Reunification of The Grebo Peninsula: April 29 to May 1, 2011 Rocktown Convention Sponsored By The KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc (KNPIF

Introduction The process of peace is not an easy task. It has its “Ups’ and “Downs,” pitfalls and shortcomings. Probably, that is the reason why some people around the world coined the adage that states, “In time of peace, be prepare for war.”

  

From working on the process of peace in Liberia, we have learned that peace is not the absence of violence.

It is the absence of the threat of violence. Evidently, without the threat of violence, there can be no violence at all. More so, without violence, there can still be the threat of violence. And even if no violence ever occurs, truly, no one can really say he or she can live in peace so long as the threat of violence remains.

Considerably, removing the threat of violence is not possible until a benevolent authority accepted by All is given the power to remove the possibility of acting in such a way that could result in violence. Until then, no matter how peaceful the world has been, every time life sprouts, the process of establishing peace must begins anew, and until this process is completed, the threat of violence, and perhaps even violence itself, will remain. That has been the situation in the Grebo Peninsula over two decades. Thus the emergence and birth of The KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. (KNPIF) to find lasting peace and tranquility in the Peninsula.

  

Our efforts in bringing peace to our people has been our avocation for over a year and the half. Thus, it is ongoing. Others, including The Charity Sisters of The Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas, Carter Center and other local and international nongovernmental organizations have tried to usher peace between the people of the Kudemoweh & Numoweh chiefdoms. But up to no avail. But we have succeeded where they failed. But all the same, if the other groups did not begin the peace process that we have embarked upon, never could we have written a practical and final chapter of such a success story in this respect. Therefore, we thank all of those who started the process but failed along the way. Our success is built on their work. Therefore, our success is theirs too.

Our work began with our first meeting of the conflicting parties (Rocktown & Bigtown). Both parties met (face-to-face) for the very first time in Rocktown on April 11 & 12, 2011. During the meeting both parties placed their cards on the table, no matter how difficult it was to do so. But they did. Each made sincere efforts to resolve the differences. Since the First meeting in Rocktown, both Rocktown and Bigtown are forging the future of both Chiefdoms together on the path of peace, reconciliation and reunification.

At the end of the first meeting, a major convention was scheduled for April 29 to May 1, 2011. This Convention was intended to bring together all the various towns, leaders, women, men, youths and citizens of both chiefdoms that were absent at the First Meeting. The anticipated Convention was scheduled for Rocktown.

On April 29 the Convention convened in Rocktown and concluded on May 1, 2011.

As a tradition and practice, all the leaders of the various towns including chiefs, town mayors, speakers and other high ranking officials arrived in Rocktown by 6am that Friday morning. The rest of the delegates came in later on. By noon on Friday, Rocktown was covered by Grebo people from all walks of Maryland life.

The major reason why Rocktown was covered with that much people is simple: prior to the Convention, we (officers and members of KNPIF) toured the areas of Yahkeh, Yeelu (Spring Hill), Jalouklieu (Ferguson area), Whole Graway (Blayjay), Grand Cavalla, Saydekeh, Wodekeh, Kablakeh, and along the Cavalla River Basin to encourage the people and their leaders to attend. We transported accredited delegates to and from Rocktown at our own expense.

We experienced something new in this process. Traditionally and by practice, all leaders to any Grebo convention in the past traveled to the convention by foot. This time, considering what has occurred over the years of war and terror, many of the leaders developed problems with their legs. And so they complined about walking. As such, the tradition to travel to a convention by road became a bit difficult, if not impossible. So we drove them to and from the Convention. Of course, this was new. Many of the leaders at the Convention complained that driving to the Convention on board a motor vehicle took the fun out of the process. So they suggested that come the next convention, the leaders should walk together to the host town.

But all same, the Rocktown Convention was well-attended.

Attendees include, Rocktown Kunokudi (13 delegates), Rocktown (10 delegates), Pleebo Grebo Community (21 delegates), Fishtown (5 delegates), Little Wlebo (4 delegates), Grand Cavalla (23 delegates), Wodekeh (2 delegates), Kablakeh (1 delegate - Hon. Speaker, Blayon Sie ), Saydekeh (2 delegates), Middletown (2 delegates),

Four Clan chiefs attended the Convention: Hons. G. Gray Elliott of the Rocktown area, Kwia Sakor of the Fishtown area, Dweh Nyema Landford of the Whole Graway area and Victor Harris of the Half Graway area. Out of the two Paramount chiefs of the two chiefdoms, only one attended - Hon. Nma Nyea Huskin residing in Grand Cavalla.

