My memories about home

Like many refugees or exiles, I find it very difficult to dismiss memories of my home. When one flees a war zone, all that one often takes are memories of painful occurrences and otherwise. Many store these memories as images of the world left behind. Some keep them as stories worth telling later on. Images or memories followed us wherever we go and can define and shape our dreams and choices. Sometimes too, the paths we choose in life are strewn with discarded images of our past and our conversations with others are colored by our past experiences.
I grew up experiencing poverty. Many days, I went to bed hungry or felt asleep shivering from the cold. Some blessed individuals felt sorry for me and had to go against their way to stretch helping hands to me. Poverty, however, remains a harsh reality for people who are plagued by civil war and other humiliating problems. I was forced to flee home in search of security in another country. My thoughts were enticed by promises of a better life in refuge or another country. I was among hundreds of Liberians that sailed to Ghana aboard the famous leaking Nigerian vessel “M/V Bulk challenge” as a result of the outbreak of violence amongst factional leaders in Monrovia on April 6, 1996. The overcrowded refugee camp of Buduburam and Sanzulee became a breeding ground for poverty. My life in refuge became filled with disappointments.
A case in point, I want to remember my home “Liberia”, one of the most visible symbols of my lifestyle in a way that may seem intangible. Prior to the rebel incursions, I visited lower Lofa County almost every vacation. When I did, I passed through several villages and thousands of inhabitants, men and women, young and old, farmers and wine tippers, hunters and fisher men walked along unpaved roads with bear feet carrying their life possessions in homemade bags. They disappeared in mud houses covered with tithes. It is not long before these wine tippers, farmers and hunters find themselves back on the unpaved roads with their spirit very different from the ones they had gone with. Often, I stopped, looked, greeted and introduced myself as the last son of the paramount chief of bopolu. Bopolu is the provincial capital of Gbapolu county “one of the most recent created counties in Liberia”
There are so many memories that capture my imaginations on the daily basis. When a lot has been said about my memories, my home still remains questions to which I must find answers. My imaginations brings to me not only painful memories to think about. There is also a problem of reconciliation. This beckons a number of questions:
1. Why are there so many people roaming the streets of Monrovia in search of food or survival while others ride or drive flashy cars?
2. How do young people, farmers, wine tippers and ordinary people view the aftermath of the war?
3. What social constrains did the war abandoned?
All that am presently left with is memories about my home. I pray that the lord “almighty” shower his blessings upon my home.

By: Sam K zinnah
Delaware State
USA

Liberia former President “but fugitive and controversy”

