Grade Level: JrH-Adult
Producer: Bullfrog Films
Closed Captioned: Yes |
Running Time: 25 mins
Country of Origin: Great Britain
Study Guide: No |
Copyright Date: 2008
Available in French: No
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Across the world it's increasingly recognized that civil conflict is as big a barrier to development as illiteracy or illness. Once war-torn countries can struggle for decades with its legacy. Liberia is still struggling to establish law and order, establish security for its people and find roles for ex-combatants. But can countries like Liberia - until recently ravaged by fighting of unspeakable savagery - forgive and forget in the absence of a proper legal process to try those responsible for war crimes? One man who believes that only God has the answer to this dilemma is evangelical pastor Joshua Milton Blahyi. He recently travelled to Kenya to help a peace and reconciliation process after the bloodshed which followed its disputed election. And Mr Blahyi should know. He was once known as General Butt Naked, a warlord who admits to some of troubled West Africa's most horrific war crimes. The general submitted himself to Liberia's own Truth and Reconciliation process at the end of 2007. In his testimony to the TRC, he admits to responsibility for 20,000 murders and cannibalism. He says it's up to the discretion of the TRC to decide his fate (it's due to report later this year), but that God's already given him a second chance - he's changed his ways, and can now help guide other former ex-combatants to rebuild Liberia. |
