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Interview With Al-Hassan Conteh

Aired July 03, 2003 - 14:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, earlier this hour we talked about Liberia's historic ties to America. But that notwithstanding Liberia's past and its place in the world are mysteries to most Americans.
So LIVE FROM turns to Al-Hassan Conteh, a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and president of Penn's Liberia State Association. Dr. joins us from Philadelphia. Sir, it's nice to have you with us.

AL-HASSAN CONTEH, LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSN., UNIV. OF PENN.: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: So taking into account Liberia founded by freed slaves in the U.S., also the capital named after President James Monroe. The U.S. gave aid to this country until the fall of communism. Does the U.S. have a responsibility to establish peace in Liberia?

CONTEH: Yes, I think given the historic ties and especially during the Cold War, that the United States benefited from significantly, I think the United States has a role here now to intervene and stabilize the situation.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about why. First of all the humanitarian situation. We have seen the pictures, we rolled the video, it's heart wrenching.

CONTEH: Oh yes, it is. It is a humanitarian tragedy. I think that's the reason why urgent military force is required to bring about some stability because there's no rule of law right now in Liberia. The government has somewhat broken down since it is militarily engaged with foreign factions.

And that's why is important, the United Nations is saying it is important to bring in force right now to stabilize the situation and deliver much needed food and medicine that is needed by the thousands of Liberians who are living rough in the capital city of Monrovia.

PHILLIPS: And when you have desperation like that, Dr. Conteh, and no rule of law, doesn't this create just the perfect place for terrorism to fester?

CONTEH: Well, that has been part of the argument, that, you know, terrorism -- that Liberia is a place for terrorists. And that's precisely why people are insisting that, you know, the U.S. should move in quickly and stabilize the situation. PHILLIPS: Sir, I under you were born in Liberia?

CONTEH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Give us a feel for what life was like there and now that you -- now as you watch what is happening in your home region, give us some reflections.

CONTEH: I was born during the the Tubman (ph) era. This was the early '50s when Liberia was enjoying one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. And this was a time when the United States was pretty much engaged in its economic development.

And so it is a far cry from what (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right now. There was stability. The citizens were living very well. The schools were functioning. There was a rule of law and there was democracy. And we had a president that was very much engaged and respected internationally.

That is different from the situation right now where the president of Liberia is under tremendous pressure from the United Nations and the United States because of his role and -- his alleged role in the destabilization of both Sierra Leone and Cote D'Ivoire.

PHILLIPS: You talk about the president, Charles Taylor. The president of the United States has asked him to leave. This is a man that faces war crimes now. Do you think he will leave?

CONTEH: I think it is in his best interest to consider the exile option that is being provided by the international community.

The problem is there's an indictment hanging over his head, his indictment by the special court that was set up in the Republic of Sierra Leone that is charging him with war crimes associated with his alleged support for rebels who were known as the Revolutionary United Front fighting in Sierra Leone.

He had said at a conference earlier last month that -- or earlier this month, as a matter of fact -- sorry, it was last month, in June, that he would step down at the end of his term. But the two warring factions that are contending power in Liberia, two rebel groups known as the Liberia United -- the Model (ph) -- Movement for Democratic Change in Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy are insisting that he steps down now. And that is the issue.

I think at a time when there is pervissive (ph) suffering, when there's a breakdown in law and order, when the government itself has collapsed, I think it is in the best interest of Mr. Taylor to respond positively to the exile option that is being given him and that I understand has been offered by Nigeria.

PHILLIPS: Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, thank you so much just for your thoughts. We're definitely going to have you back.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired July 3, 2003 - 14:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, earlier this hour we talked about Liberia's historic ties to America. But that notwithstanding Liberia's past and its place in the world are mysteries to most Americans.
So LIVE FROM turns to Al-Hassan Conteh, a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and president of Penn's Liberia State Association. Dr. joins us from Philadelphia. Sir, it's nice to have you with us.

AL-HASSAN CONTEH, LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSN., UNIV. OF PENN.: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: So taking into account Liberia founded by freed slaves in the U.S., also the capital named after President James Monroe. The U.S. gave aid to this country until the fall of communism. Does the U.S. have a responsibility to establish peace in Liberia?

CONTEH: Yes, I think given the historic ties and especially during the Cold War, that the United States benefited from significantly, I think the United States has a role here now to intervene and stabilize the situation.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about why. First of all the humanitarian situation. We have seen the pictures, we rolled the video, it's heart wrenching.

CONTEH: Oh yes, it is. It is a humanitarian tragedy. I think that's the reason why urgent military force is required to bring about some stability because there's no rule of law right now in Liberia. The government has somewhat broken down since it is militarily engaged with foreign factions.

And that's why is important, the United Nations is saying it is important to bring in force right now to stabilize the situation and deliver much needed food and medicine that is needed by the thousands of Liberians who are living rough in the capital city of Monrovia.

PHILLIPS: And when you have desperation like that, Dr. Conteh, and no rule of law, doesn't this create just the perfect place for terrorism to fester?

CONTEH: Well, that has been part of the argument, that, you know, terrorism -- that Liberia is a place for terrorists. And that's precisely why people are insisting that, you know, the U.S. should move in quickly and stabilize the situation. PHILLIPS: Sir, I under you were born in Liberia?

CONTEH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Give us a feel for what life was like there and now that you -- now as you watch what is happening in your home region, give us some reflections.

CONTEH: I was born during the the Tubman (ph) era. This was the early '50s when Liberia was enjoying one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. And this was a time when the United States was pretty much engaged in its economic development.

And so it is a far cry from what (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right now. There was stability. The citizens were living very well. The schools were functioning. There was a rule of law and there was democracy. And we had a president that was very much engaged and respected internationally.

That is different from the situation right now where the president of Liberia is under tremendous pressure from the United Nations and the United States because of his role and -- his alleged role in the destabilization of both Sierra Leone and Cote D'Ivoire.

PHILLIPS: You talk about the president, Charles Taylor. The president of the United States has asked him to leave. This is a man that faces war crimes now. Do you think he will leave?

CONTEH: I think it is in his best interest to consider the exile option that is being provided by the international community.

The problem is there's an indictment hanging over his head, his indictment by the special court that was set up in the Republic of Sierra Leone that is charging him with war crimes associated with his alleged support for rebels who were known as the Revolutionary United Front fighting in Sierra Leone.

He had said at a conference earlier last month that -- or earlier this month, as a matter of fact -- sorry, it was last month, in June, that he would step down at the end of his term. But the two warring factions that are contending power in Liberia, two rebel groups known as the Liberia United -- the Model (ph) -- Movement for Democratic Change in Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy are insisting that he steps down now. And that is the issue.

I think at a time when there is pervissive (ph) suffering, when there's a breakdown in law and order, when the government itself has collapsed, I think it is in the best interest of Mr. Taylor to respond positively to the exile option that is being given him and that I understand has been offered by Nigeria.

PHILLIPS: Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, thank you so much just for your thoughts. We're definitely going to have you back.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com