Charles Taylor was “not honest” with the United Nations Panel of Experts set up to investigate his alleged dealings with Sierra Leonean rebels, prosecutors told the Special Court for Sierra Leone today during cross-examination of the accused former Liberian president.
The UN Panel of Experts report released in 2000 accused Mr. Taylor of fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone through diamonds and arms trade with Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, a group that fought an 11-year conflict in Sierra Leone. In cross-examining Mr. Taylor today, lead prosecution counsel Ms. Brenda Hollis pointed out that when the UN Panel of Experts met with Mr. Taylor in 2000, the former president lied to them about the whereabouts of notorious Sierra Leonean rebel commander Sam Bockarie. In 1999, Mr. Bockarie, having fallen out with the leadership of the RUF, relocated to Liberia where Sierra Leonean rebels loyal to him were recruited into Mr. Taylor’s Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU). According to some prosecution witnesses, Mr. Bockarie relocated to Liberia on Mr. Taylor’s invitation. Mr. Taylor on the other hand has said that Mr. Bockarie’s relocation to Liberia was based on a decision by West African leaders. In 2000, reports indicate that Mr. Bockarie left Liberia for Ivory Coast, where he was involved in the conflict there, allegedly on Mr. Taylor’s orders. Mr. Taylor has refuted such assertions. In his cross-examination today, the former president denied prosecution claims that when asked by the UN Panel of Experts about the whereabouts of Mr. Bockarie, he told them he “did not know where Bockarie was.”
“Well, I could not tell where he was,” Mr. Taylor said.
When told by Ms. Hollis that Mr. Bockarie “was carrying out your duties undermining other governments,” Mr. Taylor responded that such an assertion was “a blatant hallucination.”
“Charles Taylor had no money, so why is he undermining other governments?” Mr. Taylor asked.
Mr. Taylor insisted that he was honest in his response to the UN Panel of Experts, asserting that he was not asked directly where Mr. Bockarie was.
“I was never asked precisely where he was. I was being honest with the UN because as president of Liberia, I needed to be sure of where he was. I told them the official position of my government that he was escorted to the Ivorian border,” he said.
Mr. Taylor explained that when Mr. Bockarie indicated that he wanted to relocate to Burkina Faso, he asked to be escorted through Ivory Coast and therefore the Liberian government had to escort him to the Liberian border with Ivory Coast.
Asked by Ms. Hollis whether he informed the Ivorian government that Mr. Bockarie, though on a UN travel ban, was being escorted to their border and was passing through their territory, Mr. Taylor said that he did not see the need to share such information with the Ivorian government.
“I did not feel the obligation to tell them. It is not the function of the government to tell other governments that somebody is on a travel ban and was on his way to their country,” he said.
Ms. Hollis further pointed out that Mr. Bockarie travelled on a Liberian passport with the name Solomon Johnson.
“This could have been a travel document given to him in 1998 because we gave him a passport in 1998. I don’t know what name he travelled on,” Mr. Taylor responded.
Mr. Taylor agreed that when Mr. Bockarie was given a Liberian passport in 1998, he was not a Liberian citizen. He said the RUF commander and his followers were given Liberian citizenship only when they left Sierra Leone for Liberia in December 1999.
Ms. Hollis also pointed out that in Mr. Taylor’s direct-examination, he had said that the UN Panel of Experts had not asked him about diamonds from Sierra Leone during their interview with him in Liberia. Ms. Hollis read portions of notes prepared by a member of the Panel of Experts, Ian Smillie, on his October 6, 2000 meeting with Mr. Taylor. The notes indicate that the UN Panel of Experts asked Mr. Taylor about comments made by the then United States Under-Secretary of State, Thomas Pickering, to Mr. Taylor that he had evidence of Mr. Taylor’s dealings in diamond with RUF rebels. Mr. Taylor insisted that those notes were prepared by Mr. Smillie and could well not reflect what was discussed in the meeting.
Mr. Taylor’s association with RUF commander Mr. Bockarie has occupied a huge portion of the case against him. Witnesses have testified that Mr. Bockarie used to take orders from Mr. Taylor and that when the RUF commander left Sierra Leone in 1999 and relocated to Liberia, the former Liberian president sent him to launch attacks in Ivory Coast, with an aim of destabilizing that country. These allegations add to charges against Mr. Taylor that he was involved in a joint criminal enterprise with RUF rebels in Sierra Leone. It is alleged that while the RUF rebels took orders from him, he also received diamonds from the rebels in return for supplies of arms and ammunition. The prosecution argues that Mr. Taylor bears responsibility for crimes such as rape, murder, terrorizing the civilian population and recruitment of child soldiers by the RUF in Sierra Leone.
To buttress these claims against the former president, the prosecution has been pointing out atrocities allegedly committed by Mr. Taylor’s rebel forces in Liberia as a means of showing a consistent pattern with those committed by the RUF in Sierra Leone. Mr. Taylor has denied these claims.
In cross-examination today, Ms. Hollis pointed out to Mr. Taylor that “forces under your control such as the ATU committed crimes against civilians.”
“Crimes committed by your faction were definitely systematic,” Ms. Hollis told Mr. Taylor.
“No. Not to my knowledge. It is possible that individuals in those units did commit crimes. In some parts of the country, I’ll say that was possible,” Mr. Taylor said.
Mr. Taylor, however, denied prosecution claims that his forces burned entire villages and killed civilians.
“In fact the best kept places in the country were those under NPFL [National Patriotic Front of Liberia] control. Winning 70 percent in an election does not seem like reigning terror on people. You lost on that Ms. Hollis, you are wrong,” Mr. Taylor asserted.
Mr. Taylor’s cross-examination continues on Monday.
Dear Readers,
A quick note to let you know that I will be away from now until December 3, and until then my colleagues Alpha and Taegin will be taking over the moderation of this site.
I’ll look forward to rejoining the conversation when I am back in early December.
Best,
Tracey
Ok Tracey,
Wish you well and the flowers will be left at the door!!!!
Iam thinking if the president of the court in following mr hollis word for word. Mr hollis asked a question with a ( is it not )ending and taylor asked her to bring some documents to allow him remind himself. But the president of the court told mr taylor ms hollis said if he could recall. I cought this one. You know i record the trial audio. Here is the link, listen to the audio to get my point. http://www.myspace.com/charlestaylortrial
Borris,
I really liked the recording hope you continue to post the links of your recordings.
Ok Tracy
take care and have a lovely time.
Thanks Varney — will look forward to continuing the conversation when I get back.
Best,
Tracey
What a way to go.This trial is getting me sick.In the beginning i thought this was about Sierra Leone but most of the question been ask Mr. Taylor is about Liberia.Where in the world will a man like Taylor get all that money from to sell arms to rebel? who are the maker of these arms? where are they so to speek.it so sad to know that during the war in Liberan most of the so call world leaders just watch as we kill each other now, they want to give justice to a country that was also apart of the problem in Liberia? after this trial will miss Hollis go to Guinea to also look for all those that allow that country to be use to attack Liberia during our last war that took taylor from power.What a shame on Africia.Africia will always be this land of slave no matter what.Can I also testify here? Iam not a fan of Taylor but when he was in Liberia as president,things were much better than what it is now.
Brenda Hollis will regret why she put her hands in this other GOBACHOP!!! hahaha…..
Ms. Hollis need to check the facts before making statement about matters she wants the judges to believe about the accused. This court is on the line of become a kangaroo court. Mr. Taylor did not have to send any one to Ivory Coast to destabilize that country. The Ivory Coast became destabilize after Houphouët-Boigny died, long before Brockarie went there. Consistent patterns of rape, murder, terrorizing the civilian population and recruitment of child soldiers are patterns that seem to show up in many wars around the world. Amputations in war seem to have started in Sierra Leone. The Prosecution is not showing consistent patterns between NPFL and RUF but consistent patterns of war, now that they do not want to use amputations as a consistent pattern.
