Stephen Rapp, Special Court Chief Prosecutor, Answers Your Questions – Part III

Dear Readers,

Here is our final post in the three-part series of answers to your questions by Mr. Rapp.  We’ll look forward to your comments and reactions to the issues Mr. Rapp raises.

QUESTION:

Bnker asked: “would you be willing to prosecute presidents and former presidents of the US for war crimes as well?”

Aki asked: “You have now been appointed US Ambassador for War Crimes. My question is recently Chucky Taylor was sentenced to 97 years in prison by a United States court for torture carried out in Liberia. What are you going to do as Ambassador for war crimes to make sure that the C.I.A. operatives with the authority of the George W. Bush government who carried out torture against foreigners in Iraqi and Afghanistan are also brought to justice ? Further do you think it was selective justice for the Bush administration to allow the prosecution of Chuckie Taylor knowing that they sanctioned torture as a policy ?”

MR RAPP’S ANSWER: The Ambassador for war crimes isn’t a prosecutor, but let me just say something about the ICC generally:  the International Criminal Court is a court of secondary jurisdiction – it was founded on the concept “complementarity,” which means that it leaves it to individual countries who have primary jurisdiction over the crimes  to investigate alleged serious violations of international humanitarian law.  It is only if the national system is unable or unwilling to investigate, and if appropriate, to prosecute, that the international court steps in to the situation and opens a case. 

Regarding allegations that US personnel were involved in torture, these are now under investigation by a special prosecutor in the US Department of Justice.  If the United States were a member of the ICC, that is the same thing that would be happening.  The independent prosecutor is expected to follow the evidence where it leads. In America there is a tradition of effective prosecution without fear or favor.  Powerful legislative leaders of both parties have been charged and convicted.   An independent prosecutor took President Nixon to the US Supreme Court and obtained a unanimous ruling forcing the President to turn over taped conversations that led to his resignation to avoid impeachment from office.  I think that we can comment that the new independent prosecutor and US judicial process will treat the present allegations appropriately. 

QUESTION:

Harris K Johnson asked:Why did you used Monrovia not freetown as a venue for your farewell press confrence?”

MR. RAPP’S ANSWER: I had an opportunity to go to Monrovia during the period of August 16 to 19t and I had made a number of appointments there and took the opportunity to meet the press and answer questions. I believe that will be the last time I will be in Monrovia while Prosecutor for the Special Court but certainly during the last week of my tenure in the Special Court I will hold a similar press conference on 1 September in Freetown–the city where the court is based and the capital of the country in whose name we act and for whose victims we seek justice.

QUESTION:

Timothy asked: “:Mr. Rapp, you have often lobbied in the media that the SCSL is running short of funding. Therefore:

1. Who are the primary funders of the SCSL and what percentage of costs do they fund?
2. Will this shortfall of funding prevent the completion of the Charles Taylor trial?
3. If funding should run out, what procedurally would occur?”

Mr. RAPP’S ANSWER: In terms of funding there have been about 50 countries that have contributed funds.  Unlike the Yugoslavia or Rwanda tribunals, which receive mandatory UN dues, the Special Court for Sierra Leone relies on voluntary contributions.  Every year it is necessary to convince countries to make contributions. The largest donor has been the United States, contributing a little more than one third of the court’s budget.  The British government is second, and the Dutch government third, with each contributing about a sixth of the budget, and the Canadians about one-eighth.  Large donations have been received from the German and Irish governments and from several Scandinavian countries.   There have also been contributions from countries in Africa and Asia.

The court has recently been challenged with its cash flow, either because sufficient pledges had not been made or contributions were arriving late.  But in August funding came from the Canadian, British and Irish governments.  It is expected that in September funding will arrive from Germany and the US that will carry the court into 2010, to a date very close to the completion of testimony in the Taylor trial.  Additional resources will be required to complete the argument and deliberation phases of the trial and the appeal that is anticipated. Efforts will be underway to make sure that those funds are available.  In my new role as a US Ambassador at Large, I expect to work closely with Special Court officials and with other national donors on efforts to ensure adequate funding for an expeditious completion of the work of the court.

It is critical that the Special Court have the funding to complete the Taylor trial and possible appeal.  Many may have seen a headline several months ago where I was quoted saying that Taylor could free if we ran out of funds.  This resulted from my answering the question as to why as a prosecutor I spend so much time raising funds, to which I had responded, “I could have the best evidence in the world and the strongest advocates in court, but if we ran out of funds and we couldn’t finish trial, an accused could go free.”

