Liberia: UN Envoy And Sports Star
Visit Disarmed Child Soldiers
April 23, 2004
The head of the United Nations mission in Liberia, Jacques Paul Klein,
and a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador, Liberian-born
former international soccer star George Weah, today visited
demobilized child soldiers at an interim care centre in the West
African country and encouraged them to rejoin their families and go
back to school.
At the UNICEF-supported interim care centre (ICC), run by
non-governmental organization (NGO) Christian Children's Fund, more
than 100 children who had given their weapons to the UN Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) in Gbarnga, Bong County, entertained the visitors with
songs and theatre.
"All of you who have given up your weapons, who want a future in
Liberia, who want an education, who want to contribute to rebuilding
this country, we love you," Mr. Klein told the children, whom he
called heroes. "We will reunite you with your families. We want you to
have a home, we want you to be loved, we want you to be safe."
Other heroes were Mr. Weah, who "has never let fame or fortune deter
him from doing what he can for Liberia and its people," as well as
UNICEF workers, the NGOs running the ICCs and the Bangladeshi
peacekeepers providing security, the UNMIL chief added.
Mr. Weah said what had made him successful in sports was discipline
and a peaceful environment.
"Your responsibility is to disarm and to call all your friends forward
to disarm. You must have the discipline to go back to school. You must
respect your parents. Tomorrow, somebody in this group will be another
George Oppong Weah," he said.
The delegation, which included UNICEF Representative in Liberia Angela
Kearney, presented sports equipment to the children. Mr. Weah then
played in a soccer match between teams of children from the ICC and
from the local community, while Mr. Klein visited the disarmament and
cantonment sites in Gbarnga.
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