire of this type of politicking are usually the innocent who knows nothing about warfare; but will do anything to survive. Many do and say things they regret or even forget they said later when things calm down. Others think it is an advantage to Lord over others or get rich quick; and does not know that there is great trauma awaiting them in the future. People are confused and like one of my friends usually say it ‘their senses reduces and increases so fast that everyone is a little abnormal during those periods.’ That is why when judging them later you must take into consideration the events and acts that led to their actions and inactions.

As time sped by things got worse. The war advanced rapidly and in a month was on the outskirts of Bong County. Because the war had come through Nimba County the Manos and Gios of that County were in grave danger in other parts of the country. In the capital city of Monrovia; many were been killed, beheaded or scalped alive in burning water. Forces loyal to the government of the day which comprise mostly the Kran tribe and Mandingoes were raiding missions and Churches in search of the Manos and Gios. The world trembled with shock at the horrible killings of innocent women and children in the Lutheran Church by the government forces. Many were killed but yet many fled and increased the forces of the rebel leaders. Most of those children who fled had witnessed or heard how their families were killed and that produced a breed of the worse and cruel type of fighting force of the twenty first century.

The Yormie family was very afraid and as things got worse didn’t know what to do. Many of the town folks who used to associate with them and pay regular visits stop coming over; even his best friend Gbelemasue. They even try to stop their children from playing with his. The Mandingoes who had big business were packing and leaving for Guinea or Monrovia to join forces with President

Samuel Doe’s army. One Day Old Man Kamara came over to his place, “Yormie” he said; “you must leave this town. Many of the youth are joining the rebels or Doe’s army and the air reeks with suspicions, betrayals, and deception. Every day we are hearing strange stories. It is going to be something like a competition for them. I am afraid for some of us who are not Kpelle”. “But where will I go” replied Yormie. “My wife is nine months pregnant and I can’t go home because the war is there. I can’t even try to go to our mission headquarters in Monrovia; I don’t need to tell you why. Kamara to be frank with you I am very confuse. I can’t even go to Gbarnga because the Doe soldiers are there and many people know I am from Nimba County.”

Old Man Kamara stood by his friend and was moved with sorrow and compassion. They were both Liberians; from different religions (because of the Moslem religion many people claimed that they were not citizens of Liberia.

They were treated as foreigners even if they were born in Liberia. Because of this many Mandingoes who had always wanted to belong but were treated as strangers join the war either revenge of prove their identity. President Samuel Doe had recognized them publicly; therefore they felt they owed him their loyalty. The other tribes had rejected them and therefore they saw them as enemies.), but had lived together all these years as brothers and friends and had grown to love and respect one another. “Let’s go to Guinea when I am ready to leave next week. You can stay with my family there until this thing blows over” Said Old Man Kamara. A sort of light of hope came into Yormie eyes; “Indeed Old Man Kamara “he answer; “Let me try to discuss the matter with my wife; I will try to get back to you as soon as possible with our response.

“Thanks Old Man Kamara I think it is a good idea.”

“When the forest is on fire; there is no difference between the lion and the rabbit”; thought Yormie as he went home to discussed the matter with his wife.

That evening when he reached home he explained about the offer to his wife.

She laugh at his fears; “look Yormie there is no other area in this entire county as save as Weinsue. Remember this is my home. The people here know you are a teacher and not a warrior. No; I cannot accept to leave this town in my condition. If you want to desert me now, do so.” “Okay said Yormie; I only want our safety. I will speak no more about this matter”. The next day he told Old Man Kamara what his wife had said. The old man replied: “My Friend I think

you are taking a major risk with your life and that of your family. This is war, not coup or raid; however I hear you”.The next week Old Man Sekou Kamara left for Guinea.

When the machinery of war moves in one direction; there are different behaviors depending on whether the force holding the particular area is winning or losing. The actions of the people are dictated by what is happening at the time and most times what they do or don’t do as I said earlier depends on how they are treated by the conquering forces. Again their animal instincts of survivor comes to play and to survive most just do almost anything that first comes to mind; which includes sometimes acts indescribable. Sometimes they do things they come to regret later. There was a girl who I happened to speak with just after the war at a trauma healing counseling session; who admitted killing her victims and licking their blood. Asked at the time why would she do such? She said on the night of one of the massacres she was with her parents when they beheaded them; raped her on the floor where their bloody bodies laid. As they raped her all she felt was the taste of blood in her mouth. She managed to escape and join the rebel forces and became a ruthless killer. In certain instances under drugs; she even killed her own relatives with little or no excuse. She left the country because she couldn’t stand the shame of facing her town folks after the war.

Mainwhile the government forces began to patrol Weinsue and the surrounding towns looking for enemies and people on reconnaissance. The Gbelemasue were very concern over the rapid turn of events since that December twenty nine when they first heard the news. The Chief and other influential members of the town warned him to stay away from his friend Yormie. They claimed that they didn’t want problems from the government soldiers who were patrolling the area. “As you can see Mr. Gbelemasue these soldiers are here to defend us and weeding out only the enemies. No one really knows who is who these days or which side anyone is really on” Said the Chief.

“When I last spoke to the Commander he said that information was being taken to the enemy forces and that is the cause of their rapid advancement.

However as soon as these informers are located and destroyed the war will go back to where it came from. So all I can do is to advise you if you love your

family to stay away from anyone who swallows G.B.(the chief diet of Nimba county made from pounded cassava).”

Chapter 3 One hot day as they sat in front of their house on the front poach; they saw a black army jeep with tainted window glass come to a halt on the main road in front of their home. About ten soldiers disembarked from the jeep and began to set up a check point. “Well, well” said Mr Gbelemasue; the war has finally reached Weinsue. I personally think we should leave this town for the village.

“Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, laughed his wife”; to think that I am married to a coward/woman like myself all these years is very funny. What do you think you are saying? Do you want people to laugh at us? Let me not hear such nonsense in your mouth again before I give the soldiers one room in the house for their resting place.” Look at this stupid man here. This was is for Gio and Kran people and not for us. Since we are not members of those two tribes we have nothing to fear.

As if they heard her, two soldiers walked up to their houseand said; “Hello I am Master Sergant Tarlue Commander of the government forces. I heard you are the principal of the government school here. I came to inform you that your family is responsible for feeding the forces as long as they stay here in Weinsue; both uniform and intelligent. You can catch any four legged animal in the town. We don’t eat dry rice. Before Mr Gbelemasue could get over his surprise and respond to the Master Sergant; the second soldier Sergant Karn fire five rounds of bullets in the air, through the ceiling of their house; and address Mrs Gbelemasue: “Get your ass moving woman; we need food by six or else….” Mrs Gbelemasue left on the double. A big billy goat belonging to Mr. Gbelemasue ran behind a nanny trying to encourage her for sex. Three more rounds and both goats were lying dead on the ground. He took out a large heart and liver from his bag and handed it to the man and said; “You can start with these; even through it won’t be bad if you can add a few chickens”. “And listen my man” said the Commander; “we heard that your best friend in this town is an enemy. We are still investigating your family, so we expect you to behave and cooperate with us; or else you will be treated like an enemy. Do

you know what kind of meat is in your hands there? It is war town elephant meat.

Government Soldiers who were trained to protect lives and property and defend the rights of the innocent, women and children were in fact the very one polluting their oath of office and behaving like enemies. Why was this happening? The President had been betrayed by most of his closest friends and allies from other tribes who signified by their actions and inactions that they preferred the Rebel Leader to him and even the Churches were calling for his resignation on the streets in rallies shouting: “Monkey come down”.(Many of those Church Leaders at that time calling for the resignation of the government were either from Nimba county or had secretly given their allegiance/approval of the rebel force to topple the government. He could not trust anyone and filled the ranks of the army which desertion begin to take place long before the crisis; with his tribesmen (most of them elephant hunters from the Kran tribe and members of the Mandingo tribe. He removed and put on trial his strong Defense Minister and replaced with a retired army doctor. They knew nothing about the ethics of warfare and therefore the rule of the jungle applied to anyone and their entire family that was considered as an enemy.

Yormie jr. and his friend were playing behind the house when they heard the first shots. They ran to see what was happening and got there in time to see the killings of the animals and heard the last conversion between the soldiers and Mr. Gbelemasue. After the soldiers left; he race home to his parents and inform his father of the incident and threat. Mr. Wonyanyeen was very afraid upon hearing the news and told his wife to go and tell the Chief. “Maybe he can help us”. His wife ran to the Chief area to relate what her son had seen and heard. “This is war” said the Chief acting puzzled; “I don’t know why the soldiers did not come to me as authority of the town. I am going to Gbarnga tomorrow to complain them to the Superintendent. Be assured that you and your family have my fullest protection. Do not be afraid of anything.” Mrs. Wonyanyeen left for her house confident that the Chief had spoken the truth and her family was saved. Her husband was not so certain and wanted to have the wife and children in a safer position. “Look Darling “He said; even though the Chief has assured us; I want for you and the children to leave for some relative home and stay there until this danger have pass. I don’t trust these

people�. “I am doing no such thing said the wife; if worse comes to worse, we will take it as one family�.

Some of the worse intentional atrocities committed on the battle front towards innocent civilians are carry out by frighten retreating forces. Whether this is done as an act of fear, cowardice or bravery to assured themselves is yet to be determined. Most of those innocent civilians who were caught in cross or intentional fire during the period of retreat were all victims of circumstances; who earlier believe that they were saved and would be protected by the truth spoken in their interest by their friends. Those who died in the big massacres in Liberia like the Lutheran Church and Harbel had taken refugee where they thought would have been saved for them. Who would have thought that a Liberian (where Christianity is the State majority religion) would have been brave enough to enter the very grounds where the God they served is worshipped and kill in the most brutal forms hundreds of mostly women and children. The victims thought they were savely under the cross and everyone

Little did they realize the war has its own language and friends of yesterday could be enemies of tomorrow? The fact that a stranger had a private motor cycle or big business and lives as one of the town most illustrious families might have had harbor many secret jealousy. Not every tooth that you see during periods of prosperity is laughing with you. Some are insulting you and waiting for a day to pounce on you like a leaping tiger. War gives these secret enemies an audience to carry out their hatred. All it takes is a whispered in the right ears. Many people in Liberia (and other countries which fought civil wars are guilty of this form of mass murder); some are exposed but many are never known.) That is why we must think twice and reconcile or forgive and press forward because our relatives, friends, or statements during those times might have cause the death of others and we are laying the blame on public figures and fighters alone.

That very eveing the radio announced that Gbarnga; the Capital of Bong County had fallen and the rebel forces were advancing to Weinsue and Monrovia.

Everyone was upset and scared and did not know what to do or expect. Around eight o’clock that night two dark four wheels drives tainted glass army jeeps filled of armed soldiers drove to the home of the Wonyanyeens. They beat on the door and assured the terrified family that they were only inspecting the various houses in the town for arms. Among those assuring them were the voices of the Chief and Mr. Gbelemasue who they brought along with them.

“Here are your friends, the soldiers said; you can ask them to confirm what we are telling you. If you do not open the door it means you have something to hide and we will open it with a rocket.” Mr. Wonyanyeen said to his wife; “Take the children and get out through the back door while I open the front.” “Shut up and stop acting like a woman”; said the woman as she moved to the front door and opened it.” Can’t you see your friends with these people; what do we have to hide?

What this poor woman failed to understand is that during the period of war; ethics, truth and morality are missing. It is every man for himself or herself and survivor for the fittest. Her friends might have been sorry for her, the chief could have been sorry for her but both men dare not open their mouths to defend her because she was from the enemy tribe at the time. Therefore they only did what millions of others would have done under the circumstances.

They wanted to protect their own lives and families and must have suspected or guess the soldiers intention but dare not do or say anything to the contarary.

Yet it is clear that from every indication they would raher have a scape goat and be in the soldiers good book. This took place all around the country and many who were betrayed by their friends died a surprised death.

The soldiers pushed her inside forcefully as they entered saying to her husband; “My man we know that you are a Gio man and a leopard cannot change its spots. You are a rebel and therefore we are going to treat you like an enemy” they said. “Please leave my family out of it , he pleaded; let them go”.

Just as he ended his statement sergeant Karn stabbed his nine months pregnant wife in the belly with a G.I. knife and her hot blood flash on his face as she felled without a sound. He tore her belly open and took out the baby from her stomach and stabbed it too saying; even the little rebel has to die. They

shot Makadou and her brother little Yormie in the leg but miss his bone. He fell on the bodies of his mother and sister and pretended to be dead.They shot the father in both legs and raped his daughter Tomah (as he watched) and beheaded her before finally killing him. The little boy also took notice of all that took place in shock but pretended to be dead. Sergant Karn wanted to spray the bodies with bullets to make sure they all were dead but the master sergant told him to save his bullets because everyone was dead after kicking the bodies and sticking his the blade attached to his gun on the bodies of the father and mother. “Save the bullets for real enemies”.

All the while Mr Gbelemasue and the Chief sat outside in the jeep with two soldiers guarding them. When the shooting began the soldiers asked them to lie down before stray bullets hit them. “I think the people are attacking and we must be prepared for anything.” Trembling with fear they laid down on the car seat. Sargent Karn and the others came outside twenty minutes later with some boxes with money? Clothes and other valuables and informed the Chief and Mr. Gbelemasue that they met strong resistance in the house. They said that Mr. Wonyanyeen was armed with heavy weapons and was keeping rebels in the house to attack them the next morning. “Mr. Wonyanyeen and his collages opened fire on us as we entered the house but we overpowered them and killed everyone. Everyone is dead”. They took gasoline from their cars and sprinkler the house and lit it by tossing two grenades into the house. Confident they had done a good job; they drove away and dropped the two men to their various houses. Still trembling with fright Mr. Gbelemasue explained the horrible tale as he knew it. “All these years I have been friendly with an enemy and I didn’t know it. I could have endangered the lives of my entire family. If you could hear the gun sound coming from in the house; you would know what I am talking about. We had to lie down on the floor of the car or our dead bodies would be here by now. Sometimes when we see a leopard we think it is a cat because its paws are in. My God what a fool I have been all these years.”

“I don’t believe a word of what you are saying, said Mrs Gbelemasue crying over the news of her friends’ death. The Children only sat wide eye from the shock of what they had just heard. “The soldiers are liars and very evil”; look how they treated us when they came; she said. Shut up woman; are you a fool, can’t you hear what I just told you? If you want to die just go outside and cry

for they enemy and let the soldiers see you, he shouted at her. But, but….; as she was talking they heard something scratching on the window. At first they thought it was a cat; but the sound persisted so the woman peeped outside.

What she saw outside made her hair to rise on her head. She didn’t know how to react. “What is this she was seeing; was it a spirit? “ She was so astonished and afraid that she fainted. Her husband and children rushed to her and her son ran for water; but the little girl peep outside to see what had cause her mother to fall and saw Yormie jr. asking to be let in. She did not say a word but walked to the door and opened it. “What are you doing “shouted her father; still trying to revive his wife. As He looked up he saw Yormie jr. walked into the house. “I came to ask for your assistance “said the bloody boy after he had related what had happened. “My mother only opened the door because she felt you and the Chief were there with the soldiers. I know no other person to go to because right now as things stand we have no relative or friend here. I am wounded, weak and losing blood.”

Chapter 4 One of the hatred that runs deep in our society today (and other countries which pass through civil war) is the fact that they were let down by their friends in the hours of need. Those who survive it became bitter and filled with hatred. However if places were exchange they would have reacted in the same manner or even worse. Their primary concern would have been the safety of their families. That is why before hating that person who refused to give you food, shelter etc during your hour of need; you must put yourself in their place and review the circumstances surrounding their refusal. I am certain if you do so you will begin to see things in a different light. Danger was in the air and everyone was a little abnormal. No Liberian had experience war before and fright of the unknown and fast changing circumstance made many for return to their animal nature. This was not a war with rules and everyone or anyone was a target.

Mr Gbelemasue stood up and looked at the little boy and asked; “How did you get out of the house, I was there when the house was burned down and with grenades too?” “I was shot in the leg and drop on the bodies and pretended to be dead. After the soldiers left I quickly left the house through the back door and hid myself in the area until the house burned down and you people drove

away.” “Well son” said Mr. Gbelemasue; I have the security of my own family to look after. I can’t help you. Anyone seeing you around here and report it to the soldiers will put my family in grave danger. I don’t want them to end up like yours. No is my answer to your request. You must leave my house at once and never come back here again. Where you go I don’t care. Leave now before I call the soldiers myself.” The little boy was very surprised. He couldn’t believe his ear and his young mind was confused. He turned and ran into the swamp in the valley to hide himself. As he beat the mosquitoes from his body and loose blood from the wound in his leg; he grew weak but like a song in his ears he kept hearing the words: “leave now before I call the soldiers myself”. Those words strung him more than the wound and mosquitoes combine.

Yamah was equally confused. She couldn’t believe the words here father had spoken just now and his action towards her friend. Later as she tearfully explained the story to her mother she asked her if her father had a hand in the killing of the Wonyanyeen family. Her father overheard her question and he give her a beating like never before in her entire life. The morning broke with a change in the scenario. Weinsue had been surrounded by the rebels!

Rebel activities are barbaric and devour both the enemies and fighters alike and those they claimed to be coming to save. Those bringing the so-call revolutions do not care about what happens or who is used to accomplished their goals. Most of those joining rebel groups enter with high and wild expectations; not knowing that at the end is only total disgrace and rejection (in many cases by those you love best). The youth partake in horrible acts thinking that they are brave and will be rewarded but their reward usually is to be thrown aside, to suffer the trauma, pain and rejection alone. The psychological wounds they receive are deep and drive the weak insane and give the strong sleepless night or reflect in violent behaviors etc. The warlords do not care about their sanity and play on their innocence and fright to use them as pawns in their game. Young child soldiers were less expensive to use and more dangerous. They were excellent spies and high on drugs they could do any thing to prove they were brave. Those who witness some brutality happen to some family member and were traumatized were even more dangerous.

High on drugs they were shown war movies of Rambo and other America,

Russian,etc war heroes and to be like these heroes they opened fire on whole villages and towns.

The group of Gio rebels by-pass the main highways and came out of the forest through the swamp. As they reached the swamp they saw a little boy laying there unconscious from what seem like the lost of blood.(“Wo oownn desertt.

Wo oowna naysertt”) “They killed my Father; They killed my mother”; he said in Gio.( “oo maan own zaaa”)Do you want to kill me too ? The rebels pause and lifted the little boy and give him first aid. The Commander ordered that he be carried behind the lines for full treatment. Weinsue was attacked that early morning and taken over by the advancing rebels. They killed the Chief and burned one half of the town. They raped the girls and looted from those who had property in the town. People began to flee from the town but the rebels had gates on every side of the town. Out of every ten person fleeing the town; eight would either die or be wounded. Fresh human skulls or heads were hanging on the post of every gate. Pregnant women who had link to the Mandingoes or Kran tribes’ bellies were open and the child taken out. Ex Government officials; their families and many of those who were known to be from the various law enforcement agencies were affected. In the end everyone bore the burnt.

Rebel activities are never the solution to any crisis. We Liberians learned this the hard way. “Monkey come down” demonstrations made the government insecure and the revolution popular but it unleash a fury that burn everyone.

Everyone was a part of the war and everyone was affected. One of the most evil things that happened was that there were innocent people who had a little money, gold chain or ring, dark skin or long heads that were falsely accused of belonging to those tribes. “Oh how you resemble this tribe or that tribe”; was the accusation flying here and there. Families were ripped apart if a rebel leader fancies the wife or daughter of someone. Finger pointing and allegations were also on the rise. Little children were recruited and made to commit some of the wicked crimes of war. “Small soldiers”(boy and girls from eleven to fifteen); as they were called roam the streets or guarded the gates. Their little minds were being punctured with evil and many would grow to never be the same again. They were given drugs and in most cases they were living robots

for the rebel leaders. After the revolution they would be tossed aside to fend for themselves. If they were wounded or suffered a mental breakdown; they were put away like discarded trash and forgotten.

Weinsue was attack that early morning and taken over by the advancing rebels.