From a practical standpoint, those of us in the prosecution would fight tooth and nail to prevent anyone from being released on the grounds that the court was out of funds. At the same time we would be doing everything we could to get the money in to cover the expenses. But certainly at the same time the defense would be trying to achieve provisional release for the accused, claiming the unfairness of jailing someone that the court did not have the present means to try.  We don’t want to face that day which is one of the reasons as prosecutor I have spent so much effort to prevent that day from arriving, Thankfully we haven’t faced it, and I’m confident knowing the people in the court and knowing the commitment of the donor states that that day will never arrive, but will require constant work. 

QUESTION:

Zobon asked: “why no screening facility was establish for this trial in Liberia like what was done in Sierra Leone?”

MR. RAPP’S ANSWER: In Sierra Leone we have a court building where our trials take place, with security and television monitors, and people in Freetown can watch the proceedings from the gallery through the glass or look at the television monitors. People can even watch a video feed of the Taylor trial broadcast from The Hague into the courtroom gallery in Freetown..  We don’t have a facility like that in Monrovia, nor have we had the donations that would have allowed the court’s outreach section to secure and equip one.

It is also important to note that most people don’t have the time to sit and watch trials day after day after day. What they really want to hear is the important testimony and that’s why the approach that the outreach section has taken since the beginning of the Sierra Leone court has been to prepare videos and to take those videos out around the country and to provide for their screening.  This often involves bringing a generator and fuel to run the projector and persons to answer questions, but outreach has done the same kind of thing in Liberia with the assistance of civil society.   We have also encouraged the funding of  organizations like the BBC World Service Trust to ensure that there are reporters from the region covering the Taylor trial in The Hague, who can prepare programs with actual testimony that can be broadcast by radio which is the medium which has the greatest penetration in Liberia and Sierra Leone.  I have already mentioned the great information on the charlestaylortrial.org which is often reprinted in newspapers.  The actual transcripts are available on the court website www.sc-sl.org, and I am pleased to see that some newspapers have also reprinted these in their daily editions.  So a lot is being done to bring news of trial back to region, and we may have received almost as much local coverage as would have occurred if the trial had been in Freetown.

QUESTION:

T-Bone asked: “Tejan Kabbah and Sani Abacha took that fatal decision to use military force . The nigerian troops bombarded populated areas with cluster bombs in violation of “ International“ Laws ; Nigerian troops gang raped women in towns ( Lunsar , Makeni and port Loko ) to name a few ; Nigerian troops looted everything ; Nigerian troops looted the diamond fields ; Nigerian troops summarily executed thousands of people . All this was done , in the name , and with the blessing of Kabbah .
The question now becomes :
why is Kabbah still a free man ?
Why is that no nigerian general has been arrested ?”

MR. RAPP’S ANSWER: If one looks at the Truth and Reconciliation report in Sierra Leone you’ll see an accounting of the incidents and the groups that might be responsible for those incidents and leading the list with thousands of violations is the RUF. Second is the AFRC, and third is the CDF.  Down the list is the number of alleged violations by the Sierra Leone army prior to the coup of May 1997 and then further down the list are alleged violations of ECOMOG forces, followed by a group such as Executive Outcomes, that was employed by the government for a period of time for security reasons prior to the failed peace in Abidjan in November 1996.

The mandate of the court was to deal with the most significant crimes and with those bearing the greatest responsibility for those crimes, and certainly if you look at that report which was independently done, you will see that it was elements of those first three groups that were the greatest violators. We were criticized for prosecuting leaders of the CDF, but certainly as one sees the number of violations that occurred there, it was our responsibility to do so. If we had not done that, the question would have been “why only one side, when the other committed so many violations as well” In the end, CDF leaders were convicted, and those convictions were upheld. The crimes however weren’t as widespread as those committed by the leaders of the AFRC or RUF, and their sentences were shorter, but there were certainly responsible for widespread and systematic crimes.  But we did not prosecute others whose crimes did not reach this level, and that it is a reason why the alleged offences that the questioner cites weren’t part of our indictments.

QUESTION:

Helen asked: “Why was Mr Taylor the one person you Westerners picked on when obviously many other leaders had much more involvement with the RUF, and Comojors than he ever had? Are these leaders being protected because they are powerful or close allies of the powerful?”

MR. RAPP’S ANSWER: It was for his intentional involvement with the actual tactics used by the RUF, the campaign of terror against the civilian population, that caused him to be indicted.   It began even before the temporal jurisdiction of the court when at the beginning of the war in Sierra Leone in March 1991, Taylor’s Liberians outnumbered the RUF by a factor of four to one, and they were initially committing worse atrocities in Sierra Leone than was the RUF.  Taylor’s former Vice President Moses Blah has testified that Sankoh actually came to Taylor in Gbanga in 1991 and asked “why are you doing this?” and Taylor’s  response was “war is not buttering bread” – basically saying, “Foday, get used to it.” According to our evidence he was directly involved in the way in which this conflict was fought. There may have been others who provided arms because they had an interest in one side or the other winning, but they weren’t deeply involved in the tactics used in the conflict and they didn’t have the long-running involvement that caused a human rights group to publish a report about the horrors in Sierra Leone or the region being ‘Taylor made.’  Simply put the evidence of his involvement was so great, indeed so exceptional for the leader of a neighboring country, and involved such horrendous atrocities that it cried out for international prosecution.