After almost 160 years of independence, Liberia is yet to enjoy consultation of former president. Recently, Liberia came close to getting a former president but the opportunity was swept out like hurricane. In 2003, the fugitive and former president (Charles Taylor) was forced into exile in a peace deal that had the support of African leaders, the United States and the United Nations. Before being coerce into exile, Taylor narrowly escaped arrest in Ghana. A 17 counts of war crimes “and crimes against humanity” indictment was unsealed against Taylor while attending a peace talk in Accra, Ghana. The fugitive and former president continued to enjoy life in his calabar vacation home until lately when international pressure began mounting on his host, “Nigeria” and the infant Liberian government led by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. As the old saying goes; “there is an end to every good thing”. This proverb sounded very loud and sharp when President Sirleaf made her final decision to trade-in the fugitive and controversy” former president Charles Taylor for development aid for the country that was devastated by him “Taylor” and his bunch of sycophants. President Sirleaf’s decision to bring Charles Taylor to justice was again re-emphasized when she recently address the U.S. Congress in Washington DC. On March 21, 2006, President Sirleaf met with U.S. president George Walker Bush who again stressed the need to bring fugitive and controversy former president “Charles Taylor” to justice or take justice to him wherever he “Taylor” will decide to take delivery of his long overdue war crimes package.
Charles Taylor’s host, Nigeria’s obassanjo, has been playing delay tactics in handling over Charles Taylor. Up to present, Obassanjo is yet to make public a copy of the deal under which Charles Taylor was granted asylum in Nigeria. For those of us that have done some pivotal analysis on Charles Taylor’s crony behaviors over the yeas, are fully aware that Taylor covertly requested Obasanjo to come to his aid for fear of being eaten by Sakou Konneh’s LURD forces that had closed in on Charles Taylor and his militias (at the time). Obasanjo’s continues delay tactics to hand over fugitive and former president Charles Taylor is not a matter of facts, but simply of a “feeling” which may not have any legitimate place in the efforts to address the relevant political problems in Liberia and the neighboring countries. His “Obasanjo’s” kind of emotion driven aberration is a mojor factor of mass political behavior motivated by pathological use of “I feel” as a substitute for rational behavior. I some times wonder how Obasanjo feels about the mass killing of Nigerian soldiers in the wicked hands of the very Charles Taylor that he’s hosting and playing delay tactics in sending him to face justice. The notion of a democracy of “feeling” as a distinct from reasoning is a potentially fatal contradiction in terms, as a case of what happen in sierra Loene, part of Guinea and Cote de’ Voire expressed a large overdose of feeling but virtually no exercise of reasoning.
Years back, the world watched mothers “with scarcely strength to support themselves” carried famished and malnourished infants in their arms and died with them. Many fell victim to stray bullets & cold whilst others to intense thirst and hunger simply because Charles Taylor wanted to enrich himself @ the expense of those he claimed to be liberating.
The decision “by president Sirleaf” to bye-pass the Taylor dominated legislature and take the controversy case to the bosses is a very smart move. Her recent decision has cause panic among Taylor creations. Recently, three die-hard supporters of Fugitive and controversy former president Charles Taylor were arrested in Monrovia for having covert meeting at Jowel Howard’s congo town resident. Those arrested were: Sando Johnson, former Bomi county senator under Charles Taylor, Roland Duo, former rebel general under Charles Taylor, David Norris and Emma Smallwood. They were detained for atleast eight hours before being released by NSA in Monrovia. Charles Taylor is now trying to use every available connection he has with the present legislature to block his hand over to the UN backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone. Reports also indicate that some strange men “allegedly send by Charles Taylor from his calabal vacation home” are in Monrovia to take on some covert operations.
Recently, a vacancy was created in the Hague, the Netherlands, by Slobodan Milosevic who was pronounced dead in his reward cell. This vacancy serves as a strong signal for Charles Taylor who many believe is the next person in queue for Milovesevic’s vacant room. The indescribable regime of Charles Taylor glows like necular waste. The only difference between Charles Taylor and Adolph Hitler is the target.

Liberia former President “but fugitive and controversy”

