|
══════════════════【立報】═══════════════════ |
| 教 育 專 題 深 入 報 導《2006-11-10》 |
| 國際專題：Liberia's ex-fighters seek work 西非局勢動盪 賴比瑞亞前傭兵難就業 | |
|
With 80 percent unemployment, some may become mercenaries in a neighboring nation. Shortbread is her top seller, followed by corn bread. But this former child soldier also makes a mean cinnamon roll for any sweet tooth who can afford to splurge. A few years ago, Marthalyme Mandeh was one of thousands of children recruited by both rebels and government forces in Liberia's brutal civil war. Now she supports herself with her own baking business, thanks to skills she learned in a nine-month training program to help reintegrate ex-fighters. More than 100,000 ex-fighters have been registered in similar programs since the UN-sponsored, government-run reintegration process began after the war ended in 2003. But success stories like Ms. Mandeh's are few and far between. With more than 80 percent of Liberians unemployed, the economy is so weak that most trainees can't find work. Observers worry that throngs of young, jobless veterans will be recruited to fight in neighboring Ivory Coast, where a tenuous peace threatens to unravel. The cash-strapped Liberian government has recently launched emergency employment programs to prevent this scenario from undoing its progress - and to avert the spread of war in this interconnected, oft-conflicted region of Africa. But government officials and aid workers say cuts in international donor funding have severely limited the effectiveness of the job-creation programs. "One of the biggest problems in post-conflict environments is that, in the conflict phase, the [donor] money flows freely, but the environment is not yet conducive [to improving the situation]," says Charles Achodo, a policy adviser on ex-fighter reintegration for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia. "But, when peace comes and you have the capacity to do stuff, the funds dry up." Once it begins to look like nation-building, says Mr. Achodo, "it's a tough sell" to get countries to continue to send funds. "Donors have a short attention span." Indeed, once a country achieves even a fragile peace, it's difficult for donors such as the US, Japan, and the European Union to justify prolonged "emergency" aid at levels above the development cash they give to scores of similar poor countries. Yet experts say that yanking the funding too soon in a war-ravaged country's raw, "postconflict" period can have disastrous effects, particularly here in West Africa, where wars tend to spread quickly across porous borders. A committee of British lawmakers highlighted how fresh conflict can wipe out years of aid in a report released last week. A civil war in a poor country could cost $54 billion, while the worldwide aid budget in 2004 was $78.6 billion, the report says. It calls on the British government to "direct sufficient resources towards conflict-prone and conflict-affected states in order to forestall the high cost of conflicts and their long-term impact." In Liberia now, all eyes are on neighboring Ivory Coast, where observers say some former Liberian generals and commanders are waiting for fresh fighting to begin so they can cross over into Liberia to recruit young, jobless