QUESTION:

Harris K. Johnson asked: “Do you care to know where Mr. Taylor sold BLOOD DIAMONDS as alleged by you? If yes, what will you do about it?”

MR. RAPP’S ANSWER: What we have talked about is what we have presented in the case, that diamonds were delivered to Taylor and that he did use various intermediaries to get money from those diamonds and to obtain arms in exchange for them that were used in the conflict.  That has been part of our evidence to date.  Other things may be developed in the process of cross-examination. Our case involves proving his responsibility for the crimes in Sierra Leone and the question of where resources may have gone would be useful later on to determine where money might be obtained to provide compensation to victims. But that will only occur if he is convicted and after a conviction.

43 Comments

  1. Am I dreaming???? Which one of his witnesses told the court that “that diamonds were delivered to Taylor” Really, what do we say when the LEAD PROSECUTOR lies?? Maybe I missed that part, can anyone HELP me out on the DIAMOND TO MR TAYLOR please.

    Moreso, he claimed RUF was TOP on the list for crimes committed so therefore, Pres. Kabbah cannot be prosecuted??? Did the Special Court charged individuals based on the PERCENTAGE of the crimes?? I mean Mr. Rapp is doing ALL he can to justify why Pres. Kabbah was not prosecuted…..A DAMN SHAME!!!!! Mr. Rapp, we all know why he is NOT on trial….say us the TOAST, TWIST and TURN.

    According to him, Mr. Blah said Sankoh came into Gbanga to question Mr. Taylor…..I thought the MANDATE of this court was those involved SINCE ’96 thru 99??? As I read Mr. Taylor’s charges, I don’t see anywhere about ’91 or did I missed it?? Even Mr. Taylor aknowledged his relationship with RUF and the TIME LINE…..to see a LAWYER acting like a CHICKEN WITHOUT IT’S HEAD is depressing.

    Now tell me how FOOLING is his answer why Liberia was NOT given a venue for her citizens to watch like in Sierra Leone….How much will it take to put up monitors in Monrovia????

    Is Liberia a member of ICC??? So he is telling us if a nation is NOT a member of ICC, her citizens cannot face the court……but that citizen can do whatever and a FREE RIDE because the US law provide better JUSTICE Wasn’t the US a principal member in formating the ICC?? African nations are your listening to the game been played?? Is Rwanda part of the ICC???? I stand corrected but I will say NO, but her citizens were prosecuted for the same crimes Americans committed in Iraq……WONDERFUL!!!!

    And we are seeking TRUE JUSTICE….Mr. Taylor good LUCK for it looks like you are cooked. Nothing you will do will FREE you. You did your best but according to THEM, it was NOT enough.

  2. Bnker,

    I just went over your well written post of September 1 in response to King’s comments, where you offered references to citations in the post. I am interested. So please if you could. Yor cited $2.9B in direst foreign investments, Sim Darby etc.

    I am delighted over Ellen’s progress yet sadden by some level of inactions as well. I just think that Ellen should place a heavy hand on corruption withour fear or favor. The situation now seem far from that. Secondly I wish she could put some reforms into place so that we do not repeat past mistakes. I would certainly like to see her reliquishing through constitutional means, some presidential power like appointment of superintendents. so that superintendents are elected, and operate with autonomy to draw up budgets and execute them.

    I would also like to see an election commission that is divorced from the presidency.

    These are two sectors of our society where the president can manipulate and monopolize power. Because past election commissioners have aligned themselves with the presidency, Liberians have tended to doubt works of thecommission and election results. Remember David Crane said Ellen’s election was the first free and fair elections liberia ever had? Yet there are others who doubt that result to date. Some believe George Weah won the elections but was deprived because he was not the “choiced candidate.”

    Hey, brother too much to address in that country, I think I could stop here.

    1. Andrew,

      I hope those information helped. In the case of Buchanan Renewable Energies (BRE), it is in the process of building a power station in Kakata capable of supply Kakata, Firestone, and Monrovia with uninterrupted power using renewable energy, that is cheaper than LEC currently. BRE uses wood chip from old rubber trees. The company purchases old rubber tree–These are trees that have out lived their economic viability–and provide seedlings to plantation owners. Rubber trees basically is good up to 20 years. When the hybrid plants rubber trees are now ready to be tapped in 5 years rather than 7.

