Chiang Mai, Thailand: Tourism, Development & Conflict
Role play created by Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) as a means of possible peaceful resolution to a real problem in Northern Thailand.
As Thailand’s national and regional economy has evolved, the Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority has dealt with many challenges over the years. Traditional sources of jobs and income such as agriculture, forestry, and other extractive industry have suffered. Amid these trends, the City of Chiang Mai has a great plan for opportunities to diversify the local economy. One possibility identified is the travel and tourism industry. The City of Chiang Mai believes they have the resource base, the tourist attractions, and a great opportunity to exploit the growing tourism industry. Chiang Mai has natural resources, authentic agricultural or ecological-based activities, scenic beauty, history, and a relaxed urban charm, which may appeal to foreigners as well as Bangkokians caught up in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.
However, simply possessing these attributes is not sufficient. Local leaders and business persons must engage in successful business development, marketing, management, and provision of adequate infrastructure. Sound business decision and informed local leadership is necessary to successfully diversify local economy through tourism development. The tourism project will bring financial prosperity to the local community through expansion of jobs, generate revenues, and above all put City of Chiang Mai once again on the world map.
The Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority has been working with the City of Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai Tourist Bureau to better enhance the tourism options in the region. Since Chiang Mai is the northern hub city for tourism, the city government views its importance to enhance the community to stay strong throughout 21st century.
TEDS Valley Corp. has been hired by the City of Chiang Mai to build a world-class resort by Ping River to develop tourism. The company will sign a US$850 million agreement to develop the resort that will house 1,500 guests at a given time.
The farmers and the villagers who benefit from Ping River are in opposition to the tourism project. They view the river water as natural resource that provides for their daily livelihood; specifically agriculture, fishing, and daily living. The farmers and villagers consider the river as a focal point for recreation and religious rituals as well as a pilgrimage center for them. The land around the river provides a source for agricultural, recreation, family farm plots and general, economic sustenance. The river provides water supply through irrigation channels, and serves as spiritual linkage between the present and the past.
Professor Wallach of Chulalonkorn University’s Peace Studies Program has been invited to negotiate with the City of Chiang Mai, the villagers/farmers, and the business community for a peaceful solution to the conflict. The Professor is afraid that the government and the business community interest will continue to ignore the villagers. The Professor is preparing to teach the villagers non-violent techniques to resolve the conflict.
The Government controlled media is promoting and portraying positive images of the project- thus giving one-sided story. This propaganda media is fanning the flames through electronic as well as print media about City of Chiang Mai signing the agreement with TEDS Valley Corp. without consulting the villagers/farmers. Peace Journalism, on the other hand, is providing balance and objective news covering both sides of the story.
You are Playing the Role of an Investment Company
Chiang Mai: The Land of Opportunity and Resources!
•TEDS Valley Corporation, a US-based firm, has received a license to build a US$850 million tourism site along the Chiang Mai River.
•TEDS will build an exclusive world-class, five-star resort by the river that can accommodate 1,500 guests at a time.
•It will be a gated community that will put the lifestyle, security and status of its guests above all other considerations.
•The hotel will have a helicopter pad for guests’ arrival from the nearby airport. The resort will be built on a boat theme.
•The guests will arrive in absolute awe and will be inspired by the resort’s underwater casino, a golf course, Entertainment Park with land and water games and a sports complex.
•When it’s time to wind down, there’s no place in the world other than the breathtakingly world-class spas.
•The resort will offer a variety of world-class cuisine including French, Italian, and Mediterranean etc.
•TEDS will have dinner cruises alongside Chiang Mai River.
•The project will bring financial prosperity to the local community through expansion of jobs, generate revenue, and above all put Chiang Mai once again on the world map.
*Your goal is to get this project through. OVER the objections of the Villagers and farmers. You are close to the Government and believe they will support you.
You are Playing the Role of Journalist
SENSATIONAL NEWS
Construction work on River to build a Watergate to raise water level will start next week.
According to our reliable sources, the Government has finally made a decision and concluded arrangements with TEDS Valley Corporation, a US-based firm to start construction of Watergate on Chiang Mai River next week.
There are rumors in surrounding neighborhood that the leader of villagers who have been in opposition of the Watergate construction on the river has resolved the conflict and now the project will begin.
On the contrary , our correspondent have been told by a blank phone call that villagers are trying to organize a protest rally and sit in procession in front of Governor’s House on Sunday against the government decision.
Channel Wai...............24 hour truth,
PEACE JOURNALISM
Government of Chiang Mai has decided not to start construction of dyke on Chiang Mai river without consensus, according to a Government spokesman. This decision has been made for low land farmers and in public interest.
A spokesman further said that “this government does not want to suck the blood of our own peoples in the name of development.”
The Government also gave the assurance to the investors TEDS Valley Corporation, a US-based firm who are interested to develop the area after raise of water level.”This conflict will be resolve with consensus of all related parties"
Villagers have welcomed the Government statement. The village leader in his press release has said that they are ready to have a round table talk with government for negotiations.
* You are a Journalist and you can decide to play either role but ultimately you will need to work for a solution that pleases both sides.
You are playing the role of Professor of Peace Studies at Chulalonkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
SCENARIO: Chang Mai, Thailand:
The Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority (CMRDA) has been working with the City of Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai Tourist Bureau to better enhance the tourist options in the region. They would like to dam a river to create more water in the downtown and build hotels, restaurants and walkways.
The villagers would lose water downstream in this case and are strongly against this project, they feel the government and business interests are not listening to them.
Your goals are first and foremost talk to villagers, Government, and Business interests to see their sides and feelings.
Ultimately, you would like to negotiate with the Government and Business interests for a peaceful solution to the conflict BUT you are concerned that the Government and Business interests will continue to ignore the villagers. Thus you are prepared to teach the villagers these nonviolent tactics from Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement.
This is in order of nonviolent tactics.
RECRUITMENT and Non- violent training
STRATEGIC DRESS AND LANGUAGE for respect and positive media attention
TEACH- INS
SIT- INS
NEGOTIATION with GOVT/Business
PROTEST MARCHES (with media attention
and if unsuccessful)
BOYCOTTS and media attention, leaflets to tourists and locals.
CIVIL DISOBEDIANCE- such as squatting on government land and allowing yourself to be arrested.
The last resort would be MASSIVE STRIKES...
You are playing the Role of Government
The Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority (CMRDA) has been working with the City of Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai Tourist Bureau to better enhance the tourist options in the region. Being that Chiang Mai is the central northern hub city in Thailand for tourism, it is important to continue to enhance the community to make sure it is strong throughout the 21st century.
One main objective is to better utilize the Chiang Mai river frontage along the Ping River. Currently the river is under utilized by tourism standards and there is very little development along the river. The CMRDA has seen many other communities around the world develop their river frontage to either create or enhance a tourist industry. River walks, cafes, hotels, river cruises, cultural/historic walks are all part of the overall economic development strategy for these communities. CMRDA thinks they can create the same for Chiang Mai by developing the river and creating more jobs and strengthening its core for economic growth.
During dry season, the Ping River gets so low that the river frontage looks dirty and unappealing. In addition, boat cruises and water sports could not be utilized on the river during this time. Dry season is also the tourist high season. In order to raise the elevation of water in the river, the CMRDA is interested in creating a water gate below the city in order to sell the project to developers. CMRDA has been working with the City of Chiang Mai to get the project started.
CMRDA is very politically inclined as many wealthy business owners are on its board of directors. These wealthy business owners have connections around the country.
Goals:
1.To develop the Ping River frontage and in order to do so the river level has to be stabilized year round.
2. Create a water gate or other structure to raise the water within the core city area.
3. There is a current international hotel chain that would like to develop a resort/ hotel that would accommodate 1500 people on the water, but only if the river level is raised in order to utilize the river frontage.
=============
You are playing the Role of
FARMERS/ VILLAGERS /COMMUNITY
The farmers /villagers group have a strong ties to the LAND/RIVER/DYKES.
1. The river provides water for the lively hood, daily living, agriculture, Fishing Recreation and Religious /pilgrimage Center for them.
2. The Land provides a source for food growing –internal /external agro cropping – a place of recreation – business and economic sustenance and other resources.
3. The Dykes serves as control or water ways –aids agricultural irrigation channels – serves as a spiritual linkage between the present and the past, a bridge over troubled waters.
The community of Farmers and villagers maintain the Land – River –and Dykes for prosperity and continuous the crude agricultural and fishing practices.
Recently a news media has announced the contract between the government and Multinational conglomerate to build a Watergate – to control future flood and develop the area. The government did not consult/discuss with the Community before embarking the implementation of this project. This resulted in a tension almost leading to a public mayhem between the government and farmers/village communities.
The Goals of Bargaining
• Ensure enough water for daily living, Agricultural, Fishing now and in the future.
• Expand and promote Agricultural Economic sustainability
• Rehabilitate the environment for spiritual economic gains.
The fact is that the Villagers/Farmers need to be very outspoken to be heard by the government. Observations have proved that this move by the government has never been successful in any of the three neighboring villages. And more so the people do not trust the government promises.
This role play is inspired by my visit to Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) in February of 2010. This is a real problem and there has been no solution as at April 2010 when I left Thailand due to the political crises between the red shirts and the Government. I wish to propose such group facilitation for the resolution of this problem and also to portray the important role of the media in our modern world, showing some aspects of sensational, journalism and Peace Journalisms
www.dominosremnantservice.com.net.org
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A "good Night" with the rebels.
Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) Presently the Project Director for Jesuit Refugee Service Chad, In this narrative describes his first assessment experience in the bush of Central African Republic CAR as Pioneer/Team leader and project Director for JRS CAR
A GOOD NIGHT WITH THE REBELS
I started the journey to Bosanguoa OUAM Province with Fr Luke, a Swiss Jesuit, and the Ivorian finance assistant manager.
We arrived safely in Bosangoua, and spent the night with the Bishop .Very early the next day, we headed for Bougila. The roads were not tarred but passable. On our journey, we encountered armed loyalists who were responsible for protecting the government. They all appeared to know the Bishop and respected him very much. They shook hands with him before allowing us to proceed on our journey.
BOUGILA
When we arrived in Bougila ,we inspected the only school we saw on ground. There, I recognized the presence of MSF and ACF Flag, the only NGOs in the area.
Observations & Recommendations
The total population of Bougila is 23,315 and there is only one school serving the entire community. It’s location is central to Bosangoua and Markunda The school has classes primary 1 to primary 4 only with 4 teachers in attendance and a student population of 231 pupils.
I observed that the school lacked the facilities to serve as a central office for us. It was recommended that a bigger school, with classes from 1st grade to 12th grade, be constructed to accommodate more children. Alternatively, the church could be renovated and extended to pave way for more classes to be built . In addition, there should be training courses for the teachers and provision of teaching aids.
From Bougila we continued our journey to Markounda, driven by the Bishop in his own car.
MARKOUNDA
Observations & Recommendations
The population of Markounda is unknown. We saw refugee camps and IDP sites. We noted over 900 Central Africans displaced and the refugees there were Chadians.
We also saw 2 primary schools and 2 secondary schools (1 catholic school and 1 government school).The Catholic school here is managed by the Sisters of St Joseph of Turin. It seems to be the only decent school ( 1st grade -12 grade) around the region.
The government school, on the other hand, is managed from a shanty thatched hut.
The education inspector is well informed about the schools in the area. He has detailed information, from the number of schools, teachers, and students, to the number of tables and even blackboards. He has requested us to help him get a motor bike to make his job more effective. I strongly support this request.
