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Author Archives: Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij
Had the Dutch justice system forgotten Kouwenhoven?
Dutch journalist Bram Vermeulen, who is exceptionally well-informed about Guus Kouwenhoven, wrote an interesting and highly recommended article which was published by one of the main Dutch newspapers, de Volkskrant, ‘Guus Kouwenhoven was on the run longer than Bolle Jos. … Continue reading
Posted in Liberia
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Fugitive convicted war criminal Guus Kouwenhoven died a free man – cont’d
A must-read is the Daily Observer article ‘Guus Kouwenhoven is Dead‘, with sub-title ‘Convicted war-crimes financier and “Timber Emperor”, dies at 84 without serving his 19-year sentence, leaving Liberia to reckon with the human and environmental cost of “blood timber”. … Continue reading
Posted in Liberia
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Fugitive convicted war criminal Guus Kouwenhoven died a free man
Dutch ‘businessman’ Guus Kouwenhoven, the fugitive convicted war criminal and illegal arms dealer who was sentenced to 19 years in prison, died a free man on Sunday, September 6, his family announced. Kouwenhoven was the partner-in-crime of the notorious Liberian … Continue reading
Posted in Liberia
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Hail Liberia hail! Congrats on your 179th independence anniversary!
July 26, is the independence anniversary of Liberia, Africa’s first and oldest republic. Today, July 26, 2026, Liberia turns 179. Hail Liberia hail! The colonization adventure of a few thousand African-Americans – free-born Blacks and recently freed enslaved men, women … Continue reading
Posted in Liberia
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Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas – 1842
The 19th c. American newspapers in my archives contain a wealth of information on the history of both Liberia colony and sister colonies, created as from 1822, and the independent republic of Liberia, proclaimed on July 26, 1847. One of … Continue reading
Posted in 1822, 1834, 1842, 1847, 1850, 1853, 1854, 1857, agriculture, American Colonization Society, Baltimore, Bassa Cove, Cape Palmas, Cavalry river, christianity, colonization, Harper, history, J.B. Russwurm, King Freeman, King War, Liberia Colony, Library of Congress, Louisiana Colony, Maryland Colony, Maryland in Africa, Maryland in Liberia, Maryland State Colonization Society, missionaries, Mississippi Colony, Mitchel map 1839, Pennsylvania Colony, Republic of Maryland, slaveholders, slavery, slaves, trade, United States, Wikimedia, Wikipedia
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The Colony of Liberia and the suppression of the slave trade
Whereas the colonization activities of the American Colonization Society (ACS) have been criticized at various places and various times, it is nonetheless fair to draw here attention to an important and at times successful activity: the suppression of the slave … Continue reading
Posted in 1839, 1840, colonization, Colony of Liberia, Governor Thomas Buchanan, history, slave trade, Treaty with tribal chiefs
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Another example showing the emigration of former slaves to Liberia in the 19th c. was not voluntary
In the 19th century, the American Colonization Society (ACS), a white-dominated private organization, financed and organized the transportation of nearly 13,000 African-Americans to the West Coast of Africa and their settlement on a coastal strip of land, with diplomatic, military, … Continue reading
Posted in 1847, Abraham Lincoln, American Colonization Society, colonization, Emancipation Proclamation, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, The colonists, Thomas Jefferson, United States
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School in Paynesville, Greater Monrovia, expels Kindergarten pupil for alleged witchcraft
The following is a heartbreaking story. One of Liberia’s leading newspapers, the Daily Observer, on March 18, 2021 published an article, entitled ‘School Expels K-1 Pupil for Alleged Witchcraft’. To read the article click here. I was baffled. The administration … Continue reading
Posted in Liberia
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‘Death of a Pioneer’ – 1857
I continue browsing through nineteenth century American newspapers with articles of varying length on the colonization of a strip of land on the shore of Western Africa and the subsequent creation of an independent state, Liberia. See my previous postings. … Continue reading
Posted in 1820, 1822, 1857, American Colonization Society, Cape Mesurado, Pioneers, Salem Gazette, Sherbro country, Sierra Leone, The Elizabeth, United States
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