      Also, Mittal Steel is in Liberia, even though that company has been hit considerably hard as a result of the global crisis

      Btw, in 2.6B for the Bong range is the largest in Liberia history. The company is also going to construct a new hydo plant.

      Another investments given by the government, it provides additional tax incentives for that invest and have offices outside Monrovia. The rationale, is to prevent urban migration. We all know that Monrovia was not built to hold the current population. According to the 2008 census, 29% or 1.1 million live in Monrovia alone. Note our pop. is approximately 3.4M. This puts lots of strain on social services and crime.

      1. Bnker,

        Ok, thanks. These are good developments. I have two concerns with government concessions with international firms. the government has history of not disclosing drafts of agreements for public scrutiny before it comes into force. The second which is in some way related to the first is that companies are not compelled to provide environmental impact statements as part of the concession. I do not know the terms of these new agreements but I hope such issues were addressed.

        About the bre project, I was wondering if they intend to use only expired rubber tree or they intend to use other wood products. Do we have the volume of expired trees to support this project? What impact would this have on our forest reserves.?

        These are few questions that came to me. If you have few answers I would appreciate it or we could ponder for some time.

        1. Andrew,

          You are sending me a grocery list huh! Let me try to answer them for you.

          I think the concession agreements are more transparent than before, it goes through several committes in the legislature. In regards to environmental standard, all concession agreement not have provisions geared toward saving the environment. If I am not mistaken, frontpageafrica have copies of some of these concession agreement.

          In regards to BRE, they are using only rubber trees now and as mentioned they are providing seedlings for those trees they are buying. So I guess we don’t have to worry too much about losing forest there. Reforestration is the job of the Forest Developement Authority. That agency has gone through it positive transformation also. In regard to their project, I presume you are referring to the power plant? They will use approximately 3,000 acres of rubber tree annually. This would power the plant and provide power to Kakata, Monrovia and its environs 24/7; which is cheaper and cleaner than LEC. At moment, LEC burns fossil fuel.

          Andrew, I hope I answered your question. If you have more questions please let me know. The reason I have knowledge of this and the economic data on Liberia, in May, I spoke at the some of the universities on the Global Crisis and its impact on Liberia. I am also completing a research on poverty reduction, but through investing in a Liberian owned private sector.

  3. Please visit shelbygrossman.com she has some interesting comments concerning Stephen Rapp’s interview with Tracy.

  4. So aptly said Noko4,

    This is a sad joke and a BIG BIG SHAME. This man has not answered any of the questions appropriately or as a learned lawyer that he is supposed to be. He has clearly reinforced all my initial doubts as to the veracity of these charges in the first place. They are all trumped up with the intention of subjgating Africa.

    Once more racism rares its ugly head. The mighty rich powerful nations show that they can do unto poorer black nations whatsoever they want. Back to the plantations guys; the slave masters are disciplining the upity “nigger” right? Go on Rapp we hear you loud and clear only this time the Africans are wiser and not as easily fooled as they were then. We see through you and your kind.

    Fellow Africans we may not all like Mr Taylor but remember that this thing is much bigger than him. It is about power and might being right and not justice because true justice is not selective. If these people were really interested in justice they would have brought all the big wigs to the dock. That would have included Kabbah, Ecomog, the Western countries that provided troops etc.

    I would hope that the Judges will be fair and astute enough to see through this fracus and make the right decision. I hope their honour would be more important to them than power play.

    As for Mr Taylor, I say let God be with you because these people seem to have very bad plans for you. However if you truly trust God, no man will be able to harm you because if God is for you who can be against you.

    I rest my case.

    1. Helen,

      Well said lady. All you pointed out speaks to the complexity of this case. It would be difficult to pick up the nuances. But Kaddafi summarized it all when he likens this to “new world terrorism.”

      The outcome of this case will make or break the ICC. Calling on the law, the judges would have an easy case, but this case is not about the law, that is why it is complex.

      I hope you were able to browse Crown Hill-peking link to teach peac foundation news article. There was reference to declassified CIA reports that touched on some of the issues that we believe are material to this case.

      My hat off to you for this post.

  5. My fellow COMRADES lets keep hope alive. Don’t listen to that crap from Rapp. He’s lost in the wilderness. We shouldn’t lose focus and buy into Rapp “TOTAL NONSENSE” response to our questions. Taylor will be a free man when it’s all said and done. The evidence is not there for Taylor to be found guilty. And if the evidence is not there the judges must acquit. “THE DREAM MUST LIVE ON.”

  6. Again many thanks to Mr. Rapp for his excellent answers, the silence majority of the mano river union countries will always appreciates and supports your stands in bringing these cronies to justice, Taylor and past African leaders that came to power by the barrel of the gun had the psyche that they would not answer to anyone while inflicting mayhem on the peace loving people of this region.they have continue to point their fingers to things not be fair to their taste but their Gangleader Charles taylor did not provide fairness to anyone other that his relatives, friends and european arms smugglers.I can’t wait till the prosecution term to confront this man with all his inconsistances, that is occruing on a daily basic.long live the ICC!