ex-fighters. The conflict next door When Ivory Coast teetered on the brink of civil war last fall, both Ivorian government forces and rebels reportedly came across the border into Liberia to recruit veteran fighters. The recruiting price jumped from $450 to $750 at the height of tensions, according to the West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP), one of many groups that monitor the border. That kind of money is hard to resist in Liberia where more than half of the people get by on less than 50 cents a day. A return to full-scale war in Ivory Coast was averted, but the main issues are largely unresolved. Earlier this month, the head of the 15,000-member UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Alan Doss, cautioned that any instability in Ivory Coast could pose a threat to Liberia. UN forces in Liberia and Ivory Coast recently carried out joint patrols along the border to prevent mercenaries from crossing over. Mr. Doss maintains that there's "no tangible evidence of wholesale recruitment" of Liberians to fight in Ivory Coast. But time may be running out. "If we do not deliver tangible results ... the risk of descending back into chaos is very high," said President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf at a recent speech at Georgetown University in Washington. "In postconflict countries, in particular, there must be a smoother, faster shift from humanitarian aid to longer-term development support." The Children's Assistance Program, the small local organization that trained Ms. Mandeh how to run her baking business, says that turning away ex-combatants due to lack of funding is a huge - and heartbreaking - problem. "Until the private sector kicks in," agrees Sedia Bangoura, deputy minister of labor, "the government needs to find a way" to fund training and employment programs. Emergency employment In July, the Ministry of Labor started the Liberia Emergency Employment Program (LEEP) and has since registered 500 workers to participate in public works projects. One-quarter of the jobs go to women and priority is given to ex-combatants. The target is to employ 50,000 people in the next two years. But there's currently not enough funding to give jobs to any more than the first 500 people, says Ms. Bangoura with a sigh. Bangoura hopes that upcoming donor conferences will inject new funds into LEEP. But even if they secure pledges from donor countries, the funds are often slow to arrive. Liberia recently set up an employment fund for private donations to LEEP. "We have to solicit from all over," Bangoura says, mentioning a recent donation of $150,000 from a Liberian living in the US. "I hope we can have more individuals stepping up to the plate like that." http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1101/p06s02-woaf.html 幾年前曼德（Marthalyme Mandeh）是賴比瑞亞內戰時為政府和叛軍賣命的上千名少年兵之一，現在，在長達9個月的職業訓練之後，她終於找回生活的正常軌道，開始以烘培業維生─且看她在路邊的小攤子擺滿各式點心，脆餅是人氣第一名，接下來是玉米麵包，若有人負擔的起更奢侈的享受，曼德還能露一手烤個美味肉桂捲。 根據《基督教箴言報》指出，自2003年賴比瑞亞內戰結束後，便有許多這樣由聯合國出資、當地政府營運的重建企劃因應而生，目前並有超過10萬名「前戰士」報名參加類似的訓練；然而，像曼德這樣成功的例子卻是少之又少。其原因在於賴比瑞亞飆高的失業率及其伴隨的癱瘓經濟。數據顯示，賴國失業率高於80％，一般人都很難找工作了，更何況是這一大批從軍隊退下來、只接受過些許技能訓練的「前老兵」；對此，評論指出這可能將他們又導向軍旅一途，轉戰鄰近戰火一觸即發的象牙海岸。為此賴國政府近日已擬定緊急就業計畫，但官員和社工都表示，國際金援的減少將限制該計畫的可能性。 