 Women attendees. Grand Cavalla (Kla Aye Bryant -leader), Tuhneyeneti Wilson - Asst leader, Budu Nyemane Brownell, Rita Wede Bryant - Youth)

1. Bigtown (Beatrice Merriam - Leader & Beatrice Nevis)
2. Rocktown Kunukudi (Mary H. Elliott - Head, Beatrice Y. Seton, Kweane Elliot, Wahklade Elliott, Wa Nyobode Neufville, Mary D. Coleman, Hnede Neufville,
3. Pleebo (Kortee Elliott - Head, Grace N. Appleton, Mary M. Appleton, Beatrice Gleebo, Cecelia W. Appleton, Helena K. Appleton, Cecelia Moore, Helena N. Bedell, Theresa K. Williams, Kwia Wede Bedell, Rebecca Coleman, Beatrice N. Bedell, Lucy Kimba)
4. Rocktown (Hweye Gyudede Moore, Klawlehne Williams - speaker, )

No woman attended from Fishtown and Middletown. No reason was given.

DONATIONS received through the office of The KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, $1000 USD, $5000 LD & 12 cartons of drinks
Ambassador Dew Tuan Wleh Mayson = 1 bull $600 USD equivalent

1. Half Graway, Kablakeh, Wotakeh, Grand Cavalla, Fishtown, Bigtown, Middletown, Whole Graway jointly donated $3000 Liberian dollars and six (6) gallons of drinks.
2. Rocktown people residing in Pleebo donated $2000 Liberian dollars

ACCREDITED DELEGATES:

  

ROCKTOWN (Host)

 G. Gray Elliott (Clan Chief)

1. Nyema Neufville (Town Mayor)
2. George T. Appleton (Acting Commissioner)
3. Hweye Gyudede Moore (Women Chief)
4. Kwee Sunday Woart (Speaker)
5. Alfred B. Neufville (Youth Assn. President)
6. Darbel Bedell (Acting General Town Chief)
7. Arthur H. Elliott (Clerk)
8. Alexander G. Appleton (Youth Assn. Secretary)
9. Kla Wane Williams (Speaker, Women Group)

 ROCKTOWN KUNOKUDI

 Moses G. Harris (Chief)

1. Nathaniel G. Bedell (Secretary)
2. Nathaniel T. Appleton (Speaker)
3. Mary H. Elliott (Chief, Women)
4. Jerome H. Neufville (Member)
5. Beatrice Y. Seton
6. Abel S. Neufville
7. Kweane Elliott
8. Wa Klade Elliott
9. Olivia Y. Smith
10. Wa Nyobode Neufville
11. Mary D. Coleman
12. Hnede D. Coleman

ROCKTOWNERS RESIDING IN PLEEBO

A. Johnson Gleebo (President)

1. Kwai Seton (Vice President)
2. Kortee Elliott (Women Chair)
3. Grace N. Appleton
4. Mary M. Appleton
5. Beatrice Gleebo
6. Fla Moore
7. Cecelia W. Appleton
8. Helena K. Appleton
9. Cecelia Moore
10. Henry T. Bedell
11. Helena N. Bedell
12. E. Wle Bedell
13. Theresa K. Williams
14. Kwee Wahde Bedell
15. Budu Wesley
16. Rebecca Coleman
17. Gleebo Bedell
18. Beatrice Bedell
19. Lucy Kimba

 MIDDLETOWN

 Hweye Wea Wilson (General Town Chief)

1. Glea Seda Williams

 HALF GRAWAY

 Victor W. Harris (Clan Chief)

1. Wea Yode (Speaker)
2. Nma Monday Howe
3. Hne Harris
4. Himmie Gudugbo Howe

BIGTOWN

1. Dweh Hodge (General Town Chief)
2. Gble Nervis (Town Mayor)
3. Francis Toh yebeyu Dickson
4. Poo Yaba (Advisor)
5. Isaac Muhlenberg (Youth Chair)
6. Gbodo Dennis (Elder)
7. Hne Harmon
8. Beatrice nervis
9. Hne Wilson
10. December Baker
11. Laurance Prowd
12. Dio Howe

