The NEWS (Monrovia)

Liberia: CIA Agents Executed 1980 Coup

Alloycious David

6 August 2008


Monrovia — A former official of the administration of slain President William R. Tolbert has linked agents of the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to the execution of the 1980 coup d'état.

It is widely believed that the 1980 Coup was carried out by 17 non-commissioned officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) of the People's Redemption Council (PRC).

Following the coup, 13 senior government officials of the Tolbert regime were executed by firing squad.

Cllr. Chea Cheapoo who served as Justice Minister under the PRC government told the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Tuesday that it was an American CIA agent that killed President Tolbert.

Cllr. Cheapoo quoted Mrs. Tolbert as informing him that her husband was shot by a 'white man' when he attempted leaving his bedroom during the coup at on the Executive Mansion.

"Mrs. Tolbert saw the CIA agent that assassinated her husband. She was on the scene. She told me several times that it was not Doe who killed her husband," he told the public hearings.

Cllr. Cheapoo, 66, also disclosed that President Samuel K. Doe and a former AFL Commanding Officer confided in him that the map used to enter the Executive Mansion was prepared and provided by the CIA.

"President Doe prevented me from seeing the map when General Quoiwonkpa attempted giving it to me at the Mansion," he said.

Cllr. Cheapoo indicated that the Americans are not good and were responsible for Liberia's nightmare, adding "I have problem with them."

"Following the coup, American CIA agents were assigned to work with us at the Justice Ministry," Cheapoo claimed.

Cheapoo who also claimed to have provided legal advice to the Progressive Alliance Of Liberia (PAL) concerning a protest, said he has no regret for the protest that led to violence and several deaths.

He said "If I have similar opportunity I will call for a street protest against the increase in the price of the country's staple, rice, which price continues to climb."

Cllr. Cheapoo denied his involvement in the death of his guardians Joseph Chessen, a former Justice Minister.

"Any attempt to secure his release could be treasonable. He could not be separated from the other officials," Cheapoo testified.

He also dissociated members of PAL from the execution of the 13 senior officials and said "God should punish me if I planned to kill them."

Cheapoo: "I should not go to heaven. I should suffer in hell if I have a hand in the death of anybody in this country. I am not a murderer."

Meanwhile, Cllr. Cheapoo has disclosed that 45 chiefs from the Southeast part of Liberia were killed by the True Whig Party (TWP) led-government and buried in a mass grave at the South Beach Prison in Monrovia.

He said he could take members of the TRC to the burial site if he is given the opportunity.

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Author: KrobarToe
Thu Aug 7 04:34:19 2008

How naive to believe that CIA agents were present at the Mansion and carried out the execution of Tolbert. (Cllr. Cheapoo quoted Mrs. Tolbert as informing him that her husband was shot by a 'white man') Mrs. Tolbert is dreaming.... Do you really believe a CIA agent would allow himself to be seen killing a Head of State? couldn't the CIA agent have been black? and even if the CIA had done the killing they wouldn't have allowed Mrs. Tolbert to live to tell Cllr. Cheapoo anything. Liberians have been proven to believe anything, they love the story that "hidden hands" have ruled their country. But what Cllr. Cheapoo is suggesting would be considered by the world to be an act of war by the United States and the US would not have taken such a risk. Lets face it...the indigenous population was tired of being ruled by the Americo's...resulting in the 1980 coup d'état. The only "real" hidden hands were the neo Liberians behind the coup...they couldn't take power openly so they were forced to make Doe the temporary leader...when he wouldn't leave that's when things got nasty. Lets ask this question: Was there knowledge of the coup d'état by the US Intelligence Agency? Yes, I am sure they knew...but did they pull the trigger? NO

Author: lib123
Thu Aug 7 16:01:42 2008

I've heard this story since I was a kid in the early 80s. I lived very close to the international airport in Liberia. I do remember people who worked at the airport saying they saw US aircrafts that night, which was strainge. I think there is some meat to the story.

Author: KrobarToe
Thu Aug 7 04:23:28 2008

How naive to believe that CIA agents were present at the Mansion and carried out the execution of Tolbert.

(Cllr. Cheapoo quoted Mrs. Tolbert as informing him that her husband was shot by a 'white man')

Mrs. Tolbert is dreaming.... Do you really believe a CIA agent would allow himself to be seen killing a Head of State? couldn't the CIA agent have been black? and even if the CIA had done the killing they wouldn't have allowed Mrs. Tolbert to live to tell Cllr. Cheapoo anything.