They killed the chief and burned one half at the town. They rape the girls and looted from those who had property in the town. People begin to flee from the town. The rebels had gates on every side and out of every ten persons fleeing eight would either died or be hurt. Human skulls were hanging on the post of every gate; some times fresh human heads. Pregnant women who had link to the Mandingo or kran tribes belly were opened and the child taken out. Ex government officials their families and those who were in the former various law enforcement agencies also bore the same fate as the Kran tribe. Yormie jr who recovered fully after one week was initiated into the rebel forces and taught how to take various types of drugs. He was trained to use the arm and became the most dangerous executioner in the entire country. He killed hundreds of people and always found new ways to torture and killed his victims; especially when he was high on drugs. He believed it was an honor, helped him to forget the pass and he was serving his country and would be rewarded by the warlords when victorious.

Chapter 5 `After the Gbelemasue family discovered that Weinsue had been hit over and overrun by the rebels; they ran along with the other town people to the forest.

How ever after two months people began to die from the early rains and lack of food. They therefore decided like many others to take risk and try to get to Gbarnga where they heard that food was plentiful and appear to have return to normal. That day they took the main road and reach death row gate. This was the gate that was among the riskiest in the entire conflict. If you were lucky to pass through it unharmed; then it was possible that you would survive the entire war. They reach the gate along with about twenty other families that early morning. “Single file� came the command from the inspecting rebels.

Many people might not have physically taken arms but they killed many innocent persons with their mouths.They got up early in the mornings and retired late at night just to point out so called enemies. Some did it because they enjoy the power it gave them. There were days when they had to improvise in order to win the bosses attention; all to the detriment and loss of lives of the innocent. Others wanted promotion in the town and gain a lot of bribes and wealth in the process and yet others protection for themselves and families. High on drugs they care less about the consequences in the future.

Some members of the town who knew its inhabitants and their history were with the rebels. They remain behind the scenes and pointed finger’s whispering their traitorous news (chichipoly) to the commanders at the gate.

Someone pointed out the Gbelemasue family as one of the out standing families who used to cook for the Government soldiers. They said it was he who sold his best friend Wonyanyeen; the late father of the death row most feared killer Yormie jr. to the Kran soldiers. The commander called the Gbelemasue family out from the line. “Come here traitor; do you want to go Gbarnga so you can recon the area for your allies the kran soldiers? Strip them naked and tie them to the red ant’s tree until small soldier returns.” Yormie jr. had gone to the river to kill a fresh batch for his morning bath. He would then take in enough drugs and return with the boys under him; singing about their zakay (tradition protection against death; according to the warlords. All this was strategies to keep the boys brave. They believe they had power to disappear and reappear; but they die like flies in actual battle. Those who die were accused of breaking the laws.)

After the family was stripped naked, the rebels’ commander saw that Mrs Gbelemasue had a good shape. He became excited and sexually arouse and asked the people on the line to watch the morning show and clap as the show when on. He striped himself naked, bends the tied Mrs Gbelemasue over and proceeded to have sex with her before the eyes of her family and the clapping crowd. These brutal acts were unexpected and force a wound in the minds of those standing watching this abnormal behavior; especially the young children in the crowd. Many react instantly by vomiting, crying, or just freeze and watch. As the Commander was having sex with her mother; the little girl manage to loose the rope and ran over to him and begin to bite and hit him with her hands. “Jesus”! Shouted a Pastor in the crowd in shocked.

Small soldier, the Famous executioner came on the scene and saw a little girl trying to stop the morning fun. He took out his bend knife and stabbed the girl in her thigh. Bleeding and shock by this new incident; especially when she saw who it was that wounded her she dropped to the ground holding her bleeding leg and moaning in pain. Mr. Gbelemasue screamed; but was silence by a bullet from small soldier’s pistol. He also shot the little boy in his left thigh.

“Who shouted Jesus “laughed small soldier. Take him and cut off his hands and feet and let Jesus heal him” I want it done with the back of a dull power saw in front of the crowd. By that time the commander had completed his task.

“Finish the jobs for me small solder” said the commander as he pull up his pants and wave to the cheering crowd. Small soldier put one bullet in the woman head. He was too high on cocaine and marijuana to recognize the family. Strange as it might sound to you; small soldier did not really recognize that particular family that day. He was too high on drugs to care. As far as he was concern it was just another enemy. He showed his knife to the crowd lick it and put it in his pack and went on his way. Everyone forgot about the wounded children. The girl manage to loose the brother and together they fled into the near by bushes and headed for Gbarnga with those that were allowed to pass the gate; harm and unharmed. The pastor whose limbs were cut off was picked up by his family and taken along.

Warlords used these innocent Children for little or no rewards. They did not have to pay them a cent; only false promises, lies and deception. They stole away their innocence and replaced it with drugs and trauma that would do major harm to them in the future. Yet the fact remains that we were all innocent about what a war would do to us and our country and therefore embraced it. Many of those who actually raise the capital and lobby for help for these rabels leaders and government forces had flown their own families out of the country. They sat in comfort as the country went up in flames waiting to

come home later and reap political rewards from the blood and sufferings of the people. They too it would have been quick and surgical. They expected it to end in a few weeks but were struck dumb when it dragged on for about 14-16 years and yet the flames have not been quenched fully even today.

That very day Commander in Chief of the rebels forces; the foreign gun merchant, along with a truck fill of Libyans, Bukina Faso and a sprinkling of other African so called freedom fighters (contractors) body guards supplying him with weapons and drugs visited Weinsue to supply bring fresh supplies because it was a strategic base and commended the boys for a job well done.

They were introduced to small soldier whom he personally promoted to colonel and heap praises on his gallant deeds. He charge him to be ever more alert and inventive in the execution of his duties and put more fear in the enemy and assure Him that after he had capture the entire country ; small soldier would be promoted to a general and become his special body guard.

He was given a thousand Liberian dollars (about 20United States Dollars) and a parcel of drugs to keep him active for one whole month. The new Colonel thanked him and asked them to come along with his friend to pass inspection at his gate. There were jubilant singing of G.I. MO and songs of praises for the Papay by the troops on the ground. Colonel Yormie invited the visitors to take a sip from his wine cup (human skull) and watch as they play a little game; saying “you are just in time for the morning show”.

Spotting a pregnant woman on the line he asked the foreign merchant if the woman was carrying a boy or a girl. “I don’t know the astonished arms and drug dealer replied. “Well for I bet you my thousand dollars it is a girl”, Yormie replied. The man smile and said “no man you are not God; how can you prove that?” “Do you want to bet or not,” Yormie asked? “Ok, Ok the man said if you can prove it I have nothing to loose”. “Come here woman; he shouted, at the frighten woman. Tell us what kind of child is in your stomach”? “I don’t know”, she pleaded. “Well there is only one way to find out; don’t you think. I found out the same way about what my own mother was carrying one night”. He stabbed her in the belly and took out the baby. It was a girl and everyone was force to clap. The drug dealer vomited. Three things happen here every morning. The early morning bet or gamble which we all partake to increase our income. The roast meat breakfast of fresh heart and liver and communion of the blood taken from an innocent child who is drank to make our Zakay strong.

You miss the communion but came just in time for the bet which I won .He was later taken with the Commander in Chief and other body guards to thank the small girls unit who had just prepared a wonderful meal. Well seasoned gravy

and pepper soup. On their way the truck bringing in their supplies arrived.

While the Commander in Chief went to inspect the off loading of the weapons he brought; the arms dealer was encouraged to take a meal. He enjoy the soup so much; he ate too bowls. Wow! He said as he woke up patting his fill belly nice meal and very tender meat. Yes the colonel reply; the younger the better.

That one was tender because it was about two years old. The colonel took him behind the house where there were about six bodies of men, women and children burning. The colonel open one with his knife and took out his heart and said; me I like mine own raw. I don’t like for the girls to cook it. It was then that it drawn on the man that he had eaten human being. He could do nothing about it but feel sick. Yormie look at his face and slapped him on the back. Be a man; your drugs and weapons makes us brave to get rid of our enemies, we enjoyed it so much. When we have won the victory; you must come and help us plant and process the damn thing here. His boys begin to sing about his Zakay. We are preparing to massacre an entire displaced people camp tomorrow. Thanks for the weapons and drugs. The Commander in Chief came back from His inspection and the girls coach him in tasting their meal and dropping some bucks before leaving for his base.

Colonel Yormie becomes very powerful in the area. He bought nothing; cigarettes, food, women to comfort him, nothing at all. He only demanded and it was done on the double. He was high in drugs twenty four hours. His reputation for executing people reached as far as the United Nations. In certain circles he was known as bathing soap, because he use to tell whole families to jump into the creek and after they were in; he would empty one magazine of bullets into it. Any survivor was free to go; but usually there were none. He spare no one, whether he knew them from Weinsue or not , whether they were from any tribe if the informer who were from the same tribe and spoke many language’s pointed you out; you were in for his wrath.

He had no fear for anyone; not even the commander.

Chapter 6 Yamah and her brother walked throughout the night and finally reach Gbarnga the next day. They knew no one there and were in a very bad shape physically.

She therefore decided that they should do as Mama had always taught them to do; that is to give the matter to Jesus. They than knelt down in the bushes and prayed, “Lord Jesus, we don’t know what to do or where to go. We have no parents now and we can’t just ask anyone to help us because they might ask for our tribe and we can speak no other tribe. Our tribal accent is even heard when we speak English so please lead us. Please tell us what to do; you are all we have now. Amen.” Lets us go on she said. “I am sure Lord Jesus has heard us and we will be save “. “But where is Jesus?” said her brother; “why didn’t he save our parents? Mama used to love him so much. He let her down” said her brother bitterly. “Listen little Brother; I don’t have answers to your questions right now. But I know that Jesus is real and he will help us. Now let’s us go”, said Yamah weak from the shock and lost of blood.

That day was Saturday and as they walked through the town trying so hard to avoid the various gates; they came across a group of people with bibles in their hands moving as if going to church. “Let’s follow these people I think they are going to church. Look at the bibles in their hands. I know at least that they are Christians “said Yamah. They walk behind the group with out catching up with them. After some time her little brother said, “Yamah today is Saturday not Sunday, so don’t you think we are making a mistake.” “Let’s just go.” She was tire of her little brother question and weak from the lost of blood. As they reach the church Yamah fainted right at the door. “Somebody help me;” shouted her brother. “Somebody helps me! He burst into tears.” People came running and asked: “what is it?” “What happened to her?” They could get no good answer from the little crying boy; therefore they took him and his sister into the church office and dress their wounds.

After dressing their wounds the Pastor inquired about why they were there and how they came across their wounds. Yamah said, “Pastor since you are a servant of Jesus I will tell you the entire true and you can decide what to do with us”. She than told the Pastor all that had happen to them up to that day.

The Pastor was silent for some time. Well he said after giving the matter a thought; “This is the house of God. We believe in no tribe or color for God made us all. You are welcome to stay with us. You can live at my house and share the little my family and I have. However I must warn you, this is war time and in the house of God we have not tribe, we are all God’s children. However I must warn you to take extra precaution. Whatever happens; do not ever tell your story to any one again. If you do so I shall be blameless of whatever the consequences will be; do not tell it to my wife and children. You can stay here and rest while I go to the service. After that I will find some thing for you to wear”. The Pastor walked outside and went to the Church. “What kind of test is

this Lord?� he prayed. He was from the Kran tribe and a week had not gone by since his two sisters had been beheaded by Kpelle rebels fighting along with the Gios. Here were children from the enemy tribe that had walked right into his trap. One word from him and they would have been sacrificed for his sisters; but what good would that do?

The Liberian civil crisis rage on to involve every tribe of the nation. It took various faces; ethnic, factional, religious, tribal etc, and touched every corner of the nation. Atrocities of unimaginable proportions were committed by every tribe of the nation. There was not one Liberian who did not participate in the crisis directly or indirectly. Powerful nations with selfish interest fuel the conflict and the land become a dumping ground for various types of arms from arm dealers in West Africa and other Countries in the world with selfish interest; while the sea became a dumping ground for toxic waste and the looting of our marine live stock. One of Liberia major resource; her fishing ground was now open to sea looters from everywhere. Some Liberian factions even practice cannibalism, eating the heart and other inner parts of strong and brave fighters which they claim would make them the same. Traditional medicine which had to do with the sacrifice of human beings was use on every side, for what they claim as power against gun shots, to become invisible, to multiply into many persons at the same time while fighting etc,.

The war became so bad that experts around the world wonder if there would be any chance for genuine peace and reconciliation. President Doe was set up by some African and World leaders and killed. After his death the country divided into two and the war continued. Political power dance from hand to hand and thousands had to flee the country. Politicians who regarded their pockets more than any lasting solution fought for power; rose and fell in the process. Various solutions were tried and failed. Various peace deals broker and broken. The war than begun to take a regional dimension and than at a secret meeting it was agreed by World Leaders at the time to put into power the popular rebel leader Charles Gankay Taylor by hook or crook, if he agreed to disarmed his forces . There was a plan B in the meeting that took place in covets surrounding and discussed in hush, hush (behind the doors with other rebel groups to make them accept the plan) environments. Anxious for power the Rebel Leader did not only disarm his forces but he also encamp them for some time and sent the majority to their homes. An election was held and he was put into power with the usual Liberian spirit of swinging to the popular side. His powerful arms were brought out and destroyed; signifying the end of the war; but the very next week plan B was put into action and the war continued.

Yomie jr, the executioner was among those affected by the disarmaments process. He give his weapon in and received a little money and was told to go and learn a trade but come to think about it ;how could a boss go and sit under someone in a classroom. Later he was told to go home because the war was over. His Commander was send to Monrovia and he had no contact with him.

He was totally forgotten and had no place to go. He went to Gbarnga with the intention of finding a solution, but things begin to do deteriorate. Home; Where was home for him? He couldn’t return to Weinsue and he knew no other place or relative on earth who would accept him. At night he could not sleep, he kept having flash back of people he killed. Because he couldn’t sleep at night, these flash backs began to appeared to him in the day. Soon he started talking to himself trying to ward out these flash backs. Gradually his mental health deteriorated and he became violently insane and people fear him. He ate on the dump site and was bruise all over his body from stones thrown by people who didn’t want him closer to them. He was forsaken by everyone and had no family or friend who could assist him. Even boys who fought along side with him poke fun at him and stone him if he tried to approach their surrounding. People from Weinsue hated him with a passion and the Gios in the town dodge him. “That is the result for killing other people in cold blood. God is punishing him for all the evil he committed during the war” everyone said. But if God wanted to punish someone for Yormie crimes then it should have been all of us who brought the war upon ourselves. We stole away his innocence by our collective actions and cause him to be turned to a brutal machine to be used free and discarded.

CHAPTER 7 Yamah and her brother lived with the Pastor for about two years. They were treated like any other member of the family and not one day was their secret revealed. The congregation of the Church contributed in any way they could to keep them happy and educated. Just before the fall of Gbarnga from the rebel forces; an American missionary visited the Church and was told the story of what happened to the children by the Pastor. The missionary took them with him as he was leaving and left the boy in Accra, Ghana; with the Church branch there to go to school. He took Yamah along with him to the U.S.A. (Minnesota); where he resided and worked. She was placed in school and upon graduating from high school entered the university and studied medicine; specializing in psychiatry and human psychology. After her studies she became a Medical doctor. All the while she stayed in the United States she was regarded as awkward because she was frozen hard like ice when it came to establishing any

relationship with both males and females. She had no close friend; attended no social functions but concentrated only on her studies. Immediately after her Doctorate in Medicine she returned home to Liberia to assist in the rebuilding process of the country. She picked up her little brother who was now a qualified auto mechanic and they returned to Gbarnga; Bong County. She got a job at the Phebe Hospital; while her brother opened a mechanic shop. They had a fairly good life. They lived together because they were not yet married, then one day it all changed and their past again caught up with them in a very unusual way.

Most frustrating is how these warlords used these boys and girls on their way up the ladder to acquire political power and forget to assist them in any way if they are wounded or disable in any way during the conflict. It could be a worthy project for each to go back and seek ways out how to help these kids they destroyed on their way up but they forget and expect the U.N. or other agencies to do their cleanups while they reap the benefits in political sunshine.

The community is not prepared adequately to receive them and their families are afraid to identify with the worse cases. This is a serious factor that is usually overlooked but it is one of the most vital keys to reconciliation and reintergration. United Nations or Non Governmental Agencies try to render physical assistance to keep them alive but in most cases 99 out of every 100 internal wounds are never really treated. In order to try to fit somewhere into the society; those who do not break down mentally; or were killed in revenge one way or the other, join gangs of thieves, addicts, prostitutes or move on to other countries to fight in their own conflicts until they died (this happened in the case of 85 percent of the uneducated rebels of Liberia). In any case their lives were never the same again.

The new President made Gbarnga his private headquarters because he always felt insecured in the Capital Monrovia. He opened a big farm and spent much of his spare time there. Since he was not from that locality; he was compel to join the Poro Society and was accepted as a son of the soil. Many times when crazy Yormie saw his cars in the town; he try to go among them shouting; I am to be a General to the President, a special Body Guard. He would take a piece of stick and pretend that it was a gun. “Get out of the way” laughed his former fighting mates; giving him a kick or throwing a stone at him to make him leave the area.

“What kind of crazy fool is this?” One day as the President was taking a relaxing stroll to inspect a recently renovated area not far from the dump site where Yormie sat; he jumped up and manage to force himself in front of him shouting : “Mr. President here I am; don’t you remember me ,I am your special Body

Guard” “Where are my soldiers ? Who is this crazy man that they have allowed to come and interrupt my peaceful evening walk. Can’t someone have a movement of peace? Take this dirty thing from my presence; he stinks. Who is he?”

“Who am I sir? Don’t you know me? “So it is true you used us and dumped us and have gotten rid of all those who were strong fighters because you are afraid of them. Well I lived, I lived, I liveeeeeed and you must keep to your promises or die” Yormie shouted as he was kicked and dragged away. The Special Aide de Camp to the President shook his head and said: “He’s the former Commanders of one of your special forces from the small boys reconnaissance and black operation units. He was one of our best; Coronel Yormie jr from Weinsue, commonly called the executioner.” “Oh I see; that ruthless killer; such a pity. Maybe he killed the wrong person” laughed the President. “Anyway since he was my fighter; here’s one thousand dollars to take him to the hospital or a powerful medicine man to work on him. Who knows; we might just need him again in the future. If more is needed for his treatment; get back to me.” That was the end of the story because the money went to the pockets of the Aide de Camp lover and the matter was never thought about again.

The real essence of this entire narrative begins here. I want you to remember that earlier I said that regardless of how terrible a crime might have looked on the outside; revisiting it can bring different types of explanations for why things happened the way they did. In the Bible is the story of a boy who was sold as a slave by his brother and might have died in the process; but God intervened and when circumstances turn around; he was able to forgive. Can we ever forgive those who killed our parents, sibling, separated our homes; made us homeless, raped our mothers and sisters etc? Can we live with them in the same communities, work with them in the same offices, intermarried into their families or even marry some of them? These are very crazy questions but life realities and answering them honestly will go a long way in help us. At first impression it might look like an impossible request but if you dig a little deeper you will note that true stability and reconciliation depends on our ability to forgive, forget the pass and move on.

CHAPTER 8 One day when Yamah had come from shopping at the general market in Gbarnga and was walking to the taxi parking for Phebe; a huge insane man came and jerk her purse. He ran with it; but some boys from the car parking

chase him and over-powered him and took away the purse from him. The face of this insane man struck her as someone familiar but she could not place him because he was so different. She began to wonder where she knew him from but her mind just couldn’t place him. Strangely this incident seriously disturbed her. She went home seriously contemplating about this insane man.

The next day as she and the Chief Medical Officer was working on the head of an accident patient; she begin to relate the events of the pass day to him and her feeling that she had somehow encounter this man somewhere before. “Of course “said the Chief Medical Officer; “that man is said to be from your home town of Weinsue. He is the the former Executioner; Col. Yormie Wonyanyeen of the rebel forces.” The scissors fell from Yamah hands and she begins to tremble violently. “Is there anything wrong “asked the Chief Medical Officer retrieving the scissors and cutting the end of the final stitches for her. “No” replied Yamah; nothing at all. I have suddenly developed chills; I think its malaria.