  

FISHTOWN

1.  Elijah K. Sackor (Clan Chief)
2. Wle Blawene Holbert (Speaker)
3. Alexander W. Collins (General Town Chief)
4. Nathaniel D. Appleton
5. James Williams

LITTLE WLEBO

  Bulu Yeewen Bowman (Acting Chief)

1. Jeremiah Hoto (Youth President)
2. Solo Nelson
3. Jacob William

GRAND CAVALLA

 Nathaniel Huskin (Paramount Chief, Kudemoweh Chiefdom)

1. Wa Kono Neufville (General Town Chief)
2. Budu Nyema Brownell (Speaker)
3. Joseph Y. Bryant (Speaker)
4. Klay Aye Bryant (Women Leader)
5. Wa Kla Payne (Clerk)
6. Yaba Nyebo Neufville (Advisor)
7. Nyan yinepou Wisner (Advisor)
8. Teba Kwee Harris (Acting Youth Chair)
9. Tu Hne Nyanti Wilson (Asst. Women Leader)
10. Kade Wle Williams
11. Glee Hodo Morgan
12. Sie Nyema Bedell
13. Wea Hweyedo Woart
14. Mle Himmie Williams
15. Roland N. Bowman
16. Wa Mle Toomey
17. Mle Dede Bedell
18. Pia Mle Collins
19. Dodo Dweh Brownell
20. Dio Hne Bryant
21. Teba Hnoe Vinton
22. Rita Wede Bryant

BIGTOWN BAND ASSOCIATION (BRASS BAND)

 Hiamo Wilson (Major)

1. B. Kla Allison (Band Master)
2. Dweh T. Morais (Speaker)
3. Yideko Merriam
4. Glee Ghude Howe
5. Wle Hodge
6. E. Wle Taylor
7. E. T. Dickson
8. Othello Smith
9. Dweh Prowd
10. Fla Nervis
11. Doe Howe
12. Toe Seton
13. Waa Howe
14. John Lahya

PROTOCOL On Saturday, April 30th, Amb. Dew Mayson delivered the Keynote Address to the Convention. He spoke on the essence of peace, unity and mutual understanding as a key factor to moving a people and nation into the 21st Century. He encouraged Bigtown and Rocktown to remain in perpetual peace and mutual understand and help forge together the future of both chiefdoms. Amb. Mayson promised both chiefdoms his help for projects they will identify. As soon as the projects are identified, they need to submit the projects to his office for his action. Prior to Amb. Mayson, Mr. Archie Richelieu Williams, director, civil aviation, Republic of Liberia, who was representing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, spoke on the same issue of unity, peace and reconciliation. Director Williams informed the Convention that President Sirleaf was very happy to hear that the two chiefdoms had come together under the umbrella of peace and reconciliation. Director Williams revealed that President Sirleaf desire was to attend such an historic event. But due to some uncontrollable circumstances, she could not land on the Rocktown Aero Port. And that’s why she sent Director Williams on her behalf. The huge crowd cheered. On behalf of President Sirleaf, Mr. Williams promised to help the ongoing process of peace and unity of the two chiefdoms. President extended special thanks to The KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. (KNPIF) through its head and founder, Mr. Thomas G. Bedell.

The two bulls that were slaughtered for dinner were purchased by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Amb. Dew Tuan Wleh Mayson.

CONVENTION DECISIONS:

A delegation will proceed to meet with President Sirleaf in reference to the 10 detainees in Monrovia held without Fair & Speedy Trial

Next Convention is scheduled for Whole Graway (Blayjay) in the last week of June 2011

TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTENDEES INCLDUING CHEIFS, TOWN MAYORS, WOMEN LEADERS, YOUTHS, FRIENDS AND WELL-WISHERS = 2000 people. More than this amount of people is expected in Whole Graway (Blayjay) come the last week in June, 2011.

NOTE: Donations were apparently made by others, but our accounting is based on what we received and/or witnessed.

REPORTED BY: Thomas G. Bedell/Founder/Co-President/KNPIF