|
Mandingo Nations Website |
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
Useful Links |
News And Articles |
||||||||||||
|
Community Links
|
Retrospection of the “Barkidu
Massacre,” The True Story Twenty First Commemoration Held in Atlantic
City NJ USA By: Varfley A. Dolleh 20 July, 2010  As
we commemorate the 21stth anniversary of the infamous
“Barkidu Massacre”, it must be noted that it is both worldly and Godly
reality, that while it true that millions of Liberians and non
-Liberians suffered as a result of the despicable, heinous, vicious, and
diabolical military adventurism of Charles Taylor, little did the
religious people of “Barkidu” hypothesize that this religious beckon of
“Lofa County”, the enviable Islamic center, vibrant and enterprising
town would have been targeted leading to the massacre of hundreds
innocent “Mandingoes”, including women children, and the elderly with
out any justifiable reasons.
Unable to control my self crying and soaked in perspiration, pondering over the death of those massacred on the fateful day of July 12th, 1990. I am aware that my critics will say that I am being polarized or individualistic in this writing, instead of being collective or liberal. But the truth is, it is impossible to hide my subjectivity in this case by failing to maintain my balance and emotional grieve since one of those massacred, “Mohammed Dolleh” commonly referred to at the time as “Maradona”, was the nearest to my heart, a loving and caring companion that respected me unlike, my other brothers. The only one, who may be compared to him, is his next in kin “Sekou Dolleh”. He was an admirable footballer dreaming to have made his debut in Europe. As destiny would fall, no one can predict the future. Who are we to abort Allah’s dictate. I have been crying the entire day since started penning this historical milestone. “May his Soul and the Souls of all of the departed brothers and sisters rest in perfect peace”. Every time I think about this event it rekindle the desire for the re-examination of our action in being truthful to ourselves in asking the question “Why and how did this happen to us”? Why Allah? An attempt to avoid a replica of this massacre should be the primary consideration of all of us as we began the commemoration and retrospection of the martyrs.
It is a historical reality that amidst the progression of the military conquest of Mr. Taylor. Mandingoes were systematically decimated from “Butuo up to Bakidu and the like”, for their tribal alignment, religious affiliation, political non-alignment, and economic vibrancy. For the purpose of this task we will attempt to highlight some of the intricacies involves that will help to enlighten the mind of some of those we were not opportuned to have been part of history so that they are able to visualize the events helping them to understand why some times our action regarding certain issues are uncompromising and dogmatic:
Vivid Account of the Massacre: In commemorating this event, one of the issue that has always bother me is the reckless statement that the “People of Barkidu” were told by the ceremonious, unquestionable, and holy Islamic scholar, the late Karmor”Ansumana Dukuly” that the Town had been “spiritual Cleansed, and immune” from any attack, so the people shouldn’t leave the town. We are told by both primary and secondary sources that this was never, the case. This is sheer distortion of history and an attempt to mock at the people amidst pain and distress. “It was pre-planned to have come and purposely attack the town of “Barkidu”, say Mr. Sekou Kanneh a resident of the town of “NeseBorlor”. “We had heard about the rebels advancement from Zorzor, and saw one “Lorma” fellow who was a member or sympathizer of the rebels who came and forewarn us about the advances leading to our escape” narrated Mr. Sekou Kanneh. “But we didn’t have any means of communication to let the people of “Barkidu” know, lamented further Mr. Sekou Kanneh. Another witness of the incident maintains” I saw pewee Harward who was with the rebels when they entered the town” says Mr. Vayanga Kanneh. I have always been a strong believer in the “concept of pre-destination”.
“I am of the opinion that what occurred was the will of Allah. I had entered the town about a week and saw the town packed to capacity with people felling at ease, while others were worried about the future”, says Vayanga Kanneh, a witness to the entire event. “I had personally told some people in the town that the rebels were in Zorzor, follow by similar statement by the Christian missionary, named Mr. Sekou who was also inhabitant of the town”, say Mr. Kanneh. “Amidst the chaotic state of confusion, it was agreed that some people should be sent to the main junction to Voinjama so that they could signal the town if the rebels were coming, but little did they know that the rebels were coming with an over whelming fire power that they wouldn’t be able to report any development”, lamented Mr. Janga. “Infact, we didn’t have communication like cell phone to inform the inhabitants, even if they had been seen, so we were taken by surprise” cried Mr. Janga. He maintains that on this “Black Thursday” which was on the regular market day with enterprising commercial activities booming, when out of a sudden, they heard the loud “Boom, boom, boom, sound”, echoing from all directions signifying the eventual reality and arrival of the rebels.