We could offer assistance in the training of teachers in the two schools and distribution of school materials and teaching aids. Sadly, the refugees and the displaced cannot afford to send their children to the government school or the Catholic school. Hence, running vocational training (carpentry, tailoring, soap making tie and dye, agriculture, baking) in each of the camps, accompanied by pastoral activities, could benefit refugees and the displaced. These activities would be recommended to refugees and the displaced only. However, if community members wish to benefit from the opportunity given to the refugees, they could be registered as well. Please note that limited accommodation would be available in the priest and Sister’s houses.
We noted that there were 3 NGO’s (MSF, ACF, COPI), 1 local church and 1 Catholic Church.
Rebels controlled the zone between Markounda to Maitikoullu. The first rebel check point was manned by a young, handsome, very clean looking boy which I estimated to be about 15 or 16 years of age. He stepped forward with his AK 47 accompanied by four other adults; all armed with locally fabricated guns and imported foreign guns as well.
DAGADEAU
The situation was similar at the other checks point until we got to Dagadeau. We were checked and after a word or two with the bishop, we were asked to go. However, we were stopped by a mature looking rebel who I presumed to be about thirty years of age. He ran out with his cowboy hat, holding an AK47 pointing as if about to shoot us, with double pistols protruding from his pockets. He asked us all to get out of the car, gave us seats, and asked that the cars be checked thoroughly. I followed him round as they searched the vehicle with a bold expression on my face and a little fear in my heart, he did not oppose me following him while he search the cars. My colleagues were seated under the shade with all the villagers watching. He saw computers and my satellite Thuraya phone but did not confiscate them.
He finished the search, satisfied that we were not carrying any weapons or contra band. We returned together to meet the others. He sat down, gave me a seat, and started asking questions about who we were, where we came from and the goal of our mission. He was a bit surprised to know the white man was not the Chief of mission but me. The bishop must be commended for his humility and calmness here.
He began by introducing himself in French, despite the fact that he knew that all the others, except the European, understood Sango, as the grand commander, Felix of the zone (Com Zone). He explained that his men did not inform him that we were coming which was surprising since they were supposed to have informed him. He had information from the area's UNICEF coordinator that a certain organization from the Catholic Church that specialized in education for refugees and displaced people would be coming to help them.
Felix seemed very well connected and informed, as he cited the numbers and contacts of important personnel in the country. He spoke about the country's corrupt government which they supplied with arms and everything they needed to gain power, but which had failed the whole citizenry. He said they had asked for dialogue but the government had not responded to their request. "Please, I request you all to bring education and development to our community", he agitated. He invited us to establish primary schools in all rebel zones within his command. "We are not bad people. We took arms to protect our people from external banditry from Chad and other communities". He took our names, contacts, and all vital information. He was very serious and asked us to be sincere with the information we provided because he stands the chance of rescuing us in the future if by chance we get into trouble with any rebel group.
Almost in tears, he apologized for the embarrassment and delay he caused us, gave us his satellite phone number, and promised to cooperate as much as possible in our mission to their zone. He said it would be impossible for us to visit Maitikulou and return to Bosangoua today because the roads could be dangerous at night. He appointed two civilians to accompany us to our destination who would speak for us in case we got stopped by another rebel group. I left them with a parting word, promising that if we established an education project in Maitikulou, they would benefit from the school materials and probably food distribution in schools, if World Food Programme agrees to partner with me. We parted for Maitikoulu with the so called civilians but I think they were rebels without arms.
MAITIKULOU
Maitikulou is the last boarder town before Chad. People cross into Chad for education because there is nothing here, except the small Catholic school run by the catechist and the community.
The population of Maitikulou is unknown. There is only 1 catholic school with 259 pupils (155 boys and 104 girls) and only 2 teachers. There are no NGOs, no clinic or health centre. There are lots of cross border activities and great farming activities with sesame and cotton cultivation done in crude and stressful way.
Observations and Recommendations
The people felt somewhat protected because their youths were armed with guns. Chad is only a stone's throw from Maitikulou, by way of a small river. The community seemed the happiest to see us and expressed with great joy that their prayers had been answered at last.
There is a church house but no parish house. The people were ready to help build a place for anybody coming to live and work with them. They promised to construct another school before our next visit, recognizing that the thatched roof here was too small for the number of students and prospective students.
The need for teacher"s training and school material distribution is urgent. In the long term we could construct a solid 1st – 12th grade school in order to stop the cross boarder problem. We would engage in pastoral and social services with the community and thereby create an income-generating project which could even help get their farm produce to the bigger markets in Bangui or Bosangua. We left Maitikuluo with the hope of returning to Markunda.
DIBALO
A "Good night" with the rebels
Upon arriving in Dibalo, a five minute drive from Dagadeau, we were stopped by the chief rebel. As instructed by the Com Zone (Felix), he rode on his motorbike to instruct them that they should not allow us to pass because the road was dangerous that night. Some bandits were coming from Chad to strike, so we should either return to Maitikulou or sleep in that village and continue our journey by 5 am the next day.
It was 5 pm and already getting dark. We asked to proceed to see the chief ourselves but they refused, saying that the chief had spoken and to go as instructed without complaining. We dropped the two "civilians" and headed to find the chief rebel in this village, (Dibalo), an elderly looking man of about fifty. He, along with the village Catechist, was very happy to receive us. He ordered that two big chickens be killed and to start making food for us. He asked us to park the two cars in a "V" shape to make a bathroom for us in which to bathe and asked the children to go to the river to get water. He requested that the water be boiled, and that every villager bring out their best mats and mosquito nets. He ordered the youths to cut tree branches to make the mosquito poles, and we all sat down to chat and listen to their stories. It was no different from what we had heard from Dagadaeu and all the other villages.
When the food was ready the Bishop blessed our meal and we all ate together from the tray: Chicken sauce and "gozo", Cassava flourmill (Fufu). The Bishop, Fr Long, and John Jack were the first to fall asleep in the open. A thatched room was deserted and prepared for Fr Luke to sleep in. I sent for cigarettes from the neighboring village and shared with everybody who was awake. I remained with the inspector, the catechist, the rest of the villagers, and the chief rebel of Dibalo, chatting into the late night. It was a good night and I enjoyed every bit of it as it reminded me of my first encounter with rebels in the Bomi forest of Liberia.
I was able to catch two hours of sleep in the car and afterwards came out to enjoy the cool morning breeze. The Bishop was up by 4:30 and coffee was ready by 5:00. We all drank, thanked them, and left our little widows might with the chief rebel. He wore his cowboy hat which seemed to be the symbol of Chieftain within the rebel dynasty and accompanied us to the next village. He gave us a military salute and wished us well for the rest of the journey.
The rest of the journey was hitch free through Markunda where we had brunch and continued through Nana Bakasa just a few kilometers from Bosangoua where we met a large group of rebels. We stopped to talk with them. They told us they were proceeding because they got orders from above to move on. To where, From where, From whom? This was strange because this was not a rebel zone. The loyalists were there and seemed to be watching the rebels parading the streets with their arms, but the loyalists were few compared to the rebels and the rebels were better armed.
At this point I remembered why we were stopped from our intended journey last night. Most of the rebels were Chadian. If we insisted to continue last night we would have encountered some of these-thug like rebels.
SIDO
Sido is a border settlement another stone's throw from Chad.
The population is about 18,000 mostly Central Africans . There was only 1 community school with a population of 627 pupils (227 boys and 373 girls). The NGO’s on ground were Norwegian refugee council (NRC), Teaching Child Right sponsored by UNICEF. There were a lot of cross border activities, especially crossing border to attend school in Chad. We also observed that there was only one small community chemist. The basic needs are education, medical , teacher training and other social amenities.
Observations and Recommendations
The road from Bosangoua to Sido was the worst road in the entire Province, but funny enough, one had to pass through the president's village to get there. The best option is always to come from Bangui to Kakabandoro, then to Kabo then Sido. Any of the routes taken requires whole day's journey there is a great number of NGOs in Kabo because it is the biggest most populated town before Sido or Chad. This is equally a transit point for refugees to Chad or refugees from Chad. They get registered here and are given refugee status. However, those in Sido don't usually go through this process. They cross the border simply and return simply. It took only 15 minutes for someone to buy us a sim card from Chad.
This is heavily populated border settlement. People have fled from here before and are still fleeing while others are returning. The UNICEF Representative for this area agreed with me that the figure in school is too small for this community and needs urgent attention.
We could advocate for a health center for this community through MSF or Merlin. We could construct a third school here running from 1st to 12th grade and run teacher training. Distribution of school materials should be considered too. Community income-generating projects could be initiated with the people. There is a church house but no priest residence. We could help the priest who travels 100km from Kabo to celebrate mass here if he wishes and if there is a priest or Brother in the team but pastoral need is not a priority or basic need here.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I have seen rebels before from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and even the Philippines, but never in my life have I seen such a great number as in CAR. I still maintain that I have enjoyed the company of rebels in these countries but none have been as hospitable as the rebels I have met in CAR so far.
I have equally met very humble good bishops from Onaikan to Martins to Zigler, to Xavier, but have never come across any bishop as simple as Bishop Francois Yombandje Xavier of Bosanguoa. How else could one be so in touch with reality; with his people and with the truth or better still, preach the gospel without words? He always introduces himself to the rebels who do not know him as "we are from the Catholic Mission". His humility is without doubt, very great.
Since the Bishop of Bosangua has promised us an office in Bosangua. We should take it immediately, establish an office there and work with UNICEF to distribute school materials to all schools in OAUM Province. From this office, activities could be facilitated for JRS to establish three teams at SIDO, MAITIKULO and MARKUNDA. Let me emphasize that activities in Markunda should ONLY be within the camps even if the personnel or team live with the Sisters or at the parish. Vocational training for adults and an Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) should be prioritized for Children. The need for construction of solid schools in Sido, Miaitikuluo, and Bougila cannot be over emphasized. If money is limited, the church in Sido could be expanded to accommodate more children. The need for teacher training and pedagogy is great. School feeding should be advocated as a basic priority in all schools in Oaum Province. This will encourage children to attend school and relieve parents from having to look for food when children return home from school.
Another possibility is to have the central office in Bougila from which to coordinate projects, since there is an aerodrome there. There is an aerodrome in Kabo as well; making transportation of material to Sido very easy.
Every team should have a culture, peace, and sports troupe to entertain and recreate from time to time. This helps reunite villages, reinforce their protection of one another, and even helps to prevent the use of arms.
www.dominosremnantservice.com
________________________________________
A GOOD NIGHT WITH THE REBELS
I started the journey to Bosanguoa OUAM Province with Fr Luke, a Swiss Jesuit, and the Ivorian finance assistant manager.
We arrived safely in Bosangoua, and spent the night with the Bishop .Very early the next day, we headed for Bougila. The roads were not tarred but passable. On our journey, we encountered armed loyalists who were responsible for protecting the government. They all appeared to know the Bishop and respected him very much. They shook hands with him before allowing us to proceed on our journey.
BOUGILA
When we arrived in Bougila ,we inspected the only school we saw on ground. There, I recognized the presence of MSF and ACF Flag, the only NGOs in the area.
Observations & Recommendations
The total population of Bougila is 23,315 and there is only one school serving the entire community. It’s location is central to Bosangoua and Markunda The school has classes primary 1 to primary 4 only with 4 teachers in attendance and a student population of 231 pupils.
I observed that the school lacked the facilities to serve as a central office for us. It was recommended that a bigger school, with classes from 1st grade to 12th grade, be constructed to accommodate more children. Alternatively, the church could be renovated and extended to pave way for more classes to be built . In addition, there should be training courses for the teachers and provision of teaching aids.