駐賴比瑞亞「聯合國發展計畫」（UNDP）成員，並擔任前軍人重整企劃政策顧問的阿丘督表示：「戰後環境最大的問題之一就是援助資金滿天飛，國內動盪卻無力把握，而等和平穩定的局勢到來時，基金卻又都枯竭了。」他指出，只要情況開始有從戰後重建走向國家建構的趨勢，外援資金馬上就會停止，因此如何繼續奪得「買家」的關注可是一場棘手的買賣，「捐贈者的記憶力可是很短暫的」，阿丘督如是說。 理所當然，只要國家脫離殘敗狀態，哪怕只形成脆弱的和平局勢，任何一個國家都會從金援上抽手的，要美、日、或是歐盟繼續以同等規模的「延長緊急救援」資助一個比其他落後國家狀況好多了的地區，簡直不可能。但專家仍指出，對飽受戰火侵襲的國家而言，衝突後外援的突然中斷將會帶來致命的影響，這在緊張情緒蔓延各國邊界的西非地區尤是。上週英國一立法委員會才發表報告指出，2004年全世界金援預算是786億，但光是一個貧窮國家的內戰就需花上540億重建，且隨便一場新衝突就可以讓先前多年的重建毀於一旦，因此呼籲英國政府「針對真正需要的衝突地區投下有效資源，以防長期戰爭下消耗的高成本。」 賴比瑞亞政府的煩惱可就沒這麼奢華，在火藥味濃厚的象牙海岸，將軍及指揮官們已摩拳擦掌等待戰爭的來臨，屆時他們可能滲透賴比瑞亞，招募那些失業的年輕人二度入伍。 鄰國情勢緊張，賴國恐遭池魚之殃 據監控賴比瑞亞與象牙海岸兩國國境的「西非和平網絡」指出，去年秋天象牙海岸內戰呼之欲出時，的確有來自其政府及叛軍兩方的人馬穿過國界到賴國大募傭兵，局勢最緊張之際甚至還喊價到450到750美元不等，這對國內5成以上、一天賺不到50分的賴比瑞亞人來說自然是難以抗拒的誘惑；現在象牙海岸可能不會再爆發那樣大規模的戰爭，但傭兵的問題仍然沒有答案。 這個月早先，擁有1萬5千名成員的「聯合國賴比瑞亞和平使節團」（UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia，UNMIL）團長多斯已點出象牙海岸的動蕩對賴比瑞亞可能造成的影響。聯合國軍隊並加強兩國間國境巡邏以確保傭兵隨意跨越國境，多斯表示截至目前為止還沒有發現任何「賴國傭兵批發到象牙海岸的確切證據」。 但賴比瑞亞已快沒有時間了。若賴國近期內無法向提出衝突可能會發生的證據，各國對其的經濟援助可能就到此為止，而這可能促使混亂局勢再度籠罩西非這個多事的地區。賴國總統瑟莉芙在華盛頓喬治城大學發表演說時表示：戰後地區需要的不只是人道救援，它們更需要其後長期的發展支持，而這兩種救援之間需要緩和但迅速的轉變。 發起曼德所參加職技訓練的當地組職「兒童援助計畫」也認為，就因為缺乏資金而放棄那些前少年兵，實在是嚴重且令人痛心的結果。勞工部副部長邦葛拉則指出，「在私營機構決定參一腳之前，政府得想辦法撐住職訓及就業計畫。」 緊急就業計畫本身都急需救援 賴比瑞亞勞工部在今年7月時已開始執行緊急就業計畫（LEEP），目前共有5百人報名參與社會公共建設，其中4分之一的工作機會保留給女性，前傭兵身分者則享有工作優先權。雖然計畫預定在未來2年內幫助5萬人找到工作，部長邦葛拉遺憾地表示，手邊經費只夠先前已報名的前5百人使用；而至於賴國對即將到來的募款協商會滿懷期待，邦葛拉也指出，即使捐贈國應允經濟援助，捐款卻常一拖再拖才撥得下來。為此，賴國近日已成立LEEP私人資助專案基金會，其中有一筆15萬美元的款項便來自一位移居美國的賴比瑞亞人，「我們得到處要錢，而我們希望能有更多像那樣的的私人民間贈款」，邦葛拉表示。 |
|
| （回目錄） | |
| Liberia Gets First International School of Journalism國際新聞學校，賴比瑞亞萌芽 | |
|
Preparation for the establishment of Liberia's first private international school of journalism in Monrovia has been reached. The Liberia Institute of Journalism and Communications (LIJC) would be an offshoot of the Africa Institute of Journalism and Communications (AIJC) based in Ghana. The institute is expected to train Liberians and other international students in prospective courses like journalism, advertising, public relations in the Sub-Region. Mr. Ebenezer Blamo Robinson a Liberian media scholar and researcher, has been appointed to head as director of the institute. In preparation for the smooth take-off, Mr. Robinson had embarked on an introduction and orientation visit at AIJC, the mother institute of LIJC in Ghana, from October 22, to 29. Mr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Liberia. He is a broadcaster and worked with ELWA [Internal Love Wing in Africa], a Christian radio station based in Monrovia before serving the Liberian Broadcasting System, Paynesville Monrovia. He became Assistant Director General for Broadcasting Services in 2003 and later in 2005 moved to become Program Officer, Communications with Mercy Corps, an international organization, where he was responsible for planing and setting up of rural community radio stations in Liberia. He told The Vision in an interview that he would bring to the fore his experience and ensure high academic performance as part of the school's objectives, in setting acceptable standards in communication professionals that will assist in the reconstruction of Liberia. According to Mr. Robinson, the visit accorded him the opportunities to assess the Ghanaian media landscape, and recommended that there were lot more that Liberia can learn to accelerate a growing media in Liberia. He was taken on a guided tour of the Buduburam Refugee Settlement by The Editor-In-Chief and other volunteers of The Vision. The refugee camp, serves as home to more than 38,000 Liberians who fle to Ghana in 1990, as a result of the 14 year-old-war, which ended in 2003. http://thevisiononline.net/?p=328 賴比瑞亞第一所私立國際新聞學校，將在首都蒙羅維亞開辦囉！ 