The first records of mass amputations come from the late 19th century when King Leopold’s representatives were cultivating rubber in area along the Congo river. Mozambique has also experienced such atrocities. Info taken from ‘A Dirty War in West Africa’, Lansana Gberie, pub Hurst & Company, London, 2005.
Hi Tracey,
Ur your shoe is a big one to get someone else’s to wear, but fabulous Alpha will have no problem fitting in.
Stay tune.
Peace!
P/S Tracey, I hope you are not billing out on us like the rest of the prosecution team.
Big B — you are indeed in excellent hands with Alpha.
(And I promise I am not bailing out on you — simply going to visit my family in Australia for a little while. Will look forward to rejoining everyone back here on December 3.)
Best,
Tracey
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP:
Applicant, who shall be a negro or of African descent, must possess a valid passport and an up-to-date Resident Permit;
Must have lived in the country for a period of not less than two (2) years proceeding to the submission of application for citizenship;
A letter of application to the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, expressing a desire to become citizen of Liberia , with the reason (s) stated therein;
A background check by the Protective and Internal Security Division (PISD) of the Bureau, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) after submission of application;
A letter from the Bureau to the Circuit Court of the County in which the applicant resides, after they shall have received a favorable responses from both the Police and NSA, for the issuance of a Declaration of Intention to the applicant;
The applicant is required to wait for the period not less than two (2) years or more than three (3) years after the issuance of the letter of Declaration of intention by the Court;
A certificate of Citizenship may be issued to the applicant, following the filing of a Petition by the applicant or his lawyer;
Two (2) letters of recommendation from two prominent persons in the community in which the applicant lives;
After the issuance of the certificate of citizenship, the same is brought to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization through the Division of Naturalization for official endorsement;
Eight recent Passport size photos;
Filling in an Application
CHAPTER IV Article 28 (The constitution of Liberia)
Any person, at least one of whose parents was a citizen of Liberia at the time of the Person’s birth, shall be a citizen of Liberia; provided that any such person shall upon reaching maturity renounce any other citizenship acquired by virtue of one parent being a citizen of another country. No citizen of the Republic shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to change citizenship or nationality.
CHAPTER III Article 20
a)
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law. Justice shall be done without sale, denial or delay; and in all cases not arising in courts not of record, under courts-martial and upon impeachment, the parties shall have the right to trial by jury.
For Noko4, Noko5 and the rest of the Taylorists who want to justify the lawlessness Taylor carried out in the Liberia, here are link to the current debate about dual citizenship and more information on the ALIEN AND NATIONALITY LAWS of Liberia.
http://www.concern-liberians.org/chat_room/view_topic.php?id=56256&forum_id=1
http://www.abanet.org/rol/publications/liberia_analysis_of_the_aliens_and_nationality_law.pdf
http://www.aboutliberiatoday.com/dual.html
http://liberiansoccer.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/375
Noko4, Noko5, Helen and the rest of the Taylorists. Here is an act to amend certain sections of the Alien and Nationality laws of Liberia that is currently being debated. Strangely, one of the co-sponsor of this act is the then wife of your Papay, ewel Howard-Taylor Senior Senator, Bong County. So, your Papay should stop lying and making mockery of our beautiful country.
AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS
OF THE
ALIEN AND NATIONALITY LAWS OF LIBERIA
WHEREAS, Article 11 (b) of the Liberian Constitution provides that ” All Persons, irrespective of ethnic background, race, sex, creed, place of origin or political opinion, are entitled to the fundamental rights and freedom of the individual, subject to such qualifications as provided for in our constitution”; and
WHEREAS, Article 11(c) of the said Constitution guarantees that “All Persons are equal before the Law and are therefore entitled to the equal protection of the Law”, and
WHEREAS, Article 28 of the Liberian Constitution provides that “Any person, at least one of whose parents was a citizen at the time of the person’s birth shall be a citizen of Liberia; provided that any such person shall upon reaching maturity renounce any other citizenship acquired by virtue of one’s parent being a citizen of another country. No citizen of Liberia shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to change citizenship or nationality”; and
WHEREAS, Article 34(h) of the Constitution also gives the Legislature the authority to “establish laws for citizenship, naturalization and residence” not inconsistent with the Constitution; and
WHEREAS, believing that the intent of the quoted provision is to ensure that Liberians who are citizens of Liberia by virtue of the provisions of the Constitution are not deprived of their citizenship on account of events of necessity for life, preservation and survival which are largely out of their control and/ or which are the results of natural occurrences over which they have no control; and
WHEREAS, Article 13(a) of the Liberian Constitution also provides that “All Persons lawfully within the Republic of Liberia shall have the right to move freely throughout Liberia, to reside in any part thereof and to leave therefrom, subject however to the safeguarding of Public Security; and
WHEREAS the circumstances stated herein, i.e. the departure of our citizens to other lands for their safety and security, and their lives and the lives of their families and relations do not present any interference or imposition to the safeguarding of the Public Security to the nation;
WHEREAS the Liberian Constitution, at article 2, states “This Constitution is the supreme and fundamental law of Liberia and its provisions shall have binding force and effect on all authorities and persons throughout the Republic”, and further “Any laws, treaties, statutes, decrees, customs and regulations found to be inconsistent with is shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void and of no effect?.”; and
WHEREAS, certain sections of the Aliens and Nationality Law of Liberia, enacted prior to the coming into effect of the new (1986) Liberian Constitution, stand in contrast to provisions and intent of the Liberian Constitution, referenced above, thus defeating the objective of the provisions of the Constitution and the equal protection of the Law; and
WHEREAS, it has become imperative to amend certain Sections of the existing Aliens and Nationality Law of Liberia, consistent with current National realities and international best practices, to have them conform to the present Liberian Constitution, and as would grant to all Liberians the preservation of the right of citizenship guaranteed by the Constitution; and
WHEREAS, free movement of the individual and the creation of an environment free of intimidation and harassment are important conditions for long-term national and individual development, social progress, peace, unity and security:
NOW, THEREFORE, THE Liberian Senate and the House of Representatives in legislature assembled hereby amend certain Sections of the Aliens and Nationality Law of Liberia as follows:
Part lll ? NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION
Section 1: Chapter 20: Nationality at Birth, and specifically Section 20.1, Citizen of Liberia at Birth, which reads:
“The following shall be citizen of Liberia at birth:
A person who is a Negro, or of Negro descent, born in Liberia subject to the Jurisdiction thereof:
A person born outside Liberia whose father
(i) Was born a Citizen of Liberia;
(ii) Was a Citizen of Liberia at the time of the birth of such child, and
(iii) Had resided in Liberia prior to the birth of such child,
Is hereby amended to read as follows:
“The following shall be a citizen of Liberia at birth:
A person who is Negro, or of Negro descent, born in Liberia and subject to the Jurisdiction thereof:
A person born outside Liberia whose father or mother
(i) Was born a citizen of Liberia;
(ii) Was a citizen of Liberia at the time of birth of such child; and
(iii) Had resided in Liberia prior to the birth of such child.