  7. Please Guys and true justice seekers, please for God Almighty sake, don’t give up because of Rapp comments. Noko4 and the rests, I personally beg all of you to not give up. I understand your pains especially after reading Mr. Rapp’s third part of his response. Right now I am crying with tears running down my face. I’m 34 years old and live in Tokyo, Japan. I’m a Mexican Liberian and I have been following this trial and making research about Liberia since the arrest of President Taylor. Don’t be shocked and dismal by Rapp’s statement. In short, I’m appealing to you guys to stand up for Africa and Africans because African leaders will not do it for Africa. Noko4, what really touched me was when you said GOOD LUCK TO YOU MR. TAYLOR. It touched me. I will respond to Rapp’s third part series later, but not now. Reason being I just can not believe Rapp’s answers and I just can’t quit crying this saturday evening. Guys again, don’t give up. God bless you.

    1. Jose,
      If this court was a COURT in sought of Justice, we would have known by now; but she is NOT I think. If this was a case in the US where I live, the judge would have thrown this case outside of the door. Infact, the prosecutor was NOT going to be so silly to even attempt bringing charges based on what we have seen.

      Just from the COLLECTION of EVIDENCES alone this case would have dismissed or some kind of bargaining happening in the shadow. Something tells perhaps that is what going on in the Hague….let Mr. Taylor defend himself and the proseuctor come back with RULE 71c….case close.

      But……….

  8. Mr. Stephen Rapp,

    I read your answers to questions posed to you by various readers and it kind of pitch me into mix feelings. On the questions of the ICC, the establishment of war crime court in Liberia and the TRC Report, your answers tend to give weight to those who believe Mr. Taylor’s trial is politically motivated and that it is selective justice. I will explain.

    No doubt, atrocities committed during the Liberian civil war are violations of International Humanitarian Law and are cognizable in the ICC. Whether or not the Government of Liberia is willing to prosecute these atrocities, the ICC has a jurisdiction over all violations of International Humanitarian Law. That besides the point. The US Government through its Embassy near Monrovia has been pushing for the passage of the Threshold Bill now before the National Legislature. Why will the US play lame duck when it comes to passage of the TRC Report? After all, both issues are Liberian business and equally important for the growth of our nascent democracy, good governance , security and fight against impunity. Or, is it because the US is named in the TRC Report as one of the countries that helped fuel the conflict in Liberia that the Report is being suffocated?.

    Questions on torture allegedly committed by personnel of CIA, Mr. Bush, atrocities committed in Iraq and Afghanistan by US troopers, Darfur and ICC were in my view answered with ambiguity so much so that I feel strongly disappointed.

    Be as it may, atrocities committed in Sierra Leone should not scoot free because similar crimes were committed else where and nothing is being done about them. My plea here today is that Liberia must be part of equation for justice. That said. I want to congratulate you on your appointment as US Ambassador At Large for war crimes and wish that you will use your new office to expand on the campaign you started in Arusha to Freetown to the Hague and to make Liberia’s case a priority.

    1. Musa,,

      Thank you for this post and the objectivity demonstrated. Excellent points. The responses were not substantive enough and in some instances, circumventing. Well written.

  9. Rapp, quite frankly, when I heard you were taking over the case from Col. David Crane, I was jittery and really nervious. I read a little bit about your high profile case in Rwanda and how you were a US prosecutor. I thought your selection was potentially a leathal dose of radiation and super heated plasma to President Taylor’s trial. However, my view has changed about you. I think you are a man in an empty suit. It is guys like you that are in position of authority and the corridors of powers, making it difficult for US foreign policy and message of good governance to penetrate inspite of all the good things America is doing around the world. You have failed miserably in this case making this great country America looking like an evil empire in the eyes of so many. Regardless of what you have done to America, I still appreciate the good things it is doing around the world and what it has done for me personally. I was taught how to read and write English by a white christian missionary from the great state of California on a chritian mission in Bong county, Liberia. The two degrees that I have was acquired in the US from student loans of which I’m still paying. The first car, home, bank account, and job was acquired in America. My country of origin has not provided me these kinds of opportunity, but Ameriaca has. Today, i live in Japan. It is because of America.