From Bougila we continued our journey to Markounda, driven by the Bishop in his own car.
MARKOUNDA
Observations & Recommendations
The population of Markounda is unknown. We saw refugee camps and IDP sites. We noted over 900 Central Africans displaced and the refugees there were Chadians.
We also saw 2 primary schools and 2 secondary schools (1 catholic school and 1 government school).The Catholic school here is managed by the Sisters of St Joseph of Turin. It seems to be the only decent school ( 1st grade -12 grade) around the region.
The government school, on the other hand, is managed from a shanty thatched hut.
The education inspector is well informed about the schools in the area. He has detailed information, from the number of schools, teachers, and students, to the number of tables and even blackboards. He has requested us to help him get a motor bike to make his job more effective. I strongly support this request.
We could offer assistance in the training of teachers in the two schools and distribution of school materials and teaching aids. Sadly, the refugees and the displaced cannot afford to send their children to the government school or the Catholic school. Hence, running vocational training (carpentry, tailoring, soap making tie and dye, agriculture, baking) in each of the camps, accompanied by pastoral activities, could benefit refugees and the displaced. These activities would be recommended to refugees and the displaced only. However, if community members wish to benefit from the opportunity given to the refugees, they could be registered as well. Please note that limited accommodation would be available in the priest and Sister’s houses.
We noted that there were 3 NGO’s (MSF, ACF, COPI), 1 local church and 1 Catholic Church.
Rebels controlled the zone between Markounda to Maitikoullu. The first rebel check point was manned by a young, handsome, very clean looking boy which I estimated to be about 15 or 16 years of age. He stepped forward with his AK 47 accompanied by four other adults; all armed with locally fabricated guns and imported foreign guns as well.
DAGADEAU
The situation was similar at the other checks point until we got to Dagadeau. We were checked and after a word or two with the bishop, we were asked to go. However, we were stopped by a mature looking rebel who I presumed to be about thirty years of age. He ran out with his cowboy hat, holding an AK47 pointing as if about to shoot us, with double pistols protruding from his pockets. He asked us all to get out of the car, gave us seats, and asked that the cars be checked thoroughly. I followed him round as they searched the vehicle with a bold expression on my face and a little fear in my heart, he did not oppose me following him while he search the cars. My colleagues were seated under the shade with all the villagers watching. He saw computers and my satellite Thuraya phone but did not confiscate them.
He finished the search, satisfied that we were not carrying any weapons or contra band. We returned together to meet the others. He sat down, gave me a seat, and started asking questions about who we were, where we came from and the goal of our mission. He was a bit surprised to know the white man was not the Chief of mission but me. The bishop must be commended for his humility and calmness here.
He began by introducing himself in French, despite the fact that he knew that all the others, except the European, understood Sango, as the grand commander, Felix of the zone (Com Zone). He explained that his men did not inform him that we were coming which was surprising since they were supposed to have informed him. He had information from the area's UNICEF coordinator that a certain organization from the Catholic Church that specialized in education for refugees and displaced people would be coming to help them.
Felix seemed very well connected and informed, as he cited the numbers and contacts of important personnel in the country. He spoke about the country's corrupt government which they supplied with arms and everything they needed to gain power, but which had failed the whole citizenry. He said they had asked for dialogue but the government had not responded to their request. "Please, I request you all to bring education and development to our community", he agitated. He invited us to establish primary schools in all rebel zones within his command. "We are not bad people. We took arms to protect our people from external banditry from Chad and other communities". He took our names, contacts, and all vital information. He was very serious and asked us to be sincere with the information we provided because he stands the chance of rescuing us in the future if by chance we get into trouble with any rebel group.
Almost in tears, he apologized for the embarrassment and delay he caused us, gave us his satellite phone number, and promised to cooperate as much as possible in our mission to their zone. He said it would be impossible for us to visit Maitikulou and return to Bosangoua today because the roads could be dangerous at night. He appointed two civilians to accompany us to our destination who would speak for us in case we got stopped by another rebel group. I left them with a parting word, promising that if we established an education project in Maitikulou, they would benefit from the school materials and probably food distribution in schools, if World Food Programme agrees to partner with me. We parted for Maitikoulu with the so called civilians but I think they were rebels without arms.
MAITIKULOU
Maitikulou is the last boarder town before Chad. People cross into Chad for education because there is nothing here, except the small Catholic school run by the catechist and the community.
The population of Maitikulou is unknown. There is only 1 catholic school with 259 pupils (155 boys and 104 girls) and only 2 teachers. There are no NGOs, no clinic or health centre. There are lots of cross border activities and great farming activities with sesame and cotton cultivation done in crude and stressful way.
Observations and Recommendations
The people felt somewhat protected because their youths were armed with guns. Chad is only a stone's throw from Maitikulou, by way of a small river. The community seemed the happiest to see us and expressed with great joy that their prayers had been answered at last.
There is a church house but no parish house. The people were ready to help build a place for anybody coming to live and work with them. They promised to construct another school before our next visit, recognizing that the thatched roof here was too small for the number of students and prospective students.
The need for teacher"s training and school material distribution is urgent. In the long term we could construct a solid 1st – 12th grade school in order to stop the cross boarder problem. We would engage in pastoral and social services with the community and thereby create an income-generating project which could even help get their farm produce to the bigger markets in Bangui or Bosangua. We left Maitikuluo with the hope of returning to Markunda.
DIBALO
A "Good night" with the rebels
Upon arriving in Dibalo, a five minute drive from Dagadeau, we were stopped by the chief rebel. As instructed by the Com Zone (Felix), he rode on his motorbike to instruct them that they should not allow us to pass because the road was dangerous that night. Some bandits were coming from Chad to strike, so we should either return to Maitikulou or sleep in that village and continue our journey by 5 am the next day.
It was 5 pm and already getting dark. We asked to proceed to see the chief ourselves but they refused, saying that the chief had spoken and to go as instructed without complaining. We dropped the two "civilians" and headed to find the chief rebel in this village, (Dibalo), an elderly looking man of about fifty. He, along with the village Catechist, was very happy to receive us. He ordered that two big chickens be killed and to start making food for us. He asked us to park the two cars in a "V" shape to make a bathroom for us in which to bathe and asked the children to go to the river to get water. He requested that the water be boiled, and that every villager bring out their best mats and mosquito nets. He ordered the youths to cut tree branches to make the mosquito poles, and we all sat down to chat and listen to their stories. It was no different from what we had heard from Dagadaeu and all the other villages.
When the food was ready the Bishop blessed our meal and we all ate together from the tray: Chicken sauce and "gozo", Cassava flourmill (Fufu). The Bishop, Fr Long, and John Jack were the first to fall asleep in the open. A thatched room was deserted and prepared for Fr Luke to sleep in. I sent for cigarettes from the neighboring village and shared with everybody who was awake. I remained with the inspector, the catechist, the rest of the villagers, and the chief rebel of Dibalo, chatting into the late night. It was a good night and I enjoyed every bit of it as it reminded me of my first encounter with rebels in the Bomi forest of Liberia.
I was able to catch two hours of sleep in the car and afterwards came out to enjoy the cool morning breeze. The Bishop was up by 4:30 and coffee was ready by 5:00. We all drank, thanked them, and left our little widows might with the chief rebel. He wore his cowboy hat which seemed to be the symbol of Chieftain within the rebel dynasty and accompanied us to the next village. He gave us a military salute and wished us well for the rest of the journey.
The rest of the journey was hitch free through Markunda where we had brunch and continued through Nana Bakasa just a few kilometers from Bosangoua where we met a large group of rebels. We stopped to talk with them. They told us they were proceeding because they got orders from above to move on. To where, From where, From whom? This was strange because this was not a rebel zone. The loyalists were there and seemed to be watching the rebels parading the streets with their arms, but the loyalists were few compared to the rebels and the rebels were better armed.
At this point I remembered why we were stopped from our intended journey last night. Most of the rebels were Chadian. If we insisted to continue last night we would have encountered some of these-thug like rebels.
SIDO
Sido is a border settlement another stone's throw from Chad.
The population is about 18,000 mostly Central Africans . There was only 1 community school with a population of 627 pupils (227 boys and 373 girls). The NGO’s on ground were Norwegian refugee council (NRC), Teaching Child Right sponsored by UNICEF. There were a lot of cross border activities, especially crossing border to attend school in Chad. We also observed that there was only one small community chemist. The basic needs are education, medical , teacher training and other social amenities.
Observations and Recommendations
The road from Bosangoua to Sido was the worst road in the entire Province, but funny enough, one had to pass through the president's village to get there. The best option is always to come from Bangui to Kakabandoro, then to Kabo then Sido. Any of the routes taken requires whole day's journey there is a great number of NGOs in Kabo because it is the biggest most populated town before Sido or Chad. This is equally a transit point for refugees to Chad or refugees from Chad. They get registered here and are given refugee status. However, those in Sido don't usually go through this process. They cross the border simply and return simply. It took only 15 minutes for someone to buy us a sim card from Chad.
This is heavily populated border settlement. People have fled from here before and are still fleeing while others are returning. The UNICEF Representative for this area agreed with me that the figure in school is too small for this community and needs urgent attention.
We could advocate for a health center for this community through MSF or Merlin. We could construct a third school here running from 1st to 12th grade and run teacher training. Distribution of school materials should be considered too. Community income-generating projects could be initiated with the people. There is a church house but no priest residence. We could help the priest who travels 100km from Kabo to celebrate mass here if he wishes and if there is a priest or Brother in the team but pastoral need is not a priority or basic need here.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I have seen rebels before from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and even the Philippines, but never in my life have I seen such a great number as in CAR. I still maintain that I have enjoyed the company of rebels in these countries but none have been as hospitable as the rebels I have met in CAR so far.
I have equally met very humble good bishops from Onaikan to Martins to Zigler, to Xavier, but have never come across any bishop as simple as Bishop Francois Yombandje Xavier of Bosanguoa. How else could one be so in touch with reality; with his people and with the truth or better still, preach the gospel without words? He always introduces himself to the rebels who do not know him as "we are from the Catholic Mission". His humility is without doubt, very great.
Since the Bishop of Bosangua has promised us an office in Bosangua. We should take it immediately, establish an office there and work with UNICEF to distribute school materials to all schools in OAUM Province. From this office, activities could be facilitated for JRS to establish three teams at SIDO, MAITIKULO and MARKUNDA. Let me emphasize that activities in Markunda should ONLY be within the camps even if the personnel or team live with the Sisters or at the parish. Vocational training for adults and an Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) should be prioritized for Children. The need for construction of solid schools in Sido, Miaitikuluo, and Bougila cannot be over emphasized. If money is limited, the church in Sido could be expanded to accommodate more children. The need for teacher training and pedagogy is great. School feeding should be advocated as a basic priority in all schools in Oaum Province. This will encourage children to attend school and relieve parents from having to look for food when children return home from school.
Another possibility is to have the central office in Bougila from which to coordinate projects, since there is an aerodrome there. There is an aerodrome in Kabo as well; making transportation of material to Sido very easy.
Every team should have a culture, peace, and sports troupe to entertain and recreate from time to time. This helps reunite villages, reinforce their protection of one another, and even helps to prevent the use of arms.
www.dominosremnantservice.com
________________________________________
Liberia is RIsing again
‘’LIBERIA IS RISING AGAIN’’
is the reflection of Dominofrank,S.J. in the middle, with Liberian President Helen Sirleaf Johnson on the right and Rev Sr, Mary Amissah Fmm on the left.