Section 2: CHAPTER 22: LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP, and specifically Section 22.1, Acts Causing Loss of Citizenship, which reads as follows:
“From and after the effective date of this title, a person who is a citizen of Liberia whether by birth or naturalization shall lose his citizenship by:
(a) Obtaining naturalization in a foreign state upon his own application; upon the application of a duly authorized agent, or through the naturalization of a parent having legal custody of such person, provided citizenship shall not be lost by any person under this section as a result of naturalization of a parent or parents while such person is under the age of 21 years, unless such person shall fail to enter Liberia to establish a permanent residence prior to his twenty ? third birthday; or
(b) Taking an oath or making an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state or a political subdivision thereof; or
(c) Exercising a free choice to enter services in the armed forces for a foreign sate unless, prior to such entry or services, such entry or services is specifically authorized by the President;
(d) Voting in a political election in a foreign state or voting in an election or plebiscite to determine the sovereignty of a foreign state over foreign territory; or
(e) Making a formal renunciation of Liberian Nationality in a court in Liberia or before a diplomatic or consular officer of Liberia in a foreign state in such form as may be prescribed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia
Is hereby amended to read as follows:
22. LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP
Acts causing Loss of Citizenship
(a) From and after the effective date of this title, no person who is a citizen of Liberia at birth shall lose his /her citizenship for reasons of marriage to a citizen of a foreign state; naturalization in a foreign state or naturalization of a parent or parents in another state; entering or serving in the armed forces for a foreign state or voting in a political election in a foreign state;
(b) From and after the effective date of this title, Liberian Citizenship by Birth is hereby restored to all persons who were citizens by birth and who lost citizenship as a result of the conditions laid out in the previous Aliens and Nationality Law;
(c) A person who is a citizen of Liberia at birth but who makes a free choice of a formal renunciation of Liberian nationality before a court in Liberia or before a diplomatic or consular officer of Liberia in a foreign state, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, and not growing out of circumstances over which he or she has no control or is not in control of, shall lose his/her citizenship;
(d) By the passage of this Act, the Republic of Liberia shall, within the limits prescribed herein and under the conditions stated hereinbefore, RECOGNIZE “Dual Citizenship” in which a citizen of Liberia at birth may become a citizen of another state without losing HIS/HER Liberian citizenship; and
(e) This Law shall apply only to persons who are Liberian Citizens at Birth.
ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY IS NOTWITHSTANDING
SUBMITTED TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN LEGISLATURE ASSEMBLED
SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY ? SECOND LEGISLATURE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
SPONSORED BY: Cletus Segbe Wotorson
Senior Senator, Grand Kru County
CO-SPONSORED BY: Sumo G. Kupee
Senior Senator, Lofa County
Jewel Howard-Taylor
Senior Senator, Bong County
Abel Massalay
Senior Senator, Grand Cape Mount County
CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA
MONTSERRADO COUNTY
Big Joe,
Since you want to get technical here and quote, how about quoting the executive Order that does also grant citizenship to a person? That is allowed under the law did you know that?
Big Joe,
Can the President of Liberia GRANT citizenship?? YES!!! And this is NOT unique to Mr. Taylor. Pres. Tolbert on many occasions granted citizenship to many South Africans including the late Miriam Makebe and Hugh Masekela during the apartheid years. One of the side laws granted to the President.
What you posted is if one is SEEKING citizenship. Do you know see the difference??
Plus Big Joe,
What you again posted ARE NOT the LAWS governing immigration but the FOUNDATION on which the laws were written….post the IMMIGRATION LAWS of Liberia…you may be better inform.
I’m pretty sure that Brenda Hollis will be regretting nothing. Putting Charles Taylor behind bars is a honor….not a thing to regret.
-Cheers.
Sorry Sister, YOU WISH!!!!
She cannot put Charles taylor behind bars with the kind of sloppy perfomance she is putting up!!!! that’s the sad part.. Ms. TEAGE can you plkease identify BELL DISTRICT in LIBERIA???
I know about Belle District in Liberia which is in Lofa County, instead of Bell District! Is Ms. Hollis from Bell county, Temple, Texas?
Hello Teage, this is Jose Rodriguez.
more information on Taylor’s favorite man Benjamin Yeaten
http://allafrica.com/stories/200809161187.html
theses are the kind of lies you guys bring about.. Do you know yeten age? Learn that before talking about this acticle.
Big Joe,
What goods are there with Ms. Hollis dancing in Liberia??? So far, what have we gained from the CROSS?? Like Mr. Taylor, he is on the stand for his ACTS in Liberia on the backside but what that has to do with the charges???
Mr. Yeaten is NOT wanted in this court atleast in the open; maybe there’s a SEALED indictment waiting for him to appear in the Hague testifying for Mr. Taylor and arrested after he thru.
JUST A BREAK FROM THE TRIAL!
Liberia civil war in retrospect—We have challenges Tons of them….I hope you all glance through. It starts with war and show signs of peace! GOD BLESS LIBERIA FOREVER!
These you tube clippings are terrible:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_idiRoOLN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmrkTi3EHqk&feature=channel
This one a rebel claims that he killed and extracted the heart and liver to consume–grosssssss
Con-Air
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4i6As6Wew&feature=PlayList&p=F1217F8EAFA2393C&index=7
TRC—one of those interview is the neice of the notorious Late Charles Julu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC5ubo_T4Cg&feature=PlayList&p=F1217F8EAFA2393C&index=11
A ride around the City; starting 9th St going north bound (from the beach) toward Tubman Blvd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiCqezaSVVI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiHP8unSLk&feature=related
Bnkr,
So what are we supposed to get from these youtube videos? Do you know who did the documentaries that they were taken from? They are all documentaries done by major western news and television networks who are all propounding the very Western agenda.
We are not children here who can be brainwashed by the media. The media will usually spew out he rhetoric of its masters. We all know that so do not try to use this as a justification. We are much too wise for that. Thia is all a part of the propoganda machinery that has been discussed in this very trial.
Helen, Helen, Helen….if this was a test my dear, you would fail….It’s apparent you have not read my threads because I don’t mint my words, if I wanted to say something, I will say them. If you just take look at my first line and proceeding lines it reads thus,
“JUST A BREAK FROM THE TRIAL! Liberia civil war in retrospect—We have challenges Tons of them….I hope you all glance through. It starts with war and show signs of peace! GOD BLESS LIBERIA FOREVER!”
This was meant to show that we have made progress from war to peace as I mentioned….Please don’t bother me or yourself if your comments lack substance….let me rephrase that, what you might consider substance to its highest might be very immaterial to me”.
While I agree that every not only western new agency put spin on things, just as writers, economist, scientist and every profession especially lawyers spin things (in my opinion), these were in no way insinuating the negative—Anyhow, you didn’t have to comment but since you did…I hope you feel relieved? Do you? Gooooood!
So to break it down in simple english Mohammed Jalubah’s way—-we piccha dem sho ba ba ting in Liberia bot we nah tri toe poh all dah ba ba ting behine us”—SIMPLE ENOUGH? That was the purpose of the clipping? If you don’t know my friend, you are also at liberty to put some up too–ooooooOK?
Good day Ms. Helen!
bnker,
you go on break from this trial. I am not going nowhere from this trial because you said so. Besides, who are you to instruct us to take a break. Are we working for you? Are we on your plantation or farm to tell us to take a break? Did we tell you we were tired working, therefore, we needed a break? Are we watching this trial because you told us to watch it? bnker, I’m warning you. The very next time you tell me to take a break, ” I will show you who born dog.” By the way, what this break is all about? Oh! I know. To read bnker recommended website on Liberia. bnker, I’m going back to watch my trial.
Wow! You are funny! So I have to explain that I to you too….This is getting difficult trying to explain myself are we thinking different plains here, may I am the one with the low IQ, right…Please read the words that come after the first line and especially the last sentence, it is meant to show that we have made some progress from war to peace and it was a thankful stance.
The other comments whether you are working for me or what is neither here of there and too elementary and I refuse to play in the sand with you. If you don’t understand, please don’t arouse yourself…..I refer you to my reply to Helen, it applies to you too, OK.
bnker,
if you have to keep explaining yourself to everybody as the way you said you are doing, don’t you think it is about time to ask yourself where is the problem coming from? Maybe the problem is coming from you and not the audience. I will strongly encourage you to reexamine yourself.
My goodness. I think you’ve misunderstood – quite badly. Embarrassing.
Well Tracey, thanks for the hard work. I don,t know how much you are paid but you deserve a break and a good one too with family members. Enjoy.
Hay Alpha, can I suggest to please change the profile picture of Mr Charles G Taylor. We will love to see him in that ALL WHITE African atire. I know you can do a photo snap while he is seated for the so-called cross examination. Thanks
Hi Amax,
We’ll discuss this with Special Court staff and see if they can help us get a photo of Mr. Taylor in that all white African attire. Once we get it, we’ll let you know.
