A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Despite the ECOMOG presence in Monrovia, statements reveal that the INPFL continued to
perpetrate violations, including forced labor. One statement giver described how the INPFL attempted
to force her to prepare food for them:
From time to time, I was harassed by them always to cook for them. At that
time there was widespread insecurity. Based on that fear for me to continue
to cook for rebels, I decided not to cook for them anymore. That action
made them vexed. As a result, three of the rebels flogged me in the morning
of September 5, 1990, just before President Doe was captured on September
9, 1990. 238
States Parties are to “recognize the right to work, which includes the right of everyone to the
opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or accepts…” Art. 6(1), International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Execution of President Samuel K. Doe
In addition to the targeting of its nationals, ECOMOG encountered other early challenges. On
September 9, 1990, Prince Johnson and INPFL troops captured Samuel Doe at a meeting brokered
by ECOMOG. 239 The rebels assassinated a number of Doe’s supporters and tortured Doe to death,
videotaping the event and distributing copies throughout Monrovia. 240 The videotape, which depicts
Prince Johnson drinking beer while fighters cut off Doe’s ears, became widely available in Liberia and
elsewhere. 241 Doe is seen pleading to be spared before he is killed. 242 A statement giver recalled that
day:
I saw a convoy with Samuel Doe in it, wearing a grey suit and in an opentopped
car. As I was on the street, watching the convoy cross the bridge,
I remember thinking that if Doe crossed the bridge, he would be killed
by Prince Johnson…I heard shooting. The shooting lasted for 30 minutes.
Then it was very quiet. The next day, as we left, we heard the BBC was
reporting that the Liberian President was captured by a Liberian faction
and was wounded. I decided it would be too dangerous to leave, and I felt
trapped…The next 72 hours were worse. Doe was tortured, with his elbows
tied together behind his back…They captured, tortured, mutilated, and
murdered Doe on camera. 243
Statement givers described heightened ECOMOG restrictions on the press immediately following
Doe’s murder. One statement giver who reported for the Torchlight newspaper recounted how
ECOMOG took journalists to see Doe’s body, but refused to allow publication of photographs of
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Chapter Seven