Since they had completed their task, she went home and related the entire incident to her brother and what she had seen and heard. “Sister ;I thought Jesus did not care what happen to a God fearing woman like our mother who trusted him so much. That is why I have never really trusted in him. All the while I just go to church to satisfy you and Pastor; but truthfully (I have never heard a word that is preached there); I felt let down. Now God has proven a point here and put the enemy in our path.” She said nothing but excuse herself after their evening prayer to go to bed early; claiming malaria was bordering her. Strangely she could not sleep that night but laid wide awake thinking about her childhood. Tossing from side to side many thoughts pass her mind about the hand life had dealt to them. There was her childhood friend on the dumpsite insane and suffering with no one to come to his aid; both their parents dead; hers killed by Yormie and his by God knows who. Did her father have a hand in his parents’ death? What kind of life is this? She wanted to be filled with hate enough to go out there and poison him in revenge for killing her parents; but hate couldn’t come.

“It’s the pay God had given him for all the killings and other crimes he had carried out against humanity”; her brother had said. “But he is not the one who began the war. He was badly hurt before he took up arms. Maybe he had no way out; no advisor after the killing of his parents before his very eyes. There could have been no time for the wounds and trauma to heal before the rebels took over and he join them. Should he really be blame for all that happened?

What about the warlords; the finger pointers, those who pump him with drugs so that he could be a machine for achieving their purposes etc? Did he really have a choice, did he; she thought through out that night. She was an expert in these cases and she was certain that his case was not one that could not yet be savaged. “Is it possible to forgive and work on him”; she asked herself looking at the scar on her body from his knife. She had been taught about a loving and forgiving God; merciful yet a God who demanded justice for sins. If God could forgive man and take away our sins; paying for crimes He did not have a hand in, what about her? She should be able to forgive Yormie and help find a cure for him. What would Jesus have done in her case; she thought? Forgive those who killed your parents and almost killed you and your brother; someone who brought about so much suffering to you and your brother. Since the next day was bible studies; she had the chance to bring up the topic indirectly without mentioning her real purpose. Everyone agreed that forgiving such a person was the right thing to do; even though humanly speaking when it came to reality; it would not be as easy as talking about it. It would be a very difficult task to achieve without the intervention of God. That evening when she returned to her home she prayed that God should indeed intervene and whatever happen in the end should be to the Glory and honor of God alone. “Father ever since I saw my childhood friend and murderer of my parents; I have had no peace of mind. Please do something about it. Direct me LORD and solve this problem for me once and for all.”

Forgiveness is never an easy matter and will never be a simple matter.

However forgiveness is not impossible if we decide to look at all sides of the coin. We might even see the part we or some members of our family play. It might not always have been the same crisis but looking at things with a mind to seek a reason to forgive; God usually assist us in finding a way out. One thing is certain; there is much joy and relief in forgiving an enemy than in destroying the life of that person. Taking the first steps are the most difficult but once your mind has been made up and you push ahead with the decision a great burden is lifted from your heart and from that movement onwards you feel divine strength to move ahead with your plans. In cases like ours where a battle has been fought; forgiveness means a battle with the logic and reason of the rest of our kinsman, best friends, and even workmates. It almost means going against the established norms of society. This is where prayers and determination comes in. What should be our prayers during such periods? We should pray expecting to gain divine assistance, strength and determination to cross the line and forgive what ever went wrong; no matter how bad it was. When we do that our eyes should always be open for an opportunity to go into action and

implement our plan to forgive. We should also be prepared to deal with whatever follows.

If we are to be fair with ourselves we will find out that the Liberian crisis was very bitter because of a long nurtured un-forgiveness between two tribes ;( the Gios & Krans) and the killings of 13 Americo –Liberians who treated the native born Liberians as they were treated when they were slaves. There was so much grudge and hatred in the hearts and minds of many people. It was like an underground vacano just waiting for an opportunity to erupt. If you check carefully; the same was the case in most other conflicts of such nature throughout Africa. The spirit of un-forgiveness is a very evil one and lives for centuries if not brought into check.At any giving opportunity when it erupts; it does so with many suprises. If we put on the places of others and ask the “What If” questions; we are surely going to find a way out. Forgiveness counts very high in the eyes of God and He rewards every such act with equality. If you can pull the strength to go through the process; He also forgives you of your own wrong doing of which no one is free. (Matt6:12) Is it really possible to forgive and help to cure one who afflicted you with terrible pains and killed your parents with their own hands? Was he reaping what he sowed? Would you be interfering with God plans if you forgive and assist such a person? Well God had more surprises in store for Yamah. He answered her prayers in a strange way that give her opportunity she needed to either revenge or forgive.

God never force us to forgive for we are not robots; but whatever decision we take, the consequences live with us afterwards. However if we take the ecision to forgive; He grants us the strength to go through what ever it takes to go through the process.

CHAPTER 9 One week later as she was on her way to visit a Doctor who had come to visit Liberia from Minnesota; and brought a message for her; she decided to pass through the hospital to speak to the nurses on duty. It was her day off but the short pass to the Doctor house was walking through the hospital and coming out through the emergency ward. As she approached the ward she heard the nurses complaining: “Why did they bring this fool here? They have made the entire ward stink. Who do they expect to go near that thing? I think today Phebe will fire me.”Why are we complaining when the solution is easy? Let’s put this evil guy out of his pain by sending him to his father the devil.Someone get me a injection that will assist the process. “What is it” she asked; and one of those on duty answered and said an insane man from Gbarnga had been hit by the Presidential motorcade. He was badly injured and they had brought the

stink thing to the hospital instead of leaving him on the road to mercifully die of his wounds. If they had left the dog lying there; he would have been dead by midnight from loss of blood or his injuries”. “He is the evil demon from Weinsue that use to fight for the rebels forces. He was the most ruthless killer in the country and there is no family that was not touched by his brutal acts. He does not deserve to live. Yamah heart skip a beat; “oh no LORD what kind of test is this? Should I just pass on and let things take its course? Will I ever forgive myself for allowing a helpless man to die; regardless of what he had done in the pass”?

Yamah walked to the ER and saw the man on the stretcher. It was Yormie; he was badly injured and bleeding profusely and unconscious. She could either finish him here and now and avenge her parents or help him. Yet something strange arrested her and she felt a overpowering of love and pity instead of the urge to take his life. She saw the Yormie jr. of their early childhood days and went into action as if treating a friend and not an enemy. She took the scissors and cut his clothes from on him. Then she bathes him and sewed his wounds up and put hospital garments on him. He was badly wounded and critical; therefore he was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and in order to protect his life from some nurse who he might have harmed directly or indirectly or who might have wanted to put him out of his problems; thinking he was better off dead than alive, She stayed over that night to watch over the patient.

Everyone in the hospital was astonished and when she was approached about the incident she responded that her actions were in line with her medical ethics. Once she took the decision to forgive and help him; it was like a big burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She did not even know where the strength and ideas came from but alone she tended to him.

As you might have guess; logically the society revolts against unusual things like these. Here was a highly qualified Doctor putting at risk the lives of all the other patients in the hospital, including the staff by keeping a violently insane exkiller in the hospital. This was highly abnormal and people reacted to it as society does in such cases. The next day the workers who should have been working refused to work if this man was kept there. There is no mental institution in Bong County and at that time the one in the capital was not functional. This meant either throwing him out to the streets to die or mercifully killing him. Yamah would have none of the two options; therefore she paid from her pockets for a private room and promised to keep Yormie heavily sedated; as she worked on him. “I specialize in this area of medical science; therefore I should be in the right place to judge if this man is capable

of being cure or not.” She paid two able bodied men to sit out the door and prevent anyone from entering without her instructions or Yormie from coming out if worse came to worse. Yamah was so concerned about her patient that she totally forgot to go home or even inform her brother why she had not been home the last two days.

Mulbah her brother was very concerned that Yamah had not come home for two days and went to the hospital in search of her. When he inquired at the information desk about her and was told what had happened; he couldn’t believe his ears. What was happening to Yamah; had she lost her mind? He was very angry and rushed into the hospital. For the first time in many years he shouted at her and tried to punch her but was stopped by the men around. In front of the medical Director and all the onlookers; including the patients and workers; he shouted insults at her and called her names. After about thirty minutes of shouting and fighting his restrainers; who were preventing him from reaching his sister, he burst into tears. “What are you playing at Sister; do you intend to be Jesus Christ? How can you treat a man who murdered our parents before our very eyes; marked you for life and made me a cripple who walks with a limp from the bullet he put in me that day”? Everyone was in a state of shock because of this revelation. She was a very private person and had never confided this to anyone before and there were now tears and arguments all around. Her brother angrily walked away crying bitterly and talking to himself; but Yamah was not moved by all this noise and tears. “We will discuss it when I get home” she shouted after him as she turned and walk back into the hospital to see her patient. Tears filled the eyes of the patient who had been in the hospital for years because his limbs were cut off with a dull and rusty power saw and the wound had develop to tetanus and now suspected cancer. “Father is it possible to forgive such an enemy” he prayed as he turned to the wall.

Yormie made progress slowly as time sped by; both physically and psychologically. As he responded positively to the treatment other Doctors and curious nurses in search of news also visited him. After some time; when the Chief Medical Officer was fully convinced that he had made sufficient progress; he was allowed to take strolls around the hospital compound with the men paid by Yamah. He did not understand why this female Doctor liked him so much. She took care of him and provided for his every need. He became so attached to her like a mother, sister, friend; something he couldn’t explain. He did not know her and it was ovious that they were not from the same tribe.

Well he would ask her one day but for now he rather enjoy the care and protection she give him. On the family front with her brother things had gone

sour. She and her brother did not speak to each other for weeks and he threatened to move out of the house. He avoided going to Church and when Yamah was asked for him always said he was fine and would be coming soon.

She did not talk much and had no attached friend.

CHAPTER 10 After three weeks the brother took the matter to the Pastor. Trembling he angrily pour out his story to the Pastor and the other members of the Church which he met at the Church that day. His Foster Father who was now a retired Pastor was also present. They asked him to go and bring Yamah when she was out from work. When they both came they asked him to explain again what was troubling him. He angrily related to them all that had taking place and ended with the statement that the Gio man almost wiped out our entire generation. “Either working with crazy people is making my sister mad or something else is happening to her. Please tell her that it is only because of the love of God that I didn’t kill that man personally after she told me who he was. I should have put some poison in food and taken it to him when he was on the dump site. Even now I don’t trust myself over this matter. My people this is my story and I know you people will see wisdom in asking Yamah to leave that man case alone or even secretly feed him with poison to revenge for our parents.”

The old Pastor asked them to pray over the matter before he could comment.

“Thank you LORD for making me to see this day, he prayed; thank you for saving the lives of these two children to manifest your love and truth to them. I am grateful for using me as an instrument to bring this day to pass; for I am now sure that you have a special purpose for their lives. Amen”!

“Young Mr Gbelemasue I have heard all that you said and felt the same way you feel ; therefore I thank God that I am here today because I am in the best position to solve this mystery for you both. Barely two weeks before you came to the church; were my two sisters beheaded by Kpelle rebels in the presence of our parents. I am Kran by tribe”. When he called his tribe it was as if a bomb had fallen in the room. No one in the room knew or had ever asked him before.

He laughed: “that is why I sat a very long time after you related your story to me that day you came to the church. God! I pray that day; why are you doing this to me, what kind of test is this? Yet God doesn’t test you without giving you strength and knowledge to endure. Imagine for yourselves the position in which I found myself. Barely two weeks past my sisters had been killed by rebels; now children from the enemy tribe sits before me challenging me to help them or should I say do what ever else I please with them. At the time one

word from me would have cost your life. I could have simply turn you both over to the Kran soldiers who were in charge at the time accusing your family of killing a Kran man in Weinsue. Humanly speaking I could be avenging my sisters. Yet, I decided that God in His wisdom had a reason for bringing you two over to me and therefore I took you two into my home. To this day my wife here does not know your tribe and most of the Pastors here are hearing both sides of our stories for the first time. To safe guard your lives when opportunity presented itself to educate my children aboard for the first time; I choose at the time to educate you two instead of running the risk of someone finding out who you were and harm you”.

“How could I punish the innocent for the guilty? In fact; who were the guilty?

Who was I to determine who were the guilty? No I couldn’t play God part so I took you people in and treated you as best as I knew how. Think about the outcome of revenge in these circumstances. The circle would go on and on and there would be wars fought to keep revenging for the revenged. Who can determine what cause the boy to behave the way he did. Haven’t you heard that the rebel leader used to order special gun power to mix with cocaine and other drugs in order to make his soldiers brave to kill without thinking? There must have been another reason; hurt, drugs, and the fact that he never had a chance to wait for God to help him like good Christians do. The consequences are far worse for him because he is been neglected by those who spoil him so and blamed by society; have lost his entire family while the real evil doers go free. How much more if he dies unsaved? A hint to the wise is quite enough if you know what I mean”. So Pastor what are we to do in this case now, asked the boy; let him go free? A man who kiledl my family in my very presence, stabbed my sister here and put a bullet in my legs. Well Pastor the case you told us about is one in which you were the secondary victim and only heard what happened from your parents; therefore it was easy for you to do as you did. But look at our case where we were present watching that evil dog bucher our parents like he had never seen or known us before. Imagine someone who we grew up together with and were as close to as a family member. Look Pastor if you were in Weinsue those days; you could not have distinguish between us. I have never disrespected you all the time I spend with you and appreciate the sacrifice, love and help you give us but in this matter ; I must confess I find your judgement wanting. Pastor Amadu what do you have to say in this matter; do you also agreed with our father here”?

Pastor Amadu took a deep breath and shook his head. “I do not blame you son and if you did not react the way you did; I would not have thought you were real humans. WHEEEWWWW, yes it is a difficult thing to forgive but it is not impossible. I can assure you that Yamah here has lifted a great burden front her shoulders. I do not condemn you either for your point of view for I once thought the same way. However let me also add to what our Elderly Pastor is trying to relate to you;” said the present Parish Pastor. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and began to unscrew his hands from the elbow down. The children grasp in horror and surprise because both hands were false hands; the man had been amputated from the elbows down. Children I had an encounter with that very man you are talking about at death row gate. Let me tell you my side of the story. “What” ; they both shouted at the same time? Yes, he is the cause I have no hands today, no wife and my children sleepless nights of nightmares.

Like you Mulbah I am a primary victim; so I want you to listen carefully to what I have to tell you.

Amadu Mohammed Keita was from the Mandingo tribe while his wife was from the kissi tribe. He was born and grew up in the Town of Bellefanai Bong County.

He was a dedicated Muslim, married with three children. He had a very large shop in Bellefanai and did very good business because the town was located on the Lofa high way and junction to one of Liberia army barracks and another outlet to Guinea. When the war broke out he did not take the advice of his other tribemen living in the town; but decided that the crisis was between the Gios and Krans as usual and big brother America would soon come and put a stop to it. He did not have relatives in Guinea that he could go to like other members of his tribe. While others were fleeing from one country to another Amadu hope remain high on Liberia’s traditional friend America to intervene in the conflict beore it got out of hand.

Yes America could stop it at its early stage if they so wish, but little did Liberians know that the high esteem and love with which they hold the United States of America is based upon a false notion. It was not America as a nation

that selected Liberia as a home to freed slaves, but an organization in America.

The so called ties that Liberians feel exist is nothing beyond the ordinary and normal ties. The United States of America had a large fleet of their military ships within the Liberian waters for the most crucial part of the war; but did nothing to stop the guns, drugs, and mercenaries running into Liberia by air, land and sea; even though they build a airport that was to served as a base during the event of war with their enemies (during the world war). Yet Liberia is like America’s lapping dog that shakes her tail each time the master approaches. Liberia votes at the United Nations and other world bodies as America votes; they back America every whim, but sad to say those close ties we thought and many still think exist are imaginary and many perish because of such false hope. They could do so single handed if they wish or put together an allies force in days or weeks but for some dark reasons they declare early in the war a ‘hands off’ policy. However taking their experience in Somilia on the other side of the coin; tells us that they too might have wanted to move with caution and therefore decied to back the African intervention force. This had both negative and positive impact because a greater part of the force sacrifice to quench the war ; while it is suspected that some elements that came along with the force use it to enriched themselves ; profiting from the sale of weapons and drugs to the very rebels they claim to be fighting. Looting by some by shipload was also disgraceful and instead of quenching the fire; it blaze on.

What poor Keita (and many others didn’t know) did not know was that the cold war was over and America had no significant use for Liberia. They even shut down or minimized their intellenge gathering center. When the war was approaching Bellefanai he decided to evacuate his family to Gbarnga for safety.

That fateful day as they reach the town of Weinsue and arrive at death row gate; they were told to halt and get into single file.The gate itself was so terrifying that at the first sight of it his wife fainted. It was made of human bones and the rope across it was fresh human intestine with hundreds of buzzing flies. On top of the human bones were fresh human skulls. The heads of a husband and wife who had just been beheaded and dipping with blood were placed on two of these bones poles in the center of the road; facing both directions as the welcome sign. Colonel Yormie came from on the execution grounds with a fresh human heart he had passed a chain through hanging on his neck. He was drinking palm wine from a dry human skull mix with gun power; cocaine and blood and smoking large joint of marijuana. He looked at the line and said “Who is that woman who dropped on the ground”?

She is disturbing the line. Amadu try to pick up his wife but it was too late; Yormie shot her in the head. He than commanded him to take her out of the line and have sex with her body for his morning show. Someone he didn’t know took his children and cross the gates with them. After thirty minutes when he couldn’t get an erection yormie told him that someone had just inform him that he was an enemy from the Mandingo tribe who had gotten very rich from stealing Liberian money and praying to Allah; but in five more minutes and he did not get an erection and have sex with his dead wife; he would pray without hands. An informer from the Vai tribe had pointed him out. After the time elapse his both hands were cut off with a very dull rusty cutlass. It took two hours to cut off the hands with such an instrument; he fainted five times and was retrieve before his hands were finally cut off. He was then place behind the building before his penis would be cut off, roasted and given to him to eat.

As he laid there expecting death at any movement; a young man came over to him and whispered into his ears. “Do you believe that Jesus can save you?”

“Nobody; not even prophet Jesus (Peace be upon Him) can save me from death now,” replied Amadu. “Jesus Christ is not only a Prophet but God, Savior of our world and he died for our sins. Nothing is impossible for him. I am the one who carried your children ahead for you. I am a Christian and right now I am going to take the risk and steal you from behind this check point. If we are caught it would mean death to both of us but I know the LORD I serve can protect us. I will take you to Gbarnga and God willing you will live again.” “Look here brother” replied Amadu; “I am already dead; help my children and you will have done enough”. “Let’s pray “was the response of the young man; “Lord Jesus I know you have a purpose for this man life because I am move to risk my life and save him for you. I know it is your will because I have never felt this way in my entire life. Please let your will be done in our lives.” With that he lifted Amadu up to his shoulders and getting on the line of single file carried him away. In Gbarnga He was treated and later a white missionary flew him to Europe where he was given false hands ; so much like human hands that unless you knew the facts they were unnoticeable. He was baptized before leaving Europe with his family and had studied the Word of God and came back as a Pastor.

So you see Young Gbelemasue; the Lord works in mysterious ways. I was assigned to Gbarnga as the Parish Pastor to replace your foster father. Imagine my shock and misgivings when I saw the young man. I must confess that like you many thoughts came to my mind; some good and some evil. But this time I could control my emotions because I had Jesus and now understood the gospel

fully; I prayed for the young man and pity his condition. At night my children took food to him on the dumpsite where he lived. I prayed to be able to save him like Christ saved me. We were so sad when we heard about his accident.

We prayed for God to help him and as you are witness; God has answer our own prayers. In the Book of Acts there is the story of a man called Saul who name was later change. He was a very wicked man to the early Christians and many saw their early grave because of people like him in those days. After the death of Stephen he was on his way to Damascus to persecute other disciples when his change came. After his change; he became one of the greatest among the disciples and took the gospel to the gentiles. Read this story carefully and you will learn a very valuable lesson. Look at the life of Jesus Christ who did no wrong to anyone ; in fact he help heal the sick, made the lame to walk , set the captives free and even brought the dead back to life. Yet he was paid back by been betrayed, flogged, and murdered by those he came to save. The most amazing part of it all is that Christ asked God to forgive those who were killing him as he hung on the cross in pain and dying. What does this tell you about Jesus young Gbelemasue? I hope you have learned a very valuable lesson here today. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to be strong. After praying they all disburse; each person silently contemplating on all they had seen and heard that day.