Introduction
Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) is the first of two children. Born, January 23rd 1968 to Lucy Aduku Dale in Kogi State of Nigeria, Attended nursery primary and secondary school in Nigeria. After two years of studies at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he got a Biomedical Engineering Certificate,1991, Worked in Lagos with various Charities Pacelli school for the blind, Anglo Nigeria Welfare Association for the Blind, Motherless babies home, Victoria Island, Dale and Dale Galleries before joining the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers of the North-West African Province.1996. Had two years formation program, (1996 – 1998) Served as Benin Prison Chaplain and Minister for social welfare for the juvenile delinquent home. Coordinator of St Joseph house Soup kitchen and faith House for the mentally retarded and physically challenged persons. Worked in St Joseph Catholic Church as pastoral assistant and Social welfare coordinator till 2000 before proceeding to the Philippines for further studies
After I completed my clinical pastoral education in the Philippines, November 2003, before returning to Africa, I asked to see the Burmese refugee situations in Thailand but I was denied a visa. I decided to visit the remote part of Beijing to compare life situation with the Philippines, I could not stay too long because of the prevailing situation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS. Finally, I went to see the situation in Cambodia. As a stranger to this war torn country, the humanitarian needs and demands I saw, were not only scary but also shocking, especially the amputees, land mine victims and the handicapped on wheelchairs. Then I remembered Martin Luther King Jr. “If I have nothing to die for then I have nothing to live for.”
Welcome To JRS
Little did I know that this was to prepare me for a greater mission ahead in Jesuit Refugee Service JRS Liberia. The Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service West Africa, Mateo Aguire invited me to work in Liberia to accompany, to serve, and to defend the “Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons.” I arrived in Liberia on 4 December 2003 to coordinate the humanitarian mission in Montserado County.
The first year and half I was assigned to work in the camp. The second year I was rebuilding schools in Montserado and doing logistics for the national office. The third year I was building schools and communities within the Suehn Mecca District of Bomi County. All these needs had to be met in a country where basic means were very slender and demands very high.
A great missionary St Joseph Fernandez said that the greatest task for a missionary was the transformation of the “inner self”, though it sounds somehow radical against the popular notion of contemporary humanitarian mission. Humanitarian work seems like going to do good for the disadvantaged to make an impact on the poor people or in a popular phrase ‘to make a difference’. It is true that many humanitarian organizations enter the country with clear aims, objectives, targets, and most projects are time-bound. Actual results on the ground are judged by performance measures that are written in a proposal. A program or mission is considered to have failed if objectives are not achieved within the period; it has failed if actual results do not correspond to performance measures. If at the end of the period, the mission is accomplished and the donors are satisfied, then the mission would be considered a success. It is a mission with an immediate impact.
The images of internally displaced persons IDPs camps or refugee camps are less familiar to many. They are always sorrowful, depressing and a miserable place to work. No one would like to live in such a place. However, my previous experience of work in a leprosarium taught me that people have the capacity to adjust to any environment. People need to have a strong determination, a motivation that they can transform the place into a place to grow.
I could not understand, why people thanked themselves for being IDPs, because in the IDP camps. People had schools to attend, adult literacy classes were free, opportunity to learn different skills provided by NGO’s, UN agencies and to some degrees it was an opportunity to broaden their horizons, since many came from remote villages in the forest with little or no contact with the outside world before. It was rather a blessing in disguise!
Assignments
My first year working in the camps involved many dynamics. I realized that there was volatile peace provided by United Nation Military in Liberia UNMIL. I say volatile peace because the rebels were still armed. I decided to strive for peace education in all the camps where I worked by setting up Peace cultural troupes.
Montserado camps are the biggest IDP camps nearest to the city of Monrovia. They were about ten camps in all with the smallest camp having a population of about seven thousand people and the largest about thirty thousand people. The most traumatized and depressing people I encountered here were the adult and the youth. They were initially aggressive, rough, wild, and tended to be rude and violent. Their faces reflected red eyes, long faces and deep wounds suffered from a long and bitter war. Could these faces smile and know joy again? This was the thought that ran through my mind but interestingly, the children were generally happy. As long as they had food in their mouth, water in their gut and a place to sleep, they were as happy as any children anywhere in the world. The adults lived their lives based on a humiliating departure from home, deprived, lost, uprooted from community, and a sense of survival from a dangerous journey. For the children, there was a sense of arrival in a huge playground. This African proverb comes to mind “A child on his or her mother’s back does not care how long the journey takes.” Many children found the camp as the new playground home.
In this madhouse called camp or new playground, Brother Dominofrank should provide free education for the IDP children, adult literacy, and vocational training skills with the collaboration of United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR and the Liberian Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commissions LRRRC. In addition, I was asked to provide pastoral care to the same people through collaboration with the local Archdiocese of Monrovia.
I was asked to make sure: Children were in school, teachers were actively present in the classrooms, young people were enrolled for vocational training, we were able to equip teenage mothers with income generating skills to have enough milk to feed their babies and to stop young girls from getting pregnant.
There was no clear-cut distinction between Bro Domino, the JRS Director of social services from Mondays to Fridays and Bro Domino, the Catholic Church pastor from Friday to Sunday. The differences existed only within my heart and my approach to matters.
The camp was not a safe place. The fleeing refugee or displaced persons only ended their journey there because it was nearby. The camps were guarded by the United Nation military, yet life inside was full of violence. Women and children experienced daily physical and sexual abuse. People found themselves in the midst of terrifying IDPs coming from different parts of Liberia scattered in many places, exploited by either members of their family or people with authority. Tensions often arose between the IDPs and some humanitarian agencies because of unsatisfactory services, or for disregarding their cultural values. Stealing became a daily issue. Life was not secured even within the embrace of the United Nation Military Peacekeeping Force in Monrovia, much less within the camps.
To create a safe and peaceful environment for learning, either in the school or camp is an art. It needs imagination, creativity. We had to create fun loving activities in the programs; food had to be served in schools, in order to attract children and their teenage mothers. It was great to see the youngsters sing, dance, play and become involved in various activities around the camps where I worked. I understand that to be peaceful, to be secured or to be normal is to make it possible for children to smile, laugh, sing dance, play and even pray happily. I understand that when parents are happy, they will learn to make their wards happy. In addition, when children are happy, the parents and community seems all right, there would be no more war.
To achieve this I had to learn to laugh at myself and realize that I am just one of the stakeholders. The other stakeholders need to not only be well informed but also be actively happy with their involvement in the project. Above all, the need for constant monitoring and implementation could not be overemphasized with JRS. Little wonder the people called us Just Remain Steady. (JRS)
By November 2005 my team had trained and equipped with startup kits over two thousand four hundred Liberians in the skills of Carpentry, Tailoring Baking, Soap making Typing Vegetable Farming, Tie and Dye (indigo) Adult literacy graduates, Pastoral and psychosocial services are more difficult to quantify
With these accomplishments and others not mentioned, I had not only become very popular within the Archdiocese of Monrovia but also with other agencies collaborating with UN. I was the only international staff who was actively present on a daily basis.
I had no regrets when UN introduced their repatriation and resettlement program enforced by International Order of Migration IOM. Despite the large numbers returning to their home counties, JRS recognized that many chose to settle adjacent to the camps. JRS also acknowledged the acceptance, which local communities afforded to the displaced during their time in the camps. Consequently, the best way we could help the IDPs to thank the local communities was by leaving a befitting legacy.
Therefore, I became the Project Director of JRS Montserado. Within the period of six months, I had assessed all the schools in the district, rebuilt five and built 4 new schools in community where there had been none. Though my second assignment was short, it was well targeted and result- oriented.
In all, sphere standards must be strictly adhered to, keeping with the JRS mission to “accompany” the displaced, JRS traveled with the returnees to their hometown in the interior. Suehn Mecca District in Bomi county has traditionally been neglected by the government in Monrovia and has remained underdeveloped compared to other parts of the country after the war, despite the fact that former President Charles Taylor, present President Helen Johnson Sirleaf and Archbishop Michael Kpakla Francis hails from there. JRS was in touch with Suehn Mecca people during their stay in the camps. After a long process of assessment, JRS decided to assist the Suehn Mecca people in their places of origin through School Reconstruction, School Agriculture, Teachers Training and Pastoral projects. For the third time I was made Project Director.
It was not difficult to understand the projects and all the intricacies and to learn a new approach. The whole exercise is emergency in nature but it has to be developmental in character. To build schools and to open agricultural projects are part of our emergency packages, since there were no public infrastructures in the villages and the people do not have the capacity to build by themselves, nor even the government which is still recovering from the war. People had to be mobilized in order to take part and to take responsibility. People need to contribute towards the project, with labors and materials that are easily available in the villages. People must feel the sense of belonging. The projects are theirs, not the international communities. It is a developmental process. It is a struggling experience for me to understand these people back home. It takes time to make people realize that they are no longer IDP’s or refugees. It is not easy to work with people who have been living on handouts and relief materials over the years in IDP and refugee camps. It takes time to make people understand that they are the agents of development of their communities, agents of positive change.
Armed with hope and spirited team members, we persevered and forged ahead as the pacesetters. Now there are new agencies arriving in the interior of Suehn Mecca to live and work there. There seems to be noticeable changes, things are taking shape again. It is a great image to see women carrying buckets of water or sand, and their men tirelessly making mud blocks or clearing the bush under a humid and sunny day at the project sites. “Liberia is rising again” and people are ready to continue rebuilding their country. It is a great feeling to see school buildings and churches standing beautifully painted, and children are back to school. It is also nice to see plants growing in the farms.
It is true that in times of difficulties, humanitarian interventions are necessary, but for a long term, more than relief agencies, the country need investors to make the economy grow, to move the country forward.
At the completion of one year and three months, these are some of the accomplishments achieved by my team:
Reconstruction and furnishing of 4 school
Building and furnishing three new schools
Distribution of School Benches, Chairs Tables and blackboards to 10 schools
Reconstruction and furnishing of seven churches
Building and furnishing of five new churches
Starting five agricultural farms in Suehn schools
Conclusion
March 2007, before my departure from Liberia, I decided to visit the former camps of Montserado. The places looked strange to me, and most of the tents have all gone. What I saw was a skeletal caricature of what I used to know. Where are the hundreds of thousands of people who lived here? In this empty and quiet place, I stood and asked myself? In my mind, I offered them a little prayer. In some camps, no single tent remained only the ruins and remains of debris that covered the wild bush and grasses. I wish them good luck wherever they are. Liberia, a broken and wounded nation, has given me the opportunity to discover a very fundamental thing in my own life. In the midst of destruction, I found new enthusiasm, new energy, and tremendous strength to serve humanity. If the transformation of the “inner self” means anything, it must be the discovery of the new energy, to study and to serve humanity.
As the country moves forward, I need to move on too, to learn new skills, to equip myself with all the necessary competencies that will enable me to work better and achieve better results, to keep abreast with the signs of our times.
This article titled “Liberia is rising again’’ is published by Francis Suleiman as a summary of activities and operations during the years spent in Liberia Dec 2003 - Sept 2007
www.dominosremnantservice.com
is the reflection of Dominofrank,S.J. in the middle, with Liberian President Helen Sirleaf Johnson on the right and Rev Sr, Mary Amissah Fmm on the left.