After almost 160 years of independence, Liberia is yet to enjoy consultation of former president. Recently, Liberia came close to getting a former president but the opportunity was swept out like hurricane. In 2003, the fugitive and former president (Charles Taylor) was forced into exile in a peace deal that had the support of African leaders, the United States and the United Nations. Before being coerce into exile, Taylor narrowly escaped arrest in Ghana. A 17 counts of war crimes “and crimes against humanity” indictment was unsealed against Taylor while attending a peace talk in Accra, Ghana. The fugitive and former president continued to enjoy life in his calabar vacation home until lately when international pressure began mounting on his host, “Nigeria” and the infant Liberian government led by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. As the old saying goes; “there is an end to every good thing”. This proverb sounded very loud and sharp when President Sirleaf made her final decision to trade-in the fugitive and controversy” former president Charles Taylor for development aid for the country that was devastated by him “Taylor” and his bunch of sycophants. President Sirleaf’s decision to bring Charles Taylor to justice was again re-emphasized when she recently address the U.S. Congress in Washington DC. On March 21, 2006, President Sirleaf met with U.S. president George Walker Bush who again stressed the need to bring fugitive and controversy former president “Charles Taylor” to justice or take justice to him wherever he “Taylor” will decide to take delivery of his long overdue war crimes package.
Charles Taylor’s host, Nigeria’s obassanjo, has been playing delay tactics in handling over Charles Taylor. Up to present, Obassanjo is yet to make public a copy of the deal under which Charles Taylor was granted asylum in Nigeria. For those of us that have done some pivotal analysis on Charles Taylor’s crony behaviors over the yeas, are fully aware that Taylor covertly requested Obasanjo to come to his aid for fear of being eaten by Sakou Konneh’s LURD forces that had closed in on Charles Taylor and his militias (at the time). Obasanjo’s continues delay tactics to hand over fugitive and former president Charles Taylor is not a matter of facts, but simply of a “feeling” which may not have any legitimate place in the efforts to address the relevant political problems in Liberia and the neighboring countries. His “Obasanjo’s” kind of emotion driven aberration is a mojor factor of mass political behavior motivated by pathological use of “I feel” as a substitute for rational behavior. I some times wonder how Obasanjo feels about the mass killing of Nigerian soldiers in the wicked hands of the very Charles Taylor that he’s hosting and playing delay tactics in sending him to face justice. The notion of a democracy of “feeling” as a distinct from reasoning is a potentially fatal contradiction in terms, as a case of what happen in sierra Loene, part of Guinea and Cote de’ Voire expressed a large overdose of feeling but virtually no exercise of reasoning.
Years back, the world watched mothers “with scarcely strength to support themselves” carried famished and malnourished infants in their arms and died with them. Many fell victim to stray bullets & cold whilst others to intense thirst and hunger simply because Charles Taylor wanted to enrich himself @ the expense of those he claimed to be liberating.
The decision “by president Sirleaf” to bye-pass the Taylor dominated legislature and take the controversy case to the bosses is a very smart move. Her recent decision has cause panic among Taylor creations. Recently, three die-hard supporters of Fugitive and controversy former president Charles Taylor were arrested in Monrovia for having covert meeting at Jowel Howard’s congo town resident. Those arrested were: Sando Johnson, former Bomi county senator under Charles Taylor, Roland Duo, former rebel general under Charles Taylor, David Norris and Emma Smallwood. They were detained for atleast eight hours before being released by NSA in Monrovia. Charles Taylor is now trying to use every available connection he has with the present legislature to block his hand over to the UN backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone. Reports also indicate that some strange men “allegedly send by Charles Taylor from his calabal vacation home” are in Monrovia to take on some covert operations.
Recently, a vacancy was created in the Hague, the Netherlands, by Slobodan Milosevic who was pronounced dead in his reward cell. This vacancy serves as a strong signal for Charles Taylor who many believe is the next person in queue for Milovesevic’s vacant room. The indescribable regime of Charles Taylor glows like necular waste. The only difference between Charles Taylor and Adolph Hitler is the target.

“God’s willing…” he came back but as a prisoner

March 29, 2006 was the day that former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor never dreamed about few years ago. On this day in Liberia, the city of Monrovia was in a total shock. The ocean was calm and quiet. Even the green forest surrounding the Roberts International airport could not believe the scene of the day. The only disturbance was the den of dozens of heavily armed UNMIL soldiers on guard at the RIA. The positions of the UNMIL soldiers indicated that something very important was happening not only in the history of Liberia, but Africa as a whole. Suddenly, the weather in Monrovia turned into a rainy cloud.
Moments later, a Nigerian jet hit the bumpy runway of the Roberts International Airport. The spirits from the great beyond and residents of RIA and surroundings took positions to find out what was being delivered to Liberia aboard the giant jet. Other spectators that did not have access to radio thought the jet was delivering some humanitarian aid. They stood patiently as the unfolding events took place. The automatic doors of the jet dropped down. The dictator clad in a creamy Nigerian agbada style suite rose from the depths of the jet to the doorway. Bystanders witnessed the man who has reign so much havoc on the West African region being handcuff. Among the bystanders present was one of the dictator’s victims in person of Tiawon Gonglo, who now serve as Solicitor General in the fledging Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf government.
Tiawon, a human rights activist on April 29, 2002 almost lost his life to the wicked hands of Charles Taylor and his blood thirsty armed men. It was Tiawon who read Charles Taylor his Mirada right as the former dictator waggled his head before being cuffed by UNMIL personal. Thereafter, he was hopped on a chopper to Freetown, Sierra Leone where he’s expected to face trial for eleven counts of crime against humanity in the United Nation backed court.
In august of 2003, before he was forced into exile in the northern Nigerian city of Calabar, Charles Taylor waived his white handkerchief to well wishers and said: “…God’s willing’ I’ll be back” but Taylor did not tell God or his well wishers how exactly he would be back, weather as a former Liberian president, free Liberian citizen or a war crimes prisoner. He left the options with God to choose from.
As the old Biblical saying goes, “be careful what you pray for and be specific in your prayers”. Ironically, Charles Taylor was not specific in his request to God and so God did his optional selection based on Charles Taylor’s human right records. His prayer to be back to Liberia was answered but as a prisoner.
On March 3, 2003 the UN backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone signed a 17 count indictments (now 11) alleging war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious crimes relating to his support in neighboring Sierra Leone. The indictment was confirmed by the trial chamber on March 7, 2003 but was kept under seal. On June 4, 2003 the indictment was unsealed whilst Charles Taylor was attending one of his extravagant peace talks in Ghana. He narrowly escaped the arrest and hastily returned to Liberia.
And so on March 29, 2006, Charles Taylor the extravagant, clueless dictator who name became a lexicon in West African politics for one and half decades was caught up in the web of his doing. He finally realized that life truly is a network of interconnected organisms which we human play a steering role. Charles Taylor now sit behind bars in limbo.