CHAPTER 11 Young Yormie Wonyanyeen completed healed after about two months in the hospital. It was very amazing and everyone began to talk about his fast changes. Not only did he recover but he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

He was frequently visited by Pastor Amadu and his family and all the members of the church. They brought him gifts, cut his hair and if you were not smart you would not have recognize him even if you knew him before. He became interesting in studying the Bible but the most curious part of it was; he did not recognize Yamah or her brother or know that Pastor Amadu was the one whose hands he amputated. He confessed a lot of the things he did and they prayed together. There still remain a big problem to solve and it had to do with his accommodation after he was released from the hospital.

This is one of the most difficult part of forgiveness. If one says that they have forgiven a person; they must be able to tolerate them as a new relationship is form. Forgiveness means being able to see the person forgiven in a new light and all actions taken from that movement onwards should be done with a clear heart out side of any prejudices etc. This means being able to eat with the

person in one bowl, sleep with the person in one house and accept the person as you would accept any of your relations. This was the problem faced in the case of Yormie. Who was willing to take in a former violently insane executioner who had marked each of them physically? Did forgiveness mean taking him in and being responsible for his ware fare too? What else did it mean and how far would they be able to endure?

One night after they had eaten their supper; Yamah told her brother that she wanted to discuss something very important with him.” What is it Sister “He asked?” You look sad. You have been so serious these last few days. What’s on your mind that is bogging you that you are struggling to share with me”? She took a deep breath and said;”it is about Yormie again. He has made good progress according to the other experts who check him along with me last week, our conclusions and reviews; we believe that he is now mentally sound.

The big problem is after he’s discharge where will he go? What will he do?

Everyone hates him and he has no living family that we know about to come for him. If he is placed on the streets in that condition, I’m afraid that he’s going to return to the same state of insanity. I want us to do something about this matter she said. What do you expect us to do about him that we have not done already. We have treated him, fed him, clothe him and now he’s well. What else can we do? He asked. Take him into this house as one of us, she said.

What? Sister are you mad? Never, no never in my life. For that reason I shouldn’t go to heaven. I will never live in this or any house with a crazy man, he shouted. I told you that he’s completely well now brother, she said. Why can’t you take him to the church and ask them to help him? They will think of something. Please sister, I don’t want to quarrel with you again. Take him to the church he said. “Look brother we all make the church. We are all followers of Jesus Christ. There is nothing that the Church can do that we can’t do. If we take him in; I am sure that the church will help us maintain him. I am not forcing this decision upon you. Think about it and answer me next week this time after we come from church.

Young Gbelemasue was tire with his sister nonsense over this crazy man who murdered their parents. She had done her duty as a Christian; why couldn’t it be so? Should he move out of the house? This wouldn’t satisfy him. He love his Sister very much and would not sleep to think that she was in the house with a violently crazy man who had murder their family and might crack at any movement and murder her too. How could he protect her from this foolishness? He tossed and rolled that entire night thinking the matter over. By morning he concluded that he had only one option which was to allow his sister

to bring the guy into the house and murder him. That would close the case and everyone would understand. That was the only way to solve this problem. His lawyers could always claim the mind snapped when he thought about the way their parents had been brutally murdered by this very guy in their presence and he would be set free. Even if he had to spend some time in the hospital pretending to be insane; the problem would be solved.

The next day he told his sister that he had thought the matter over and agreed with her that they should allow Yormie to come and live with them until they could resettle him somewhere. His Sister was very happy and surprise that he had reach a decision so quickly. She gave him some money to prepare the spare room in the house for their guest. She then joyfully went to the hospital to prepare Yormie for his final examination and discharge. Here brother brought the things she wanted and prepared the room as she wanted it; but also brought a cutlass (commonly call bell bottom because of its widest at the end). He sharpened it to razor sharpness capable of causing major harm at the first impact. He was not a killer and want it to be one strike.

After his last examination; Yormie was discharge as physically and mentally sound to be release to normal society. “Thanks a lot” said Yormie to Yamah.

“Words cannot pay you and I certainly can not ever pay you in this life for saving my life. I hope God will grant all your wishes and make you very happy.

Even though I don’t know where I am going from here; I will be in contact with you whatever happens. Yamah said; “I know where you can restart your life; at least until you are capable to get on your feet. You can come and stay with me and my brother for the meantime. We can share the little we have. Yormie was astonished as looking her in the eyes he asked: Why are you so nice to me? I sometimes imagine that I know you from somewhere, but I can’t remember where. Do we know each other from somewhere” he asked packing his things?

“No” she replied; people sometimes resemble other people. Remember I am a child of God and I am sure if the circumstances were reverse you would have help me too.As members of the body of Jesus Christ we must practice doing good as Jesus did when he was alive so don’t worry about payment ,God will pay me one day . Later that day they took a taxi after saying bye to the doctors and nurses and drove to Yamah and her brother house. The brother had prepare supper and Pastor Amadu and their foster parents who been notified about their decision earlier were at the house to welcome them. They had a very large supper; sang hymns from the hymn books and studied the Bible a little. Yormie said that the first thing he had in mind was to be baptize and then he could find some labor to do and earn some money. He would like to try his

hands on business. Everyone said it was a grand idea and they would help in anyway they could. Young Gbelemasue said he could come and Join the boys in his shop in the mainwhile if he so desire. After praying he was shown his room and the bathroom. Everyone then either went home or to bed.

CHAPTER 12 That night after everyone had left; Mulbah Gbelemasue jr. decided that he was going to carry out his plan that very night before he got weak and change his mind. He decided to sit up until everything was quiet and everyone asleep before he carried out his action. He took one of his mechanic books and places it on the table and pretended to study it. His Sister saw him and asked why he was up so late: “Are you uncomfortable with our guest, I told you that every thing will be alright” “No Sister” he replied It’s only that I have a problem with a car and I want to check the book for a solution; he replied. “Well if that is so than I am retiring soon because I have to go to work tomorrow. With that she left for her room; yet she had the feeling that something strange she couldn’t place her hands on was in the wind. Her brother face look strange; what was it, fear, hatred, what? She was confuse and couldn’t sleep. She began to turn the matter over and over in her mind praying that God would reveal to her what it was that made her brother to appear so strange.

Yormie continued to toss in his new bed. He had just had a bad dream that had reveal a hard true to him. He dreamed that he was a child and he and Yamah Gbelemasue were little children and playing behind his father’s house. The dreams switch to another scenario and there he was shooting the Gbelemasues; but the children escape. Then he saw his parents in his dream quarreling with him and asking him why he had to shoot their friends. “These people are innocent son; they play no part in our deaths they tearfully told him.

He jumped up crying “how was I to know that they were innocent. I was so young and after hearing their father threatening to call the soldiers for me because I asked for shelter. How was I to know? I was so young and under the influence of drugs. God what have I done? He began to tremble violently as the reality hit him. I knew there was something familiar about them. But what I can’t get over is why are they showering me with so much love? God you know I am a new person now but this case of my past is too heavy for me. What do I do now? How can I live in the home of those who parents I killed in their presence eat food provided by them and wear the clothes they bought me. He just wanted to take out all of the clothes and walk out of the house naked; because he didn’t deserve them but it would give people the idea that he had return to his former state of insanity.

Mulbah Gbelemasue decided it was time to act. He took his cutlass and walked into the room of Yormie who had fallen back to sleep. He had earlier heard him talking to himself and wanted to wake his Sister but it cease after a time. No need to alarm her since he was going to provide a lasting solution to this mess.

He looked at him rolling from place to place. He lifted his hands high and was about to bring it down when he heard two voices which cause him to freeze.

The first was coming from Yormie again crying in his sleep. “How was I to know they were innocent after hearing the voice of their father encouraging you people to open the door and then threatening to call the soldiers for me when I asked for refuge? How was I to know they were innocent? I was so young and under the influence of drugs. The second came from his sister who had silently followed him. “Stop Satan; leave my brother alone. I knew something was wrong. Why do you want to kill this innocent man while those who brought death and destruction upon us go free out there ;riding in good cars and reaping from pits of blood, innocence , and horrors .

Yormie who was now fully awake said; go head Mulbah and revenge on me; I am to blame and you are very right to kill me for killing your parents. But I thought they had a hand in my family death; even though I cannot remember how or when I kill them. Mulbah whose hands had frozen up there all this while brought his hands down and dropped the cutlass on the ground saying ;”I didn’t look at it from that aspect. I should have seen it through your eyes too.

However before he could complete his statement; Yormie took the cutlass and stab himself in the chest, crying:”I don’t deserve to live”. I am evil. Even God can’t forgive me. Let me die and pay for what I have done.” Yamah scream as she saw the blood gushing out of Yormie’s chest which the cutlass had opened.

The wound was very bad and she could even see his heart.. “See what you have done, she said to her brother; I hope you are satisfied now” as she ran outside to look for a car to take the dying man to the hospital. The wound was too big to do anything else. As God would have it; Yormie survive the trip to the Phebe hospital. Five doctors including Yamah work on him for seven hours. Then he was placed in the I.C.U. with oxygen and various tubes running from his body.

Yamah insisted on staying with him until the danger pass and was there for two days.

CHAPTER 13: After the incident Mulbah Gbelemasue was very afraid. He travel to Weinsue to tell some of their mother relatives who had returned to the town what actually had taken place up to this point. There he remained for two days. As you can

expect there was not a family in Weinsue who had not felt the poisonous sting of the executioner. His aunts said he would have been right to have killed that murderer. They would have gotten him out of the country; even if they die trying or had to sell all of their belongings. Yet with all their support Mulbah could not sleep at night pondering over the other side of the coin. What if he had been Yormie and his parents had been murder in the way they were. They only open their door that day because their friends couldn’t deceive them; they thought. What a shock he must have received at the deceit when events went the other way. The young boy had seen his pregnant mother belly opened, his sister raped and his father legs broken and forced to watch his daughter raped and the bodies of his wife and children without having the power to do anything about it and finally the only place they had call home burned down to the ground with grenades and reduce to the graves of his family. His young mind must have collapse. Maybe at first he still could not believe that the Gbelemasue family had a direct link to the killings but after the encounter with his father…. No! No; I would have done the same thing or worst if it was in my shoes. Those who found him had found a perfect machine in him and by reducing him to a drug addict added to his collapsed mind had taken advantage of his innocence. As he ponder these thoughts in his mind he decided to go back to Gbarnga and bear whatever consequences his actions had led to.

The Pastors did not know what had taken place. The older Pastor (their foster parent) went to visit a sick member in the hospital; when he noticed Yamah sleeping with her head in the I.C.U. There was a critical patient on the bed by which she slept. “Who is it?” the Pastor asked a nurse motioning to the patient.

“Oh it’s Yormie. Two nights ago he stabbed himself with a razor sharp cutlass opening his chest into two. If he makes it this time; then he was born for another reason other then killing.” Who’s talking that nonsense Yamah said; waking up? Be very careful how you talk about my patient or else I will lodge a complaint against you to the State Board (responsible for the licensing of Doctors and Nurses) and see to it that your license is revoked.” The nurse fled away. The Pastor called Yamah outside and inquired what had gone wrong and why hadn’t Mulbah come to inform them of the latest developments. She tearfully related the events from the period they had left the home that night.

They than prayed together and the Pastor left.

Mulbah walked in missing the Pastor by seconds because he came from another end of the hospital. “What do you want”; she asked him? “I came to talk to you “he replied. “ Sorry” she said; we will talk when I have chance to get home. “Sister I am sorry for my evil actions that led to this event. Please I want

to make amends if you give me chance to. Let me stay by the patient so that you can go home and have a rest and change of clothes”. Yamah laugh a short desperate laugh that came from her throat like the low growl of an angry leopard just before pouncing on its victims. “Look Mulbah please leave here.

Do you think I am crazy or what? Do you want another chance to murder this boy in the hospital; never on my life? Please leave now before I do something I never did before in my entire life; and that is to call the police to throw you away to a place where I will never see you again in life.” The astonished boy who had never seen his sister this angry before in life left the hospital and went to tearfully relate the events to their foster parents.

After he had related the entire event to the old man, he began to cry. The Old Pastor was very angry with the hard headed boy who failed to gain wisdom even after he had heard and seen; yet he pity the boy in his confusion. This is the same problem most Liberians will face because in their short sightedness they have refused to look at events from both sides of the coin before judging or coming to conclusions. Many will live in bitterness and pain because they refused to logically analyze in order to see the bigger picture. Look, son I seriously believe that God is working in you young people lives; especially that of your sister. What has happen, has happen and cannot be undone physically now. But you can undo it with love. Learn to accept and love that boy. You see and understand the difference. Now, about retrieving your sister to come to rest is not possible. Even if I was in her case, I wouldn’t believe you. But I will send my wife to help out so that she can come home and rest.

CHAPTER 14 The first word he spoke when he regain consciousness was ‘am I still living?

Take my life God, take my life’. ‘No, God has sent someone to cover your sins regardless of how bad it was. All you have to do is to accept him into your life and all will be alright. Look Yormie, even if you kill yourself it will not pay for your sins. There is no other way now for you to be free of all your guilt’s and sins but through God’s plan’ said Yamah jumping up from seat when she heard his voice. He has been unconscious for one whole week and has never left his side. She took her vacation which was due her from the hospital. People talk about her all over the county; some in favor of what she was doing and majority against it. ‘Please Yormie live. Live and accept Jesus help and life will fine be for you’; she pleaded with him. ‘What about your brother, he wants me dead, he wants his revenge; there are thousands like him, if your brother fails someone will do it soon. It’s better that I die here’ he said. ‘No, she replied; do

not die. God will find a way out. I will try to protect you ‘. ‘But why; ‘He asked drifting back to sleep. ‘Because God has a plan for your life and I believe it seriously will be through me’ she replied. But he did not hear reply.

Yormie remained in the hospital for about two months. He recovered slowly and was ministered to by the pastor and Yamah. Mulbah came along and apologize and they slowly became friends. Some nights he slept with Yamah in the hostital private room that they move him into. After he had recovered he was baptized and Yamah and her brother put money together for him to open a big shop in Gbarnga. Business went well with him and in six months he had a store, a drug store, a gas station and a produce buying depot where palm kernels, cocoa, coffee nd rice was bought for exportation. In a short while, he became very rich and had three cars. He bought one car for Yarmah and one for her brother. He also bought a bus for the church of which he was a very active member now. Yet, he was not completely happy. He worked form morning to night and fell to sleep exhausted from the day’s work. Sometimes Yarmah and her brother force him to play games when there were no activities at the church. For his own protection, he still lived in the same house with them.

One day as they sat on the front porch playing monopoly; Yormie said, ‘I am thinking about opening a new car lot here in Gbarnga. I don’t want to do it alone. I need partners. I was thinking about giving the church a share and I hope you too will take the balance shares. Business is much fun with partners.’

Mulbah replied; ‘good, but why not give Pastor Amadou some shares too’. The brother and sister exchange looks when he made this statement. Yamah flashed him a look of warning but Yormie caught them. He had always wondered about Pastor Amadou. There was something about him that he couldn’t put his fingers on. Pastor Amadou has been too good to him. He was his spiritual guard. He patronized his baptism feast. He was the only outsider to visit his place of work. His children usually brought him food and force him to rest a little. Yet there was something awkward about the pastor he didn’t understand. “Ok folks, we are all members of the same church. I want you to tell me the truth if I am your brother in Christ. I just saw Yarmah warning glance when I mention Pastor Amadou. I had thought that there is something abnormal about the pastor; no, I don’t mean mentally. I don’t know what I mean but please folks help me out”. Yarmah glanced angrily at her brother who sigh and left the room for the toilet. Yamah explain the true story as she told by the pastor. Yormie burst into tears. But before he could realize it; Yarmah has pulled his head on her lap like a little child and was rubbing it as he cried

bitterly. “Look Yormie, Pastor Amadou has forgiven you, God has forgiven you; so why spoil this holy day for us by crying. Her brother returned rubbing his hands together nervously not knowing what to do or say”. “Brother Yormie he said; I did not make that statement to torture you. Please forgive me. Yormie who had regained himself said; “God I am sorry, yes you are right; I will give him a few shares after I say that I am sorry”. “No said Yamah; If you apologize before giving him the share then he will refuse your offer. Keep it a secret yet until we have asked him collectively to accept a few shares”. “Yamah what would I do without you and Mulbah. You are people are always finding the short cut for me. Thanks he said wiping away a stray tear’.

‘Look my man said Mulbah I want to ask you a question, changing the topic.

Now you have a lot of wealth, how soon will you find a woman, built a house and start a family. As for me I am in love with Pastor Amadou’s daughter and I hope to ask her hand in marriage. ‘Kpo, kpo, kpo gili ya gala kpo, kpo said Yamah jumping up and clapping her hands. Congratulations! I will be the bride maid’. ‘Yes’, said Mulbah. ‘I will be the groom’s man / best man said Yormie’.

‘Look, said Mulbah; I asked you a question and you have not yet answer me’.

‘Ok said Yormie after a minute of silence; I don’t think I will marry’. ‘Why’ they both shouted? ‘Because, he continue; there is only one women in the world that I am in love with and she wouldn’t have me, so no need hurting feelings, let us let sleeping dogs lie’. ‘Who is she? Tell us her name and we will help you.

There is nothing impossible with God’, they both said excitedly. Sorry folks ‘but there is no use; let’s prepare for Mulbah’s weeding’, he replied. ‘No tell us a little about her and we promise to leave you alone. She’s a member of the church, she’s ….’ Kpooo, Kpooo, Kpooo came the door sound. They had guest, the church family had come to visit. Everyone rush to the door and there was greetings and laughter exchanged. Later they discuss the usual family matters; studied the Bible and sat to a late supper before they disbursed.

CHAPTER 15 Yamah ponder the matter of Yormie finding a decent wife and starting a family over in her mind. She could see why things were so difficult for him to go and tell the young woman he love about his feelings. Yormie was now like a relative to her. She felt responsible for his well being. He was doing well so far and many persons; even if they did not love him respected him for his money. He was in good standing in the church and was now chairman of the evangelism team. He contributed to the education of many students both in and out of the

church. He was well off but she noticed that he was not happy. Now today she had seen the actual problem troubling him. He was in love with someone that he was afraid to approach for love due to his past. Who was that girl that he was afraid off? Didn’t he know that because of his wealth many of those girls out there would even buy a lotto ticket to win his love? She laughed. He was very funny; didn’t he know that he could buy many girls love in war torn Liberia? He just had to say the word and they would drop like oranges ripe on a tree. Yet she understood him perfectly; he was afraid because of his past. He said the young lady was a member of the church; but she had not seen him close to any girl in the church besides her and her brother. He said the one he love would definitely not accept his request; why, for what reason? She hoped that she could know the girl so that she could be in the positive position to help him.

After work the next day around five oclock; Yamah came over to Yormie store and pretended that she was there to purchase some morning food the house was short of. After getting the items Yormie invited her to share some fruits with him. She said “eh hemn yesterday you were interrupted by our guest while describing the girl you love.” The plum that he was eating drop down from his mouth; “Oh I am sorry, he said ; why don’t we forget this topic , it is no good and it pains me when I consider it.” His eyes fill with tears. Yamah was astonished and touched. “I am sorry I hurt you Yormie; it’s only that I thought I could help. You see I really care about your happiness and this topic have disturb me since. “My God what is this? Sorry Yamah I was only acting like a big baby. It is a bad way to treat a guest.” They both laughed and after five minutes Yamah excused herself to go home and prepare supper. As she left Yormie prayed; God please find a way to make her know my intentions about her are true and even if it causes my life; I can laid it down like you just to have her as my wife. I love Yamah LORD but I am the killer of her parents. Even if she love me back; would it open old wounds; what about Mulbah, No Jesus NO! You must help me. It is so painful. He burst into tears again.

She was peeling a big pine apple when the thought came into her mind again.

Why was Yormie so emotional over the question she asked? She really saw actual tears in his eyes; he was very hurt why? Why did the topic trouble him so? Something unusual was at play here and it was not insanity. While turning these questions over in her mind; there was a knock on her door and when she opened it; her foster mother had come to bring her some cassava. After thanking her, they discuss many things and just before leaving the woman

asked about Yormie. It was than that Yamah brought up the topic that was on her mind. The old Woman listened for sometime and said; “I know the girl”.