Alpha
Alpha,
I like to see the picture of him (CT) in handcuffs and shackles.
Ok Amax….what the… I like to see him in handcuffs; so should it be changed for me as well? I would suggest no. I think whatever picture is portrayed should be to the discretion of the host and not the audience. If they change it, I would request that they post the picture of him in shackles.
bnker,
I agree with Amax that the picture be changed to a more exuberant one. Go right ahead and ask the host to have the former President of the Republic of Liberia picture being in “shackles” shown to the world again. This will not be the first time. Bear in my now, when it comes to simple majority on this site, you are in the minority as evident of the posting on this site. If we were to vote right now, the side you are on will lose like the way you guys lost in 1997 election in Liberia, when the candidates were all left alone to at least relatively stand on their own. So bnker, you can’t scare us here. You are those you have on your side on this site, but the obvious. Fallah, Teage, Eagle eye, Vaa Ali Mansaray, John Thomson, Musa, Big Joe, and maybe one or two names i can’t remember right now.
Alpha, go right ahead and please change the current picture.
bnker,
I agree with Amax that the picture be changed to a more exuberant one. Go right ahead and ask the host to have the former President of the Republic of Liberia picture being in “shackles” shown to the world again. This will not be the first time. Bear in my now, when it comes to simple majority on this site, you are in the minority as evident of the posting on this site. If we were to vote right now, the side you are on will lose like the way you guys lost in 1997 election in Liberia, when the candidates were all left alone to at least relatively stand on their own. So bnker, you can’t scare us here. who are those you have on your side on this site, but the obvious. Fallah, Teage, Eagle eye, Vaa Ali Mansaray, John Thomson, Musa, Big Joe, Sansee, and maybe one or two names i can’t remember right now.
Alpha, go right ahead and please change the current picture.
Jose,
You like to entertain yourself, this is not the majority if you read Alpha’s response, it reads thus, “We’ll discuss this with Special Court staff and see if they can help us get a photo of Mr. Taylor in that all white African attire. Once we get it, we’ll let you know.” I don’t see where he or hints voting or the rule of majority. He said he will discuss it with the Special Court Staff you might have missed that line—go back and read over!
What are you talking about 1997 elections? and I lost to who? So you assume that I have always been an Ellen supporter? Awwwww–FALLACY! I support political platforms not individuals my political leaning is more independent… Bye Jose!
I thought Liberians, especially those that want Mr Charles Taylor to face court trial for the war in their country would have had the chance to see such taking place. Well, from the point of the on going so-called cross examination, which surpose to be about the war that took place in Sierra Leone, there is no need now for any such trial in Liberia. Ms Hollis is already doing the work. From the onset of the cross examination, all of her questions are based on the activities of Mr Taylor in Liberia but not Sierra Leone. From describing the Charles Taylor house to the structure of the former NPFL/NPRAG. What a waste of time and money. Lord, may you continue to keep this man alive in that cell so that the whole world will be able to see the end of this matter and it shouldn’t be like others who died in that prison. Ameeeeen.
bnker,
again you are missing the point. Alpha’s statement is not being challenged, contested, or disputed by any one, at least for now. However, you said you will like to see a picture of the former President of the Republic of Liberia in “shackles and handcuffs.” On the other end, I agree with Amax that the current picture be changed to a more exuberant photo.
On that note, we have two persons in person of Jose Rodriguez and Amax sharing similar sentiment against your request. So bnker, a simple majority prevails over your lonely sentiment. It is that plain and simple. 2 is more than one.
bnker, where in my post did I say, assume, or even suggest that you are a President Johnson Sirleaf supporter? however, you are the one talking about being Ellen supporeter. I never said anything like that. Notwithstanding, I said you guys lost the 1997 election. However, Ellen was not the only candidate against President Taylor’s NPP. There were other political parties apart from Taylor and Ellen.
gentleman, by their fruits, we shall know them.
Andrew,
didn’t I say bnker was not neutral in this trial from the beginning? There you have it Andrew. However, when this guy started threading from day one and falsely claiming neutrality status, I saw through him. I challenged his neutrality status that he was falsely claiming; especially when it came to Vaa Alie Mansaray statement of Taylor absent in the Manor River Basin had brought peace in the Basin.
bnker, you have being unmasked one more time by me.
Andrew, he’s your boy. There you have it, picture of the former President of Republic of Liberia in “shackles and handcuffs” says bnker
Jose,
I am against the trial of CT in Sierra Leone. I am not a supporter of Taylor not the least, yet, I think the trial in SL does not have validity and sufficient evidence to convict. I also said because of the political nature of the trial–he will go to jail. I see and talk as it is. Unlike you who don’t see anything wrong with CT. It might be a generational gap…
So my friend, my objectivity remains because I don’t agree with you on several things does put my analysis of the trial on the prosecution side. So your theory of unmasking me is bogus! Sorry to burst your bubble….Andrew will give you his assessment.
Bnker
Jose,
So what have you “claimed” to have unmasked?
bnker,
I can care less if you are against the trial of this innocent man. However, I find it very hard to believe.
bnker, how can you be against the trial of this innocent man, and yet say, you want him to be in the “slammer” (JAIL) for crimes he did not commit? How can you be against the trial and yet say, his absence has brought peace to the Manor River Basin therefore, he should remain in jail? How can you be against this trial and yet say, you want to see a photo of this innocent man being in “shackles and handcuffs” on this website? How can you be against the trial of President Taylor but yet, provide a discredited document such as the “politics of the three” falsely linking this man to Al qaida? How can you be against this trial but you advocate for the total destruction of this man by the SCSL based on lies and deceptions?
bnker, you are extraordinarily incredible.
bnker, your question has a very simple answer. if you were not paying attention to the exchange, I will tell you why and how you have been unmasked by referring to my previous post.
Just to help you bnker, you have been unmasked by me when you falsely claimed unto a neutrality status when you are not (same page) in this ongoing trial several times. However, in my previous post date November 24, 2009 @9:53 PM, I listed the unmasking. So bnker, if you didn’t read that, I will strongly encourage you to go and read it, if you deem fit.
Dear moderators and all,
I am very pleased for your kind words and I wish Tracey safe trip and at the same time I welcome the OiCs.
Having studied the discussions on this trial, I do think that this network could really do a lot and in a more organized manner. To improve the analysis of the fate of this trial, my humble suggestions are as follows:
1.The moderators should identify or point out key issues/topics on law and facts derived from the trial for the readers to discuss and later a conclusion summarizing the various comments/posts is made by the moderators on each issue/topic. This will limit the areas of comments and make the readers’ comments more focused instead of having this medium like an unguided chat room.
2.I have not yet read the terms and conditions governing readers’ contributions to this site but I would suggest that care and professionalism should be taken to prevent passionate/ sentimental, prejudicial and discriminatory comments. Focus should be on law and facts as they arise from this trial.
These are my suggestions but of course, they are not binding.
Hi Geoffrey Osman,
Thanks so much for these brilliant suggestions. We’ll definitely loook into them and see how they can be applied to the work we do. Good ideas that add value to this site are always very welcome. Thanks a lot,
Alpha
Good people,
One of the key issues raised by the prosecution in this trial is that the accused (Taylor) traded weapons for diamonds with RUF and that this was also confirmed in the UN Report 2000. The prosecution also alleged that the accused had effective control over RUF and that the leaders of RUF including Bockarie were his subordinates and they took orders from him.
In my analysis, I find difficulty in reconciling the situation; how could this arrangement for trade occur if the accused had control over RUF occupying the mining areas? If Taylor had effective control over RUF, don’t you think that his forces or such ‘subordinates’ could simply do the mining and hand over the diamonds to their boss (Taylor) without any condition like exchanging the diamonds for arms whereby presumably without arms he wouldn’t get the diamonds? Additionally, if as alleged, Taylor could give orders that would be obeyed by RUF leaders, couldn’t it have been possible for him to order the mining of the diamonds for himself? My understanding of trade is “buying and selling”, it is a business; now, can you do business with your superior/commander who has effective control over you especially at the time of insecurity where there is limited, if not, no law and order ?
