Vol. 1, No. 03 May 2005 Liberia Gets Set For Elections Refugee Returns Continue Military Doctors Reach Out Farewell Message from the Outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General n Sunday, the long are only now reopening. Education her natural heritage. 1st of May, I must be open to all, from children to People like Leyma Gbowee, a great Oshall depart adults. Training and the opportunity of Liberian who heads the Women in Peace Liberia to return to skilled jobs must be sought for all Building Network, which has been qui- the United States of Liberians, men and women, returning etly and patiently working to build peace America, and leave displaced persons, victims of the war woman to woman – not only in Liberia, my post as head of and ex combatants themselves. but across West Africa as well. the United Nations Mission in Liberia. Nutrition, health care and the prevention Liberians like the new recruits and It has been an honour and a privilege of diseases such as malaria and polio graduates of the new United Nations- to have played a part in the establish- will ensure that the children of Liberia trained Liberian National Police ment of this Peacekeeping Mission, and can lead long healthy and productive Academy in Paynesville, young men to have helped in bringing Liberia out of lives. and women, trained public safety offi- conflict, and step by step, onto the path Liberia must now rely on its people cers, ready to protect and serve all toward peace and prosperity. to learn how to work together to rebuild Liberians. UNMIL today includes civilians, and to make better this great nation. And Liberians like the countless international police officers and 15,000 Liberians must return home to help in children that I have seen in my travels peacekeepers from almost 50 countries. this process. Liberians living in refugee around this great country: in school, This is the largest peacekeeping mission camps in Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire and learning how to read, being fed, at play, in the world. Liberians know the differ- in Ghana must return home to their com- in their homes, with their families. No ence the presence of these peacekeepers munities and villages, to rejoin their longer are the children of Liberia at risk has made. country. Liberians living abroad, in the of war and conflict. These children are The United Nations came here to United States and in Europe – must all the future of Liberia. help a small country to finally escape the hear the clarion call to return and to lend To succeed in the challenge before violence of 14 years of war and increas- a hand and help rebuild Liberia. all Liberians, it is my hope that ing and desperate poverty. There were Step by step, we are succeeding. The Liberians will dedicate themselves to failed efforts, failed elections, and bro- next test for Liberia will be to hold fair, the ideals on which the UN was found- ken agreements, along the way. But free and democratic elections and then ed: faith in fundamental human rights today I believe that I can say that will come the greatest test of them all, and in the dignity and worth of the UNMIL is succeeding, and this peace is which is really getting everybody back human person, the equal rights of men holding. to work. and women, tolerance, and living Our work together – The UN, other Of course, our achievements will be together in peace as good neighbours. agencies of the international community, sometimes accompanied by setbacks, In parting, I want to thank Liberia, the transitional government, local civic and as there are always those who are and all Liberians, for the friendship, sup- organizations – has had only one goal: to quick to take credit for success, there port and encouragement that I have ensure that Liberia rises from the ashes also exists a considerable number of received over the past 18 months of the and regains its place in the family of people equally fast and adept in finding United Nations Mission in Liberia. nations. And as peace is restored, as we fault with somebody else’s work. It is Liberia will always be in my heart and in prepare for the October elections, the not ultimately, the critic who counts; nor my thoughts. responsibility for meeting that important the man who points how the strong man I wish all Liberians success and challenge will fall more and more – stumbles, or where the doer of deeds good fortune in the years to come as you upon Liberians themselves. could have done better. The credit continue to work together to make this This country is immensely rich. It is belongs to those who are actually in the nation great. I met many fine people rich not only in gold, diamonds and tim- arena. Over the past two years, I have during my all-too-brief time here, and I ber, about which we hear so much. The met many Liberians who have met that am sure that I will see many of you main resource of Liberia is its people. test. again as we continue our respective Investing in people – in their education, Liberians like the artist Mr. Fato walks through life. health, culture, standard of living - Wheremongar, who, by helping children God bless you all, and God bless always carries the promise of the great- to develop their creative talents, is help- Liberia. est benefit for the state which is wise ing to make Liberia a better place. enough to make such an investment. People like Alexander Peal, a great Emerging from so much conflict and Liberian who, through determination bloodshed, the task of investing in the and effort, helped to create Sapo Jacques Paul Klein people of Liberia will not be easy. National Park, Liberia’s only environ- Schools that have been closed for so mental preserve and the crown jewel of 2 UNMIL FOCUS May 2005 From the Desk of the Officer-in-Charge s we go to power, are emerging as a political force contingents, these doctors have offered press, thou- to reckon with. They have succeeded to free treatment and surgeries to hundreds Asands of eligi- include in the Electoral Reform Law a of thousands of ailing Liberians. In this ble Liberians are provision calling for 30 per cent repre- issue we bring you the medical face of queuing up every day sentation of women in the selection of the peacekeepers in a country where the at some 1,500 voter candidates by political parties. Their health sector lay in ruins due to the pro- registration centres struggle to be recognized as equal part- longed civil strife. We also carry a story scattered across the country to register ners in shaping the country’s destiny is on the efforts by the UN family in in the national elections scheduled to an inspiring story we bring to you in Liberia to rid the country of polio by take place in October. This mammoth this issue. vaccinating more than one million chil- exercise, crucial to the success of the While the political process is well dren. ballot, will enable Liberians choose on course, the “blue helmets” deployed Meanwhile, refugees and internally their government democratically. A in the country -- often the unsung displaced persons (IDPs) continue to massive voter education campaign has heroes of peacekeeping -- are vigorous- stream home from neighbouring coun- been going on in the country since ly engaged in a host of activities beyond tries and IDP camps within Liberia. We January to encourage eligible citizens to their traditional role of maintaining also bring you a story on the return of a register and to exercise their right to peace and security. Many of the peace- group of Liberian ex-combatants who pick leaders without fear or favour. In keeping contingents are involved in were interned in Sierra Leone, the first our cover story on the upcoming elec- reconstruction -- repairing roads and such operation undertaken by the tions, we highlight the role played by bridges, rehabilitating dilapidated United Nations in West Africa. the United Nations Mission in Liberia buildings and even assisting orphanages in preparation for this final political with their donations. Abou Moussa step in the peace process. But touching the lives of ordinary Officer-in-Charge, Liberian women, among the worst people more intimately is the work Deputy Special Representative of affected by the country’s civil war and done by the military doctors. Through the Secretary-General and long neglected in the corridors of the military hospitals set up by various Humanitarian Coordinator IN THIS ISSUE Officer-iin-CCharge, Farewell Message from the outgoing Special Representative . .2 Deputy Special Representative of the From the Desk of the Officer-in-Charge . .3 Secretary-GGeneral and Humanitarian Liberia Gears Up for Elections . .4 Coordinator Abou Moussa Campaign Heats Up . .6 The Road to Elections . .8 Deputy Special Representative of the Women Campaign for Political Rights . .10 Secretary-GGeneral for Operations Crowds throng Road Show . .12 Steinar Bjornsson For Fair Election Coverage . .13 Frequently Asked Questions - Liberian Elections 2005 . .14 Chief of Public Information Hospital Ship brings Hope, Healing . .15 Christine Koerner The Medical Face of Peacekeeping . .16 Heading for a Polio-Free Liberia . .18 Editor and Head of Publications Refugees Flock to Liberia’s Breadbasket . .22 Mathew Elavanalthoduka Liberia Gets a Human Rights Commission . .25 Design and Graphics Plight of Child Vendors . .26 Paddy Defoxy Ilos, II Return of the Internees . .28 Ex-Combatants Return to Farming . .30 Photos Police Recruits Graduate . .32 Eric Kanalstein Zero Tolerance .