“What”? “Mother do you really know her? You old people amaze me all the time; you notice little things that others take years to notice”, yelled Yamah.

“Who is that lucky lady who is definitely going to be my in-law? I will do all in my power to win her for Yormie and bring him some peace and happiness!

Who is she Mother? What is her name?” The Old lady sat quietly for sometime analyzing the issue at hand. “Mama tell me what is it; you are behaving just like Yormie.” “Yes”, said the old woman; Yormie told you the truth, it is better to let sleeping dogs lie. You see if this thing comes out it could be very wrong and destroy Yormie and many others. It could get very painful and affect the work that you, the Church, and everyone else have done to reach this point.” “But why Mother why” asked Yamah I don’t understand; so you want to tell me that Yormie will not get marry in life? Yamah was very frustrated with this issue. It seems to be getting more complex by the minute. What was going on here?

The old woman sigh: “Yormie will get marry to some other girl; but will never love her like how he loves this one; that I can understand. When I was a little girl my Mother told me the story about Pendoras box. I don’t remember the story well but it seems like our world in the beginning; was at one time perfect and happy without evil. Well all the evil you can think about was lock up in a box with the instruction that come what made be, rain or shine; no one was to open the box. Well this girl Pendora was curious, nosy, and wanted to know what was in it; just like scientist of our days whose experiments have brought us HIV AIDS , Ebola among many other laboratory sickness which they now blamed on African and green Monkeys who had been in the world since the beginning . As the say goes “Curiosity kills a cat”; and when day came that Pendora did try to open the box just a wee little bit to peep into it; the evil within it force it wide opened and enter the world. I don’t remember what happened to her; but from that day sickness, death and all manners of unimaginable things came out and spread into the world bringing with it a harvest which you, Yormie, and us all are reaping from today. Think carefully before you open your own Pendora box. Can you live with the consequences?

Let’s both pray about the matter and by next week after service come to my house for supper alone if you are still desirous to know the woman.” With that the Old woman took her leave plunging Yamah into more confusion than she previously had.

That week was not an easy one for Yamah; she couldn’t get the topic out of her mind. Her brother had noticed the change and asked her what was happening

and she replied that her work load was heavy these days. She watched Yormie carefully to see if he had any sign of mental breakdown but failed to detect any. He was as normal as anyone. She invited several of her friends / girls to supper. These were the cream of the society in beauty and intelligence but noticed that true to his word; he did not have time for any of them as he did not even try to flirt with any of them. She even encouraged one of her dry faced friends to approach him for love which she happily oblige to ; but it was all in vain for he turned her down with a very expensive gift , saying that he knew the feelings but he was in love with someone else. The week seems to go very slow to Yamah but at last the day arrived and they went to church and spend the entire day there engage in various types of activities and when it was time to go home she told Yormie and Mulbah that she wanted to discuss something private with their foster parents. She promised to let them into the secret later when she returned home. They looked at each other and said they would be waiting for her at the house.

She took her time strolling and enjoying the cool evening breeze. Whywas their foster Mother words so harsh in her ears as if it was a crime to fall in love? Did she have a secret hatred for Yormie since the both were from enemy tribes?

What other dark secret was about to be revealed? As she entered the house, she noticed that they were ready for her. They knew she was strong will, hard headed, not afraid of anthing so easily and would come by all means to find the answer to the puzzle. After greetings and hugs were exchanged they sat to a cool cup of home made fruit juice. Let’s pray said the Old man; “Lord Jesus your ways is not our ways and we do not understand the way you choose to work and why you work that way. We pray that if this is your will, part of your plan, than let your name be glorified for what you ordain must come to pass ; but if this is not your will let no pain be a part of this labor. Thanks for making us your instructors/instruments by which your plans are revealed. Not our will Lord; but let your will be done in this matterAmen. “Why the mystery, the solemn prayer, and ceremonies over this matter asked Yamah; I am confused now.”

But her foster father said to her,”peace, peace, let there be peace.

Well Yamah once more let me welcome you home my daughter. Your Mother told me all that transpire between you two and I am very bless for the wisdom and patience with which you both handle the matter; for it is indeed a most sensitive issue. Before answering your question let me ask you one that I know you can handle. Yamah have you ever been in love; are you thinking about marriage? The question took her by surprise. “No Father I have not given the question of love or marriage a thought; maybe I have not found the right man

yet “ Well I won’t prolong the matter you came for much; are you willing to bear the consequences , come what it be “ asked her foster father? “ Yes Father I feel responsible for Yormie and think that I am entire to know about anything that is disturbing his happiness.” “Okay than; the girl Yormie is in love so badly with is no other person then you”. “What” shouted Yamah; but I am like his sister?” “No Father laughed Yamah, if this is a joke; stop right now and tell me the true.” “Yamah grow up and open your eyes, the girl is our church member and won’t have him regardless of his riches. Why; because he hurt her so badly there’s no way around the matter. That boy loves you Yamah and only you alone; now what that means I don’t know. He’s afraid that if he asks you and you refuse it will break up the relationship. He afraid your brother and relatives will kill him for even daring to think about loving you .No, to him it is impossible” said her foster father. “But, But, oh LORD how could have been so stupid; Yamah burst into tears and ran out of the house without saying another word or goodbye to anyone.

CHAPTER 16 Mulbah and Yormie were siting playing monopoly when Yamah came running into the house and headed straight for her room; but not before the boys had seen her tears stain face. They both ran after her but she locked the door.

“What is the matter Sister; they both shouted. “Nothing”, she answered them back. I only want to sleep because I have to cover up for someone at the working place tomorrow”. “What about the meeting you went to at our foster parents home” asked Yormie. Yamah took a minute before answering that it was nothing much. “Look Yamah we are not satisfied so we are going to find out from our parents right now “said Mulbah. “No, no, stated Yamah opening the door; the old people had nothing to do with it. I found out about this boy who is desperately in love with me and thinks I am the only woman he can live with or else remain a bachelor forever. I don’t know if it is possible to marry him under the circumstances that I don’t love him; however I don’t know how to turn him down politely without affecting him” ,she said quietly. “Who is this boy; “they both asked? He’s someone I rather not talk about until I can sort things out in my mind. So please I have told your guys the truth; go back to your game and leave me alone”. Mulbah agree but Yormie said he wanted to go to bed at once since he seems to have developed a slight headache.

That night Yamah did not sleep. She walked up and down in her bedroom contemplating on this complex problem. What should do? ‘The problem is that she didn’t really want to hurt Yormie; yet she couldn’t marry him under the circumstances that life has placed them. People would kill them with gossip

and she would be outcast from the family and town. There was no way out in this case. Yormie had killed her parents before her very eyes so there would be no excuse for him. Her brother would strongly oppose to it and this time might be successful in taking Yormie’s life. In fact how would the church take it? How would you take it Jesus? What would you do? Give me an answer, a way out.

But why am I looking at things as if I want to marry him? Am I in love with him?

I know that I care about him I don’t want to see any evil happen to him. I want him to be successful; but does that mean that I love him? In fact, what is love?

How is it different from friendship? If the circumstances were different; would I have gladly married Yormie? She turned these and many similar questions in her mind until she was reminded by the crow of the rooster that it was day.

“What; thought Yormie? His entire life had scattered to pieces just now. Now he had nothing else to live for. What was the use of acquiring vast properties, money, cars, etc? Yamah was the only hope he had of living. He had long wanted to tell her much he loved her, how he wanted to marry her; but how could he? He had killed her parents before her very eyes? How could he account for such wickedness? He had turned the matter over in his mind for months with no answer. The entire community including her place of work would be against the idea. Yet there was no other woman in the entire world that could replace her in his life. Now someone else had beaten him in the race and openly approached her. No he could not allow this to happen. Something must be done, but what? He couldn’t go back to violence, violence was not the answer. Could the church help to convince her? But his worse evidience to date of brutality was in church on Pastor Amadou. He couldn’t tell her brother; that would mean his death. Yet there must be a way out. Please Jesus, please tell me what to do; show me the way. I want to live and only for you in heaven and Yamah on earth. Lord you save my life for a reason. Please Lord save my sanity once more by showing the way out of this matter; however not my will but yours. The crow of the rooster started him; another day had broken.

The next day the house was strangely quiet Mulbah was astonish because both Yamah and Yormie refused lunch and supper. They both spent most of their day in their rooms and when they were outside; they appear as if they were on another planet. Something was very wrong here. This trouble him greatly becuse he had never seen his sister this distress before. The more he thought about it, the more he was confused. So around five in the afternoon he went to their foster parent’s house and explain the circumstances to them. They exchange worry glance but said he should ask his sister what was the matter.

They caution him that some inquires were left better unanswer until God

choose to reveal it in His own manner. He left their home more confused that ever. What in the world was going on again?

The next day while Yamah was at work her brother came rushing to her.

“Yormie has had an accident and is lying unconscious in the emergency room; no one knows what he was thinking about but he ran right under a truck packed far off the road”. “No”; cried Yamah rushing to the E.R. He was just being rushed to surgery. The chief Medical Officer saw her and beckoned; “I was just about to sent for you, multiple head injuries; this one will be tough. It’s a seventy, thirty chance of survival”. Tears swell in her eyes as she pick up her surgical tools and was about to rush into the operation room. Before leaving her foster father who had brought Yormie to the hospital touched her arm and said; “let’s commit this problem to God quickly. Lord you gave us Yormie; it is yours to do as you wish”. Yamah left for the operation room mad at her foster father’s prayer. “Do as you wish, why didn’t pray for healing; suppose God kill him. Stupid, stupid, boy how did you manage; what were you thinking about, me? How could you be so stupid as to put us both in this critical position? They operated on Yormie for eleven hours.

“What was he actually thinking about”; asked Yamah eating at her foster parents house? She had been forced to come home with them. Mulbah had agreed to remain by him until Yamah could come the next day. After she asked the question her foster parents exchange glances. “Do you know anything else I don’t know about the matter”, she asked? “After you told Yormie that someone wanted to marry you, he had a mental crash; I’m sure replied her foster father but that doesn’t mean you are the cause. You remember what I told you the last time; this matter is tricky and delicate; only God can solve it.

Leave it him to do as he will”. “Oh! Oh! She cried bitterly. How could I be so stupid? I thought I was protecting him now I have destroyed him only because he loves me. Yes, he must have been so disappointed and running the matter over in his mind forgot he was driving. I must go the hospital at once”. But her foster parents convince her to remain with them for the night.

CHAPTER 17 That night as Mulbah sat by Yormie bed, he was confused by the words coming out of Yormie’s mouth. In the state of unconsciousness he began to talk over and over about how he was going to approach the matter of marrying Yamah.

How Yamah meant life or death for him. How could he stop the other guy from taking her away from him? How would he tell her brother about the plan?

Would her brother help him? No I don’t think so only God can help me. Please God gave me Yamah’s hands in marriage. Mulbah couldn’t believe his ears. So this was the real problem? How could be such a fool? Did he want to die?

There is no way possible that he could marry my sister. This guy must take us to be fools for saving his life; now he wants to capitalize on our mercy. How could he conceive such an evil idea in his mind? OOOhhOOO a rebel is a rebel and as a leopard does not have the power to change the spots in its skin; so are they with their evil thoughts and ways. Well it was impossible so no need crying over spilled milk. Oh yes, no need to worry his head over the matter; no one would agreed with it, not their relatives ,not their foster parents, not Pastor Amadu and neither would he; but what about Yamah? What would her reaction be if she heard about the matter? She surely would not want to bring about disgrace to the family and Church. All this while as he listened and pondered these things over in his mind he had been sitting besides the bed of the unconscious talking man; certain thought struck him. He stood up and walk to the windows.

What a fool he had been; why didn’t he see it earlier? Everyone but him knew about it. Yes, Yamah knew and that’s why she was so confuse on that evening.

She must have learned it from their parents. But how did they know; did Yormie confide in them? No; his statements these last few hours didn’t indicate so. How could he save Yamah from this evil dog once and for all? She like this guy but the circumstances they faced was impossible and could destroy them both. He must find a way to save his sister. He walked over to Yormie’s bed and look down at his neck. I can just choke him here and now and that would be the end of this matter. He look at his hands and the back of Yormies neck; and thought again, it must be a nice clean job. He flexed his fingers and brought them around Yormie’s neck.

Yormie was dreaming that another guy was going to marry Yamah and the only way he could stop it was to submit his life to the angel who could prevent it from happening. “Yes, yes, he shouted; take my life, take my life and let me die instead of her. Please hurry; take my life quickly before you change your mind.

The fastest way is to strangle me, please hurry. Suddenly the angel vanished and the disappointed boy burst out crying; why can’t you just carry out a nice clean operation, it wouldn’t have lasted long and we both would have been saved. I loved Yamah very much from the days of our youth. At first because of my love for Yamah I couldn’t believe that her father had a hand in my parent’s death; and God knows if I had half way been sober that day and recognized

them, I could have save their lives for Yamah’s sake. Yes, for Yamah sake; kill me please because I don’t deserve to live.

His hands were fastening around Yormies neck when he started begging him to take his life. Mulbah jumped back like he was hit by a rock. What he thought; you mean it’s true this man has Zakay that still protects him even after he gave his life to Christ. Zakay was the name given by the Liberians to the traditional medicine they believed to have been protecting them. In certain cases some of them sought for young babies and stab them in the back and drank their blood every morning before battle; while others ate the hearts and liver of strong fighters either cooked or raw. There were yet others who roasted theirs victims alive and cut out vitals parts and ate it hastily before the life went out of their victims. On every side of the war; in every rebel faction and even the government force; these practices were common.

I talked to a girl once who still could not stand the sight or scent of fresh meat.

She was really getting a difficult time at the refugees camp because of her choice of diet. She had been force to cook for the rebels by day (which comprised of their human meat and raped by night by just anyone who desire her). By the time she arrived at the camp she had been affected with HIV/AIDS among other sickness. She narrated how she was forced almost daily by a sadist general to open up babies and children like chickens and cook them for him because he loved tender meat. Everyday before eating he would bow his head and prayed; and do the same before and after returning from the battle front. “To which God I wondered daily as I prepared his meal, watched him rape and kill young and old alike and saddle me like a horse. Sometimes I wanted to kill him but how far would I get. I kept praying for him to die on the battle front but one thing that surprises me is why God keep these types of things on earth so long.” “Pastor Do you know why bad people live so long while the good suffered so much at their hands.” She looked at me with tears stain face as I held her hands and began to pray with her. In my prayer I asked God to show her that these people live long because God wants them to realize the wrong they did to us and repent and even though it was very difficult; God wanted us to forgive them and teach them to live like normal persons.

“What are you a real Pastor self; she jerk her hands from me after I ended my prayers. Forgive who; God what is wrong with this man, don’t he have ears?

After all I just explained to him; he still talking about forgiving those dogs”? I looked at her and asked calmly; do you have any one fighting on any side? Oh yes, she replied; my brothers are on the front lines right now with LURD

pushing out Taylor and revenging for us. “I see; I replied, well I will leave you now. As I got at the door she shouted; “What? No I can’t believe it; you mean, Pastor come back here. Why did you ask that last question?” “Oh No nothing I said; I only wanted to look at this thing you told me from the other side.” She burst into tears as I walked over to her and cradled her in my arms. Everyone in the room was crying including me. Yes, this was the evil war had visited upon us and only forgiveness which is very difficult on the surface can solve it returned us to normalcy.

Mulbah was astonished by Yormie’s revelation; how could he have known his thoughts? He wanted to save his sister but couldn’t allow himself to assist this man in suicide. No; he wasn’t a cold bloody murderer; there must be another way out. He walked back to his seat and turned the matter over in his head till morning. That morning when his sister came in, he narrated the entire happening to her; ending with the statement that he knew his sister knew about Yormie’s love for her. She was her own woman, of age to make her own decisions; however in so doing she should please consider the family, both dead and alive. He left the hospital in tears. Yamah watched her brother go tearfully out of the hospital and walked over to Yormie and inspected him. She then walked around the wall greeting both nurses and doctors on the morning shift.

CHAPTER 18 Wow! What’s all this yooyoo about in my life; she thought as she sat down by Yormie bed. She sat for some time looking at the unconscious man. She now had to make the decision to confront the problem head on. What would she do now? Which approach should she take? Well everyone expected her to tell Yormie “Look I have helped you to put your life back together; why don’t you just find another girl and marry her. Let’s just be friends. But how would he take it? Supposed she just marry him and let people say what they wish; but another problem there was did she really love him? How could she love a man who had killed her parents before her very eyes? Well she was now a Christian and as a Christian she had forgiven him; but was it as easy as that. Wouldn’t she hate him in the future enough to murder him? Why? I helped to cure him; that’s why I care about him .But does caring means loving. He stirred and she stood up and looked down at Yormies eyes.

“I love you Yamah; he said now conscious and looking back at her. I love you and will even pawn my life to marry you; that is if you will have me as a

husband, which also means if you can forget that I was a killer, that is if you believe that God has forgiven me and has given me a new life through your help, that is if you can ignore what the world will say and do. I love you Yamah; life has play a nasty game on us and have placed us on two different sides. How can we break the gap? I just wanted you to know and even if your answer is no I will always live for you till my dying day. Don’t worry that I will take my life if your answer is no. I love life now and will die a Christian. What happened was a real accident. I was trying to find a way to tell you before the other guy take you away. “There is no other guy “said Yamah. “What; exclaimed Yormie trying to sit up, but Yamah push him gently back on the bed. But you told us yourself last week when you came home in tears” “Look said Yamah; this is what really happed, and she proceeded to tell him the entire story. The real problem is what do we do? They both were silent for hours until their Church member came to visit them.

Ten days later when Yormie was inproving and about to be discharge from the hospital; Yamah reached a decision. She called her brother and said: “Mulbah I want to tell you that I have decided to marry Yormie. Before Mulbah could replied her; she help up her hands and continued: I love you very much my brother but you can’t be my husband neither can you decide my happiness. I have not yet told Yormie but I think much good can come out of this matter if God is in it. I have prayed over the matter; I have search my heart and I have decided to bear the consequences. But I love you very much; more than you even know. If you are on my side I will feel more secure in the step that I am about to take. “Oh God; shouted Mulbah; Yamah are you mad, I regret that I didn’t finish that killer in the hospital. You look here too Mulbah; replied Yamah cryiong in disappointment, If anything happens to Yormie it will affect me. If it doesn’t make me crazy; it will kill me”. “But Sister how you can say that; said Mulbah now seeing the seriousness on his Sister face. How can you do this to me? How can you forsake our parents in their graves “, he cried? “Come on Mulbah grow up; if you were in the place of God mankind would not have been saved. Some things, some solutions are better left in the hands of God. Life must go on and we must learn to face the realities brought upon us by it.

Which memories are you referring to about our parents? Yormie has some bad memories too. Even if our father did not have a hand in Yormie’s parents death; he could have helped the dying boy that night and life would have been a different story. Yet God has a reason for everything. He can take what Satan has used and get good out of it. Brother if this is the plan of God; nothing can stop it. I call you here to beg for your approval because you are the only one on earth whose approval I need. I want you on my side she said with tears

streaming down her face. “Get up Sister; said Mulbah; your mind is already made up, so give me a week to think about it. Thanks she said getting up; well what are we eating today? Cassava leaves with dry ground hog meat with plenty of pepper and fresh new oil he replied smiling.

That evening Mulbah went to their foster parents place and asked for advice.

They sat for a long time after hearing his story. Their foster Father replied; Mulbah can’t you see the hands of God at work here. Do not attempt to stop or discourage them any longer. You have tried twice and nothing has come out of it. What else can you do? If it is God will for a Divine purpose to be achieved through this union; nothing can stop it; if not it won’t happen, no matter what they do. Mulbah still was not satisfied and the next day he took a car and went to Wiensue and put the matter before their surviving relatives. Leeiii; said his Senior Aunt Torkorlum, (it is a lie) this cannot happen in my life time. Never, she jumped up emotionally knocking her thighs. If Yamah try to commit such a crime on this family; I will personally kill her with any means I can. They will not live to tell the story; advice them oooo, yes advice them. They are playing with a poisonous cobra and it will certainly bite them if they dare it. Stop it by any means you can Mulbah; sacrifice your life. But I can tell you surely that if you fail I will succeed. I will say no more about the matter. I will only speak to you next over dead body matter; when I come to bail you out of jail for revenging for the death of your parents.

