Freetown/Washington/New York/Brussels, 11 June 2003: Today the International Crisis Group sent a memo to the United Nations Security Council outlining the risks, and opportunities, posed by the indictment of Liberian President Charles Taylor by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. A copy of the memo accompanies this media release.
ICG President Gareth Evans said: "The international community as a whole and the United States in particular have a responsibility to support the indictment and help the people of Liberia move towards a stable, democratic future. There is a real risk however, that Taylor's indictment will lead to a spiral of violence of catastrophic proportions, not only in Liberia, but across all of West Africa. The indications are not good. Liberia is on the edge complete disintegration and urgent further international action is necessary."
In its memo to the UNSC, ICG sets out an urgent plan of action for the international community including the establishment of a robust U.S.-led multinational force (MNF) to ensure a peaceful transition from President Taylor's rule to that of a new, democratically elected government. The plan also sets out steps towards a ceasefire, peace process and calls for the establishment of a United Nations Mission in Liberia.
Please see the ICG memo to the UNSC "Crisis in Liberia: A Call to Action" that accompanies this media release.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Katy Cronin (London) +44 20 7981 0330 [email protected]
Francesca Lawe-Davies (Brussels) +32-(0)2-536 00 65
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-785 1601
*Read the full ICG report on our website:
www.crisisweb.org
The International Crisis Group (ICG) is an independent,
non-profit, multinational organisation, with over 90 staff members on five continents,
working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent
and resolve deadly conflict.
