A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Table of contents
Acknowledgments x
Preface xiv
Table of Acronyms xv
Chapter One. Executive Summary 1
Background 4
Setting the Stage for Conflict 5
A Human Rights and Humanitarian Crisis: Liberia 1979-2003 9
The Diaspora Experience 12
Overview of Recommendations from Diaspora TRC Statements 16
Chapter Two. Priority Recommendations 21
Addressing the Immediate Needs of Victims 24
Addressing the Immediate Needs of Refugees and the Displaced 24
Addressing the Immediate Needs of Special Populations 25
Ensuring Civil and Political Rights Are Guaranteed Immediately 25
Ensuring Justice and Ending Impunity 26
Addressing Corruption 27
Ensuring Economic and Social Rights and Development 27
Implementation of TRC Recommendations 28
Taking Steps toward Reconciliation 28
United States & International Community Action 29
Chapter Three. Diaspora Project Overview and Methods 33
History and Goals 35
Management and Operation 36
Pre-implementation Considerations 38
Project Activities and Methodologies 41
Chapter Four. Background on Liberia and the Conflict 49
Geography and Peoples 50
Key Features of Liberian Culture 52
Historical Overview 53
Root Causes of the Conflict 58
Chapter Five. Human Rights Abuses During the Rice Riots and Doe Era 81
Rice Riots and Aftermath: 1979-1980 83
Samuel K. Doe Era: 1980-1989 85
Chapter Six. Tactics and Fighting Factions During the Liberian Civil War 109
Combatants and Fighting Forces 111
Communications and Information Gathering 118
Manipulation of the Media 121
Chapter Seven. Liberia’s First Civil War: 1989 – 1997 127
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