...

UN lifts ban on arms for Liberian government

Other News Materials 18 December 2009 00:27 (UTC +04:00)
Citing Liberia's progress in rebuilding from the civil war, the United Nations Security Council Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to lift an arms embargo in place since 2003.
UN lifts ban on arms for Liberian government

Citing Liberia's progress in rebuilding from the civil war, the United Nations Security Council Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to lift an arms embargo in place since 2003, Xinhua reported.
Resolution 1903 extends for a year asset freezes for those associated with the former regime of Charles Taylor.
The Security Council expressed its "serious concern" by the lack of progress made to freeze all financial assets and economic resources controlled indirectly or directly by Taylor's inner circle. 
In this regard, Resolution 1903 "demands that the Government of Liberia make all necessary efforts to fulfill its obligations."
The government is still not in control of millions of U.S. dollars from the sale of timber and the mining of diamonds. Ex- combatants grouped by former rebel leaders continue to exploit natural resources to pay for weapons and soldiers.
In 2001, the United Nations adopted sanctions on sales of Liberian "blood diamonds." But warring factions soon turned to logging to fund illicit activities.
In June, Global Witness, a London-based organization, released a report concluding that UN sanctions on Liberian diamonds and timber "should not be lifted until the government has gained full control over these resources."
Building on resolutions 1521 (2003), 1532 (2004), and 1854 ( 2008), the resolution extends for a year an arms embargo to all non-state entities and individuals. The proliferation of arms in the subregion continue to constitute a threat to international peace and security in West Africa.
The resolution said "insufficient" progress has been made so far, particularly by Liberia's government and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to mark exempt weapons imported from abroad.
Resolution 1903 also extends a travel ban for one year for the regime's senior officials as well as Taylor's immediate family, including his estranged wife Jewell Howard Taylor and his son Charles Taylor, Jr.
It also extends the mandate for one year of the Panel of Experts and orders that they conduct two follow-up assessment missions to investigate violations, including illicit financing from natural resources and the trade of arms.
UN sanctions on financial activities in Liberia have had far- reaching consequences. At least three human rights organizations have lodged a legal complaint this month at the Court of Nantes in France against the French company, Dalhoff, Larsen and Horneman Group for purchasing and importing into France wood originating from Liberian timber companies that directly benefited the former regime and fueled the civil war.   
In August 2001, Taylor relinquished control and fled into exile in Nigeria. He is currently standing trial at the United Nations tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. He is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity for allegedly overseeing the brutal 10- year civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone

Latest

Latest