Sam K Zinnah
Delaware State
USA

Open letter to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf


Few months ago, we listened to your campaign promises whilst we sat in front of TVs and all other means of communications in the Diaspora. One of the promises that even my illiterate grandmother still remembers was the promise to crack down or weed out one of Liberia’s most popular political words “CORRUPTION”. July sixteen marks six months since the official seating of your Unity Party led government. I’ve been following events and activities of your leadership. From my own observation and analysis, there seems no really crack down or weed out of corruption as emphasized in your campaign. What I’ve really observed in the past six months is nothing than recycling of the same old crooks and rouges. Some have been fired and gone free whilst others are transferred from one place to another.

Couple of weeks ago, I went on expressing my anger and frustration in several online newspapers about the newly commission (Truth and reconciliation commission/ TRC). In that expression, I urged your government to reactivate the extradition treaty between the United States and the Government of Liberia in order to discourage criminals, corrupt individuals and human rights violators from committing crimes and escaping to the United States but I’ve come to realized that even those corrupt individuals/ officials and other human right violators that are overtly parading the streets of Monrovia are yet to take delivery of justice.
I understand that we took fourteen years or more to physically destroy Liberia and that the reconstruction of Liberia is not going to be an even but rather a process but that should not be used as an excuse to allow corrupt individuals or officials to go with impunity. The main objective for political governance in post-war Liberia “in my opinion” should be to secure democracy by installing checks and balances which have been absent throughout Liberia’s long history, in our political system in such a way so that no specific group or class of people will no longer usurp so much power and wield such extraordinary influence over the fate of the majority. In the “recently published” ECOWAS investigative reports on corrupt individuals and officials, several big names or titles surfaced but there seems to be nothing happening to punish those individuals and officials. instead, some of them are in the process of being nominated to higher positions. Those corrupt officials/ individuals, human right violators who looted our economy and took away our parental and childhood immunity are being referred to as: senators, representatives, speakers, former NTGL officials and many other big titles. This is sending the wrong signals to our feature leaders in Liberia. As the old saying goes: The title of a goat, should not stop the owner from selling it.
During your campaign, you also promise economic reform. The objective of reform in the economic sector should be to ensure accountability, reinforce support for the political system, promote transparency, combat corruption and protect the interest of Liberians. The first and foremost in this regard will be to rigidly crack down on corrupt officials. Send them to court, investigate them and let them serve their terms if convicted. Development will never come to Liberia if we continue to allow corrupt officials to go with impunity. Corruption is very easy to investigate in Liberia. We don’t even need to invite forensic auditors in some cases. ie; like the case of Edwin Snow, how did Snowe own a multi million dollars bank account in Lebanon, own many flashy cars and build so many expensive houses on a mega Liberian salary?
In the case of Samuel Wlue, he overtly told reporters that he was paid USD $49.00 (fourty-nine dollars) working as commerce minister in Liberia. How did he build a USD $300.000.00 home in Newcastle county in Delaware State, build and ran a night club in Monrovia and send USD $4000.00 to his wife in Delaware “USA” for 25 months?
In the case of Guyde Bryant, he overtly admitted withdrawing public money for his personal use. What more evidence do you want before you can start placing these public criminals in queue to take delivery of justice? Your recent statement that “enough documentary evidence should be provided before prosecution of alleged corrupt officials begins” has brought severe headache to me over the past days.
In the court of law, the accused defends his/her self by providing documentary or human proofs/witnesses and that process is usually determined by the court and not the president.
If your Unity Party-led government wants to attract investors, these public criminals must be prosecuted and script of those stolen properties. There is no need to waste time trying to defend them. Liberia may never be able to retrieve Edwine Snowe’s voodoo wealth from Lebanon simply because a lot of time has been wasted on dragging him to court. I sat in front of my TV last night and witnessed Snowe’s trust/Bank going into flames to the wicked dust of Israeli bombings in Beirut.
Please president Sirleaf, do not start to defend these public criminals. Send them over to the court and let the court decide weather the allegations against them needs more documentary evidence. Please keep out of the judicial procedures.