  10. Noko4 pls help me learn
    MR Rapp, has always told LIES about this case, and LIES on interviews.He made the people of Sierra Leone to understand that the billions Mr Taylor have they will received as compensation. WHERE IS THE BILLIONS? and why should Sierra Leone be the only country to benefit?
    Can you believed the Irish are financial donor?when the Irish have the worst human rights abuse record in Europe. If the SCSL or Mr Rapp is playing games, playing time is over mate. You and ur SCSL have nothing on the man. Put ur flag up,and except that, African are not all stupid as you thing. We understand why the western nation consider African to be stupid Nigerian president that sold Mr Taylor to be welcome by president Bush.

    1. Eyes,
      I believe Sierra Leone will be the ONLY one to benefit because Liberia has NO court to punish anyone for her share of the mess. And Liberia will NOT get court until Ellen is gone from this Earth.

      As for donor nations, hhhhmmmm. I rest my case.

  11. Hi Tracey,
    Thanks to you and ur team for the hard work. I will love to send you a Braque of Red Roses a bottle of Champagne and a box of the best Scandinavian Chocolate.
    You and ur team deserved better.

  12. Look!Whether you like it or not,Taylor will be tried.He symbolises mayhem.There is no doubt about that.Taylor’s absence in the Mano River Union basin has given birth to the peace we now sense in the area.But for those who see looting as a livelihood,Taylor should be released today so mayhem could again engulf the sub-region eventually allowing looting to reign

    1. Vaa,
      Did Mr. Taylor declare WAR on anyone or nation when he became President??? Was Mr. Taylor the ONLY fighter in the region??? So what is the baseline for your statements??

      If you look in this room, 98% live outside of Lberia or the region, so why will you make silly statement that “But for those who see looting as a livelihood”???

    2. Vaa,

      You are saying what most are saying. The trail is political and the absence of Taylor means peace for the region and stronger security for the US and Britain. Nice post. I understand you are not advocating for CT, but you hit the nail on the head about the nature of the trial.

      1. Bnker, I don’t see what you are seeing in Vaa posting. What Vaa is saying is not what most of us are saying. I don’t understand your interpretation of what vaa glaringly posted. Please re-read his posting and tell me if you think we are saying the same thing.

        1. Jose,

          I read and understood what Vaa wrote. Let me try to break this down a bit for you, OK. Some of us believe that the trail of CT is political–agreed? In one of my post, I outlined that even though evidence is not sufficient to find CT guilty, because the case is political, he will be found guilty. I listed that CT out is dangerous for Liberia, the region and the US, especially when Islamic fanatics is gained a stronghold in the horn of Africa. Liberia is a good grounds for the US to set base to combat terrorism is Africa. CT out will threaten this. So without CT, the region will be safe. Now what Vaa was saying is that the region is safe because CT is behind bars. I am saying that is the only reason that he will be kept in the slammer, because of regional and US stability–that being said, in this case a guilty verdict could be rendered, not based on evidence, but on political motive….that’s what we all are insinuating, the case is political. Did I clearify? I am not in agreement on his/her whole post, just this line, “Taylor’s absence in the Mano River Union basin has given birth to the peace”

    3. Mansaray
      I do not know if you have truely followed developments in the Mano River area. The only reason why we have relative peace now is because the main mother for all the wars, Madam Ellen Johnson is in power. All these wars that was going on was simply Ellen behind the scenes push to get power. If you look inside Liberia you will see that the very people who have been in the opposition and were part of every warring factions, are those people that are in Ellen government.

      So you see, we now have all those who only aim was to get power and despite that we cannot see nsocial economic developments except United Nations and other international NGO projects. As for Ellen , corruption is now her number one lover . What a change duriing her presidential campagin the corruption was her number one enemy. Ellen’s government is very corrupt. Ellen government is so corrupt that her international friends , I am sure are very embarassed. I think they ought to ask Ellen to leave this presidency business and go work for some international NGO.

      Think about it for a moment and try to rationalize it. The same things that past government did in Liberia , especially corruption , at its worst now would have attracted huge international condemnation against any other government. But because Ellen is in bed with those that careless about the sufferings of ordinary people, we have not heard any public condemnation against her government. When Ellen’s security forces abuses ordinary people we hear no international condemnation, when Ellen’s socall Monrovia City Mayor Mary Broh breaks down poor mothers’ market stalls , we heard no international condemnation. I remember quite well under Charles Taylor governemt when his security forces did the same thing against the marketers. We heard a lot of international condemnation and Ellen herself exploited the situation to publicly condemn Taylor but today it is ok for Ellen to be abusing poor people.

      1. King,

        Sometimes you write very interesting threads, other times, well, I don’t know where you get your stories from–Hollywood, maybe? What are your proof on what you are saying? For your sake and to continue to attract readers to your threads, I recommend that you provide evidence. In one of my posts, I listed some of the successes of the present administration and you call me a “myth” perpetrator. Well, my friend, I responded and offered to provide proof. In fact, Andrew ask that I provide them and I did. Please provide proof or stop creating stories brother. You see, the first time, we can say maybe King was mistaken; the second time, then we say say maybe he’s misinformed; but the third time, well, I can’t try to justify your statements any longer, other than say, they are at best falsehood. I know you might want to counter my statement, please do, but provide factual data please, not our famous argument line, “my man I am telling you”.