It’s a good point and, by no means, am I stating that I am correct in this reply – or indeed that you are correct in your assertion. I can reconcile the situation because I believe that those carrying out the mining were Sierra Leoneans and Liberians forced to do it and were therefore mining by proxy. Your point about the impossibility of trading with your boss is a good one. However, again the word proxy comes up. I am of the opinion that there was quite a chain from the diamond fields to taylor and all these people needed paying off, so the idea of trading is one which would get the diamonds through the various ‘control gateways’ to Monrovia.
Also, let us remember that the diamond fields changed hands in the ebb and flow of conflict, and thus diamonds were in the hands of several people – obedient to different masters. How to get hold of diamonds in such cases? By trading.
I Fought in Sierra Leone,
show us the link. Link Taylor to this chain of command. Where are you coming from with proxy? This case is getting harder on you guys every day.
Come on. Read the post again. I quote ‘…by no means, am I stating that I am correct in this reply.’
It’s not that hard to understand. I clearly stated that it was a belief of mine.
Please, if you have trouble with the English language, ask for an explanation. People will be more than happy to help you.
So, by the reply of “I fought in Sierra Leone”, we conclude that it is a belief that Taylor was in the chain of the trade for diamonds.
Good people, let’s us focus on law and facts arising out of this case. In law, at least in my jurisdict, an accused should be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If Taylor is found guilty, evidences should be adduced and ofcourse some of us who are human rights activists, will be happy to see him in jail but where there are no concrete evidences, my conscience holds me back.
I Fought in Sierra Leone,
do you think you can just come here and throw little jabs here and there, and securely hide behind yourself made “sector of fire or defensive posture”? Bro, ain’t going to happen. Your statement will be challenged and matched. However, by you saying that your statement is not correct or your statement is your belief, does not inoculate you from responses.
If you knew your statement was not correct as you said, than it would have behooved of you, to not intentionally feed the consuming puplic with incorrect statements. However, you will not get away with your incorrect statement. Some of us stand prepared and ready to challenge your incorrect statement or belief, especially when it is misleading the public in believing that president Taylor is responsible for Sierra Leoneans killing each other
Geoffrey Omon, I agree with your statement quite categorically. Well put, and an argument I can only counter by reiterating that i stated my belief. I respect your belief also. And of course, EVERY man has the right to be presumed innocent until guilt can be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Jose Rodriguez, Rather childish and I can’t be bothered to respond.
One thing worthwhile to present to you-Taylor followers is that the absence of this insane killer has seen much developmental changes being effected in the Mano River union basin.In addition to a successful disarmament programme in Liberia,Ivory Coast is not any longer ensing any war simply because the source of support to the warfare has been curtailed.And,that source-Charles Ghankay Taylor,a man whose name sounds synonymous with mayhem,is being contained.
If you want to know Ghankay was behind the war in the Ivory Coast,just get to the VOA-1 Camp in Brewerville and conduct some form of random sampling.People would tell you that elsewhere in late 2001,Taylor’s defense minister,Daniel Chea and the late Sam Bockarie(Master,as he was called) had often visited this camp with bags of rice and money to lure displaced and refugee youths into fighting in both the Ivory Coast and Guinea.It’s no hidden affair that Charles Taylor is a non-patriotic citizen of Liberia.
Well-meaning Liberians-especially those in authority at the moment should prepare themselves to apologize to their neighbours,Sierra Leone,Guinea and the Ivory Coast for the schism caused between Liberia and these neighbours,apparently by Taylor and cohorts.Such must be seen as a good step in immitation of what Angella Markel of Germany did recently at the anniversary of World War II where she apologized to the people of Poland and Europe as a whole for the senseless warfare which was started by a German-Adolph Hitler.
Alie,
You Sierra Leoneans have always taken Liberians for granted only because we open our doors to you in the past. Few questions, did the Sierra Leoneans apologize to us when Quiwonkpa use your country to destabilze Liberia? Are you aware that it led to the killings of innocence Liberians – mainly the Gios and Manos who later supported Taylor? FYI, Liberians are not stupid, we just believe that we are all connected one way or the other in the region. But that is going to change after Taylor’s trial, no matter the outcome. I think it is about time that us Liberians advocate for the persecution of Sierra Leonean leaders for their support of actions that led to the attrocities in Liberia in the past. And I believe that it shouldn’t stop there, it is about time that we get our land that was annexed to Sierra Leone by the British.
Thank you brother,
Infact just to add on to what you have said, the coner stone still carry the name Liberia written on it and they the sierra Leonean was showing it to Liberians who went to Sierra Leone during the war in Liberia!
Apologize to Sierra Leone for what? ULIMO J n K came and murder innocent Liberian, tell Guinea sorry for sending demonic LURD to massacre innocent Liberian?
Look vaa masarray, first of all Guinea have never or is not at war, you are one of the kind that goes about with lies, but I’m not surprise when you are paid to lie against Mr Taylor. Please explain about fighting now in Guinea since the recruitment as you stated. You also forgot Sierra Leone should also apologize to Liberia for the November 12 invasion and the forming of ULIMO K, and J for murdering our peaceful Liberian and the same from Guinea for the supporting the demonic LURD rebels for killing innocent Liberians. As the saying goes when your neighbour house is on fire you do not bring gasoline.
You people hate Mr Taylor so much that you are blind and can’t see the wrong that even your own sierra Leonean did to one another but blame Mr Taylor for your own doing, vaa masaray let me tell you one thing Mr Taylor admitted that he wrong Liberians for what his soldiers did during the civil war and asked for forgivingness and we Liberians have forgiving him, but you vaa masaray needs to leave the VOA camp 1 and return to sierra Leone put the shame aside and beg for forgivingness and stop writing nonsense about the Former President Charles G. Taylor.
Man,Johnson,don’t tell me you’re not making empty noice.
You for sure that any man bearing the name- Johnson in Liberia is a naughty person.You,Varney Johnson are number,Rosevelt Johnson is number two,Prince Johnson is number three and Sando Johnson is number four.
I can’t be called”Johnson”.
Vaa Ali Mansaray,
your post has no correlation in respond to Varney Johnson. What’s up with this Johnson thing. By you naming johnson #1, 2,3,4, and leaving out the rebel grand mom Johnson Sirleaf is insane.
I Fought in Sierra Leone,
do you think you can just come here and throw a little jab here and there, and securely hide behind yourself “sector of fire or defensive posture”? Bro, ain’t going to happen. Your statement will be challenged and matched. However, by you saying that your statement is not correct or your statement is your belief, does not inoculate you from responses.
If you knew your statement was not correct as you said, than it would have behooved of you, to not intentionally feed the consuming puplic with incorrect statements. However, you will not get away with your incorrect statement. Some of us stand prepared and ready to challenge your incorrect statement or belief, especially when it is misleading the public in believing that president Taylor is responsible for Sierra Leoneans killing each other..
I fought in Sierra Leone,
face me directly and don’t hide behind my choice of wanting and not wanting to respond to Omon’s post. I’m under no obligation to respond to any post, if I don’t want to. I only respond when I deem it fit and not you, I Fought in Sierra Leone will decide for me.
Am I clear, I fought in Sierra Leone?
One thing worthwhile to present to you-Taylor followers is that the absence of this insane killer has seen much developmental changes being effected in the Mano River union basin.In addition to a successful disarmament programme in Liberia,Ivory Coast is not any longer sensing any war simply because the source of support to the warfare in that country has been curtailed.And,that source-Charles Ghankay Taylor,a man whose name sounds synonymous with mayhem.
