Liberia: Lutheran Church Massacre Survivors Want AFL ‘Shoulder Responsibility’

Survivors of the St. Peter Lutheran Church massacre are demanding the authorities of the Armed Forces of Liberia "shoulder responsibility" for atrocities that they committed 33 years ago under the command of President Samuel Doe. 

The massacre, which took place during the country's first civil war, left a deep scar on survivors' lives, with haunting memories of loved ones lost and lives forever changed.

"We recognize that there has been a change and restructuring of the Armed Forces of Liberia, transforming them into a force for good. It is with this recognition that we call upon the current army to shoulder responsibility for crimes the institution committed," the survivor said in a statement, which was read by Marcus Quoigoah during a program commemorating the event. 

Quoigoah, who is the Executive Director of the Survivors’ Association, noted that it is important that the army leadership take the lead in acknowledging the pain and suffering endured by victims as the first step of national reconciliation. 

The survivors’ position comes as the massacre remains  one of the darkest chapters in the nation's history. It unfolded amidst the backdrop of a violent and protracted civil war that engulfed the country from 1989 to 2003, leaving behind a trail of death, destruction, and despair. 

The AFL, tasked with maintaining peace and security, found itself embroiled in the conflict, leading to allegations of human rights violations and war crimes, with the St. Peter Lutheran Church massacre as a prime example. 

The Church, which is located at 15 Street, was a place of refuge and hope for those seeking sanctuary amid the chaos of the civil war, but it tragically became a scene of unimaginable horror. 

On July 29, 1990, members of the AFL stormed the church compound, unleashing a brutal assault on the civilians who had sought safety within its walls.

The merciless attack saw indiscriminate gunfire, resulting in the deaths of countless innocent men, women, and children. 

Survivors, some of whom were able to escape, have since lived with the emotional and physical scars of that tragic day, and now they are determined to seek justice for their fallen loved ones and themselves.

"We believe that it is of utmost significance that the army, as a symbol of protection and justice, take the lead in acknowledging the pain and suffering endured by victims,”  Quoigoah said.

"The memories of those lost in this horrific event deserve justice and recognition," he added. "It is a profound tragedy that these innocent victims were denied the dignity and respect that they deserve in death. Therefore, the utmost urgency is required to rectify this injustice."

According to a report by the defunct Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the massacre was one of the worst single atrocities of the First Liberian Civil War. 

An estimated 600 people of all ages died in the process. The deceased, along with thousands of Liberians, had sought refuge at the Church since it was designated as a shelter by the Red Cross and the United Nations.

But the Armed Forces of Liberia, under the command of President Doe, disregard such a designation and unleash unspeakable horror, which remains etched in the memories of those who experienced the harrowing violence and loss. 

The Army, which was disbanded and rebuilt after the Accra Peace Accord, has yet to issue any public statements acknowledging its role or taking responsibility for the atrocities. 

In this regard, massacre survivors, who have borne the physical and emotional scars of the massacre for over thirty years, are now demanding the army take responsibility for its crime. 

The army is not alone. The governments of former President Sirleaf and George Weah have dogged the implementation of the TRC report, having been in bed with some of the country's worst warlords.

The TRC reports, among other things, called for the establishment of a war and economic crime court.

"We call upon the authorities to pursue a just and robust effort with every necessary  legal means, ensuring that those responsible for this merciless act face the consequences of their actions.

" [We] reiterated the call for justice and solemnly demanded that the responsible parties be held accountable for their actions," Quoigoah noted. 

Meanwhile, the survivors of the St.Peter's Church massacres have  also called for the exhumation of the remains of "their loved ones," which have been  buried in mass graves at the entrance of the Church for 33 years, to be reburied.

They claimed reburying is at this point necessary for proper memorialization of the victims of the massacre and for healing and reconciliation for the families and communities affected.

“As a survivor of this unimaginable atrocity, I stand before you with a wounded body, yet fortified by truth and the hope that we can work together to ensure that the memory of our fallen loved ones is never forgotten. 

"The cardinal reason why proper memorialization is crucial for our loved ones buried in mass graves is that it serves as a means of healing and reconciliation for the families and communities affected,” Quoigoah said. 

"It also serves as a reminder for future generations of our collective responsibility to ensure that such atrocities do not reoccur.”