        1. Bnker, I will begin with the part of Vaa’s posting you agree with. “Taylor’s absence in the Manor River Union basin has given birth to the peace.” There is no dispute, if you agree with that identical part. That’s your choice, which of course is debatable with most respondent being unfavorable to Vaa. I think you were the only person as of yet that concurred with Vaa posting in it’s entirety until I asked you and you later restricted your agreement to a particular portion. Where it is not your choice is to misrepresent the facts, that most people are saying what Vaa is saying on this particular posting and website. If you read the response and reaction to Vaa’s posting, you will realize most don’t agree with what he/she had written.
          Secondly, where in Vaa posting it was said the trial is political? There is nowhere in this posting he/she ever said the trial is political except your personal interpretation for him/her.
          Thirdly, my question to you was not about your personal interpretation of Vaa posting, but where did you see what you are talking about, because I didn’t see what you saw.

  13. Vaa Alie, make no mistake. The presence of the 15,000.00 UN troops in Liberia and the influence of the West in the region in terms of having strong grip on the resources, have selenced the gun sound. your myth of Taylor absence is another back door way to falsely accuse a peace loving man like President Taylor. Some of us stand ready to expose your lies.

    1. Vaa Alie, there was a coup d’e’tat in the sub-region just about three months ago. To be precise, it was in the Republic of Guinea. Was Taylor part of that insurrection too? Buddy, it is difficult to lie than to tell the truth. Whenever you lie, you will have to use another lie to cover the first lie and the third lie to makeup for the second lie. There is no case on Taylor in Sierra Leone.

    2. Jose,

      Mr. Assumption! You asked that I clarify and I did. Where in the world did you arrive at the conclusion that I agreed with Vaa comment in its entirety? I elect not to comment further.

      Jose, it obvious that everything has to be spelled out for you. Look my friend, its difficult for me to break things down to a pre-school level. It’s either I am not writing well, or you are not comprehending at the same level. You are the only person who does not get my posting or make conclusions. Vaa didn’t say that CT trail was political, he mentioned that the region was safe without CT. I was saying that is the reason that the trail will political, its about stability. Please don’t tell me I need to further explain myself.

  14. Finally, I found where Mr. Rapp is getting his BILLIONS from….from the UN EXPERTS PANEL REPORT…

    Do we see “BILLIONS OF DOLLARS”?? This goes to show the prosecutors didn’t even do any kind of investigations but ran with Mr. Simile words……

    http://www.sc-sl.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=prr6j5%2bbmsc%3d&tabid=160

    CHARLES TAYLOR
    25 AUGUST 2009 OPEN SESSION
    SCSL – TRIAL CHAMBER II
    Page 27633
    US Ambassador Charles Minor had told us earlier that US Under-Secretary of State Thomas Pickering had met with Taylor on July 17 and had told Taylor that he personally had seen evidence that Taylor was trafficking in stolen diamonds. We raised this and Taylor said that Pickering had not presented him with evidence of anything. This was blatantly untrue. We raised the question of diamonds and asked what he made of Belgium customs data showing billions of dollars worth of diamonds originating in Liberia.

  15. Steven Rapp, your respond about the trial being transferred to the Hague was based on the request of the region. You have just reminded me of one of the most popular talk show hosts in the United States by the name of Rush Lambaugh take on slavery. According to Rush Lambaugh, it was African kings and elders that sold their own brothers and sisters into slavery and not the whiteman as many want us to believe. Rapp, your response is a reminiscent of Rush’s justification of one race surpressing the other race. African leaders, are you listening? Rapp is now telling us it was your decision to transfer the case. Can anyone of you say something about this? Can you save the future generation of Africans from this embarrassment. Rapp is protecting their own future generation. Can anyone of you protect your own seed from future embarrassment also?

  16. Vaa Alie Mansaray,

    So are you saying that since Mr Taylor has been incarsarated there has been peace in the region? Then I beg to differ with you. What about the coup in Guinea or the problems in Ivory Coast that is still in existence today?

    Taylor is not the root cause of instability in that region. Do not let these Westerners fool you. That is like a regurgitation of their media mongers; exactly what they want us to believe. Be wise my brother African. Our problesms inthe region is very deep rooted and not as a result of one man.

    As long as Africa is the last remaining continent with the greatest deposit of resources, we will unfortunately always have problems of instability there. Those that have big economies with very little resouces are desperate to lay their hands on Africa’s wealth. They will do whatever they can to keep the instability going. Don’t ever lose sight of that. They will put one African against another in order to appear to be the good guys coming to save the day.

