Liberians face a future after war

By Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC News, Klay, Liberia

Peace has prompted Klay's residents to come home

Chants of "No more war, we want peace," greeted me as a group of very little children welcomed me to the Liberian crossroads town of Klay in wet weather.

The children and their parents have every reason to embrace peace and say "No" to war.

Klay was heavily contested and eventually wrecked by warring parties in the recently ended civil war, forcing residents to flee to safety in displaced people's camps near Monrovia.

With the war now over, Klay is now seeing its original residents return.

On 11 October, they will cast their votes in national elections to choose a government that will take over from the two-year administration of Gyude Bryant of the Liberia Action Party (LAP).

Reconstruction

The huge presence of Pakistani United Nations troops, backed by armoured personnel carriers, guarantees security in the highway town, located 37km north-west of Monrovia.

But the post-war reconstruction needs are grave.

Candidates come saying they will do this, they will do that if elected; but we don't believe all that they are promising Daniel Bowah

Makeshift thatched structures now provide shelter for returning people in a town that once boasted proper buildings.

Jartu Kamara, 18, reflected on what the town looked like before the war and what help it needs after.

"Klay was looking fine. There were no thatched houses here, only houses with zinc [roofing sheets] you could see here. I want the next government to help Klay so that it can look like before," she said as she nursed her two-month-old baby wrapped in a think blanket.

Residents are closely monitoring election-related talks on radio stations like the one run by the United Nations Radio in Monrovia.

Changes

Jartu, like all other residents, wants candidates visiting the town campaigning to prioritise its post-war development needs "if we give our votes to them."

Mud-plastered huts have replaced houses that were destroyed

The mud-plastered walls of the huts are decorated with campaign posters and portraits of candidates, who the residents say are bringing them nothing but promises.

"They come saying they will do this, they will do that if elected; but we don't believe all that they are promising because saying these things is one thing and implementing them is another," said Daniel Bowah, a middle-aged man who runs a shop in the middle of town.

"What in my opinion we need most is empowerment from the next government so that we can build our lives. This is not how Klay used to be," he said.

Countless other returnees have similar stories to tell, and similar expectations.

"We want a good leader, a leader who will have interest in the welfare of the people who will build roads and bring development," said Robert Tema, 26, a rubber collector and father of four.

He looks at the posters of presidential and parliamentary candidates on the wall of a hut: "Candidates pass here dropping their posters - we hope they will actually do what they are promising".