Liberians have been proven to believe anything, they love the story that "hidden hands" have ruled their country. But what Cllr. Cheapoo is suggesting would be considered by the world to be an act of war by the United States and the US would not have taken such a risk.

Lets face it...the indigenous population was tired of being ruled by the Americo's...resulting in the 1980 coup d'état. The only "real" hidden hands were the neo Liberians behind the coup...they couldn't take power openly so they were forced to make Doe the temporary leader...when he wouldn't leave that's when things got nasty.

Lets ask this question: Was there knowledge of the coup d'état by the US Intelligence Agency? Yes, I am sure they knew...but did they pull the trigger? NO

Author: cabbie1199
Thu Aug 7 23:19:19 2008

Mr. Fahnbullah (Mr. Revolutionaries) you and the rest of your organized gangsters are bunch of cowards and compulsive liars. Yes, Liars. The Coup of April 12, 1980 was carried on by the American government. You are a Coward, that is afraid to say the truth. The American government was a culprit in the execution of Pres. William R. Tolbert. You all, rather have others do your dirty deals , then portray yourself as revolutionaries and heroes. Unfortunately, for the Liberian people you are skilled in the art of deceptiveness, your elusiveness and defense mechanism "I love my people" is nothing but rhetoric. Rhetoric of an Educated Fool and Adventurous who will do anything, all in the cause of power and greed with no regard to the lives and the sufferings of the people. You will one day be exposed. " You, Maggot!"

Author: krahnman
Sat Aug 16 11:18:47 2008

Mr. cabbie1199:

It is so interesting to know that you don't believe that Doe and others carried out the April 12 coup. Rather, it was done by the American Government.

You are also calling Dr. Fahnbullah and others that worked with the PRC Government liars,cowards and gansters.

In as much as I don't want get in argument with you on the merit of this issue, I am afraid that you are one those who grew up around Monrovia, probably lived with the Americo-Liberians as one of their houseboy/maid who knew nothing but their imperial ideology. So, I can reason why speaking of their (the Americo-Liberians) ills or anything not favoring them will bother a buffoon like you. How dare you call Dr. Fahnbullah a liar when he is speaking the truth?

Author: cabbie1199
Mon Aug 25 14:25:29 2008

Mr.Krahnman, the PRC was never mentioned in my thread. I adamantly stand by my writing, that the American Government was involved in the coup of 1980. My remark was geared to your so-called revolutionary "Fahnbullah" and your imperialist master the "American Government" whose motive is to divide and conquer. My thread was not written to take away credit from the 17 enlisted men of the PRC, only to point out the deceptiveness of your so called ‘hero’ (Fahnbullah). He is one of those that have accumulated immense wealth on the blood and tears of the masses. I know what I saw the evening of April 11th through the morning of April 12th and weeks ahead while I was visiting Liberia. You are absolutely right! I was born and raised in Monrovia. You are mistaken Mr. Krahnman, your assumption that I lived with an Americo- Liberian family based on my thread is absurd. For your information, I only lived with my biological parents, who are not Americo-Liberian, but Natives of Liberia. As of your personal attack(insult) towards me, I’ll just call it ‘nonsense’.

Author: chappie
Wed Aug 6 19:21:53 2008

This is a remarkable development. For those words to actually be uttered by a respectable official of the PRC Government. I guess we all suspected but no one dared to actually speak out. I only hope that there is another respectable official of the Doe's government or PRC to confirm or deny Mr. Cheapo's claims. The only way I will not believe what Mr. Cheapo had said is if a PRC member comes to the TRC hearings to give a detailed story on how the coupe was planned and executed.

Author: mr00785
Wed Aug 6 20:45:20 2008

Chappie, you seem very suprised at the revelation of Chea Cheapoe, that Doe did not kill Tolbert. It is true that Doe did not carry out the killing of Tolbert. Tolbert was a victim of the cold war that year along with the president of Chile according to a book called the "Covert Operation" of 1980. The AFL did not have the gut or the experience to penetrate the security of the Executive Mansion. America's interests were threatened with the Tolbert's administration due his association with China, Libya, and other cummunist countries plus his declaration of non alliance (something that Tubman never did). Tolbert's death had nothing to do with corruption but the term was used because, the people was accustomed to hearing it and was tired of the injustice. Let I always say, the wrong man and the best president the republic ever had was murdered in cold blood. By the way, I am not member of the Tolbert's family.

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