On the day he was to be release from the hospital; Yamah announced to her foster parents what they already knew. I have decided to accept Yormie’s proposal. I will marry him. True reconciliation can only begin from somewhere and if it is God’s purpose for our countrymen to see our example, reflex and change; than maybe we will have won. Her Foster Father asked her; “have you prayed over the matter”? Her Foster mother asked her; do you think you can live with the consequences. Many people in this entire nation will hate you with a good cause, your relatives will reject you, and your workmates will gossip and make fun of you. Everywhere in the country you will have enemies; even in a common place as the market ground. Some will refuse to sell food to you. Can you bear it? Yes, she replied. Well they both replied; we are with you all the way. We will support you, sponsor you and always be here for you.

Yamah was so happy she hugged them both. They then together went to the hospital for Yormie and there Yamah told him her reply and about her parents support and analysis. He hugged them and hugged her. I have no words right now; actually I am out of words. I feel like how I felt on that day when Pastor Amadu baptized me and told me that I was now clear of my sins in the eyes of

God. Oh; if only I could have brother Mulbah on my side. Wait, Yamah said; let’s wait for God’s time.

CHAPTER 19 What kind of wedding should it be; asked Yormie? They were sitting underneath a mango tree. They had been coming here the past three days to discuss the pros and cons about their decision to get married. For me I would rather we leave Gbarnga and drive the two hundred miles to Monrovia and have a secret wedding there. I am sure people will try their best to make the day uncomfortable for us if we do it in Gbarnga said Yormie. “What are you saying Yormie, we run now and we will have to run all the days of our lives.

When ever there is a problem I say let’s catch the bull by its horns; as the saying goes. No Yormie I won’t run. I won’t have a secret wedding because if it is God’s will that we get married than nothing can stop us replied Yamah. I am only afraid for you Yamah; there are many people out there who I wrong and will be hurt for life. They will stop at nothing but to get equal; can’t you see?

Someone might kidnap you, hurt you or even kill you just to get even with me, countered Yormie. “Look Yormie when I decided to get marry to you I took in all of those possibilities. I know there is great danger; even death in the decision that I took; but I give it to God and I am satisfied that I can face it, come what may. I still say that we must have a public wedding. If we have a secret wedding our enemies will defeat us but if we have a public wedding; all the condemnation will come out before that day. The harshness will then be carried away in the reality that we really did it said Yamah. Yamah you are simply crazy said Yormie. Be assured Yormie that what God has ordained to happen; nothing can stop it , insisted Yamah. “Alright my life you are correct smiled Yormie; where do we start? Oh; I have an idea. We must take an excuse from the counseling Pastor Amadu is conducting and go to Weinsue to inform my relatives and friends about our plans to get marry and find out if we can trace any one who knows if there is any member of your family who survive the war and could still be alive somewhere. Yormie give Yamah a very hard look.

“Face the bull and take it by its horn”; my God was this love or a secret plan to revenge. Trembling within he excused himself to go and urinate.

Pastor Amadu was very surprise when he heard the young people plans. Do you know what you are saying he asked? Oh yes Pastor; Yamah replied, we are aware of the dangers involved; but Pastor if reconciliation don’t start with someone it will never start. Hurt, pain, hate, and the evils we have experience in our lives can only go away with the spirit of true reconciliation. If

reconciliation stops with us only; I mean, if we two reconcile and our families don’t face the same realities; there will be no future for our nation tomorrow.

Maybe, just maybe God can use our little example to teach others in situation like or unlike ours that true reconciliation is possible. Pastor we are not afraid of the consequences; we know that God is on our side and therefore we fear no one. What about your brother; asked Pastor Amadu? Pastor; replied Yamah; he is not a kid any more. I love him more than any other person on earth; but I cannot let him interfere with my choice of a husband. He will come to himself; it will take time but he will come to himself.

Yamah do you know what you are saying; asked Mulbah when he was told that they wanted to go to Weinsue to inform the people. Our Aunts will surely kill you two crazy fools. What do you think you are doing; committing suicide? Do not go to the village; it will do no good. Sorry Yamah said; our people must understand that we live in a different world now. War has come and dismantles the life we had before leaving behind a trail of hate, hurt, pain, regrets and remorse. Well some of us want to be real human beings and not living in the hurt past the rest of our lives. No Mulbah; we must come out of it because life must go on and wounds must be heal and normalcy must returned to the land.

How will these things happen if we can’t learn as God children to forgive, teach others how it feels to forgive by our examples and forget the past and join our hands together as one big family that destroyed our land; to rebuild it? No one is saying it is as simple as pouring water on the ground to be soaked up in hours. No; we may not be able to forget so easily but with time we can learn to erase the picture of the past hurts from our minds.

If Yormie and I are to get marry today; it is not only us both that are getting married but our families, our tribes and surely this is a step in uniting our wounded nation. Our story will be told as examples to help others forget and forgive each other, to unite our broken communities and the slogan “if Yamah could forgive Yormie and marry him; then who can’t forgive” will be on the lips of many. In so doing we can’t leave the old people out of our decisions. The war traumatized them as much as it did to us and we must help them face the realities or die trying. They must be made to understand the why and learn how to be a part. Good speech said Mulbah; you ought to run for the speaker of the House of Representatives. But my dear I can tell you that if you people dare go to Weinsue; you will not returned the same that is if you even returned. I have decided to be on your side; what you love, I must love; but I must warn you that Weinsue is a death trap. Yamah jumped up and hugged her brother; tears flowing from their eyes. Oh Mulbah I am so happy now that I

have you on my side. I can challenge the devil himself and defeat him. I love you Mulbah and I know that Yormie loves you too. Thanks Oh, thanks a lot but I must still go to Weinsue. We can’t turn our backs on our only living relatives.

No we can’t; what we must do is to make them see things as we see it. Thanks Mulbah I love you a lot.

Mulbah was very worry; why is my sister such a head strong fool? Does she want to die? Who can save her from those witches; they will surely kill them both. Oh LORD what I must do to stop them from going to Weinsue; show me Father, how can I, he prayed as he walked towards their foster parent’s home.

Come to think about it; Yormie was not such a bad guy but his past history. I think I can accept him if Pastor Amadu can. I can accept him but what about others; would they try every day in every way to make my sister life miserable just to pay him back for what he did to them, maybe even harm her. Well I must accept reality, Yamah is not a small child, and she’s older and more educated than I; so I hope that she knows what she is doing. I am going to make this last attempt to stop them from going to Weinsue; if I fail, well I will wash my hands and accept the future. He knocked on the door of his foster parents’ home. He met them having dinner and was force to join them. After dinner; they retired to the porch where Mulbah explained his mission and was advice to leave the children alone. Let God take control. You can pray for them. Leave everything with God I know that things will work out as God has planned it. When do they want to leave for Weinsue? Mulbah answered; that they were leaving for Weinsue the very next day. He bade his foster parents’ goodbye and decided that whatever the case might be; he would accompany them. If worse comes to worse; we will die together. He wiped his sweat coming down his face with his fingers and hurry to tell them his decision to go with them.

CHAPTER 20 The three arrived in Weinsue around five o’clock that Friday evening. Aunty Torkoulon Gbelemasue and her sister had just come from a oil making koo (a fellowship of palm oil producer who gathered to assist one another at their production; usually after the nuts are cut, clean and picked for boiling) and was sitting in front of their house when the blue Toyota drove into the yard with its three passengers. First the women did not recognize Yormie as they joyfully hugged Yamah and her brother. Yormie had change a lot since he left Wiensue.

And who is this; asked their aunt? Oh Aunty; I see you are getting old, you

mean to tell me that you don’t know Yormie Wonyanyeen. He is the reason I came. Yormie come and shake my aunty hand. Aunty Torkoulon Gbelemasue behaved as if she had been hit by a thunder bolt. No, no, no no, nooooooooo she shouted after some minutes of silence. How dare you bring this killer into my yard? Well I will end this matter myself today. She ran into the kitchen and came with the axe and cutlass. I must finish this killer before I die, she said rushing to Yormie; but Yamah and Mulbah jumped on her and disarmed her.

By this time the yard was packed and there were many persons in the group calling for Yormie’s blood. The tension was explosive and it took five trucks of soldiers and armor tank to quiet the matter down after fifteen minutes of shooting in the air. Yormie, Yamah, Mulbah and aunties and uncles( who had come later) were arrested and taken to the peacekeepers check point where they were jailed in separate groups; pending the next morning when the matter would be looked into by the commander and the new town chief who had taken over. The tension was very high that night and twice huge groups of town’s men almost rush on the jail to bring it down so that they would get Yormie. Even the commander was confused. Ever since he had taken assaignment along with UNIMIL contingent; the town had been very peaceful with almost no incident at all. He had never witness this peaceful town on fire.

Around mid night after about fifty villagers began to stone the building, the commander was force to imposed curfew and his soldiers had to patrol the town until morning.

That night while in jail Mulbah began to querry his sister and Yormie for their foolishness that almost cost Yormie’s life. Can’t you see the violence that has erupted since we arrived in town? There is no way these people can come to a compromise. We must leave early in the morning said Mulbah. I told your sister, Mulbah; that this trip would only cause problem for us. Someone might harm her. She is innocent. If they hurt me it is no problem. I am guilty. It’s true let’s leave in the morning. Please Yamah, said Yormie. Look you women in men pants, you can leave tomorrow morning if you wish. But I am not leaving this town until I have completed the task for which I came. Weinsue is my home, Liberia is my country and we were affected with the same sickness. It is only normal that they react in this way at first; same as you did Mulbah, but I believe that they will reason after some tome. So gentlemen or gentlewomen whosoever you are you can leave in the morning but I can wait. I am use to waiting for months at times as my patients fully recover from their sickness; and in the end waiting always pay off. The two boys were shocked and said nothing. They couldn’t believe their ears and they couldn’t leave her alone, and

they knew it. Large stones were hitting the building until around twelve mid nights.

The next day Weinsue was jammed packed. People had somehow heard the news and rush to come over from nearby villages. Some brought knives, cutlasses and country spears, others brought single barrel guns, double barrel guns, grenades and even one brought a basket of poisionous snakes; but they were disarmed by the peacekeeping forces before entering the country square where the chief compound was located. The prisoners were brought there early the next morning around ten o’clock. The place was heavily guarded by soldiers and even reinforcement of two war tanks. The crowd was split into two, the Gios, Manos, and some former fighters and the town folks and villagers mainly from the Kpelle, Lormas, and Mandigoes along with a few other tribes who had intermarried. The tension was high people were calling each other names and accusing each other for various war crimes. In the town square were the town elders and remaining Zoes who were invited by the chief to come and look into the matter. Also present were the commanders of the E.C.M.O.G and UNIMIL peacekeeping force and a few top ranking officers who were present as observers. Few elders from the Gios tribe hung heads and decided to represent the Yormie family (eventhough they had some grave issue with Yormie himself). The both families sat on different benches facing each other.

The chief greeted the audience and asked for silence. He stated that neverbefore in the history of Weinsue had the town been so divided. Tension is high like war time. Had it not been for the peacekeeping force here in Weinsue the town would have been burned down last night. I thought that the war was over my people. Well my elders, we are gathered here today to look into the matter that caused all this tension that also destabilized our town. We must be very careful how we judge this matter today because it will affect the stability of this town and reopen many war wounds that were healing. The guilty party will face the wrath of this town as never before. I therefore called this case to order. He wrapped his gable on the table before him three times.

First of all we will call Torkorlum Gbelemasue who I learned that the problem started in her yard; to explain to us what took place in her yard yesterday. “Chief, said Torkorlum knocking her thighs and bouncing as she spoke. There is the killer of my sister and her husband; she explained pointing to Yormie, he murdered them in cold blood as they tried to escape to Gbarnga before my very eyes. I was just smart to leave the line when he was killing them and come

back with my family. This town does not belong to Gio people. They killed our people and now they want to come back and live among us; no way. This last statement caused uproar in the crowd. The Gio people began to shout; “have you forgotten how you and the Kran people shed our blood in this very town?”

Shut up said the Chief when the argument almost went out of hand as Torjorlum and a Gio woman begin pointing fingers at each other and exchanging insults. “Anyone who fights in my court will be dealt with according to the laws of this land; shouted the Chief, calming down the tension. Stick to the facts woman. Yes Chief; continued Torkorlum; this murderer was brought to my house yesterday by my late sister children for a reason too big for my mouth. I wanted to kill him and revenge for them but my late sister children jump on me before I could end the matter. Chief I swear on anything I believe, the church oooo, the marks on my back oooo , then let the country devil swallow me for the second time; even if I will have to kill my sister children with him; he will not go free. He must dieeeeee! I have finished my part. I have said my own. Well; said the chief; that makes the matter even more serious then I thought; yet there is a part of this entire situation that still puzzles me. I am even more curios to know why a man who killed your sister and her husband in front of their children will come back into this town; to the very family he murdered home, along with his enemies in the same car.This is becoming more seriopus than I thought but I can’t say nothing yet until I consult my elders.

Democracy with all its benefits including executive power has always been in Africa; unlike what many think, but have never been fully understood by the outsiders. No traditional Leader has the power to take a decision or pronounce judgment without the full consent of His elders. If one must successfully penetrate the social norms or ways of thinking with any new ideas; it must first be planted deep within that core of traditional power group call the elders.

What ever they condemned is accepted as condemned and what ever they agreed to is accepted by even the most educated person in the society. If Yamah and Yormie could penetrate this group to learn how to forgive and move ahead ; the idea would take roots and spread like wild fire but if they fail to fully convince these people ;it would be a lost cause and they would most likely lost their lives and not even the peace keeping force could protect them.

One way or the other they could be killed mysteriously; but Africans are curious by nature and love to hear the end of a story. If there must be forgiveness; it must start with the roots and spread upwards.

After consultations with the elders it was decided that chance would be given to the Gio elders representing Yormie to speak before allowing the young ones to say a word. You Elders who are here representing the Wonyanyeen family, you can now present your side of the case. Please keep to the point. Old Man Sonkaiuay had lived in Weinsue for about thirty years. He first came to the town during the days when the motor road was been constructed by the late President Tubman. He was brought as a constructor by the then Public Utility Authority. He met and married a beautiful kpelle wife , joined the Poro society but never forgot his roots(The fact is even if he wanted to fully be absorbed into this new system; he couldn’t because one very bad habit of Liberians is they love to label people. The name “that Gio man “would remain on him forever). He was not known to be a trouble maker, was quiet most of the time and love music. He was very much respected by all the town folks regardless of their tribes. He now stood up to defend a cold blooded murderer; to the surprise of those who respected him. Some of the people in the crowd commented loud enough for him to hear; “A Leopard never changes it spots, a Gio man is a Gio man.

Chapter 21 The Old Man struggling to stand up said nothing in response to the allegations from the crowd but faced the Chief and Elders. Chief Dawonma Gboflor Kpakolo it is an honor to be given the privilege to address this body of knowleable Elders who have sat on cases more difficult than this and in the end wisdom that brings about unity and strength always prevailed. Chief before you were appointed to be the head of this town; during the time of your predecessor Kurkula gbeleen KOOhoo. There lived an honest and kind man who was brought to this town by his church. Like me; he had a Kpelle wife, two beautiful daughters and this boy we are calling murderer today. By the time the war entered Weinsue this child was about ten years old or a little more; I didn’t know his actual age but he was a child. That family was murdered right here in this town and according to what I learned, he was the sole survivor. Don’t get me wrong; I am not telling you this story because I want to make an excuse for him but because when the entire case comes up we should be in the position to look at both sides of the coin before coming to any conclusive judgment.

Never; because from what I heard; he is evil itself in human form. Like I said earlier; I only want to emphasize this important point: that everything has a beginning and every coin has two sides. We the Gio people and many other tribes have been accused of being traitors, ungrateful, and hateful because of

what this young man did in this town. I am sure that I speak for every Gio family here; if killing him could solve the problem we face in this town, we could gladly hand him over as a sacrifice. Look Chief in this town our children are ostracized and ridicule by their friends and relatives as being all sorts of things. We have no friends whether we have resided in this town for fifty years , born our children here and people know we did not partake in the war or not.

Our farms are uprooted by night and trample upon by so called revenge seekers. Well I said to myself when this problem began; God does not do things for nothing. May this be the beginning to the end; whatever that means. I don’t know why he came back; even through this is the only home he knows. Worse I can’t even understand why he came in the company of people whose parents he killed; but I came to defend him because of his parents, because of all that has happened to us since and until I can assure myself that he is really guilty and should be fed to the dogs for meat. I came to defend collective guilt; I came because I am a Gio man. I will like to call him to defend himself and our dignity he destroyed; if it so pleased you our Chief.

When Yormie stood up to address the crowd; there were shouts of boos and stones thrown at him. Even the firing in the air of more than ten soldiers did not stop the crowd from throwing stones. One big one hit his face and cut him badly on the face. Yamah rushed there and wiped his face to the surprised of the audience who froze after a stone cut Yamah too and holding his hands blood draining from the both of them faces; she shouted; either you listened to him or we walk from here now. Everyone froze at the power of her words and the fact that this was Yamah Gbelemasue who parents this evil murderer killed.

“Is that not Yamah? Wonders never cease; is she betraying her dead parents by defending this killer? Are we not doing all this for her too? The surprise was too great for the crowd; Torkorlum Gbelemasue yelled “Yamah” and fainted. It took a few minutes to revive her. The Chief stood up and said; even a man condemned to death has the right to a last word, so let us please hear these young people out. Did I say these; oh yes because I see the accused and the accuser standing hugging in front of us like brother and sister or husband and wife; instead of murderer and victim. What actually is going on here? Old man Sonkaiuay was so astonished that he didn’t know he had turned his glasses upside down. Go ahead son for somehow I can’t see you again but I will hear you out to the end; even if it is the last thing I do on this earth.

Taking a deep breath with blood running down his face and his hands tight in Yamah hands; Yormie began his narrative. Yormie explained how he and his sisters were born and live in this town with their parents. He explained about

his parents and the Gbelemasue friendship and how during the period of the crisis; they were forced to break up their friendship by the community. He explained that regardless of all that happened; he and Yamah were yet playmates. He told them about the happenings of that terrioble day and night of his parents’ murder; his interaction with the Gbelemasues and how he was found in the swamp by the advancing rebels who cure him and suppressed his grief with strong drugs mixed with gun power. How after that time he was never sober and carried out executions unknown to himself. He explained that he couldn’t really remember the specific time he carried out the Gbelemasue killings. There were so many everyday to kill with different methods that human became things and not persons. He explained about his madness and cured by Yamah and finally his renewed love for Yamah. I followed them here today to ask for forgiveness and tell you all about my love for her; what ever the cost may be. I love Yamah and she has forgiven me. If love is madness, then I am mad and if forgiveness is healing then I am healed.

Never, shouted Torkorlum; never will such a disgrace happen. I will kill Yamah first with my bare hands. You witch craft, you killer, never; you are just signing your death warrant by thinking so. Well; said Yormie; I cannot excuse my actions; they were evil and unjust. I am ashamed of them and have prayed to God for you all to forgive me. However aunty; if my life will pay for all that happened; I offer it to you, take it. I give it up for my crimes and so my tribes’ men and women here will not suffer because of my actions. With that he fell at Torkorlum feet and offered his neck. Yamah drop there too. Kill us both Aunty. The other aunts try to pull her up but she refuse to move. Torkorlum snach a cutlass from one of the Chief body guards and raise it in the air to chop off the neck that had been offered her and would have succeeded if not for the expert shot of a Peace Keeeper who hit her hand and cause her to drop the cutlass.

There was now real chaos; everyone was talking and the arguments became so hot that the soldiers began to shoot into the air. By then soldiers had push both Yormie and Yamah from the ground and made a ring around them ‘facing the crowd on the alert) and also around the council of Elders. With the two protective circles in place the Chief asked for order and then after consultations said he was more than confused. This is strange; never in the history of the Kpelle had tribe had such a thing happen. Yamah I want you to tell us in your own words; why are you backing this young man here. Why did you and your brother have to come back here with him? I am sure you were aware that this action would have brought about chaos and very dangerous consequences.