據了解，以迦納為總部的「非洲新聞傳播協會」（AIJC）將成立「賴比瑞亞新聞傳播協會」（LIJC）分枝，為當地人及國際學生開辦新聞、廣告及公共關係等新課程，並請到賴籍傳播學者羅賓森作為機構指導；為了子校的辦學成功，羅賓森並於上個月22到29日探訪迦納母校。 羅賓森擁有賴比瑞亞大學大眾傳播藝術學士學位，目前擔任電台廣播員，過去並曾和ELWA（Internal Love Wing in Africa）廣播公司合作，ELWA在加入賴比瑞亞廣播系統之前原是基督教廣播電台。2003年，他擔任廣播服務助理總幹事，2年後並晉升企劃長，與國際團體「美慈組織」（Mercy Corps）合作，負責賴比瑞亞地方性電台的策劃與成立。 這位準校長在《The Vision》的專訪中表示，將以自身的經驗領導學校，並確保高品質學術表現，為賴國未來的新傳播界奠基，而上一趟學術之旅則讓他看見了迦納媒體的大環境，深深體會賴比瑞亞的學習之路還很漫長。《The Vision》總編輯等人並趁羅賓森拜訪迦納之際為他導覽當地的布杜布蘭難民營，那裡收留了逾3萬8千民賴比瑞亞人，他們全都是1990年賴國內戰開打時奔逃到迦納的難民；這場大戰足足打了14年，直到2003年才止息。 |
|
| （回目錄） | |
| Liberia:Public School Teachers Abandon Classes in Bomi, Liberia | |
|
賴比瑞亞伯米縣公立中小學教師罷教 Teachers in Bomi County, Liberia have layed down their chalk until they begin recieving the payment that they are due. Over two hundred public school teachers in Bomi County have abandoned classes in demand of salary arrears allegedly owed to them by the Liberian government. Mr. Yenta Jerbo, spokesman of the aggrieved teachers, said the teachers have adopted a formal resolution to boycott classes in protest of the prolonged non-payment policy that the Government of Liberia has developed. Speaking via mobile phone on STAR RADIO FM 104, Mr. Jerbo described the present condition of the teachers as frustrating and dehumanizing and promised to lay down chalk until their legitimate and just concerns are addressed adequately. Mr. Jerbo, speaking on behalf of the teachers dismissed allegation from the Deputy Minister of Education for Administration that most of them were not qualified. Several public schools remain affected including the only public high school in the County, the C.H. Dewey High School. The Education Ministry assured that the Ministry of Finance is currently preparing a supplementary payroll for the new and striking public school teachers in Bomi County. Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Education for Administration has observed that most of the striking teachers in Bomi County lack the approved standard certification for public school teacher's qualification. She promised to institute the required training so as to meet the approved standard of education. 賴比瑞亞伯米縣的教師，在開始領到應有的薪水前，會一直將粉筆擱在講台上。超過兩百位當地教師已開始罷教，要求政府付清積欠的薪水。 目前，數間公立中小學仍受罷工影響，包括該縣唯一的公立高中C.H.杜威高中。教育部保證，財政部現在正為伯米縣罷工的教師準備全新的追加薪資名單。同時，教育部副部長觀察到多數伯米縣的罷工教師並沒有公認的公立中小學教師資各認證。她也承諾將設立必修課程，以讓他們達到合格的師資表準。 受害教師發言人顏塔‧哲博表示，教師們接受了正式決議，杯葛所有班級授課，抗議賴比瑞亞政府發展出來的停付拖延政策。哲博透過手機在當地的STAR RADIO FM 104，描述了現在教師工作不人性而令人氣餒的情形，因此他們決定，在他們的合法與正義訴求獲得滿足之前，將放下他們手中的粉筆。柏哲也駁斥賴國教育部副部長所說，這些老師並沒有教師資格的說法。 |
|
| （回目錄） | |
| 吾思吾師 找回教師熱情與尊嚴徵文比賽 | |
送舊迎新囉！迎接新的一年，讓我們滿懷感恩的心，感謝過去教導我們、使我們智慧增長的師長，用一千字以內的短文與大家分享溫馨感人的真人實事。全教會贊助入選者稿酬每字2元，來稿請以電子檔寄young@lihpao.co-m﹐附真實姓名﹑身份字號﹑銀行帳號。本報有權刪修來稿﹐來稿者視為同意本報集結出書時﹐不另支稿酬。 |
|
| （回目錄） | |
|
參觀立報： |
http://www.lihpao.com |
|
寫信給小編e-mail： |
fiveguys@ms19.hinet.net |
|
立報地址： |
台北縣新店市光復路43號 |
| 欲詳完整內容請訂閱立報 電話：02-86676655 傳真：02-82191213 訂報：02-86676655轉214 地址：台北縣新店市復興路43號1樓 每週一至週六出報，每份10元 |