28 November 2008
Appearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) yesterday to testify on his activities during the Liberian civil war, especially on allegations of his involvement in human rights excesses leveled against him by direct or indirect victims, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Geroge Dweh has put up defensive posture against all allegations, denying any involvement in the Lutheran Church Massacre as well as the gruesome killing of Johnny Nah and his newly married wife, Farmatta Sherman-Nah at the Sinkor Old Road during the early years of the war.
According to the former speaker, he and the late President Doe, whom he worked with very closely prior to the latter's death in September 1990, were knowledgeable of the massacre prior to its commission, but confirmed the involvement and participation of one of his kinsmen.
"Tailey took part in it. It happened before Doe and I got to know about it. When Doe got the news, he called Tailey and told him, you have destroyed me," Mr. Dweh, a kinsman of the late Doe and Tailey, an elephant hunter brought from Grand Gedeh to beef up the fighting forces of Doe said.
According to him, after Tailey was approached by the late President on the issue, Tailey had explained factors that led to his going there, saying that Tailey told Doe he got information that people were grouping in the building among the displaced to attack their position at the Mansion, and that he displayed a truck load of arms and ammunition obtained from the church which he seized.
Also, Dweh who was said to have led Doe's Death Squad denied ever killing one Johnny Nah as has been claimed by his (Nah's) relatives, particularly his son.
He said he knew that late Nah at the LEC where the two of them worked before the war, adding that he and the late had no quarrel, and so wondered why he would kill him.
"The only person who and the late Nah had problem was Peter Fineboy, not me," he recalled, an indication, according to observers, that Fineboy might have hand in the death of the late Nah, his wife and others.
"I challenged anyone, I challenge to produce evidence that I George Dweh killed Johnny Nah," he said, turning to journalist Tom Kamara one of those incriminating in to the death of the late Nah, and as someone who intends to take legal action against for defamation of character.
Not only did he defend his role in the Liberian conflict as someone who worked very closely with the late President Samuel Kanyon Doe, he also defended the role played by the Grahn ethnic group during the war, saying that they fought to liberate themselves from the shackles of oppression meted at them by the power that be at the time.
He said the Krahns came to the forefront of the conflict because they were singled out and killed by those who saw them as trouble-makers, making particular reference to "Americo-Liberians who he called "plantation slaves.'
Moreover, the former founding member of LURD and ULIMO said the Liberian conflict was extremely extensive, as it involved regional leaders who he called on the TRC to invite to explain their roles.
"If you have subpoena power, you need to bring here Dawda Jawahra, Blaise Campaore, Kadaffi, Jerry Rawlings, Albert Quiano to explain their roles because they did lots of things in the war," he said, and recalled that the Ghanaian government offered them (leaders of ULIMO invited to Ghana to find solution to the problem) huge sum of money to make Taylor President.
Being particular about inviting General Quiano, a Ghanaian military leader who headed the ECOMOG forces when Doe was captured at the Freeport of Monrovia because he allowed Prince Johnson and his forces to capture and kill the late president.
According to Dweh, they rejected the offers on grounds that other Liberians were dying in the hands of Taylor and his forces and it would be wrong to award him power, saying "they wanted Taylor to become president through the gun."
In other news, the former lawmaker during the transitional period said they as leaders of the various factions should take responsibility for excesses committed by fighters in the field, noting it was not planned to have people killed but it happened because "it is the essence of war, people die."
"We regret whatsoever that occurred, we should take responsibility for it as leaders of the factions," he boldly told the TRC.
In the same vein, Dweh has taken issue with the TRC for its failure to remember as former president as it did for the over six hundred Liberians massacred at the Lutheran Church. "Another issue that is amazing to me is that the TRC records did not records tell them that Doe was an elected and constitutional president of Liberia. The same way you giving to Tolbert, why are people not concerned about Doe," he wondered.
Moreover, Dweh failed to begin his testimony on schedule on grounds that the program was not carried on radio as had been the case of others whose testimonies were carried out live. He insisted that the program be carried 'live' because when others appeared, it was similarly on live broadcast.
Also, he said that he was not written by the TRC, ECOWAS and other concerned players about the exclusion of Grand Gedeans from makeup of the TRC. He said he was not concerned about 'geographic balance" but that the people of the county needed to be represented so they can have a say.
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This is another story again in Liberia. Should we give credence to your denial of the massacre at the Lutheran Church or the Nah’s family? George Dweh is blatantly refusing to admit the atrocities that he committed during the Liberian Civil War? In such situation, Liberians always say Dog lick your face or you get dried face.
Whether you took part in the Lutheran Massacre or not, I am of the strong conviction that George Dweh took human lives during the war. I have serious problem with those who made you so called Speaker of the House of Representatives. Your holding such position of high esteem is attributed to the poor judgment and negligence of the Liberian people.
Is there any word so unique to describe death? My main reason of raising this question, is whether you die through gun shot wounds like the George Dweh committed against the Liberian people, or drowning, car accident, fire, etc., it is still considered death (loss of life). In simple Liberian English, Dweh, you do not necessarily had to take part in the Lutheran Massacre to tell the Liberian people that you took some one’s life by force (Death) or committed crimes against humanity.