Defend yourself or you will pay dearly for the chaos and calculated confusion that you brought to disrupt the peace and tranquility of this town.

Yamah cleared her throat and stood up straight and tall; fearless with dry blood from the wound on her face making her as beautiful as an African queen on a wedding. My Chief and Elders I am to blame directly for this confusion in our town today which I deliberately brought today to correct something that if corrected will go a long way in bringing peace and stability to our country. If corrected our brothers and sisters who are out there in other countries ;who are afraid to come home and faced what Yormie faced today; will gladly returned to their native land full of remorse and try in all ways possible to correct the wrong that they have done. Do you know that as we speak many of the ex combatant rather live with their former commanders then return home and be rehabitated into normal society? Don’t that sound dangerous to you? At the least sign of chaos these boys and girls will go back to the wild barbarians that they were because we didn’t give them a chance. As we speak many of your sons and daughters are being sold by these commanders daily to different conflicts in our region and elsewhere. They are doing so to keep them in combat fitness in case of an outburst when the United Nations Peace Keepers leave and leave they must one day. That said to lay the premise for what I am about to revealed to you about how we can put the pass behind us and press forward with our already wasted years of fighting to some peace and reconciliation. Sorry Aunty I know this will be hard for you but someone must take the first step and the ball just happened to be in our home.

“If I say was not warned by my brother and my husband here; I will be lying” said Yamah. Her Aunty jump up as if been hit by a thunder bolt. Yamah have you been bewitched, she yelled; over my dead body will that killer be your husband. “Shut up woman and let us hear some sense here, said a Gio woman.

Come and teach me sense killers’ oooooo you want some more blood to drink; answer Torkorlum. Chaos broke out again and it took another five minutes for the soldiers to calm it down. The Chief warned that anyone breaching the peace again would be jailed for one month and only release after paying a heavy fine. Yamah took the stand again and smiled at Yormie and said to her brother; come here Mulbah and stand by me so that we die together today or walk free after planting a seed of truth into this generation that will be remembered forever. Mulbah came and held her other hand.

It is true that our parents were killed by a very hurt, revengeful, drugged and misused boy called Yormie. I knew Yormie and his parents long before that

fateful day. The young drugged executioner I saw killing my parents was not the Yormie that I grew up with. What happened to him and change him so.

That’s a question for every one of us here in Weinsue, in Liberia as a whole.

Were we part of the cause? Of course we are all guilty of the crime we are charging Yormie for today. As the war drew nearer to Weinsue; instead of standing as a united people, with one mind and protect one another; we broke up into little groups to join the winning sides. We ostracize some of the people we lived with for years and separated ourselves from them. Because they were left unprotected many were killed. Everyone of us in Weinsue , in and out of Liberia took an active part in the war; directly or indirectly ; gossiping, pointing fingers, assisting government soldiers or rebels with information true or false about our so called enemies and if there is one thing you can’t pass by a Liberian with; it is his/her mouth. We are all guilty. I was just a little child during those days but I remembered clearly the night my family turned away a helpless boy whose family had just been murdered in his presence and he himself wounded. Think for yourselves my dear countrymen; don’t you think the story would have been different today if he had been helped during his hour of need? Not only would the story have been changed but we won’t have been here today.

After our parents were killed we went to Gbarnga and not knowing anyone there we sought refuge at a church. We were taken in and cared for by a man who was mourning his two sisters who had been killed by kpelle rebels fighting along with the Gios. He was a Kran man and he took care of us; not telling us about his troubles or pain on the day we met until years after we were grown up. He cared for us like his own children and was instrumental in my going to America to become a doctor today and my brother going to Ghana for education. He has seven children but not one has ever been to America. Why didn’t he send his own children when the opportunity aroused? Why didn’t he turn us away? Well because he knew God and because that wouldn’t have brought the dead back to life.

My countrymen and women we must learn to put the past behind us; forgive one another regardless of how bad it seems. When we forgive each other, the hurtful picture will gradually fade away as we unite in the building process. But if we continue to keep in mind other people crimes ;forgetting the part we played, our parents, relatives, friends, and tribesmen and women played; we will always be at war and total peace will not returned to our land. We will not noticed what is happening to our living relatives who partook and are afraid to come home because of this type of reaction and the next war will hit us

unawares and be more barbaric then the first. They are sick; we are sick but the cure can only be found as a family and not as individuals.

I want you all to know that I love my aunties and all my remaining relatives with all the love I can afford; but I want them to know that its time to look beyond hate if the future of our land must be peaceful. This wouldn’t have been easy for me if I didn’t love God son Jesus Christ with my life; if I wasn’t taught the Bible. Everyone of us have sinned in the eyes of God and once we confessed and go to him for mercy, regardless of what we have done in the pass, how bad we have been, he/she is forgiven by God. WE are not only forgiven but cleanse and given another opportunity. I am sure you are aware that our parents were baptized Christians and were taught these basic facts about their faith; so I believe wherever they are, they must be proud of us for implementing them. Yes, Yormie the killer is now a change man in God sight and should not be taken by his past records but given the opportunity to live his new life. Yes Chief because I love my aunts and other townsfolk; I decided that before I took the vows of marriage with Yormie; I should explained to them the whys and seek for their blessings. I am sure they will understand my logic or God will teach them it. Finally let it be always said that if Yamah could, with the love of Jesus Christ in her mind, marry Yormie; then I can forgive you.

Let it be a lesson for every tribe here who wants total peace to return to our land. So chief that is why I couldn’t marry Yormie in secret. Weinsue is my home and belongs to me as much as any other person. Liberia is our native land and it takes all of us; our collective efforts to heal the wounds we all without exception inflicted upon her. This is the part we want to play in order to usher in a new era of total reconciliation; so that our brothers and sisters can return home and join the reintergration process that will unite us once more.

CHAPTER 22 The entire area was silent when Yamah completed her defense. The Chief asked for recess for about an hour for the elders to hang head. The Peace Keeping Force Commander was invited. Everyone went home or those from other towns went to find something to eat as the crowd disperses for the recess in a reflective mood; calmly discussing the pro and cons of the matter.

The prisoners were released to go and find something to eat but Mulbah advice Yamah and Yormie to remain in the palaver hut under the soldiers guard while he went to find food. As they sat; a pretty little blind girl came into the hall with her mother. They spoke to them and sat near them. The mother of the child said that she just came to tell Yormie that she forgive him and offered her

daughter to be the flower girl. “Forgive me for what”; asked Yormie? The mother told her story.

I am a Kran woman. My husband was a soldier of the Armed forces of Liberia.

We were on our way to Grand Gedeh when the road was cut and we jumped into the bushes to by passed Gbarnga as he said. I don’t know how we manage but we ended up at your gate. It took minutes for him to be noticed and identified by a former AFL colleage who had now deserted the army and join the rebel forces and was posted to this town (and still lives here to this day).

My husband was hanged on a tree and skin alived; his penis cut off by you and given to him to eat. I was three months pregnant at the time and made to watch as you people carried out the act. Before he died I was raped by your two friends and raw cassava was pushed into my private part by you. I bled badly but was saved by a woman with whom I still lived today. She is a kru woman who children were also fighting along side you and later deserted to the L.P.C. She is a Christian and has helped me to see the wisdom in accepting Christ as my LORD and Savior whom I have long accepted and found the same kind of peace that Yamah mentioned today. That is why I came to tell you that I have forgiven you for the death of my husband; my raped and the blindness of this innocent one here. But I also have something else to tell you.

Like you my husband partook in some of the worse killings of this century and God used you to punish him. I just hope he could have gotten the opportunity to repent like you. My husband took part in the Lutheran Church massacre. He said that his duties that night included killing the little children whom he called Gio rebels. He didn’t want to waste shots on them so he burst their heads with his gun butt. He had just stabbed one young teen age mother who as she lay dying with her husband begged him to save their only child. He laughed and burst the head of the child with the gun butt. The burst head splashed on the woman who sat up and told him word for word how he would die. She said you will bear my daughter back for me but you won’t see her. Here is a sign that she is my daughter. She will suffer in the womb and be born with a mark. This child here today neither resembles me, any of my relatives nor my late husband; but who knows the mind of God. After he told me the story one night when he came from beheading another Gio man from Paynesville; I beg him to resign and let’s go home. It took me three weeks to convince him but by that time his fate was sealed. I hoped he had live to find Jesus as you did. I am happy for you. You will never understand but with time and experience you will know how I feel as former soldier wife; who knows the realities of the evils our men committed and boasted about; who saw a decent human turned into a

beast because of other people greed for power. May God really help you in your new life? Thank you Yamah; you are a true child of God. Yormie was crying bitterly when Mulbah got back with the food and joined them. Oh Lord; I am an animal not a human being. Why Lord why did I stoop so low in life? Why didn’t I know the truth before? How many other children like this innocent one did I harm? The little child left her mother and went to Yormie and said : Uncle stop crying , I don’t like to hear my uncle cry, please everything will be alright. God will help us. Please uncle do not make me to cry too. She felt his face and began to wipe it with her dress. Yamah and Mulbah looked at one another; their eyes filled with tears. Yormie stopped crying and the little girl jumped on his lap. Uncle will you take me for a ride in your car before you leave; she asked? Yes, he replied. Promise, she said. Promised , he replied and she kiss him on the jaws and went back to her mother.

The deliberations of the Chief and elders took hours and by the time they returned the moon was high up in the sky shining so brightly as if God Himself wanted even the ants on the earth to witness this historical case. The town square was jam packed as more and more people arrived from other villages calling for the blood of Yormie but been broken sober after listening to the explanation of others about what Yamah had said earlier. Everyone was now curious to know the outcome of the case as there was a split opinion among the people who were wavering from one side to the other. Some Zoes and town people wanted the Chief to deny the young people from marrying and use the traditional bush power (Country Devil) to enforced and implement the decision. Others agreed with Yamah that it was time for by-gones to be bygones and the general interest of Liberia reconciliation and reintergration be placed on the forefront and letting the future take care of the healing process.

Again there were a lot of violent arguments, few punches thrown and lots of noise until the soldiers call for calm by shooting in the air again. As is the tradition in Africa the Chief stood to answer the people in a manner of African paradoxes and parables; a method understood better than any other form of dislodge.

YOOUURRRRRRRR!!!! YOOUURR!!!!!!! Shouted the Chief, YOOUURR responded the crowd. (4 xs) Never in all my years have I witness a case as complicated and intense as this. It is one that has added gray to my head and I am sure will be a story that will remain on the lips of this and future generations whatever the outcome may be. What really is important here is the fact that the elders could not come to a conclusion about what should be done in this case. Some shouted burn him alive, others free the young people, and yet others give him

to us and we will give him a dose of his own medicine. Patience my people said the Chief hushing the crowd again with the wave of his hands. That is what I intend to do in this case. I intend to turn the young people over to you the Liberian people, the people of Weinsue to judge them. What; shouted the Peace Keepers Commander jumping to his feet? Patience my friend; replied the Chief; I am not stupid and I know the laws and must have had some sense of judgment or would not have been chosen to become Chief. The commander sat down. And yes Sir; continued the Chief, my people must get a chance to exercise Justice upon this case or we will have fail these young people who risk their lives to come for it; we will have fail all those who died, our children out there afraid to come home and the entire citizens of Liberia who are looking for an opportunity to start again but do not know where.

What do we do in this case to a man who killed our people, yet our daughter wants to marry him; a son who we breast fed , yet betrayed when he needed us most, a girl ready to sacrifice all her dignity to marry the man who killed her parents? How do we judge a boy who was drugged, given weapons to fight and brain washed by people who we have honored and voted for to be our Leaders? Who do we blame for the creation of these our children who were turned to instruments of death; ourselves who were never satisfied with the Liberia God give us and wanted a chance we did not know, those we struggle to send to learn book in foreign countries that came back with war, the people who back them, trained them and supplied them with drugs, weapons, and a false dream? Where is Charles Taylor today, the leaders of LPC, LDF,INPFL,ULIMO J, ULIMO K, LURD,M.O.D.E..,L etc; who ran propaganda to raise money, buy weapons to killed their mothers and fathers and destroyed the innocence of our youth and steal the virginity of our country ? Who should be on trail here; their victims or themselves? My answer is we all should be on trial here because one way or the other we all contributed to the evil that visited us. But the decision does not solely lie in my hands but the outcome and our tomorrow depends upon the decision we render here today. There was a case my late father handled long ago and I want to tell you about it because sometimes guilt escapes the corridors of Justice.

A truck driver was mandated to carry an empty casket into the interior of Liberia; about three hundred miles. As they were loading the casket to the back of the Hino truck; he told his carboy that they would leave very early the next morning. The carboy over ate that night and therefore he over slept. The driver came to go but his carboy was not there. He was very quick tempered and violent to the carboy and the boy fear him. I must pause; a little to tell you that

violence makes our children to react in a very particular manner. Many times they do things that ordinarily in their right frame of mind would have thought twice before doing. He got so mad about the delay and decided to leave the carboy behind and deal with him when he returned from the trip. Just as he was driving outside the carboy came running but fearing to stop his boss manage to hang on the truck and got into the back with the casket. Since it was an open truck; soon the cold breeze began to make him regret his decision.

Well he thought; since I am alone I will get into the Casket and shelter myself from the cold. He got into the casket and closed it leaving only a small space for air. Very soon he was warm and went sound to sleep.

The truck driver did not notice his boy climb into the truck and after driving for about an hour decided he needed a cigarette. He stopped the truck at Gbatala which most of you here know is about forty five minutes drive from Gbarnga; remain in it with the engine running and called for his cigarette. While the transaction was going on about ten boys and girls who were from the high school in Gbarnga came to beg for a lift. Okay, he replied; but hurried up and get in because I am in a big hurry. This entire transaction took place in less then three minutes and they were on the road again in full speed. When they entered the truck; they noticed the casket and began to argue among themselves as to whether the casket was occupied or empty. There were two points of views. One group said the body in the Casket was being taken secretly to its destination. The other group said secret or not, when there was a body in a car; the rule in Liberia was to indicate its presence by putting palm leaves on the car. Well you know students; they all wanted to be right so they put forth all types of arguments. They could not see in the casket because it appeared closed. The noise was so much that the carboy awoke and the first thought that came to him was that he had reached his destination and he was being buried.

He therefore jumped up shouting; I am not dead, so don’t bury me alive. I am the carboy of this truck. Well you can imagine the students fright; they all jumped out of the fast moving truck and died instantly. Now who is to be blame for their death? The driver didn’t know about the carboy presence; there is no law written to hold a man who slept in an empty casket and the students didn’t know that the person jumping from the casket was a living being.

My Dear citizens I am telling you this illustration to bring to your knowledge that many mysterious things happen on this earth and sometimes we are not in the position to place blames on anyone. In such cases all we can do is to learn the lessons of the pass, buried our hurts and move forward into the future.

What are those events that led to Yormie here behaving as he did? Can we

really place the blame on him alone or also see ourselves in the picture. Let me see the hands of anyone here who family did not partake in shaping the events that made him and many of our sons and daughters the evil machine they became? Should we stop these two from getting married? Which laws will back us? Are there written laws that says that a man or woman can not get married to the killer of their parents? Is there anyway that we can find logic in what they are doing and try to encourage them and participate. I don’t know but I want the family in this town square here whose relative did not partake in this war directly or indirectly to step up and pronounce justice upon these two.

We will abide by your decision. We will start with you Torkorlum. As she was about to stand her daughter shouted; don’t even dare mother; don’t you know I am married to Kpelle Rambo, an ex combatant. Oh I forgot she said weakly and sat back down.

I want you to know that sometimes I your Chief in charge of melting out Justice daily wondered if real Justice can be found upon the face of this earth or is it only perfect in Heaven. Look here at Torkorlum whose daughter is married to a former fighter. He is a great hero and defender of this town according to the story but did he fight without killing one innocent person? How do we know that somewhere his victims are not swearing to get even with him too one day or that he too kill someone parents? Well we do not know because his base was in another county and another town. Suppose you see a butterfly caught in a spiders net fighting for its life; and eyeing you so pitifully as if saying help me friend, I am dying here? Is it Justice to free it and give it another chance to live?

What would be the just thing to do; save a life or walk away? The point here is it might be unjust to the Spider and we could be depriving it of its daily meal.

Put your self in both the case of the butterfly and the spider and see if you would feel nice if you are caught in a trap and left there because your friend don’t want to deprave another person of their justice or have a trap set to feed your family and someone free the animal because of their sense of justice. This is exactly the case in which we find ourselves today.

Well again I will pause a minute and listen out for anyone who have decided to condemned these two or either of them. He paused and took in a little water into his mouth and holding the cup waited for about two minutes. The little blind girl stood and said Chief free my uncle; I want him to go and take me for a ride in his car. Mama say he made me blind but she have forgiving him and he is sorry; can’t you see for yourself that he is sorry. Her voice sounded loud and clear and for some strange reason penetrated the hearts of every one. There was not a sound from the crowd. It seems as if nature had frozen and not even

the animals or night creature made a sound. He put water in his mouth again and turned it around in his mouth and wasted it to the ground as if getting rid of a bad taste. Well I must say that as much as I want to live in the pass and condemn this young man here to death like either of you out there; I must be a man and wash the pass bitter taste from my mouth and wake up to the realities of real life situations we are faced with today. Two persons who have been affected for life by this young man are by some strange power calling for us to forgive him. One is innocent and if I didn’t hear the words spoken I would never have believe it.

Even we who are elders cannot play God. We think our own thoughts and have many points of individuals’ views; but collectively we have decided to limit our ruling in the matter to advice. We seriously see some mysterious force at work here; supernatural maybe even the plan of God or the ways in which our forefathers want to return the land to normalcy. Torkorlum you earlier swore by us and we cannot change your decision; but want to tell you what we see from far. To you we say to you (and this is not by force); let the young people marry. What; shouted Torkorlum jumping up and throwing herself on the ground. OOOOHHOOOO so these children medicine has caught you too; so my sister and her husband die for nothing and their blood wasted on the ground for nothing? Yormie your come and kill me too; come and kill me too.

Commotions and arguments broke out again and it took about twenty minutes to quiet it.

After that the Chief resume; Torkorlum I repeat that my decision is not binding upon you and your family. Let the young people get marry. Their marriage will serve as a proof that we can have total reconciliation in this country, beginning with the Kpelle tribe which is always deem to be soft. If these two can find it in their hearts to love one another, and live together regardless of their past; I am sure that Liberia can put the past behind her and come back to normalcy again.

If these two can find it in their hearts to forgive each other; than who are we to stop them? The more clearly the picture gets to me the more I am beginning to admire them. We should in fact be proud of them because they have made our families, our town, the cradle of total peace and reconciliation in Liberia. No one is saying that the hurt will go away in one day. No, but with love it will gradually fade away as new healing balms are added everyday with each step we take. What can we benefit by holding on to our hurts? Let me tell you a truth here; this is the roots of most wars, hurts that have been past down for generations. Do you know that years ago the Gios and the Krans quarrel before and didn’t solve their disputes but bury them only for it to show its ugly head in

our generation? Do you know that many persons who die from this crisis were victims of old unforgotten quarrels? If you keep this hurt in your mind and revenge today and not reconcile and accept our children back home ;regardless of what they did or who they were in love , we will always be at war. Little conflict and we will go for each other throats like dogs; war for revenge and those revenged on will want revenge again, so you tell me, when will the circle of revenge be broken? I am proud today to say that I can see light at the end of the tunnel and yes the storm appears to be over. The process of healing has started and I urge everyone present here today to use this opportunity, this example to start their own healing process which will lead to total reconciliation in Weinsue, the nearby villages and towns, and indeed the entire Liberia. Not everyone have what it takes to do as Yormie and Yamah but surely everyone of us have what it takes to forget the pass and move into the future of unity ,forgiveness and reconciliation. Torkorlum speaking for myself and the Elders here; including the bush master (Country Devil); he dance a few steps signifying an important conclusion; I and my Elders will give full support to this marriage and will serve as one of its chief sponsors, providing all the food needed for the wedding and one week peace festivals where all the chiefs and Elders of Liberia who can made it here to Weinsue will be invited. The entire crowd roared with applaused.