Sam K Zinnah
Liberian Student
Delaware State, USA

The plight of homeless Liberian children in Senegal


Children are valuable gifts from God to mankind which no amount of money can buy. When God gives us children, he expect us to play our role well by providing provision, protection, discipline etc. if these children are to become better future leaders or citizens. But unfortunately, Liberia was became a dancing and breeding ground for poverty and the devil over the years with war all over in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone, Ivory coast and parts of Guinea. The fourteen year civil war in Liberia forced thousands of Liberians into refuge in search of security and better life. In the process of escaping to neighboring countries “from Liberia” many children lost their parents to stray bullets, hunger and other diseases thus leaving them with limited options to struggle in meeting the expense of their survival and security whilst in refuge. Some successfully escaped to Senegal but were abandoned in the streets of major cities in Senegal begging for their daily bread as if they were from nowhere.
Having felt the need as Christians, a group of three Evangelist came together to establish the Children Souls Ministry in Senegal in 2000 with Evangelist Melvin Kpeh as the executive Director. The Children Souls Ministry is a non-for-profit Christian humanitarian organization which funding comes directly from friends, sympathizers, well wishers, sponsors and concepts organized by the children geared towards supporting themselves in refuge.
According to Evangelist Kpeh, The Children Souls Ministry’s objective is to take as many children “out of the streets” as possible. Evangelist Kpeh said his ministry has been involved in training, educating and sheltering homeless and abandon Liberian children in Senegal. He said his ministry does not want these homeless children to feel neglected by society but to see them feel part and parcel of society and to become better citizens who will return to Liberia to contribute to the reconstruction process. Evangelist Melvin Kpeh and his hard working staffs are working tirelessly to reunite these children with their parents “if they have” but unfortunately, most of the children are abandoned and don’t even know their parents and well about. The initial goal of the Children Souls Ministry was to cater to twenty children between the ages of five and fifteen years but because of the growing number of homeless children that are kicking at the Ministry’s doors, it has become almost impossible to say no to any of the children that hits the door with their personal belongings in plastic bags.
In an online conversation with Evangelist Melvin Kpeh and Evangelist Titus Sebo, few touching and heart breaking questions was posted to this author. Evangelist Kpeh asked: Have you ever held a dying baby in your arms? Have you ever seen a mother in tears because she cannot look after her child or children? Have you ever watched as children beg for the very things that we throw out? Have you ever realized that you could or someone could be you? Have you ever care enough to make a difference in someone’s life?
Both Evangelists Melvin Kpeh and Titus Sebo re-emphasized that their Ministry “The Children Souls Ministry” came into existence for the sole purpose of saving the lives of refugees and abandoned children that are left in the streets of Senegal to struggle in meeting the expense of their survival, security and education. He said some of these children are abandoned due the parents’ inability or unavailability to cater to them. Evg. Kpeh said as Christian he cannot only worship Jesus and continued to see homeless and helpless children died in the streets simply because there’s no one to cater to them. He said the vision of his Ministry is to see these children stand up and say we are not the church of tomorrow but the church of today. The Ministry also wants to see these children stand for the Biblical truths where other generations have failed. According to the executive director, since the establishment of the Ministry in 2000, they have moved from one building to another due to the Ministry’s inability to meet up with rent, utility bills and capacity to accommodate the heavy influx of homeless children. Due to the above reasons, the executive Director of the Children Souls Ministry “Evangelist Melvin Kpeh” is urging all Bible believing Christians to come to the aid of these homeless and abandon children.
For donations, contact the below address:

The Children Souls Ministry
B.P. 25134, Darkar Fann
Senegal
Tel: +221-537-3144

The plight of homeless Liberian children in Senegal

Children are valuable gifts from God to mankind which no amount of money can buy. When God gives us children, he expect us to play our role well by providing provision, protection, discipline etc. if these children are to become better future leaders or citizens. But unfortunately, Liberia was became a dancing and breeding ground for poverty and the devil over the years with war all over in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone, Ivory coast and parts of Guinea. The fourteen year civil war in Liberia forced thousands of Liberians into refuge in search of security and better life. In the process of escaping to neighboring countries “from Liberia” many children lost their parents to stray bullets, hunger and other diseases thus leaving them with limited options to struggle in meeting the expense of their survival and security whilst in refuge. Some successfully escaped to Senegal but were abandoned in the streets of major cities in Senegal begging for their daily bread as if they were from nowhere.
Having felt the need as Christians, a group of three Evangelist came together to establish the Children Souls Ministry in Senegal in 2000 with Evangelist Melvin Kpeh as the executive Director. The Children Souls Ministry is a non-for-profit Christian humanitarian organization which funding comes directly from friends, sympathizers, well wishers, sponsors and concepts organized by the children geared towards supporting themselves in refuge.
According to Evangelist Kpeh, The Children Souls Ministry’s objective is to take as many children “out of the streets” as possible. Evangelist Kpeh said his ministry has been involved in training, educating and sheltering homeless and abandon Liberian children in Senegal. He said his ministry does not want these homeless children to feel neglected by society but to see them feel part and parcel of society and to become better citizens who will return to Liberia to contribute to the reconstruction process. Evangelist Melvin Kpeh and his hard working staffs are working tirelessly to reunite these children with their parents “if they have” but unfortunately, most of the children are abandoned and don’t even know their parents and well about. The initial goal of the Children Souls Ministry was to cater to twenty children between the ages of five and fifteen years but because of the growing number of homeless children that are kicking at the Ministry’s doors, it has become almost impossible to say no to any of the children that hits the door with their personal belongings in plastic bags.
In an online conversation with Evangelist Melvin Kpeh and Evangelist Titus Sebo, few touching and heart breaking questions was posted to this author. Evangelist Kpeh asked: Have you ever held a dying baby in your arms? Have you ever seen a mother in tears because she cannot look after her child or children? Have you ever watched as children beg for the very things that we throw out? Have you ever realized that you could or someone could be you? Have you ever care enough to make a difference in someone’s life?
Both Evangelists Melvin Kpeh and Titus Sebo re-emphasized that their Ministry “The Children Souls Ministry” came into existence for the sole purpose of saving the lives of refugees and abandoned children that are left in the streets of Senegal to struggle in meeting the expense of their survival, security and education. He said some of these children are abandoned due the parents’ inability or unavailability to cater to them. Evg. Kpeh said as Christian he cannot only worship Jesus and continued to see homeless and helpless children died in the streets simply because there’s no one to cater to them. He said the vision of his Ministry is to see these children stand up and say we are not the church of tomorrow but the church of today. The Ministry also wants to see these children stand for the Biblical truths where other generations have failed. According to the executive director, since the establishment of the Ministry in 2000, they have moved from one building to another due to the Ministry’s inability to meet up with rent, utility bills and capacity to accommodate the heavy influx of homeless children. Due to the above reasons, the executive Director of the Children Souls Ministry “Evangelist Melvin Kpeh” is urging all Bible believing Christians to come to the aid of these homeless and abandon children.
For donations, contact the below address:

The Children Souls Ministry
B.P. 25134, Darkar Fann
Senegal
Tel: +221-537-3144

By: Sam K Zinnah
Liberian Student
Delaware State
szinnah@yahoo.com