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CNN Sunday Morning
Rebel Forces in Liberia Renew Push Toward Monrovia
Aired July 20, 2003 - 07:35 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Rebel forces in Liberia have renewed their push toward the capital, prompting the U.S. ambassador to call for American citizens to take refuge at the embassy. Thousands of people fled into the city center to escape mortar and machine gun fire.
President Charles Taylor renewed his vow to stay in power until peacekeeping troops arrive. The White House still has not made a decision on whether to send American troops to Liberia.
Hundreds of thousands of people are huddled into neighborhoods throughout Monrovia now, waiting for an end to the fighting.
Brent Sadler looks at one man's struggle to survive in the horrors of war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet Tony Tokpah, a homeless Liberian displaced by war, tuning a homemade banjo, making music from a discarded can of cooking oil, a long stick, and a few twigs, strumming self composed songs, singing lyrics that speak of war and hope for peace in Liberia.
Soulful songs that earn a little money on the side. Tony is 22- years old, spent little time at school, and can't read or write. He's camped at a missionary school in the capitol with 2,000 other displaced people. His family of six, squashed into a dank, poorly lit room, filled with 40 others.
He may be one in a million of war displaced Liberians able to express his nation's sorrow in such a poignant way. His poor English is difficult to understand. So he explains how he fashioned this simple but extraordinary instrument through a friend's voice.
TONY TOKPAH, BANJO PLAYER: (through translator) I got this piece of stick in the bush and found the oil can and put it together, bought fishing line, start to play.
SADLER: And play he does most days, taking the banjo with his wheelbarrow when he works, treading the streets of Monrovia, selling cheap plastic sandals. With music on his mind and a clear ambition.
TOKPAH: To go to school and learn how to play my music.
SADLER: To play better, to entertain, one man's dream in this state of despair.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Monrovia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 20, 2003 - 07:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Rebel forces in Liberia have renewed their push toward the capital, prompting the U.S. ambassador to call for American citizens to take refuge at the embassy. Thousands of people fled into the city center to escape mortar and machine gun fire.
President Charles Taylor renewed his vow to stay in power until peacekeeping troops arrive. The White House still has not made a decision on whether to send American troops to Liberia.
Hundreds of thousands of people are huddled into neighborhoods throughout Monrovia now, waiting for an end to the fighting.
Brent Sadler looks at one man's struggle to survive in the horrors of war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet Tony Tokpah, a homeless Liberian displaced by war, tuning a homemade banjo, making music from a discarded can of cooking oil, a long stick, and a few twigs, strumming self composed songs, singing lyrics that speak of war and hope for peace in Liberia.
Soulful songs that earn a little money on the side. Tony is 22- years old, spent little time at school, and can't read or write. He's camped at a missionary school in the capitol with 2,000 other displaced people. His family of six, squashed into a dank, poorly lit room, filled with 40 others.
He may be one in a million of war displaced Liberians able to express his nation's sorrow in such a poignant way. His poor English is difficult to understand. So he explains how he fashioned this simple but extraordinary instrument through a friend's voice.
TONY TOKPAH, BANJO PLAYER: (through translator) I got this piece of stick in the bush and found the oil can and put it together, bought fishing line, start to play.
SADLER: And play he does most days, taking the banjo with his wheelbarrow when he works, treading the streets of Monrovia, selling cheap plastic sandals. With music on his mind and a clear ambition.
TOKPAH: To go to school and learn how to play my music.
SADLER: To play better, to entertain, one man's dream in this state of despair.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Monrovia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