Introduction
Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) is the first of two children. Born, January 23rd 1968 to Lucy Aduku Dale in Kogi State of Nigeria, Attended nursery primary and secondary school in Nigeria. After two years of studies at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he got a Biomedical Engineering Certificate,1991, Worked in Lagos with various Charities Pacelli school for the blind, Anglo Nigeria Welfare Association for the Blind, Motherless babies home, Victoria Island, Dale and Dale Galleries before joining the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers of the North-West African Province.1996. Had two years formation program, (1996 – 1998) Served as Benin Prison Chaplain and Minister for social welfare for the juvenile delinquent home. Coordinator of St Joseph house Soup kitchen and faith House for the mentally retarded and physically challenged persons. Worked in St Joseph Catholic Church as pastoral assistant and Social welfare coordinator till 2000 before proceeding to the Philippines for further studies
After I completed my clinical pastoral education in the Philippines, November 2003, before returning to Africa, I asked to see the Burmese refugee situations in Thailand but I was denied a visa. I decided to visit the remote part of Beijing to compare life situation with the Philippines, I could not stay too long because of the prevailing situation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS. Finally, I went to see the situation in Cambodia. As a stranger to this war torn country, the humanitarian needs and demands I saw, were not only scary but also shocking, especially the amputees, land mine victims and the handicapped on wheelchairs. Then I remembered Martin Luther King Jr. “If I have nothing to die for then I have nothing to live for.”
Welcome To JRS
Little did I know that this was to prepare me for a greater mission ahead in Jesuit Refugee Service JRS Liberia. The Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service West Africa, Mateo Aguire invited me to work in Liberia to accompany, to serve, and to defend the “Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons.” I arrived in Liberia on 4 December 2003 to coordinate the humanitarian mission in Montserado County.
The first year and half I was assigned to work in the camp. The second year I was rebuilding schools in Montserado and doing logistics for the national office. The third year I was building schools and communities within the Suehn Mecca District of Bomi County. All these needs had to be met in a country where basic means were very slender and demands very high.
A great missionary St Joseph Fernandez said that the greatest task for a missionary was the transformation of the “inner self”, though it sounds somehow radical against the popular notion of contemporary humanitarian mission. Humanitarian work seems like going to do good for the disadvantaged to make an impact on the poor people or in a popular phrase ‘to make a difference’. It is true that many humanitarian organizations enter the country with clear aims, objectives, targets, and most projects are time-bound. Actual results on the ground are judged by performance measures that are written in a proposal. A program or mission is considered to have failed if objectives are not achieved within the period; it has failed if actual results do not correspond to performance measures. If at the end of the period, the mission is accomplished and the donors are satisfied, then the mission would be considered a success. It is a mission with an immediate impact.
The images of internally displaced persons IDPs camps or refugee camps are less familiar to many. They are always sorrowful, depressing and a miserable place to work. No one would like to live in such a place. However, my previous experience of work in a leprosarium taught me that people have the capacity to adjust to any environment. People need to have a strong determination, a motivation that they can transform the place into a place to grow.
I could not understand, why people thanked themselves for being IDPs, because in the IDP camps. People had schools to attend, adult literacy classes were free, opportunity to learn different skills provided by NGO’s, UN agencies and to some degrees it was an opportunity to broaden their horizons, since many came from remote villages in the forest with little or no contact with the outside world before. It was rather a blessing in disguise!
Assignments
My first year working in the camps involved many dynamics. I realized that there was volatile peace provided by United Nation Military in Liberia UNMIL. I say volatile peace because the rebels were still armed. I decided to strive for peace education in all the camps where I worked by setting up Peace cultural troupes.
Montserado camps are the biggest IDP camps nearest to the city of Monrovia. They were about ten camps in all with the smallest camp having a population of about seven thousand people and the largest about thirty thousand people. The most traumatized and depressing people I encountered here were the adult and the youth. They were initially aggressive, rough, wild, and tended to be rude and violent. Their faces reflected red eyes, long faces and deep wounds suffered from a long and bitter war. Could these faces smile and know joy again? This was the thought that ran through my mind but interestingly, the children were generally happy. As long as they had food in their mouth, water in their gut and a place to sleep, they were as happy as any children anywhere in the world. The adults lived their lives based on a humiliating departure from home, deprived, lost, uprooted from community, and a sense of survival from a dangerous journey. For the children, there was a sense of arrival in a huge playground. This African proverb comes to mind “A child on his or her mother’s back does not care how long the journey takes.” Many children found the camp as the new playground home.
In this madhouse called camp or new playground, Brother Dominofrank should provide free education for the IDP children, adult literacy, and vocational training skills with the collaboration of United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR and the Liberian Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commissions LRRRC. In addition, I was asked to provide pastoral care to the same people through collaboration with the local Archdiocese of Monrovia.
I was asked to make sure: Children were in school, teachers were actively present in the classrooms, young people were enrolled for vocational training, we were able to equip teenage mothers with income generating skills to have enough milk to feed their babies and to stop young girls from getting pregnant.
There was no clear-cut distinction between Bro Domino, the JRS Director of social services from Mondays to Fridays and Bro Domino, the Catholic Church pastor from Friday to Sunday. The differences existed only within my heart and my approach to matters.
The camp was not a safe place. The fleeing refugee or displaced persons only ended their journey there because it was nearby. The camps were guarded by the United Nation military, yet life inside was full of violence. Women and children experienced daily physical and sexual abuse. People found themselves in the midst of terrifying IDPs coming from different parts of Liberia scattered in many places, exploited by either members of their family or people with authority. Tensions often arose between the IDPs and some humanitarian agencies because of unsatisfactory services, or for disregarding their cultural values. Stealing became a daily issue. Life was not secured even within the embrace of the United Nation Military Peacekeeping Force in Monrovia, much less within the camps.
To create a safe and peaceful environment for learning, either in the school or camp is an art. It needs imagination, creativity. We had to create fun loving activities in the programs; food had to be served in schools, in order to attract children and their teenage mothers. It was great to see the youngsters sing, dance, play and become involved in various activities around the camps where I worked. I understand that to be peaceful, to be secured or to be normal is to make it possible for children to smile, laugh, sing dance, play and even pray happily. I understand that when parents are happy, they will learn to make their wards happy. In addition, when children are happy, the parents and community seems all right, there would be no more war.
To achieve this I had to learn to laugh at myself and realize that I am just one of the stakeholders. The other stakeholders need to not only be well informed but also be actively happy with their involvement in the project. Above all, the need for constant monitoring and implementation could not be overemphasized with JRS. Little wonder the people called us Just Remain Steady. (JRS)
By November 2005 my team had trained and equipped with startup kits over two thousand four hundred Liberians in the skills of Carpentry, Tailoring Baking, Soap making Typing Vegetable Farming, Tie and Dye (indigo) Adult literacy graduates, Pastoral and psychosocial services are more difficult to quantify
With these accomplishments and others not mentioned, I had not only become very popular within the Archdiocese of Monrovia but also with other agencies collaborating with UN. I was the only international staff who was actively present on a daily basis.
I had no regrets when UN introduced their repatriation and resettlement program enforced by International Order of Migration IOM. Despite the large numbers returning to their home counties, JRS recognized that many chose to settle adjacent to the camps. JRS also acknowledged the acceptance, which local communities afforded to the displaced during their time in the camps. Consequently, the best way we could help the IDPs to thank the local communities was by leaving a befitting legacy.
Therefore, I became the Project Director of JRS Montserado. Within the period of six months, I had assessed all the schools in the district, rebuilt five and built 4 new schools in community where there had been none. Though my second assignment was short, it was well targeted and result- oriented.
In all, sphere standards must be strictly adhered to, keeping with the JRS mission to “accompany” the displaced, JRS traveled with the returnees to their hometown in the interior. Suehn Mecca District in Bomi county has traditionally been neglected by the government in Monrovia and has remained underdeveloped compared to other parts of the country after the war, despite the fact that former President Charles Taylor, present President Helen Johnson Sirleaf and Archbishop Michael Kpakla Francis hails from there. JRS was in touch with Suehn Mecca people during their stay in the camps. After a long process of assessment, JRS decided to assist the Suehn Mecca people in their places of origin through School Reconstruction, School Agriculture, Teachers Training and Pastoral projects. For the third time I was made Project Director.
It was not difficult to understand the projects and all the intricacies and to learn a new approach. The whole exercise is emergency in nature but it has to be developmental in character. To build schools and to open agricultural projects are part of our emergency packages, since there were no public infrastructures in the villages and the people do not have the capacity to build by themselves, nor even the government which is still recovering from the war. People had to be mobilized in order to take part and to take responsibility. People need to contribute towards the project, with labors and materials that are easily available in the villages. People must feel the sense of belonging. The projects are theirs, not the international communities. It is a developmental process. It is a struggling experience for me to understand these people back home. It takes time to make people realize that they are no longer IDP’s or refugees. It is not easy to work with people who have been living on handouts and relief materials over the years in IDP and refugee camps. It takes time to make people understand that they are the agents of development of their communities, agents of positive change.
Armed with hope and spirited team members, we persevered and forged ahead as the pacesetters. Now there are new agencies arriving in the interior of Suehn Mecca to live and work there. There seems to be noticeable changes, things are taking shape again. It is a great image to see women carrying buckets of water or sand, and their men tirelessly making mud blocks or clearing the bush under a humid and sunny day at the project sites. “Liberia is rising again” and people are ready to continue rebuilding their country. It is a great feeling to see school buildings and churches standing beautifully painted, and children are back to school. It is also nice to see plants growing in the farms.
It is true that in times of difficulties, humanitarian interventions are necessary, but for a long term, more than relief agencies, the country need investors to make the economy grow, to move the country forward.
At the completion of one year and three months, these are some of the accomplishments achieved by my team:
Reconstruction and furnishing of 4 school
Building and furnishing three new schools
Distribution of School Benches, Chairs Tables and blackboards to 10 schools
Reconstruction and furnishing of seven churches
Building and furnishing of five new churches
Starting five agricultural farms in Suehn schools
Conclusion
March 2007, before my departure from Liberia, I decided to visit the former camps of Montserado. The places looked strange to me, and most of the tents have all gone. What I saw was a skeletal caricature of what I used to know. Where are the hundreds of thousands of people who lived here? In this empty and quiet place, I stood and asked myself? In my mind, I offered them a little prayer. In some camps, no single tent remained only the ruins and remains of debris that covered the wild bush and grasses. I wish them good luck wherever they are. Liberia, a broken and wounded nation, has given me the opportunity to discover a very fundamental thing in my own life. In the midst of destruction, I found new enthusiasm, new energy, and tremendous strength to serve humanity. If the transformation of the “inner self” means anything, it must be the discovery of the new energy, to study and to serve humanity.
As the country moves forward, I need to move on too, to learn new skills, to equip myself with all the necessary competencies that will enable me to work better and achieve better results, to keep abreast with the signs of our times.
This article titled “Liberia is rising again’’ is published by Francis Suleiman as a summary of activities and operations during the years spent in Liberia Dec 2003 - Sept 2007
www.dominosremnantservice.com
, I was invited to the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria, I profited from the free ride to do some negotiations, while there, had some cups of chat with the militants.
I have worked extensively in Conflict zones in other countries but never in Nigeria, but While Visiting the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria I was able to use my networking skills to seek out some of the rebels and dialogue with them,
The Pictures below shows some of the few I encountered.
The First one here is Called Field Marshal, He controls the Ihiala/ Azia zones and beside is a video demonstrating to me by him and his cohorts that he meant they meant business and are ready to fire at any second.
They are ready to laid down their arms and engage in some other trade or means of livelihood, but the question is, who Will buy him a motorbike, or a Carpentry work kit? A complete mini tool box would cost a minimum of 600 USD For only One Person
On a non violent note; Ililo Chukwu Azu ( Lilobabay) is a 22 year old paraplegic , girl who has never sat, crawled walk or ever fed herself or been to school. She has a very strong attraction for visitors and very good in remembering discussions and resolving arguments for clients who buy drinks from her grand Mother where she lays on the floor on a mat perpetually. With the stick stock in between her fingers, she drives away the chicken that comes to peck on her. At first sight, one gets the impression ILILO is deaf and dumb, but a word of salutation to her could attract a very good discussion. She is very happy with life and has expressed the desire to go to school. She has asked what school would be best for her, and how could she make it to school?