If you want to know Ghankay was behind the war in the Ivory Coast,just get to the VOA-1 Camp in Brewerville and conduct some form of random sampling.People would tell you that elsewhere in late 2001,Taylor’s defense minister,Daniel Chea and the late Sam Bockarie(Master,as he was called) had often visited this camp with bags of rice and money to lure displaced and refugee youths into fighting in both the Ivory Coast and Guinea.It’s no hidden affair that Charles Taylor is a non-patriotic citizen of Liberia.
Well-meaning Liberians-especially those in authority at the moment should prepare themselves to apologize to their neighbours,Sierra Leone,Guinea and the Ivory Coast for the schism caused between Liberia and these neighbours,apparently by Taylor and cohorts.Such must be seen as a good step in immitation of what Angella Markel of Germany did recently at the anniversary of World War II where she apologized to the people of Poland and Europe as a whole for the senseless warfare which was started by a German-Adolph Hitler.
Dear Alie,
Thanks for your comments. I consider seeking for forgiveness is a core aspect of transitional justice as it falls within the ambit of truth-seeking that is usually followed by reconciliation. However, for that to happen, there must first be truth told and the wrongs is acknowledged by the perpetrator. In the instant case, Taylor denies responsibility and in many jurisdiction and international criminal spheres, such an alleged perpetrator should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. This impairs my support for your call for Taylor to make the apology.
Geo and Vaa,
I like your posts. I think Liberians whether it was Taylor influenced or not have scared its neighbors. I personally think that CT was responsible for most of the carnage in SL, Ivory Coast and Guinea since all three countries have a common border with Liberia. Whether purposefully done or not, Liberia influenced the internal politics of these nations. Meaning, Liberians were involved with factions that were battling within those borders (referring to mercenaries, refugee fighters, as well as factional contributing elements—all warring groups).While rationale dictates my opinions; they are not facts and therefore have no basis in court proceedings. The other side of the argument could be that, other nations used Liberia’s porous borders to inflict causality on Liberia’s neighbors to implicate Taylor. I won’t subscribe to this reasoning, but it can be fought tooth and nail in arguing. I have my personal opinions about the rule and crimes committed by CT and all factions in Liberia. I continue to support efforts leading to legal proceedings for all not only CT, but factional heads. I am not a supporter of the current court proceedings in the Hague. Yet, I find it intriguing and I am impressed with the legal horizon of the defense, while I am disappointed over the showing of the prosecution. The shortfalls of the prosecution have been a trend throughout this trail. Again, I am not condoning atrocities committed in SL. I am convinced that those crimes need to be punished to the letter of international law. I think it’s the burden of the prosecution to provide impeachable evidence (since their witnesses where almost all disqualified and were inconsistent with the exception of the professional ones). I no longer see the trial as the people of SL vs. Charles McArthur “Ghankay” Taylor, but as a battle of legal minds wrestling to convince the world of CT guilt or innocence. Frankly, I want to see a good debate in court, one that will challenge all witnesses, Taylor included. Thus far, he seems to be the most consistent, articulate and brilliantly challenging the prosecution. Questions rephrased and twisted to lure him have been to a large extent detected by him. I know I sound like a fan, honestly, I am not. I have been called all, but “enemy of the state”….but the debate is emotionally charged so I don’t take them personally and I sure most don’t either.
I agree that Liberia’s stability and the sub region’s depends on foster harmonious relationships with our neighbors. Imagine, “Since 1999, 31 of Africa’s 159 conflicts were concentrated within five West African States; Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Nigeria” (Research still being worked on, 2009). Our regional stability depends on working together. Though apologies are an acknowledgement of guilt and nations don’t usually admit wrong doing, its best that leaders pledge new commitment to the sub region at large and our neighbors in particular.
Let’s keep the conversation coming! GOD BLESS LIBERIA!
bnker,
again you are struggling with this neutrality business. Just take your own time to reread your own post which you eloquently crafted, and pretend to be either for or against, President Taylor. Pretty tell me, how you wouldn’t question some of your own comments. just as a reminder, you said in one of your above lines where I think you graciously conceded of sounding like a fan of President Taylor, but you are not.
Bnker, quite frankly, this is to just tell you some of the difficulties we are faced with identifying you as being a neutral person. For vast majority of us who contribute to this site see President Taylor as been innocent. Therefore, anything that reflects biases and prejudices againt President Taylor will not go unchallenged and unnoticed; and it does not matter where and who it is coming from.
Now bnker, for some of us who have a very highly sophisticated intelligence and analytical skills which continue to stimulate our thought process with punctuality and a strong sense of achieving our desired impact through facts and evidence presented, will exploit any comments that suggest anything from the facts and the trial and especially, when such comment is against President Taylor. That is why however, some of us go after your comments that suggest such. Nevertheless, I hope you see where some of us are coming from.
Bnker, believe me, I DON’T KNOW TAYLOR. I DON’T KNOW ANY OF THESE GUYS INCLUDING PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIRLEAF. I was in the 11th grade 1990 at Monrovia College when the war came to Monrovia. I graduated from high school june 15, 1993 from Monrovia College. bnker, I did not hold gun in Liberia. Neither did I fight for any factions. However, this is my very first time telling the world that I’m a very highly trained military personnel. The very first time I ever held weapon was when I joined the US Military.
Notwithstanding, I personally felt and still feel that President Taylor was not treated fairly and that is one of my main reason of supporting him
Lastly bnker, this is totally of the records. Do not believe that people who see President Taylor differently from Fallah, Teage, John Thomson, and etc, are not educated. Don’t listen to comments from others saying we are cannibals, unpatriotic, killers, beneficiary of loots, lacking common sense, liers, rebel, etc. Bnker, believe me. some of us are more educated, articulate, and intelligent than some of those people you keep calling us names.
For me, I will accept what ever name they give me, because I know that I’m winning. Bnker, in no way that i’m saying you believe in those names calling.
No wonder while african man will continue to be a dragging bag for the west. with all the education some of us have, we just don´t acknowledge the fact that the white always think or do things in their interest. So those of you who consider yourself to still be slave we are not…….. Charles taylor is not….Because Sadam or Ben laden are terrorist does it means the innocent should suffer for it. Will Bush or blair account for their crimes against humanity
Vaa Alie,
Since you claim to have evidence why didn’t you provide it to the prosecution? It sound very very erroneous and trumped up with an intention to mislead.
As to there being peace in the Mano River Union because Taylor is behind bars again is a total fallacy. What about the recent destabilization that occurred in Guinea? Oh, I forgot, Perhap you will be saying next that Taylor conducted it from the Prison in the Hague right. Let’s get real here. You people give way too much blam to this one man. So answer this Who was responsible for the massacre in Guinea? Taylor is nowhere in the region now so who is the next scapegoat?
You people always look at scapegoats to blame rather than facing the realites of problems in the region. Your logic does not fit.
Hello Helen,
First of all,I know you are not Helen.You have your name elsewhere and you have diabolically decided to use such a good name to disguise your identity.That itself is criminal.But,any way,such clearly manifests your connection with Taylor.
Regarding my claims that Daniel Chea and Mosquito used to visit VOA-1 in 2001,that has already been presented to the court and the court authorities are now working out modalities to further probe siad allegations by launching a random sampling in that camp.
Coming to the prevailing situation Guinea,please,let me educate you that what is unfolding in Guinea cannot be compared to a civil war like one fought in Liberia betweeb December 1989 and August 2003 or that fought in Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2002.The affair in Guinea emerged out of an attempted political protest.Similar thing must have occured in Liberia had politicians there ventured out to protest against oppression at the scornful hands of Taylor and cohorts.
PERIOD
Vaa Alie Mansaray,
I don’t believe you adress Helen the way you did. Trust me that was being childish and irresponsible. Are you wsaying that everyone who associated or knows Taylor is a criminal?? Are you also alleging that readers who did not give their real names on this site are criminals??? Look my friend , peolple of sierraleone decided to amputate eachother and no one is responsible. So do not vent your anger at anyone here….
