NAAMA TOWN, Bong County, Liberia (AP) — The Independent National Commission on Human Rights has dedicated a memorial site in Naama Town, Electoral District# 4, Bong County, in honor of approximately 100 people massacred during the Liberian civil war in 1994.
The memorial, constructed by the commission and funded by the Government of Liberia through the INCHR, stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives during one of the darkest periods in the town’s history. Providing an account of the tragedy, George S. Kpaklian said more than 90 people were killed in September 1994 by warring factions in Naama Town. He described the incident as one of the saddest moments in the town’s history.
Officially turning over the project, INCHR Chairman Cllr. Dempster Brown said the dedication forms part of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia. Brown called on residents of Naama Town to support the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, saying it is intended to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities committed during the war.
He also urged citizens to preserve the memorial center and use it to educate younger generations about the dangers of conflict.
For her part, Bong County Superintendent Hawa Loleyah Norris praised the INCHR for memorializing war victims in the county. She further instructed local leaders in Naama Town to properly maintain the site and ensure good sanitation around the memorial.
Reported by: Edwin Khakie Jr