Could you help us find solution to this thought provoking question?
A specialized wheel chair to help her sit up neck high would be our first request for her, Then A little bit of surgery to help her sit on a wheel chair would be the second, My third request would be how to help her get some education, at least to make her fit into the life stream of activities in her community, She would be very good in attracting friend to push her in her wheel chair if we can help get one hence she is very lively and warm heart. In fact she is a darling of this village Community, Can you help us find any help from anywhere? What would you like to donate? A specialized wheel Chair? Fund a special Surgery or her education?
W
www.dominosremnantservice.com
I have worked extensively in Conflict zones in other countries but never in Nigeria, but While Visiting the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria I was able to use my networking skills to seek out some of the rebels and dialogue with them,
The Pictures below shows some of the few I encountered.
The First one here is Called Field Marshal, He controls the Ihiala/ Azia zones and beside is a video demonstrating to me by him and his cohorts that he meant they meant business and are ready to fire at any second.
They are ready to laid down their arms and engage in some other trade or means of livelihood, but the question is, who Will buy him a motorbike, or a Carpentry work kit? A complete mini tool box would cost a minimum of 600 USD For only One Person
On a non violent note; Ililo Chukwu Azu ( Lilobabay) is a 22 year old paraplegic , girl who has never sat, crawled walk or ever fed herself or been to school. She has a very strong attraction for visitors and very good in remembering discussions and resolving arguments for clients who buy drinks from her grand Mother where she lays on the floor on a mat perpetually. With the stick stock in between her fingers, she drives away the chicken that comes to peck on her. At first sight, one gets the impression ILILO is deaf and dumb, but a word of salutation to her could attract a very good discussion. She is very happy with life and has expressed the desire to go to school. She has asked what school would be best for her, and how could she make it to school?
Could you help us find solution to this thought provoking question?
A specialized wheel chair to help her sit up neck high would be our first request for her, Then A little bit of surgery to help her sit on a wheel chair would be the second, My third request would be how to help her get some education, at least to make her fit into the life stream of activities in her community, She would be very good in attracting friend to push her in her wheel chair if we can help get one hence she is very lively and warm heart. In fact she is a darling of this village Community, Can you help us find any help from anywhere? What would you like to donate? A specialized wheel Chair? Fund a special Surgery or her education?
W
www.dominosremnantservice.com
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Dominos Remnant Services, DRS: PROJECTS URGENT NEEDS AND PRIORITY
Dominos Remnant Services, DRS: PROJECTS URGENT NEEDS AND PRIORITY: The faces that appears in this pictures are neither Victims nor Rebels
Victims and Rebels: by (Dominofrank) by Francis Suleiman
Violence against women and girls is a global epidemic. In Chad and Sudan women and girls face possible danger of rape or assault, women and girls are constantly mutilated for trying to flee abuse in their homes, on their way to Wadi in search of water, or in search of firewood and daily means of livelihood. Rape of women and girls was rampant. Their husbands, fathers and male child killed, they fled, hid, fought and joined the rebellion, for security, protection and revenge. The assault and attack is reduced or almost over now. They have been refused acceptance in their own communities by the same community they fought to protect, they are called ‘ devils’ and ‘daughters of Satan’, ‘women and ladies without honor’ Where are they hiding now? What are they doing now? How could they be helped to gain back their dignity? They are clandestinely sharing their stories about how to end this horrific and widespread human rights crisis and unleash the full potential of half their nation’s population. Who will listen to their stories? This research is working to stop attacks against girls on their way to school, reduce trafficking in women and girls, end violence in the home and rape as a weapon of war. When women and girls thrive, societies are more likely to prosper economically, reduce rates of HIV and AIDS, decrease child and maternal mortality, and have more participatory and democratic governments. Some Congress is now considering the International Violence against Women Act (H.R. 4594/S.2982), which addresses these concerns and support solutions.
It is true that the cultures in North East Chad is a difficult one to penetrate, more so when it has to do with women and girls. In my work with the child soldiers in North east Chad, I discovered that women, and teenage girls seriously assaulted, violated and dehumanized by the Zhaghawas tribal rebel group, this led to the clandestine registration of young girls, teenager and even mothers and grandmothers and those widowed by the Zhaghawa rebel group, into the FUC rebel group for protection and probably revenge. Since the accord between the government in Libya, November 2006 and the announcement in Chad 2007, to end the rebellion and the recruitment of rebels by the FUC, Jesuit Refugee Service in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners have reunified and reintegrated over 229 male child soldiers. What of the Females? Are they not humans? Why is it that nobody is asking? Why is it that nobody is doing anything to help them regain their dignity? Why has any of the humanitarian Organization not made any attempt even up till this moment with the female child soldiers? Were their rights and dignity not violated? Are they happy in their present hiding conditions rejected by families and friends? Should humanitarian actors be reminded that there were female teenage rebels or victims? Should they also be reminded that they are human beings and deserve to be treated equally with the boys, regardless of culture, tradition and religion, that they were never reunified or repatriated like their male counterparts? Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -Martin Luther King, Jr
What is their present status? Are they happy where they are hiding, rejected by families and friends? Are they happy taking drugs, or married to former rebels to remain in the military because they have no other options?
Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations, "contributes to the respect for human life and the observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms."
"Religions promote reconciliation by impelling persons to move forward in a spirit of mutual cooperation," he appealed for peace, "which is not merely the absence of conflict but the harmonious coexistence of individual citizens within a society governed by justice."
I am greatly shocked beyond bone marrows, which not only the culture and religion of the people here discriminate against the females but even international humanitarian organizations. Since I began this initiative, on the research to seek out and identify these victims and rebels, I have been threatened by different elements; from the community in Guerida Chad, from different NGO, s even my own colleagues have advised me to kindly abandon this sensitive issue for now. "The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.” - James Whitcomb
My response is, ‘I have only one life to live, I am ready to lose it once, provided I lose it in a painless state‘. Martin Luther king Jr, stated that “If you have nothing to die for, then you have nothing to live for”. I have survived other dangerous missions and territories and God would surely see me through this and bring relief to these victims through this research some day.
“A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't"
--Rhonda Hansome
I am ready to take some concrete steps toward becoming a female right activist, a Peace advocate or peace specialist with a difference, by 1. Creating awareness to prevent recruitment of Girl child soldiers.2 Help victims reintegrate with dignity into their communities without fear or shame and contribute to the sustainable development of their societies. I have the confidence, resources and energy to know it is what I want to do and what I am capable of doing.
How?
I have clandestinely met face to face and discussed with over 60 out of the supposed 150 women who fought alongside the Front Unite pour le Changement (FUC) these does not include the number of girls too young to carry gun or women too old to fight.
After 13 years of working in post conflict and conflict situations, I have the knowledge to effectively confront violent conflict – be it ethnic, social, political, religious, or economic – through learned mediation, negotiation, facilitation, social entrepreneurship, leadership, and societal transformation techniques and a clearer understanding of the dynamics of contemporary conflicts.
Are you ready to hear some of the most horrific stories of the war? Contact us@ dominofranksj@yahoo.com This is the story of the Female Victims and rebels of the Chadian Rebellion by (Dominofrank) Francis Suleiman www.dominosremnantservice.com
"
Victims and Rebels: by (Dominofrank) by Francis Suleiman
Violence against women and girls is a global epidemic. In Chad and Sudan women and girls face possible danger of rape or assault, women and girls are constantly mutilated for trying to flee abuse in their homes, on their way to Wadi in search of water, or in search of firewood and daily means of livelihood. Rape of women and girls was rampant. Their husbands, fathers and male child killed, they fled, hid, fought and joined the rebellion, for security, protection and revenge. The assault and attack is reduced or almost over now. They have been refused acceptance in their own communities by the same community they fought to protect, they are called ‘ devils’ and ‘daughters of Satan’, ‘women and ladies without honor’ Where are they hiding now? What are they doing now? How could they be helped to gain back their dignity? They are clandestinely sharing their stories about how to end this horrific and widespread human rights crisis and unleash the full potential of half their nation’s population. Who will listen to their stories? This research is working to stop attacks against girls on their way to school, reduce trafficking in women and girls, end violence in the home and rape as a weapon of war. When women and girls thrive, societies are more likely to prosper economically, reduce rates of HIV and AIDS, decrease child and maternal mortality, and have more participatory and democratic governments. Some Congress is now considering the International Violence against Women Act (H.R. 4594/S.2982), which addresses these concerns and support solutions.
It is true that the cultures in North East Chad is a difficult one to penetrate, more so when it has to do with women and girls. In my work with the child soldiers in North east Chad, I discovered that women, and teenage girls seriously assaulted, violated and dehumanized by the Zhaghawas tribal rebel group, this led to the clandestine registration of young girls, teenager and even mothers and grandmothers and those widowed by the Zhaghawa rebel group, into the FUC rebel group for protection and probably revenge. Since the accord between the government in Libya, November 2006 and the announcement in Chad 2007, to end the rebellion and the recruitment of rebels by the FUC, Jesuit Refugee Service in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners have reunified and reintegrated over 229 male child soldiers. What of the Females? Are they not humans? Why is it that nobody is asking? Why is it that nobody is doing anything to help them regain their dignity? Why has any of the humanitarian Organization not made any attempt even up till this moment with the female child soldiers? Were their rights and dignity not violated? Are they happy in their present hiding conditions rejected by families and friends? Should humanitarian actors be reminded that there were female teenage rebels or victims? Should they also be reminded that they are human beings and deserve to be treated equally with the boys, regardless of culture, tradition and religion, that they were never reunified or repatriated like their male counterparts? Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -Martin Luther King, Jr
What is their present status? Are they happy where they are hiding, rejected by families and friends? Are they happy taking drugs, or married to former rebels to remain in the military because they have no other options?
Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations, "contributes to the respect for human life and the observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms."
"Religions promote reconciliation by impelling persons to move forward in a spirit of mutual cooperation," he appealed for peace, "which is not merely the absence of conflict but the harmonious coexistence of individual citizens within a society governed by justice."
I am greatly shocked beyond bone marrows, which not only the culture and religion of the people here discriminate against the females but even international humanitarian organizations. Since I began this initiative, on the research to seek out and identify these victims and rebels, I have been threatened by different elements; from the community in Guerida Chad, from different NGO, s even my own colleagues have advised me to kindly abandon this sensitive issue for now. "The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.” - James Whitcomb
My response is, ‘I have only one life to live, I am ready to lose it once, provided I lose it in a painless state‘. Martin Luther king Jr, stated that “If you have nothing to die for, then you have nothing to live for”. I have survived other dangerous missions and territories and God would surely see me through this and bring relief to these victims through this research some day.
“A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't"
--Rhonda Hansome
I am ready to take some concrete steps toward becoming a female right activist, a Peace advocate or peace specialist with a difference, by 1. Creating awareness to prevent recruitment of Girl child soldiers.2 Help victims reintegrate with dignity into their communities without fear or shame and contribute to the sustainable development of their societies. I have the confidence, resources and energy to know it is what I want to do and what I am capable of doing.
How?
I have clandestinely met face to face and discussed with over 60 out of the supposed 150 women who fought alongside the Front Unite pour le Changement (FUC) these does not include the number of girls too young to carry gun or women too old to fight.