Vaa Alie Mansaray,
you can call him what ever name you want to call him. SHOW US THE PROOF. How hard is it? Where is the 5 billion dollars? Show us the gun manufacturing company in Liberia that was making these weapons and Taylor was supplying it to RUF. Show us the ordinance serial number. Show us the ordnance item. show the world the rack number on the weapons. Also, show us the pact or agreement between President Taylor and RUF. Provide documents to cancel out President Taylor’s documents he presented in court. Vaa, it is so easy to say anything bad or engage in defamation of character. So what you are doing is no help to your cause. However, you are only making noise. You are just another noise maker.
Concerning your Everlasting statement of relative peace in the Manor River Basin, I will always remind you of this. There are two fundamental reasons why the peace you say is supposedly there. 1: the TROUBLE MAKERS ARE NOW IN POWER AND THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. 2: THE PRESENCE OF THE 15,000.00 UN TROOPS IN LIBERIA. MAKE NO MISTAKES ABOUT IT. THE LAST TIME I ASKED YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF THE UN TROOPS FROM LIBERIA, IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE: YOU ARE YET TO DO THAT. However, J Fallah Menjor who shares similar views with you about this trial said, no, or words to that effect. He even accused others wanting the UN to leave because the little gains that have being accomplished will be destroyed by the unknown.
Nice try though.
Tracey/Alpha, please check to see what is happening to this post. Did I say anything wrong?
Jose,
I am sure i have approved all your postings so far, without noticing any violation of our policies. Is there a specific post that you think i have not approved. Please draw my attention to it. It might just be an oversight.
Alpha
Vaa Alie Mansaray,
you can call him what ever name you want to call him. SHOW US THE PROOF. How hard is it? Where is the 5 billion dollars? Show us the gun manufacturing company in Liberia that was making these weapons and Taylor was supplying it to RUF. Show us the ordinance serial number. Show us the ordnance item. show the world the rack number on the weapons. Also, show us the pact or agreement between President Taylor and RUF. Provide documents to cancel out President Taylor’s documents he presented in court. Vaa, it is so easy to say anything bad or engage in defamation of character. So what you are doing is no help to your cause. However, you are only making noise.
Concerning your Everlasting statement of relative peace in the Manor River Basin, I will always remind you of this. There are two fundamental reasons why the peace you say is supposedly there. 1: the TROUBLE MAKERS ARE NOW IN POWER AND THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. 2: THE PRESENCE OF THE 15,000.00 UN TROOPS IN LIBERIA. MAKE NO MISTAKES ABOUT IT. THE LAST TIME I ASKED YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF THE UN TROOPS FROM LIBERIA, IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE: YOU ARE YET TO DO THAT. However, J Fallah Menjor who shares similar views with you about this trial said, no, or words to that effect. He even accused others wanting the UN to leave because the little gains that have being accomplished will be destroyed by the unknown.
Nice try though
Look here,Rodrigrues,
All the proofs I have against Taylor have been presented to the court by his own insiders,namely,Moses Blah,Zigzag Massah,Vamunyah Sherriff and a host of others both in Liberia and in Sierra Leone.What these guys have said merged with other testimonies,are certain to get Taylor incriminated.Like it or not,it’s gonna happen
Did you ever imagine Taylor being arrested and hand-cuffed like a round-town officer(RTO) and placed in costudy?Well,you have seen it happen according to plan.
Well, Vaa Alie,
if that is your hard code evidence that was presented by Moses Blah and others, than you have no evidence. Moses Blah did not link or incriminate President Taylor to Sierra Leone. I challenge you to quote or post the statement of Moses Blah saying president Taylor is responsible for Sierra Leone mess, since he was inaugurated as president or words to that effect. Vaa, Moses Blah even help Taylor more than the prosecution. Stop lying. Did Moses Blah also show you where the 5 billion dollars was kept?
Vaa, when it comes to Zigzag Marsah, he’s mentally challenged. As for Vamuya Sherif, you WISH he was an insider. This is a man who personally fought against and attempted to assasinate this man. what do expect from Ulimo K General?
Concerning my imagination of Taylor being handcuffed, I will tell you this. You will be just as unhappy as the way you came after this whole thing is over with. However, You WISH President Taylor demise was done by Liberians or the other rebel groups you supported. However, his demise came from the two most powerful countries to ever exist on the face of the earth, US and GB. Where I’m sitting right now, these two countries can do anything to me and nothing can stop it. As the matter of fact, they can arrest President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia right now, if they want to do that. Notwithstanding, it is taking the entire world to bring this man to his knees and yet they are still struggling.
Vaa, you are sored. You are hurting so bad. Do something to stop the hurt.
Go Ghankay all the way.
I was living in greater Liberia in 1992 when the so- called peace keepers at that time bombed cilvilian targets. I am a living witness of the devilish act the so-called peace keepers carried on in NPFL controlled areas. My home town, LAMCO Camp in Yila Bong County where I was at that time was bombed by these satans. leaving military targets killing innocent people. Phebe Hospital again was bombed by these satans. Zowienta, in Bong, people were in koo when those very people bombed them.
Now my question to ms. hollis and those of you Liberians
that are supporting the icc to have CT quity is : Why did goerge bush carry war in Iraq?
Charles Taylor having Liberians at heart couldn’t sit and see the very Liberians he came to Liberate being killed in the hands of foreigners calling themselves peace keppers.
I mean, those of us that were in NPFL controlled areas meanly Bong saw what those devils did.
I don’t know why should people sit and make empty noise.CT suffered and he is still suffering from the hands of the white people.The very white peolpe you Liberians are backing on the CT trial will be the very people you will cry from,remember today what I am telling you.
V- man,
Because of the bombing that Ecomog was carrying in greater Liberia on civilians target cause my uncle John conto to name his daughter WESEE! Which mean we they see how ECOMOG was after civilains and killing them. As the result, people used to be scare to go on their farms because ECOMOG was bombing people on thier farms as they were cutting their rice!
Hey Tracey,
Have a lovely very long trip, sorry for the reminder but we’ll miss you indeed. You’ve been very active and responsive MB ( MASTER BLOGGER) WITH US ALL
Hi Tracey,
Go go go lady, you need a brake. Work without a brake breeds errors…………..ha ha ha. Just a hint.
We are missing you already.
Safe return.
thanks
Alpha,
is there any way President Taylor can respectfully decline to answer question about Liberia? Such questions include but not limited to: HER SO-CALLED “BELL DISTRICT” IN LIBERIA, CARTER CAMP MASSACRE, DUPORT ROAD MASSACRE, THE DEATH OF THE FIVE CATHOLIC NUNS, ECT. The five Catholic nuns however, were not savagely murdered in Sierra Leone. All of the massacres she asked President Taylor about has nothing to do with Sierra Leone. However, these people who refused to bring War Crimes Court in Liberia, are trying him subliminally about Liberia in disguise of the SCSL. Why these people are so dishonest? This no fun game. Let them stop playing games with the lives of our people.
Alpha, what is wrong with this post? Am I in any violation of the rules?
Jose,
Ths is a very good question. First, the general rule is that a witness is obliged to answer questions put to him/her by counsel, either in direct or cross-examination as long as it is relevant to the matter before the court. In the present case, if Mr. Taylor’s defense counsel thinks that certain questions are not relevant, he can raise an objection and the judges will make a rulling as to whether the question is relevant and needs to be answered or not. If Mr. Taylor, all by himself refuses to answer a question asked by Ms. Hollis, the judges will step in to oblige him to answer as long as they think the question is relevant. If judges think otherwise, then Mr. Taylor will not answer. We all note that several questions have been asked about Mr. Taylor’s alleged activities in Liberia, first as leader of the NPFL,and second as president of Liberia. The judges will allow some of these questions because Mr. Taylor himself spoke extensively in his direct-examination about how the NPFL operated and how he served as president. So as long as they were matters raised in direct-examination, they could be subject to clarifications in cross-examination. Also, in a brief discussion i had with a prosecution staff, i raised the same concerns that you now raise and his response was that while the issues that obtained in Liberia are not the subject of the trial, they find it necessary to ask Mr. Taylor about them to show the judges that Mr. Taylor is a man whose testimonies cannot be relied on. So it is more about impeachment of his credibility as a witness testifying in his own defense. Will this strategy work? That will be left with the judges to determine.