Amidst the pandemonium, people started running amok in all directions. Simultaneously, as they run, they were being dircrimently killed in sheer violation of all protocols and international conventions on war. It was a dark and bloody day for our people and others alike. Apparently, they had surrounded the town with many of the escape routes blocked. They were able to have captured some of the opinion leaders, prominent them, Mr. Sekou Jabateh, the late Seyeh Kanneh, the late Abu Jabateh the late Mr. Seyeh Kanneh, my uncle Vakamou Dolleh, my late brother Mohammed Dolleh, your humble primary source Mr. Janga Kanneh among others taken under the “Palaver Hut”. A microphone was given to Mr. Jabateh to call every one to assemble under the hut. Realizing the intent and the repercussion, spoke in parable in “Mandingo” urging the people to escape careful in realization that some of the rebels understood “Mandingo”. “If you have long life don’t make it under the palaver hut, but if you don’t have long life than make it under the palaver hut”, says Mr. Jabateh, with AK 47 raffle pointed at his head. Those who were blessed to have understood the message made it to safety, while those who were ordained to die made it to the palaver hut. At the same time, others were being selectively killed at random through out the town.
Amidst the pandemonium, my late brother “Mohammed Dolleh” had fled the town, but had to come back to town in search of our Mother “Fanta Kamara”, who is presently with me in “Atlantic City NJ”, who had already fled the town by foot. He came in the hall to ensure that his mother was freed or they all die together. He was told immediately to be one of the spokes persons for the group. They pleaded and agreed to welcome the “NPFL” with the sum of “five thousand dollar and five cows” as a token of appreciation, hoping that they would have become reasonable enough to spear their lives, but to no avail. It was when that they were told to say their last prayer, by the “NPFL General Gon-Karnue”. Even before, they could start, they were all gun down in cold blood. Those who couldn’t die instantly were slaughtered with swords and bayonets brought along. It was a sad day killing over “six hundred and fifty persons” while wounding over a thousand. As other ran amok girls were arrested and raped while the elderly were sodomized. At the same time some of the girls breast were slashed with pieces eaten. What a heinous crime, as others watched the stomach of pregnant sisters opened with the fetus taken and placed in display in order to know the gender. At the same time the central mosque was desecrated with it being used for unwanted human wastes, while copies of the “Koran” burnt. What a crime and how long can we mourn this? As our people fled, many got drowned while others were devoured in crocodile infested rivers.
Moment, following the ordeal the sky became red like blood followed by heavy down poured of rain and intermittent storm. The rebels got afraid signaling that Allah was manifesting him self for their crime against humanity. They collected hundred of thousand of dollars, hundreds of livestock’s among others. The town was ransacked for two consecutive weeks with the wounded unable to run buried alive in several mass graves. Those that couldn’t be buried were allowed to rot while vulture fest on their bodies. It was the day that “heaven spoke” and bestow it’s blessing on the “Mandingoes” signaling the eventual demise of Mr. Taylor and his cohort. Up to now it is impossible to give a full number of person killed with the exception of what we are given you through this medium. Your humble servant Mr. Jana Kanneh is a survival of the massacre and presently lives in Trenton, NJ.
Where is the “Truth and Reconciliation Commission”? Where are the human rights organizations? Where are the civil society organizations? Our critics will accuse us of being emotional in our writing, which is the opposite. What we are concerned about is “ostricization, marginalization, and double standard approach” being instituted against us by these organizations with impunity. Who do you expect to speak for us? You will have to cry your own cry or cease to exist as a human being. Do you expect us to remain silent and let the situation or history be buried while “the Carter Camp Massacre, Lutheran Massacre, Duport road Massacre among others” amplified? The answer is an unconditional and explicit no. You may not have the time to speak out tomorrow, when you are sick and placed on your dying bed; you may not have any excuse to confront those who killed you, when attired and in the process of being buried. What is the essence of your education when you can’t stand up to those we violated you? What will be the essence of your education if your role is only to appease people at your detriment? What are you afraid of when you will have to eventually die? Are you not aware that great men, and successive generations have passed this world with only their deeds remembered. You need to stand up for your rights! I am troubled that the “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” of Liberia, failed her task of objectivity. Why did she fail to send people to collect statement in “Barkidu”, instead people were sent to other areas in the county. Some time ago, she announced that they discovered over mass graves in Lofa, but miserably failed to mention any thing about the massacre in “Barkidu”. These are the issues we have been talking about. They want the issue to be buried so that it wouldn’t be given credence. I call on would be peace advocates to infuse objectivity so that the desire result will be achieved.
To the “People of Guardu Gboni: We urge you not to overly
ponder over the home going of those brothers and sisters, since indeed,
they are all martyrs. As we mourn and commemorate this great event, I
caution you to use this period in reflecting and uniting the community.
Apart, it is our hope that with the present level of international
engagement, the dividend of peace would be collectively enjoyed by all
Liberians and posterity unborn..
We want to hear from you - (267)-212-6005 or Varfley1@yahoo.com Trenton, NJ |
||||||||||||
|
Mandingo
Nations Webite Incorp. |
|||||||||||||