After 13 years of working in post conflict and conflict situations, I have the knowledge to effectively confront violent conflict – be it ethnic, social, political, religious, or economic – through learned mediation, negotiation, facilitation, social entrepreneurship, leadership, and societal transformation techniques and a clearer understanding of the dynamics of contemporary conflicts.
Are you ready to hear some of the most horrific stories of the war? Contact us@ dominofranksj@yahoo.com This is the story of the Female Victims and rebels of the Chadian Rebellion by (Dominofrank) Francis Suleiman www.dominosremnantservice.com
"
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Updates - Connect to the people you care about - Yahoo! Pulse
Updates - Connect to the people you care about - Yahoo! Pulse‘’LIBERIA IS RISING AGAIN’’
is the reflection of Dominofrank,S.J. in the middle, with Liberian President Helen Sirleaf Johnson on the right and Rev Sr, Mary Amissah Fmm on the left.
Introduction
Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) is the first of two children. Born, January 23rd 1968 to Lucy Aduku Dale in Kogi State of Nigeria, Attended nursery primary and secondary school in Nigeria. After two years of studies at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he got a Biomedical Engineering Certificate,1991, Worked in Lagos with various Charities Pacelli school for the blind, Anglo Nigeria Welfare Association for the Blind, Motherless babies home, Victoria Island, Dale and Dale Galleries before joining the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers of the North-West African Province.1996. Had two years formation program, (1996 – 1998) Served as Benin Prison Chaplain and Minister for social welfare for the juvenile delinquent home. Coordinator of St Joseph house Soup kitchen and faith House for the mentally retarded and physically challenged persons. Worked in St Joseph Catholic Church as pastoral assistant and Social welfare coordinator till 2000 before proceeding to the Philippines for further studies
After I completed my clinical pastoral education in the Philippines, November 2003, before returning to Africa, I asked to see the Burmese refugee situations in Thailand but I was denied a visa. I decided to visit the remote part of Beijing to compare life situation with the Philippines, I could not stay too long because of the prevailing situation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS. Finally, I went to see the situation in Cambodia. As a stranger to this war torn country, the humanitarian needs and demands I saw, were not only scary but also shocking, especially the amputees, land mine victims and the handicapped on wheelchairs. Then I remembered Martin Luther King Jr. “If I have nothing to die for then I have nothing to live for.”
Welcome To JRS
Little did I know that this was to prepare me for a greater mission ahead in Jesuit Refugee Service JRS Liberia. The Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service West Africa, Mateo Aguire invited me to work in Liberia to accompany, to serve, and to defend the “Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons.” I arrived in Liberia on 4 December 2003 to coordinate the humanitarian mission in Montserado County.
The first year and half I was assigned to work in the camp. The second year I was rebuilding schools in Montserado and doing logistics for the national office. The third year I was building schools and communities within the Suehn Mecca District of Bomi County. All these needs had to be met in a country where basic means were very slender and demands very high.
A great missionary St Joseph Fernandez said that the greatest task for a missionary was the transformation of the “inner self”, though it sounds somehow radical against the popular notion of contemporary humanitarian mission. Humanitarian work seems like going to do good for the disadvantaged to make an impact on the poor people or in a popular phrase ‘to make a difference’. It is true that many humanitarian organizations enter the country with clear aims, objectives, targets, and most projects are time-bound. Actual results on the ground are judged by performance measures that are written in a proposal. A program or mission is considered to have failed if objectives are not achieved within the period; it has failed if actual results do not correspond to performance measures. If at the end of the period, the mission is accomplished and the donors are satisfied, then the mission would be considered a success. It is a mission with an immediate impact.
The images of internally displaced persons IDPs camps or refugee camps are less familiar to many. They are always sorrowful, depressing and a miserable place to work. No one would like to live in such a place. However, my previous experience of work in a leprosarium taught me that people have the capacity to adjust to any environment. People need to have a strong determination, a motivation that they can transform the place into a place to grow.
I could not understand, why people thanked themselves for being IDPs, because in the IDP camps. People had schools to attend, adult literacy classes were free, opportunity to learn different skills provided by NGO’s, UN agencies and to some degrees it was an opportunity to broaden their horizons, since many came from remote villages in the forest with little or no contact with the outside world before. It was rather a blessing in disguise!
Assignments
My first year working in the camps involved many dynamics. I realized that there was volatile peace provided by United Nation Military in Liberia UNMIL. I say volatile peace because the rebels were still armed. I decided to strive for peace education in all the camps where I worked by setting up Peace cultural troupes.
Montserado camps are the biggest IDP camps nearest to the city of Monrovia. They were about ten camps in all with the smallest camp having a population of about seven thousand people and the largest about thirty thousand people. The most traumatized and depressing people I encountered here were the adult and the youth. They were initially aggressive, rough, wild, and tended to be rude and violent. Their faces reflected red eyes, long faces and deep wounds suffered from a long and bitter war. Could these faces smile and know joy again? This was the thought that ran through my mind but interestingly, the children were generally happy. As long as they had food in their mouth, water in their gut and a place to sleep, they were as happy as any children anywhere in the world. The adults lived their lives based on a humiliating departure from home, deprived, lost, uprooted from community, and a sense of survival from a dangerous journey. For the children, there was a sense of arrival in a huge playground. This African proverb comes to mind “A child on his or her mother’s back does not care how long the journey takes.” Many children found the camp as the new playground home.
In this madhouse called camp or new playground, Brother Dominofrank should provide free education for the IDP children, adult literacy, and vocational training skills with the collaboration of United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR and the Liberian Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commissions LRRRC. In addition, I was asked to provide pastoral care to the same people through collaboration with the local Archdiocese of Monrovia.
I was asked to make sure: Children were in school, teachers were actively present in the classrooms, young people were enrolled for vocational training, we were able to equip teenage mothers with income generating skills to have enough milk to feed their babies and to stop young girls from getting pregnant.
There was no clear-cut distinction between Bro Domino, the JRS Director of social services from Mondays to Fridays and Bro Domino, the Catholic Church pastor from Friday to Sunday. The differences existed only within my heart and my approach to matters.
The camp was not a safe place. The fleeing refugee or displaced persons only ended their journey there because it was nearby. The camps were guarded by the United Nation military, yet life inside was full of violence. Women and children experienced daily physical and sexual abuse. People found themselves in the midst of terrifying IDPs coming from different parts of Liberia scattered in many places, exploited by either members of their family or people with authority. Tensions often arose between the IDPs and some humanitarian agencies because of unsatisfactory services, or for disregarding their cultural values. Stealing became a daily issue. Life was not secured even within the embrace of the United Nation Military Peacekeeping Force in Monrovia, much less within the camps.
To create a safe and peaceful environment for learning, either in the school or camp is an art. It needs imagination, creativity. We had to create fun loving activities in the programs; food had to be served in schools, in order to attract children and their teenage mothers. It was great to see the youngsters sing, dance, play and become involved in various activities around the camps where I worked. I understand that to be peaceful, to be secured or to be normal is to make it possible for children to smile, laugh, sing dance, play and even pray happily. I understand that when parents are happy, they will learn to make their wards happy. In addition, when children are happy, the parents and community seems all right, there would be no more war.
To achieve this I had to learn to laugh at myself and realize that I am just one of the stakeholders. The other stakeholders need to not only be well informed but also be actively happy with their involvement in the project. Above all, the need for constant monitoring and implementation could not be overemphasized with JRS. Little wonder the people called us Just Remain Steady. (JRS)
By November 2005 my team had trained and equipped with startup kits over two thousand four hundred Liberians in the skills of Carpentry, Tailoring Baking, Soap making Typing Vegetable Farming, Tie and Dye (indigo) Adult literacy graduates, Pastoral and psychosocial services are more difficult to quantify
With these accomplishments and others not mentioned, I had not only become very popular within the Archdiocese of Monrovia but also with other agencies collaborating with UN. I was the only international staff who was actively present on a daily basis.
I had no regrets when UN introduced their repatriation and resettlement program enforced by International Order of Migration IOM. Despite the large numbers returning to their home counties, JRS recognized that many chose to settle adjacent to the camps. JRS also acknowledged the acceptance, which local communities afforded to the displaced during their time in the camps. Consequently, the best way we could help the IDPs to thank the local communities was by leaving a befitting legacy.
Therefore, I became the Project Director of JRS Montserado. Within the period of six months, I had assessed all the schools in the district, rebuilt five and built 4 new schools in community where there had been none. Though my second assignment was short, it was well targeted and result- oriented.
In all, sphere standards must be strictly adhered to, keeping with the JRS mission to “accompany” the displaced, JRS traveled with the returnees to their hometown in the interior. Suehn Mecca District in Bomi county has traditionally been neglected by the government in Monrovia and has remained underdeveloped compared to other parts of the country after the war, despite the fact that former President Charles Taylor, present President Helen Johnson Sirleaf and Archbishop Michael Kpakla Francis hails from there. JRS was in touch with Suehn Mecca people during their stay in the camps. After a long process of assessment, JRS decided to assist the Suehn Mecca people in their places of origin through School Reconstruction, School Agriculture, Teachers Training and Pastoral projects. For the third time I was made Project Director.
It was not difficult to understand the projects and all the intricacies and to learn a new approach. The whole exercise is emergency in nature but it has to be developmental in character. To build schools and to open agricultural projects are part of our emergency packages, since there were no public infrastructures in the villages and the people do not have the capacity to build by themselves, nor even the government which is still recovering from the war. People had to be mobilized in order to take part and to take responsibility. People need to contribute towards the project, with labors and materials that are easily available in the villages. People must feel the sense of belonging. The projects are theirs, not the international communities. It is a developmental process. It is a struggling experience for me to understand these people back home. It takes time to make people realize that they are no longer IDP’s or refugees. It is not easy to work with people who have been living on handouts and relief materials over the years in IDP and refugee camps. It takes time to make people understand that they are the agents of development of their communities, agents of positive change.
Armed with hope and spirited team members, we persevered and forged ahead as the pacesetters. Now there are new agencies arriving in the interior of Suehn Mecca to live and work there. There seems to be noticeable changes, things are taking shape again. It is a great image to see women carrying buckets of water or sand, and their men tirelessly making mud blocks or clearing the bush under a humid and sunny day at the project sites. “Liberia is rising again” and people are ready to continue rebuilding their country. It is a great feeling to see school buildings and churches standing beautifully painted, and children are back to school. It is also nice to see plants growing in the farms.
It is true that in times of difficulties, humanitarian interventions are necessary, but for a long term, more than relief agencies, the country need investors to make the economy grow, to move the country forward.
At the completion of one year and three months, these are some of the accomplishments achieved by my team:
Reconstruction and furnishing of 4 school
Building and furnishing three new schools
Distribution of School Benches, Chairs Tables and blackboards to 10 schools
Reconstruction and furnishing of seven churches
Building and furnishing of five new churches
Starting five agricultural farms in Suehn schools
Conclusion
March 2007, before my departure from Liberia, I decided to visit the former camps of Montserado. The places looked strange to me, and most of the tents have all gone. What I saw was a skeletal caricature of what I used to know. Where are the hundreds of thousands of people who lived here? In this empty and quiet place, I stood and asked myself? In my mind, I offered them a little prayer. In some camps, no single tent remained only the ruins and remains of debris that covered the wild bush and grasses. I wish them good luck wherever they are. Liberia, a broken and wounded nation, has given me the opportunity to discover a very fundamental thing in my own life. In the midst of destruction, I found new enthusiasm, new energy, and tremendous strength to serve humanity. If the transformation of the “inner self” means anything, it must be the discovery of the new energy, to study and to serve humanity.