My words of advice to the TRC, is to introduce both Sassywood and Lie Detector testing for those brutal barbarians who ill treated their fellow citizens with no remorse of conscious. Both of these devices should be used together because one is from the western world and the other is considered our culture, heritage, and tradition because before lie detector was introduced, Sassywood was already in existence. I know this will raise lot of controversies but the blood of Liberians under the ground is crying – as in the case of Cain’s story in the Holy Bible, whose blood wept under the soil. So I leave it with you Liberian people to be the Judge. I know you will not agree with me – but equally so, I do not agree with those who took lives of our citizens with no regrets but are rather boasting with pride and dignity on a daily basis. If you can not use Sassy then let’s go the Polygraph testing. TRC the ball is in your Court.
this is complete nonsense i think you should regret for electing ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF,prince johnson and others who have killed in the name of changes and freedom.i got no doubt on mind that you are a big killer, and your hatre against krahn people will lead you death.are you forgotten that this country belong to all of us regardless of tribes and location.i want you to understand that george dweh never took arms against his own people but rather self defend against you and thus stupid enemies of our country.so are you not concerned for the death of sam dokkie,jackson f.doe,moses duopor,inner dogolia,steven yekeson,minister tower and others that were bloody killed by charles taylor and prince johnson? we krahn are strongh people and we fought to achive peace and democracy that you are enjoying today so pls close ur mouth and ask GOD to forgive you for the innocent bloods that is in your hands.
I understand as a khran man you feel the need to defend your brothers. I will like you to understand what you are writing is nonsense. mr dweh,the late president doe did not bring peace, all they brought was war. they killed, raped and eat the hearts of innocent liberians so you comming to their defense is nonsense
SHAME ON YOU, you are just another fool who not thing about foolish that you fought.am sorry for you as you er now liveing in frustration. why so concern about krahn? can YOU actually tell me if you are fully inform, i mean the cause of the war that you that allowed in your so called country that you love? however, for your information DOE regime was one of the best and well organized government in liberia. but because you er so narrow, you found part of so say yes in liberia this is why allowed the war. now if it was confrimed that doe was eatten, raping humanbeing as you said, he no more. can you observed ur present condition then that of doe time?woe unto you again you guys put narrowly out our home to shame and brought alot of criminals, and vandals who climed to be better today. can you compared Doe government to your so called leadres like Taylor and ELLEN today. you er another stupid and frustrated man on earth shame on you
Why can you question your so-call president Ellen Johnson, for the death of the Liberian people. Are you saying that you from Grand Gedeh county, I don't believed you are a son of grand Gedeh county. If you need some one to tell the truth you should tell how many people you nkilled in Liberia before coming to the United States, because you know that you took part in the killing of our people. I believed you kill my father during the ( REBEL WAR)in Liberia. Ask Prince Y. Johnson, Charles Taylor, and Ellen Johnson and yourself why your killed our people. Please tell the Liberian people WHY-- WHY-- kill your own brothers and sisters. The Krahn people are good people you are not one of us and you need to face the ( TRC).
LIvingstone Suah:
Oh! Allah, I Pray that You forgive the People of Liberia for that wrong which they have done to Man Kind. Gilt, is an everlasting stain and scar on the mind and soul of a person. Allah is watching all those standing at the TRC. Tell lies or truth...you are on the Universal screen. May Allah save you all.
Why would Allah save Liberians now? When Allah didn't intervene to save the lives of the many Liberians that were brutally massacred for years?
The power to save ourselves is within each and everyone of us (conquer greed and selfishness and you would have solved many of the problems that ails Liberia and Africa as a whole)this power isn't within some unknown entity. You shouldn't give credit or blame to an entity for the evil that "Man/Woman" are doing to their brother and sisters.
The healing begins with the TRC and the former speaker of the house needs to pay for his crimes against his fellow Liberians.
HI BROTHER GEORGE DWEH, iam your little brother from the same town and county but i due it necesary for you to admit the truth and nothing about the truth before the TRC inorder to help settle the many many differences facing our nation since 1990.eventhough some of us were not in liberia during the bloody war but it is surely believed and siad among many liberian that you are one of thus resposible for the massacre of hundreds of our brothers and sisters who have gone to the church for rescue.we need the truth and pls stop dening what is the truth if you really know your participation in this massacre in 1990.iam also touch when you mentioned why president DOE is honor or remembered by this present ELLEN JOHNSON government as compared to the passed presidents who have been honor and remembered for some great things in our country history.well,iam sure that despite the bad side of DOE there are some natives sons and daughters of the land that will forever remember sammy as we samply called him and so dont even dream that this ELLEN government can in any error mention any good thing about DOE.we all know that the socall congo people will always do things to suppress and isolate the real native man of the soil but iam hopeful that oneday we all regardless of our tribes and believes we will realize that liberia is our only home and only we native sons abd daughters can develop and make this country mama liberia a safe and better place for us and our generations and generations to come. LET HEAVEN BLESS WE ALL.