    We have to be as wise as serpents and know their game and become better players at that game.

  17. Tracey, by any chance, do you have any knowledge whether President Taylor has access to the internet? Does he have a phone number that he can be reached? Is he aware of this website? However,
    this is to you President Taylor if you are reading our comments; the Liberian people love you and the African continent appreciates your heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense smear campaign against you. Truth to your word “God’s willing, I will be back.” You will definately be back. They have no case on you. We can’t wait to hug you in our arms and welcome you back to your homeland. God bless you.

    1. Hi Jose – I do not know if Mr. Taylor has access to the internet, can be reached by phone, or is aware of this website. Sorry I can’t help on those questions.
      Best,
      Tracey

  18. I’m very sorry that Mr. Rapp will post himself as a complete failuer given the way he has answered questions from readers on this website. I’m sure many on this site will agree that a law student at A.B.C level, knows that Mr. Rapp and his team does not have a case against Mr. Taylor. Well, let’s keep praying for true justice outside of western power.

    Harris K. Johnson

  19. I think some of you have gone way out of your minds and behaving like psychos! Wait for the day taylor is cleared of all charges against him for crimes against the people of Sierra Leone then you could all give him a big kiss on his lips Jose Rodriguez. You are making mockery of people taylor hurt deeply and purposely adding insults to injuries. Some of you will regret what awaits you all..a damnation in eternal fire of hell for being insensitive to the sufferings and plight of the victims of this mass murderer, taylor!

    1. Look fallah menjor,

      It seems as though you are in a dream world ; One first advice I’ve got for you is that you need to go and do some refresher courses on that old chalie king degreee you got, so that it reflects todays academy arena. I don’t know where you are coming from all your superstitions about some eternal hell fire. Are you a preacher or a pastor? Stop being imaginary and be realistic or practical about this LIE concerning mr. taylor. The brother was lied on, you and I know that deep down in our hearts. One day you and ziggy will say bro. noko, we are sorry for all the misgivings. You and the rest of the guys( THE ADVOCATES OF JUSTICE WERE VERY RIGHT).Let mr. taylor be set free.

  20. Fallah Menjor,

    We all sympathize with the victims of both Sierra Leone and Liberia. I can not think of anyone on this site celebrating the horrendous acts against the people of Sierra Leone, or at least, defending it. If you were directly from the two countries, one way or the other, you were affected. Our point we are making is that President Taylor is the wrong guy and the case is not about bringing those that bear the greatest responsible as they want us to believe. Remember now, we asked Mr. Stephen Rapp, the chief prosecutor of the case some quetions, about President Kabbah of Sierra Leone involvement. According to him Rapp, as far he’s concerned, there is no proof that kabbah knew about wrong doings of the CDF he formed. You may recalled, some of the prosecutor’s witnesses said, it was Kabbah’s army that amputated their legs and hands. Besides, how did he(Rapp ) know? Did he ask Kabbah questions? However, as a president, you are commander in chief of the Armed Forces. Don’t you think that Kabbah being head of the Armed Forces of Sierra Leone, founder or CDF of which one of the prosecutor witnesses said his arms and legs were amputated by kabbah’s army be accountable?
    Fallah, You talked about enternal fire of hell. Are you really serious?

  21. Musa made a fundamental and key point regarding Stephen Rapp excuse concerning the TRC Report in Liberia. Musa’s point is simple, the United States government and other international organizations have always interfere in the affairs of Liberia. Recently , they insisted that if the Liberian national legislature did not pass the electoral threshold bill then the Liberian election might not be held in 2011.

    Now, this same international people, especially the United States government is saying that the TRC report is a matter that should be left to the Liberian people. While I welcome this move by both the international community and the United States to allow the Liberian people make their own decision. The contracdiction and hypocrisy is very clear in this TRC matter.

    The refusal of the international community to insist that the TRC report be implemented in keeping with the laws that created the TRC demonstrate the fact the Ellen Johnson is a pure “puppet leader.” It suggest that the international community is encouraging Ellen to violate the laws of Liberia only because has allow multinational companies to do the usual resource expliotation of Liberia. Ellen was found criminally liable by the TRC and she was recommended to be ban for 30 years from participating in Liberian politics.

    I bet , if Charles Taylor was president and the TRC issue such a report against Mr. Taylor, we would not rest. There would have been breaking news on CNN, MSNBC, Reuters, Radio France, BBC and all the international news outlets, we would be hearing every major world government condemning Mr. Taylor and offering to support the TRC process in Liberia. What a HYPOCRISY by this international community!!!

    Now we know what justice means to the international community, it is only about protecting the interests of multinational corporations and not ordinary Liberians.

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