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LIBERIA: EX REBELS SURVIVE ON ILLEGAL GOLD MINING March 6, 2006
Kizza Harajah
(SomaliNet) Ex Liberian rebels have found peace in Fish Town, eastern Liberia surviving on illegal gold mining. "We have to go to the gold mines to dig. If we do not do that, we will not survive," said Timothy Johnson, a former rebel to the Reuters.
These rebels never benefitted from the United Nations programme to resettle former rebels into society .
Johnson, who fought for the removal of Charles Taylor has nothing to show for it and only owns a mud hut. Illegal gold mining is the only source of survival for the 33 year old.
Robert Doe, another ex soldier expresses fear that Liberia's government would intervene in their activities. However, on behalf of others, he has vowed not to stop for it is the only way they can survive. "We will not stop this because that is the only means of us getting money to buy goods. These are our country's minerals and we have to start making use of it before anyone can start to do so," he said.