As the country moves forward, I need to move on too, to learn new skills, to equip myself with all the necessary competencies that will enable me to work better and achieve better results, to keep abreast with the signs of our times.
This article titled “Liberia is rising again’’ is published by Francis Suleiman as a summary of activities and operations during the years spent in Liberia Dec Sept . April 2007
www.dominosremnantservice.com
is the reflection of Dominofrank,S.J. in the middle, with Liberian President Helen Sirleaf Johnson on the right and Rev Sr, Mary Amissah Fmm on the left.
Introduction
Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) is the first of two children. Born, January 23rd 1968 to Lucy Aduku Dale in Kogi State of Nigeria, Attended nursery primary and secondary school in Nigeria. After two years of studies at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he got a Biomedical Engineering Certificate,1991, Worked in Lagos with various Charities Pacelli school for the blind, Anglo Nigeria Welfare Association for the Blind, Motherless babies home, Victoria Island, Dale and Dale Galleries before joining the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers of the North-West African Province.1996. Had two years formation program, (1996 – 1998) Served as Benin Prison Chaplain and Minister for social welfare for the juvenile delinquent home. Coordinator of St Joseph house Soup kitchen and faith House for the mentally retarded and physically challenged persons. Worked in St Joseph Catholic Church as pastoral assistant and Social welfare coordinator till 2000 before proceeding to the Philippines for further studies
After I completed my clinical pastoral education in the Philippines, November 2003, before returning to Africa, I asked to see the Burmese refugee situations in Thailand but I was denied a visa. I decided to visit the remote part of Beijing to compare life situation with the Philippines, I could not stay too long because of the prevailing situation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS. Finally, I went to see the situation in Cambodia. As a stranger to this war torn country, the humanitarian needs and demands I saw, were not only scary but also shocking, especially the amputees, land mine victims and the handicapped on wheelchairs. Then I remembered Martin Luther King Jr. “If I have nothing to die for then I have nothing to live for.”
Welcome To JRS
Little did I know that this was to prepare me for a greater mission ahead in Jesuit Refugee Service JRS Liberia. The Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service West Africa, Mateo Aguire invited me to work in Liberia to accompany, to serve, and to defend the “Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons.” I arrived in Liberia on 4 December 2003 to coordinate the humanitarian mission in Montserado County.
The first year and half I was assigned to work in the camp. The second year I was rebuilding schools in Montserado and doing logistics for the national office. The third year I was building schools and communities within the Suehn Mecca District of Bomi County. All these needs had to be met in a country where basic means were very slender and demands very high.
A great missionary St Joseph Fernandez said that the greatest task for a missionary was the transformation of the “inner self”, though it sounds somehow radical against the popular notion of contemporary humanitarian mission. Humanitarian work seems like going to do good for the disadvantaged to make an impact on the poor people or in a popular phrase ‘to make a difference’. It is true that many humanitarian organizations enter the country with clear aims, objectives, targets, and most projects are time-bound. Actual results on the ground are judged by performance measures that are written in a proposal. A program or mission is considered to have failed if objectives are not achieved within the period; it has failed if actual results do not correspond to performance measures. If at the end of the period, the mission is accomplished and the donors are satisfied, then the mission would be considered a success. It is a mission with an immediate impact.
The images of internally displaced persons IDPs camps or refugee camps are less familiar to many. They are always sorrowful, depressing and a miserable place to work. No one would like to live in such a place. However, my previous experience of work in a leprosarium taught me that people have the capacity to adjust to any environment. People need to have a strong determination, a motivation that they can transform the place into a place to grow.
I could not understand, why people thanked themselves for being IDPs, because in the IDP camps. People had schools to attend, adult literacy classes were free, opportunity to learn different skills provided by NGO’s, UN agencies and to some degrees it was an opportunity to broaden their horizons, since many came from remote villages in the forest with little or no contact with the outside world before. It was rather a blessing in disguise!
Assignments
My first year working in the camps involved many dynamics. I realized that there was volatile peace provided by United Nation Military in Liberia UNMIL. I say volatile peace because the rebels were still armed. I decided to strive for peace education in all the camps where I worked by setting up Peace cultural troupes.
Montserado camps are the biggest IDP camps nearest to the city of Monrovia. They were about ten camps in all with the smallest camp having a population of about seven thousand people and the largest about thirty thousand people. The most traumatized and depressing people I encountered here were the adult and the youth. They were initially aggressive, rough, wild, and tended to be rude and violent. Their faces reflected red eyes, long faces and deep wounds suffered from a long and bitter war. Could these faces smile and know joy again? This was the thought that ran through my mind but interestingly, the children were generally happy. As long as they had food in their mouth, water in their gut and a place to sleep, they were as happy as any children anywhere in the world. The adults lived their lives based on a humiliating departure from home, deprived, lost, uprooted from community, and a sense of survival from a dangerous journey. For the children, there was a sense of arrival in a huge playground. This African proverb comes to mind “A child on his or her mother’s back does not care how long the journey takes.” Many children found the camp as the new playground home.
In this madhouse called camp or new playground, Brother Dominofrank should provide free education for the IDP children, adult literacy, and vocational training skills with the collaboration of United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR and the Liberian Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commissions LRRRC. In addition, I was asked to provide pastoral care to the same people through collaboration with the local Archdiocese of Monrovia.
I was asked to make sure: Children were in school, teachers were actively present in the classrooms, young people were enrolled for vocational training, we were able to equip teenage mothers with income generating skills to have enough milk to feed their babies and to stop young girls from getting pregnant.
There was no clear-cut distinction between Bro Domino, the JRS Director of social services from Mondays to Fridays and Bro Domino, the Catholic Church pastor from Friday to Sunday. The differences existed only within my heart and my approach to matters.
The camp was not a safe place. The fleeing refugee or displaced persons only ended their journey there because it was nearby. The camps were guarded by the United Nation military, yet life inside was full of violence. Women and children experienced daily physical and sexual abuse. People found themselves in the midst of terrifying IDPs coming from different parts of Liberia scattered in many places, exploited by either members of their family or people with authority. Tensions often arose between the IDPs and some humanitarian agencies because of unsatisfactory services, or for disregarding their cultural values. Stealing became a daily issue. Life was not secured even within the embrace of the United Nation Military Peacekeeping Force in Monrovia, much less within the camps.
To create a safe and peaceful environment for learning, either in the school or camp is an art. It needs imagination, creativity. We had to create fun loving activities in the programs; food had to be served in schools, in order to attract children and their teenage mothers. It was great to see the youngsters sing, dance, play and become involved in various activities around the camps where I worked. I understand that to be peaceful, to be secured or to be normal is to make it possible for children to smile, laugh, sing dance, play and even pray happily. I understand that when parents are happy, they will learn to make their wards happy. In addition, when children are happy, the parents and community seems all right, there would be no more war.
To achieve this I had to learn to laugh at myself and realize that I am just one of the stakeholders. The other stakeholders need to not only be well informed but also be actively happy with their involvement in the project. Above all, the need for constant monitoring and implementation could not be overemphasized with JRS. Little wonder the people called us Just Remain Steady. (JRS)
By November 2005 my team had trained and equipped with startup kits over two thousand four hundred Liberians in the skills of Carpentry, Tailoring Baking, Soap making Typing Vegetable Farming, Tie and Dye (indigo) Adult literacy graduates, Pastoral and psychosocial services are more difficult to quantify
With these accomplishments and others not mentioned, I had not only become very popular within the Archdiocese of Monrovia but also with other agencies collaborating with UN. I was the only international staff who was actively present on a daily basis.
I had no regrets when UN introduced their repatriation and resettlement program enforced by International Order of Migration IOM. Despite the large numbers returning to their home counties, JRS recognized that many chose to settle adjacent to the camps. JRS also acknowledged the acceptance, which local communities afforded to the displaced during their time in the camps. Consequently, the best way we could help the IDPs to thank the local communities was by leaving a befitting legacy.
Therefore, I became the Project Director of JRS Montserado. Within the period of six months, I had assessed all the schools in the district, rebuilt five and built 4 new schools in community where there had been none. Though my second assignment was short, it was well targeted and result- oriented.
In all, sphere standards must be strictly adhered to, keeping with the JRS mission to “accompany” the displaced, JRS traveled with the returnees to their hometown in the interior. Suehn Mecca District in Bomi county has traditionally been neglected by the government in Monrovia and has remained underdeveloped compared to other parts of the country after the war, despite the fact that former President Charles Taylor, present President Helen Johnson Sirleaf and Archbishop Michael Kpakla Francis hails from there. JRS was in touch with Suehn Mecca people during their stay in the camps. After a long process of assessment, JRS decided to assist the Suehn Mecca people in their places of origin through School Reconstruction, School Agriculture, Teachers Training and Pastoral projects. For the third time I was made Project Director.
It was not difficult to understand the projects and all the intricacies and to learn a new approach. The whole exercise is emergency in nature but it has to be developmental in character. To build schools and to open agricultural projects are part of our emergency packages, since there were no public infrastructures in the villages and the people do not have the capacity to build by themselves, nor even the government which is still recovering from the war. People had to be mobilized in order to take part and to take responsibility. People need to contribute towards the project, with labors and materials that are easily available in the villages. People must feel the sense of belonging. The projects are theirs, not the international communities. It is a developmental process. It is a struggling experience for me to understand these people back home. It takes time to make people realize that they are no longer IDP’s or refugees. It is not easy to work with people who have been living on handouts and relief materials over the years in IDP and refugee camps. It takes time to make people understand that they are the agents of development of their communities, agents of positive change.
Armed with hope and spirited team members, we persevered and forged ahead as the pacesetters. Now there are new agencies arriving in the interior of Suehn Mecca to live and work there. There seems to be noticeable changes, things are taking shape again. It is a great image to see women carrying buckets of water or sand, and their men tirelessly making mud blocks or clearing the bush under a humid and sunny day at the project sites. “Liberia is rising again” and people are ready to continue rebuilding their country. It is a great feeling to see school buildings and churches standing beautifully painted, and children are back to school. It is also nice to see plants growing in the farms.
It is true that in times of difficulties, humanitarian interventions are necessary, but for a long term, more than relief agencies, the country need investors to make the economy grow, to move the country forward.
At the completion of one year and three months, these are some of the accomplishments achieved by my team:
Reconstruction and furnishing of 4 school
Building and furnishing three new schools
Distribution of School Benches, Chairs Tables and blackboards to 10 schools
Reconstruction and furnishing of seven churches
Building and furnishing of five new churches
Starting five agricultural farms in Suehn schools
Conclusion
March 2007, before my departure from Liberia, I decided to visit the former camps of Montserado. The places looked strange to me, and most of the tents have all gone. What I saw was a skeletal caricature of what I used to know. Where are the hundreds of thousands of people who lived here? In this empty and quiet place, I stood and asked myself? In my mind, I offered them a little prayer. In some camps, no single tent remained only the ruins and remains of debris that covered the wild bush and grasses. I wish them good luck wherever they are. Liberia, a broken and wounded nation, has given me the opportunity to discover a very fundamental thing in my own life. In the midst of destruction, I found new enthusiasm, new energy, and tremendous strength to serve humanity. If the transformation of the “inner self” means anything, it must be the discovery of the new energy, to study and to serve humanity.
As the country moves forward, I need to move on too, to learn new skills, to equip myself with all the necessary competencies that will enable me to work better and achieve better results, to keep abreast with the signs of our times.
This article titled “Liberia is rising again’’ is published by Francis Suleiman as a summary of activities and operations during the years spent in Liberia Dec Sept . April 2007
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