Splintered LURD Rebel Chiefs “Suspend” Cooperation With Bryant, Plan New Moves 

By James Kpargoi  

14 May 04

Some leaders of the increasingly splintered  Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) say they have suspended cooperation with the interim administration over the failure to remove the  Minister of Finance (not the Governor of the National Bank as previously reported here) and replace him with their selected candidate. The decision, which has been denounced by the rebels’ leader Seku Conneh, comes after a 24-hr ultimatum issued Wednesday to interim chair Charles Gyude Brant.

Meanwhile, the rebel Executive Committee  members are holding an emergency meeting in the group stronghold of Tubmanburg to decide on the next course of action. Sources within the rebel group said the meeting will pass a resolution ordering fighters of the rebel movement to halt disarmament.  

But the decision is unlikely to have any  impact on the disarmament process, since neraly all  LURD’s fighters have been disarmed. Those interviewed blamed the leadership of abandoning thdm following victory, saying they will no longer take orders from them and that they want to benefit from UN programmes.

The crisis between some members of the rebels’ executive committee and the interim chair has been on the removal of Finance Minister Lusinee Kamara, appointed following the Accra agreement. It is more about the sharing financial benefits derived from government appointments than political disagreement. Some rebel leaders accused Mr. Kamara of not meeting their financial needs. But attempts to remove Mr. Kamara some time ago led to shooting in what used to be LURD stronghold of Tubmanburg. 

Addressing a news conference late Friday a day following the expiration of their 24 hours ultimatum some members LURD Executive Committee said henceforth their cooperation with the NTGL was suspended.  They said they would however not pull out of the power-sharing government nor stall the process of disarmament. The rebels had Wednesday threatened to stop the on going disarmament of their fighters to press demands from Kamara's removal. But a group of 35 frontline commanders of the movement, led by Gen. Sam Tarley, described the ultimatum, saying it is a joke. They urged Chairman Bryant not to heed their demands.

The front line commanders said those making the demands were mostly politicians who have occupied lucrative positions in Monrovia and had no say presently in the ongoing disarmament process.

At Friday's news conference attended by several Executive Committee members, including interim Speaker George Dweh, GSA boss Edward Farley, Custom Chief Charles Bennie, Deputy Defence Minister Joe Wyllie and others, the rebel executives again called Mr. Bryant a tyrant who has surrounded himself by henchmen of former president Charles Taylor.