Military

DATE=02/14/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-286449

TITLE=LIBERIA / EMERGENCY (L-O)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: WILL UPDATE FOLLOWING TAYLOR ADDRESS ///

INTRO: Liberian opposition leaders are criticizing President Charles Taylor's decision to declare a state of emergency. The Liberian leader took the measure nearly a week ago amid reports that fighting was escalating between government forces and rebels in a region about 40 kilometers north of the capital, Monrovia. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from our West Africa bureau in Abidjan.

TEXT: The criticism from the opposition comes despite a warning this week by the Liberian government, which said no one is allowed to comment on the state of emergency without prior government approval.

President Charles Taylor was due to go before the National Assembly Thursday to explain why he called a state of emergency. The National Assembly, which is controlled by Mr. Taylor's National Patriotic Party, or N-P-P, is expected to ratify the president's action.

Togba-Nah Tipoteh is a longtime opposition leader and chairman of the Liberian People's Party. He is widely expected to challenge Charles Taylor in next year's presidential elections. Mr. Tipoteh tells V-O-A he believes President Taylor was ill-advised to call the state of emergency.

///FIRST TIPOTEH ACT///

I think that his advisors have put him in the wrong direction. The right direction now is for him to 'operationalize' something very good that he said much earlier: that he is for dialogue, that he is prepared to go anywhere on the globe to pursue peace in Liberia. I think he should now commit himself to 'operationalize' that as a highest priority. A state of emergency is not going to help us to move forward.

///END ACT///

Mr. Tipoteh is calling for a dialogue to be held immediately under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African states.

Police in Monrovia on Thursday continued to round up people suspected of supporting insurgents. Witnesses say some members of the security forces broke down doors of homes in some neighborhoods and beat the occupants. Residents also told reporters that police officers in some instances took people into custody and then demanded money before they were released.

Mr. Tipoteh says he believes the Taylor government needs to take action quickly if there is to be stability in Liberia in the run-up to next year's elections. Otherwise, Mr. Tipoteh warns there could be a further escalation of violence.

///SECOND TIPOTEH ACT/// /// OPT ///

We have highly undisciplined security forces, many of them teenagers, now using as a pretext this 'state of emergency' to harass people. So I am very worried about it. I will continue to push the nonviolent line. But you can't control other people's actions especially when they are being beaten up, when their doors are being busted up, and they have to pay their food money to get out of detention."

///END ACT/// /// END OPT ///

The Taylor government says the state of emergency will remain in place as long as the rebel threat continues.

/// REST OPT /// Tensions over the reports of rebel attacks and the state of emergency have prompted thousands of people to flee their homes. As part of the state of emergency, officials on Thursday began requiring those who are leaving the country both Liberians and foreigners - to obtain exit visas. (SIGNED)

NEB/LR/GE/MAR