After the Chief spoke the Peace Keeping Commander added his own contribution. Never in my entire life, in my own country or anywhere else within the world, where I serve as a professional soldier have I seen such a great and wonderful event such as is happening in your town today. All the money the world spend to buy tanks, guns, to send soldiers can not pay for this peace these two young people have given you. This example is very expensive and should be appreciated by all citizens of Liberia and other trouble spots around Africa who will hear of their example. I am truly impressed I don’t even have words to compare this great historical contribution to peace in Africa; indeed the entire world that I have witnessed today. Only in this way can your town, your country be totally healed. We cannot remain here forever and if you hold on to the past our stay here will be wasted because you will definitely go back to war. Forgive the past, look toward the future and the hurts will begin to go away. I am going to take this example home for my own people to learn and share it with parts of Africa in all types of conflicts, religious, tribal, civil, political, etc. As for us you have our word that we will make sure that this wedding is held under a peaceful atmosphere; I and my Commanders present at this historical occasion will contribute one month salary each to make this wedding a memorial one. Let this day be remembered in the history of this

town, yea this nation, this region, indeed Africa as a whole. After speaking and a big applauded; the commander turned and shook hands with the young people and sat down.

The Elders from both sides of the divide advice the family to unite; and make this union a great one, that will have a lasting impact on the entire world. They told Torkorlum to hug Yormie but when she rose to do so; yormie fell at her feet, crying bitterly saying forgive me aunty forgive me. I knew not what I was doing until it was too late. The little blind girl came and held her feet too with tears streaming down her face, please aunty forgive my uncle please. They both held and kiss her feet crying. Many in the crowd including the Chief burst out crying too for the sight were too pitiful to see. After a few minutes Torkorlum took a deep breath and laid her hands on the boy back four times.

As if a spiritual blanket had been lifted from over the town and a bad spelled broken by some divine inspiration; people in the crowd began to turn to one another and hug those who were their enemies with since the war. There was so much shedding of tears and hugging as the meeting broke up. Suddenly the entire town was in a joyous mood, drums began to sound and that night Weinsue did not sleep. After the meeting Mulbah and Yormie off loaded the gifts they had brought and later took the little blind girl for a ride in the town.

They later met the woman hosting her and her mother and thanked her.

Yamah and Yormie said the little girl and her mother were now their responsibly and promised to give them a house of their own in Gbarnga and a half share in the Used car business. They slept in the peace Keepers guest house and early the next morning after eating food prepared by Torkorlum and others they took off for Gbarnga.

CHAPTER 23 When they arrived in Gbarnga, they were surprise to see their foster parents, Pastor Amadu and many other concern church members waiting on their varanda. What is happening asked Mulbah; as people came around them saying thank you Jesus. Lord you are the answer to the world problems. After they calm down a little Pastor Amadu explained that when the church members heard that soldiers were leaving for Weinsue and the tension there was dangerous and could lead to fighting in the town, all because of two enemies’ children in love; the church became concern and decided to hold a fast and prayer. As is Liberian tendency; romours began to fly here and there.

The entire Gbarnga was overtaken with false romours and lies; some said Yormie had been killed by thepeople of Weinsue and Yamah badly wounded in the process, others said Mulbah led you into a trap and killed Yormie, yet other

said that the Gios had started fighting over the death of Yormie, therefore the peace keeping force had to go in and the fighting was intense. We heard some shooting but yet decided to pray to God. Yamah explained to the church members all that had taken place in Weinsue.

As they talked over cool ade and cookies pass by the boys; people began to praise God and Thank him that all was well.. Yamah explained that the wedding would take place at the end of the month. For Sundays from that date it would be conducted by Pastor Amadu and her father. There was a lot of excitement as people departed; some planning to partake while others said that the church should pray carefully about it before going ahead to accept the challenge because anything dangerous could happen and many people could be killed in the church.

What type of wedding should it be; asked Yamah as they talked over their plans the next day. I would love a rainbow wedding replied Yormie. But who will we find to stand in a rainbow wedding? We will need six men and six women; put in Mulbah, where will we find the rest of these people. Look Yormie; why not choose a breakfast or traditional wedding if you want something big said Mulbah. Oh thank God; shouted Yamah excitedly; I agree with Yormie. It should be a wedding of total reconciliation; a rainbow wedding consisting of one member of each of the tribes of Liberia , who have been victimize in the war, mainly primary victims who have been directly affected. What Yamah are you mad, asked Mulbah; where will we find all those people and besides it could go very wrong and very explosive and lead to violence. Look Yamah; that God help you escape from the first one doesn’t mean you should put Him to a test again.

Look Mulbah, this is my wish, I just know it is the Holy Spirit who put this idea into my mind. However I will pray about it; why don’t you boys do the same. If it is from God let this be the sign. Let us come up with those we need in one week. If by the end of the week we don’t have them; then I will drop the idea, said Yamah. Oh Yamah, you are not serious; one week is too short said Yormie.

Well with God all things are possible; let’s see his will in this matter. Yes, yes, said Mulbah, thinking that it was an impossible task to accomplish in one week; one week is fine.

The next week the news of the wedding spread like bush fire; everywhere, everyone was talking about the wedding. The very next day a young man came over to their house. He was very hamsome but had no hands. He said that he came to see if it was possible to contribute in the wedding. Why? Asked Mulbah; who are you? I am Major General Mosquito of the LURD forces and

live on the human hearts and liver cooked with plenty of pepper in togbogee. I was about eight years old when I came in contact with the rebels of Charles Taylor who killed my parents and burned our home because we were from the Mandingo tribe. My little sister; a little older than I called the butcher because of the way she chopped her victims to pieces and I escape and was on our way to Guinea when we ran into this group of rebels who arrested us told us to join their cause after telling them our story. They give us some pepper soup and something to drink that brought a lot of relief from the pain. That night my sister lost her virginity as I watched. The next day I went on my first assignment with a bunch of bananas to sell to the enemies. They took it from me; of course and ate it free but I accomplished my mission. I spied out their hide out and reported back to the group who attacked them and killed the commander. I got my first taste of human wine (blood) and raw heart. I learned swiftly and within a short time my sister and I headed a small boy unit of our own. Because of my love for human blood I was named mosquito and my sister who loved to chop up her victims to small pieces; the butcher. We became very famous and even reporters came and took my picture with human heart. After capturing Monrovia from Charles Taylor on our way out of the city our car had a bad accident. All on board die besides my sister and I. The town nearest to us residents found us and chops off my hands and my sister legs. They left us to die but we were rescue by a woman who two children we killed for some strange reasons. She care for us and introduce us to Christ and we have been with them ever since. I have always pray to returned home but as you can see with no hands I am useless and the rest of our family members who saw us in action will never accept us. I gain some hope yesterday after hearing your story and decided to come and volunteer our service to be a part of your wedding; maybe God will bless us and we will be reconcile with our relatives.

The next to come were two brothers who were fighters for LPC from the Kru and Grebo tribes. They had been force to rape their mothers and strangely the Kru boy mother got pregnant. The Grebo boy mother committed suicide and they were know for not only killing and raping but looting and burning towns and villages to the ground. After the war they were disarmed and had taken contract to fight in Ivory Coast where they continued their evil ways. They both were wounded badly in battle and were recovering at a refuge camp in Guinea when they heard about the news of what took place in Weinsue. Was it possible that their people could find a place in their hearts to forgive them?

How would he face his mother and that child he fathered through her? How would they ever face their town folks? No all hope was lost for them. It was better to returned to conflict zones and fight until maybe Liberia goes up in

flames again where they could return to loot and fight like the good old days.

But Yormie and Yamah had proven that peace was possible.

From the Vai and Gola tribes came victims of the ULIMO J rebel group. This group like all others practice canalibalism and committed worse atrocities than Yormie and mosquito combine. They burned hold families alive in their homes and set farms ablaze. Their check points were bloody and each wore a dry virginal of a young child on their faces for luck. Daily they killed young children and drank their blood, as young as two years old. Musu and Tene had been captured and force to fight along with them and cook their human soup. At night they were raped. As time went on something click in their brain and they became fond of killing only men. Later they became so desperate that they fell in love with eating penis. They cut them off and wore fresh ones on their gold chains daily and ate whole pot full of them. They force many mothers, wives, children to eat the penis of their husbands, fathers, sons and relatives. With the war over they migrated to Ghana but were unsuccessful in getting on the resettlement program and were just returned home when they hear the story of Yormie and Yamah and came to volunteer their services and see if they too could get forgiven.

Lofa Defence force which was organized by Charles Taylor had some of the wicked rebels. They were told they were fighting a religious war against the Mandingoes and battled bitterly with ULIMO K . They wanted to get the Mandingoes out of the land; failing to recognize the fact that there were Mandigoes who were borned in the land and who ancestors were listed among the tribes of Liberia. The burned Mosque and brutally raped and burn families of Mandingoes alived. From there came Asatu and Bendu who families were naked, raped before been killed in their presences. They were captured and forced to work as sex slaves and cooks for those who killed their parents. Now they only wanted their lives back and Yormie and Yamah seems like a new Liberia of forgiveness and a newstart.

Sekou and Ahmed were fighting for ULIMO K but were fond of burning their victims in Christian mission schools and churches. They said it was in these laces that Taylor forces and Lofa Defense forces hid. One day they caught a pastor and his family and decided to burn them alive in their church. The man had a six months old baby and begged them to save the child but the refuse and put them in the building and burned it. After they were about to leave they heard the child crying and went back to find the child did not burn. Well they empty two rounds of their magazine into the child and turned to go but they

heard the child crying. They wanted to run but somehow found out that they could not run or leave the area until the pick up the child and took him with them. They dropped their guns and cross over to a refuge camp with the child and kept her until this day. They heard the story about Yormie and Yamah and came along with the child hoping to find peace and relatives of the child.

From INPFL and LDF came girls and boys who for one reason of the other joined the rebel group , looted ,killed ,raped, and cause various types of harm to others. They all wanted a chance to make it up to society. Also coming were their victims and before the end of the week the couple had the entire team they needed for the rain bow wedding.

On the day of the wedding members of all sectors of Liberia was present; including all former War Lord or their second in command that could make it .

There were representatives from various peace loving groups and cars flying the flags of nearly every country in the world were present. The church was too small so the wedding took place at the foot ball stadium in Gbarnga. The slogan “if Yamah could forgive Yormie and marry him; then so can I “; was all over the place. Mothers were reunited with their children and fathers with their sons.

There is no bush to throw away a bad child and it was a grand occasion as the blind little girl march up with the ring. Pastor Amadu was introduced with the song “Pick up the Broken Pieces “sang by the choir in reggae style. He preached from Ezekiel 37:1-14 and his message was a very powerful one that touched the very souls of everyone. He removed his false hands and started by telling the astonished audience his story. With tears running down his cheeks he told the audience that forgiveness was possible and the healing process a reality if we could but take collective blame. He challenged the war lords to look in the crowd that day, around Africa and other places at their victims and disarmed mentally.

“Liberia is today a valley of dry bones. We are all dry bones because we are dead and yet living in a fool’s paradise and thinking that the war is over. The war is not over for the hot coals still capable of catching fire are not dead but alive and burning. The war is as dangerous and evil to every one of us as it was when it first started or reached its peak. It is still tearing us apart and violating the innocence of the innocent ones; while we who are to blame are running around in fancy cars and ploting another day of evil. The world thinks that they have disarmed Liberians combatants but in fact majority of the troops are still together in top shape and combat readiness as when they are running and shooting around here. Many commanders still have control over their former

soldiers and are lending them to conflicts from different refugees’ camps and West African secret hide outs where no one knows or suspects them, sending them on secret operations of arm robbery, passing around as black money boys and girls and bidding their time. This is an open secret and many of you know this. The girls who fought, looted and killed are scrattered around West Africa and the world engage in prostitutions and afraid to come home even if they earned a degree in medicine. You our politicians and war lords have never change your attitudes that brought about all this evil to our land. You are still pointing fingers, laying blame, digging up the past. Is there no other way to reach the minds of our people? Yes the war is still on and there is a danger of it erupting again just after elections or when the United Nations force leave.

Liberia is yet a valley of dry bones that need the breath of the LORD to enter them in order for them to live. What kind of breath am I speaking about here besides forgiveness? We need to ask God to teach us to forgive each other if our country must live again. We must climb out of the past and move into a fresh new day. God is ready to give us another chance to live a normal and peaceful life but we must first accept the challenge of forgiveing those who hurt us in the war that we all brought upon ourselves. The time has come for you politicians to be the sinews that will cover our dry bones and unite in supporting each other. Liberia is no one private property and if anyone happens to be the President; let’s looks at the future and not their past, unite and support the person in rebuilding our torn nation. Let’s put our hands around them so that flesh will come over our dry bones once again. Liberia can be a light in dark Africa again leading in the path of unity, reconciliation and reintergration. You our Elders and Chiefs, mothers and fathers should now be ready to assist Liberia through the mercy of God to regain flesh on her dry bones. There is certainly no bush to throw a bad child and if we forgive and accept our children back home and find a way to assist their healing process; it will be a step forward in bringing unity and reconciliation to our country.

Even you war lords and we all who supported your evil cause need to stop now, think and seek for the forgiveness of each other because of the harm and darkness we brought upon our land, children and future generation. Fourteen years of darkness and barbarism that can only be found in the history of the dark ages of the world. We turned our own children to savages instead of sending them to school. Now on our hands we have one entire generation of children who did not go to school because even if they were in refugee camps around Africa they were traumatize and receive sub standand education. Go to the grave yards and see them there not because they want to be there but they

have no other place to go. They have no home because society have refuse them.It is time we put in the same zeal in raising support to develop our land and try to raise the standard of life and bring flesh back to our dry bones. The difference is that this time we must do it as a collective. The development and rebuilding of Liberia should not be the responsibility of the President alone or any oher single person or country but our collective responsibility. Get out there and tell those who give you money to buy drugs and guns that now it is time for us to clean up the mess we caused. It is time to join hands with who ever is the leader of our country; man or woman , yormie or yamah, Torkorlum or Amadu to pick up our broken pieces through the power of forgiveness and reconciliation; reintergrate our people and try to catch up with the rest of this world. Liberiuans we are centuries behind the lifestyle of the rest of the world.

America alone cannot help us develop our country. Open the doors of Liberia to all countries willing to assist our rebuilding process. Christians must reach out to Christian and Muslims to Muslims nations to come in and help us. It is time to make the transition from War Lord back to civilian and if you have Liberia at heart; it doesn’t only means the Presidency, Cabnietor Legiliture but even as a teacher .

Yes Liberians ; the skin we need now is love and love of a type that we will see each other as a melting pot and Liberian as Liberians regardless of where you came from of where you had a dirty or clean past. The skin we need is to reach out there in love and give our children another chance to make life right; the chance to develop our drug infested slums and aids infested prostitution camps. Look let me tell you the truth; the training you are giving those kids to replace the guns are all failures. Where will they work and open their shops and not be discriminated; tell me, how will they grow when you taught them carpentry and not mamagement too. Soon if they do managed to open the shops; they end up mismanageing the funds and go back to square 1.

Reintergrating our ex combatants into society is a slow and tedious task that need all hands on board. We must train them and do follow ups for about a year to make sure they are properly reintergrated.The skin we need is to collectively seek advice and trauma healing of the type these two here sacrifice their lives to give us. Let us give our former fighters another chance to make it right. Bring them home and teach them to join our armies, navies, police force and help guard our country and learn that they can hold a gun for another reason that others will be proud of them. You claimed to have train them to be carpenters, masoners etc but did you give them what it took to start off and work with them for he period of time they needed to get adjusted to their new vocations. You train our girls to dress hair and do other things but have not

given them the proper push off. Remember we are dealing with a traumatic situation here that takes time and follow ups. If Yamah was not patient then Yormie could have been dead a long time ago. It is time to say no to those who want to use us to accomplish their evil purposes. If Ivory Coast or other countries out there need fighters let them use their own citizens.

Liberians there is yet hope that all is not lost and we are yet able to get pure gold from the refiner’s fire. But let me sound a note of warning here ; if Liberia does not reconcile and move fast in putting in place mechanism of forgiveness and acceptance , we are going back into a worst situation then we witnessed.

Somilia story will be one of saints compare will what will take place when we go to elections and the United Nations pull out its forces which must happen one day. Many of you sitting in the crowd here today know what I am talking about and if anything happens most of the rebel forces will be rearmed in less than a day because they still maintain their contacts and have arms not ready to be discovered. The high tension running underground because of that same barbaric ideology of it must be me or no one else; or I must revenge, might lead us down the drain.

The last important factor I want to stress here is that there is enough space in Liberia to hold us all; whether we are Americo Liberians, Guineas Liberians, and native Liberians of mix breed Liberians (the newest race added to us from the children of the Peace Keepers. There is enough menerals in Liberia to develop our country to be one of the best; if not the best in Africa; but we must recognize each other as Liberians and only that. Some argue that the Flag must be change, others the constitution and yet others the National Anthem; but I say our attitude towards each other must be change. If we are united beyond tribal lines we will be able to bear the burdens of each other. Take an example you are dying to emulate and be a melting pot where everyone fits. Look, since the death of President Tubman the fight among us have been brutal and from demonstrations to coup and firing squad, to suppression and war of different faces, civil, tribal, religious, and even had a regional dimemsion. Two of our Presidents were murdered in brutal ways while the other is facing a shameful trail in another man land and according to another man laws; why, because we are incapable of rendering justice for ourselves. Put down the hate and forget our differences for we can not move into the future unless we do this.

Remember we all are guilty and needs pardon. Bring back our children who only know the gun and train them to be real soldiers, security guards, and police officers for there is no stronger force then those who have repented and want to make it right. Train them to build our roads and bridges, work legally in our mines and oil fields. They can be good marines and with the right salary,

forgiveness and acceptance they will gradually be absorb into the society as honorable citizens again. Many will love to return home and be a part of the process. After this wedding we will revisit the pictures of the horror we cause ourselves and families and there pray that God will forgive us and heal our land. I know Both Presudent Tolbert and Doe spirits are crying and mourning wherever they are not forthem selves but for all that happen and if unity is possible in the land of our ancestors; they have join hands and praying as Liberians for the healing of our land. True many have confessed but have we heard the entire story; I say no and we might never hear it all so we must put the past behind us and embrace a new day. Yes forgiveness is possible but someone must take the step forward as these two here toady.

Calling Yormie and Yamah he performed the wedding ceremony which including all the tribes of Liberia; standing or sitting in the rainbow. As soon as yormie Kiss Yamah the little blind girel yelled; oh uncle I can see, I can see.

Everyone begin to hug and kiss and sing the Liberian Nation Athem. Holding hands two ,two they walked to the reception center where the pictures of some of the brutal scenes of the war reminder was;touch it and cried singing : If you love me and I love you ; Liberia will be save, the Holy Spirit will come down and Liberia will be save.

Parents hurted in the past reconciled with their children, Warlords and politicians change their campaigning message to joining hands in unity for total reconciliation and promised to support anyone who won the elections. They move around the world seeking help to build roads, sky scrapers and bring in business to assist in developing the land. They traveled to countries and encouraged fighters to returned and threated problems for anyone who engaged the services of our former combats without going through the government. The fighters were trained and absorb in different security and developmental programs. Muslims went to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries to seek developmental partners while Christians went to America and Europe. Everyone had a hand on board working for the growth and development or the nation. All our companies and natural resources were open and fully functional. Life graudually returned to normalcy and at least every family had a member or two working for starters to earn an decent income to support the rest until the numbers gradually change and Liberia once more became the envy of nations because she returned to her status as the most peaceful nation on earth.

I want to say a big thank you to all who assisted us in working on the book. Know that our intention is for our beloved country to be totally healed and forgiveness reign. There is nothing impossible for us as a people to achieve in order to bring about lasting peace and stability among ourseleves. Take a look of our land and compare it to other countries in the region; developmentally we are among the least, even though we are the first independent state. It was nessary to bring the truth bitterness of the war so that generations yet unborn know that war is a horrorible factor that should not be ignored. Peace & unity in our case can only be achieved if we unite and see everyone as one big family.Don’t come to any conclusions until you have fully read every word and adjusted the meaning. 99 percent of what is written is base on facts that can be ascertain on the internet; while the 1 percent was added to bring out the full meaning of what actually happened, war, peace, & forgiveness.

Evangelism Favor P. Liberty