I hope i have responded to your question well. If not, let me know what else you seek to clarify.
Alpha
Alpha, I understand.
Noko5,
Can you please tell this intellectual forum which country is Libria?
“Ms. Teage
Could you , Fallah menjor, John Thompson and mother Brenda Hollis kindly, kindly tell us in this intellectual forum, which part of Libria we can possibly, probably or in anyway find BELL DISTRICT on the map of liberia????????
Here you are not even able to spell the name of your own country well but you want to take serious issue with a foreigner for either mispronouncing or misspelling an unknown district in Liberia. This just go to show that none of us have perfection so we have no right to demand it of others.
For your information, I am from Belle District, Gbarpolu County and I saw first hand the heinous crimes committed by your boys especially the Small Boys Unit.
Whats all the fuss about liberian citizenship. I am sure Ms Hollis is aware that any negro can be granted citizenship and the president have the right to do so under certain circumstances. What we all want to know is what circumstances was Boakarie and his men awarded citizenship.
They could have been given asylum, which is the usual option. This was the case for Taylor himself, when he was ousted and sent to exile in Nigeria. So Taylor’s arguement that other can do the same isn’t what the prosecution wants. Of course all countries have their own laws. The issue of Boakarie was already headlines long before this decision was made.
Secondly, Taylor should not have employed a man who has been accuse of terrible crimes in his own country and effectively a fugitive. Liberia has the right to offer him asylum and probably eventually citizenship but to do that in such a short space of time and then enlist him our military services, smell fishy and I am sure Ms Hollis will wants answers better than I was the president and so I can do what I want.
The cross examination will become very interesting next week and boy, I will be watching.
Eagle eye,
Back in those days prior to 911, when you were serving in the US military as a foreigner or perminant residence, it took about two to three years before you could even apply for US citizenship. However, in 2002, President Bush signed an executive order to expedite the process making it possible to apply for citizenship at least if you have served for six months. However, why you guys don’t read before making erroneous statement? Why you guys are faulting this innocent man for granting citizenship to Bockarie? Do you know how many prior military from Iraq, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Bosonia, Germany, Cuba, Mexico, and etc are serving in the world’s most powerful military that ever exists, the USA, on the face of the earth? There is no case against this innocent man. Free President Taylor.
borris nickson,
Probably you didn’t see first hand the havoc and terrorism inflicted on us by Taylor and all warlords otherwise you wouldn’t be seeing this trial as a black vs. white affair. Boy, pregnant women stomachs were opened by Taylor’s rebels to verify the bet as to the sex of the child. Men, women and children were slaughter simply because of their tribes.
Big joe , were you the only person who experienced the carnage in Liberia? The facts of what occured in Liberia regarding killings and abused of innocent civillians in not in dispute here. Mr. Taylor himself have accepted that some elements within the NPFL did some bad things but that cannot be alluded to him.
Take for example all of the daily police abused in America, mainly against Blacks. Should the president of America be held accountable for those abuses? You may argued that there is a court system that addresses those matters but I can say that, first of all , the very court system is RACIST against BLACKS. And, most often than not, BLACKS do not always take these cases to court because they know that they will lose. Have you heard about the term DWB (driving while black)?
Most BLACKS , and I have been a victim of this several times, are simply pull over by white police officers for no reason, especially if you were driving certain type of car in certian neighborhood. The police would pull you over because it is suspicious for a BLACK man to be living a somewhat good life. I don’t know what is meant by that but these things affect a lot of people. Maybe, it could have been a rental car you was using for that day but the RACIST police cares less. Once BLACK you are a suspect. Should the United States president be held for these things? I doubt so.
So stop talking about the Liberian war and its brutulity as if to suggest that those of us who are advocating for a fair trial for Mr. Taylor were not also victims. This mentality to discount the hurt and victimization of those described as “Taylor supporters” is one of the main reasons that this case is being prosecution. There is a false sense that Taylor hurt and abused everybody in Liberia and that he was not equally fighting on behalf of others who were abused and victimized.
We were also victimized and needed someone to fight for us, and Mr. Taylor took that risk. Thank God for Charles Taylor, otherwise most Liberians who have been dead today from the Doe regime, and subsequently from ECOMOG inhumane BOMOBING RAIDS, and from ULIMOS , LPC, LURD, INPFL, CRC-NPFL, MODEL, BLACK BERETS, and other military forces. Imagine how many military groups fought against just one man and they could not succeed. This tells you that the MAJORITY of the people was on his side because he could not have withstand all those military forces if the people were not on his side.
The prove is very clear in the 1997 elections, in which Taylor won by more than 70% of the VOTES. He won among all tribal groups to show that he had a broad appeal because the people compare the time the NPFL was in their territory and saw the difference from those other rebels who used the people as slaves, sex slaves, and human machines. There you have it.
Big Joe,
is this trial about Liberia? Didn’t President Johnson Sirleaf say Liberia has “no charge” on this man? However Big Joe, you guys want to prosecute this innocent man the back door way in disguise of Sierra Leone. You guys have no case on this man in Sierra Leone. It is that plain and simple.
Big Joe,
You must be out of your mind to say that Taylor inflicted havoc on you. Everything that happened in Liberia was a casualty in waiting. It was timed bomb waiting to explode. That is why it started with the rice riot of april 14 and culminated in the civil war. some of those events included the discrimination between so-called congo people and native people, the exclusion so to speak of the native people from the economic, political and social fabric of the country, the high rate of illiteracy, the one party system in principle, the rampant corruption, and the list goes on. so it was not Mr. Taylor.
If we are able to put a school in every community and educate our people we will be able to defray some of these attempts to demoralise and aculturate us.
There is a deeper need for change. But what have we seen, the same old wine in new bottle. corruption and so-called elite establishing authority over the larger ignorant and illiterate population. No real change is taking place. change that we can believe in. Let Ellen follow barack’s example in america. he is tackling the flaws of an age old system. it is difficult but he attempting.
Another hearsay, you heard this from people but never saw it, from Mr Taylor eating human flesh in the poro society and buried a pregnant woman in his back yard now debating the sex of a child in the mother’s womb. no wonder your asylum case was fast track……
hahahaha…
Noko4 ,
It is very simple. You can simply post the immigration and Naturalization laws of Liberia since you believe that what I posted is false. You see, you guys have been creating the false impression that all Liberians are fools and heartless but I am now here to counteract all your false representation of Liberia. Be informed that I experience first hand most of the major events in our very uncivilized civil war so I am well position to counteract all your lies.
Big Joe
you can say all you want to say about Liberia immigration. However, this case is not about Liberia. Notwithstanding, the President of the Repulic of Liberia has every constitutional right to grant foreigner citizenship right as long it falls with in the confines our laws.
So, where is the lie from Noko4? President Taylor did it. What is the qualm? The National legislature has no problem. If you had a problem, you should have gone to your representative to bring it on the flooor for discussion; but you didn’t do that.
There is no case on President Charles Ghankay Taylor about Sierra Leone.
Big Joe,
I have already told you that it is none of Ms. Hollis business to evalute the prudence of Mr. Taylor’s administration. It is the duty of the Liberian people. so whether Mr. Taylor followed the letter of the citizenship procedure, it is none of Hollis business. she is just wasting time.
Jose, there are no errors in my statement regarding the citizen issue. Lets look at what you are saying, you said a foreigner or permanent resident who served six months could be granted citizenship. Well, my problem is not with foreigner been granted citizenship, my problem is granting citizenship to someone who has already been accused of terrible crimes in his country and for whom liberia was already under pressure.
I am sure US was desprate to recruit but I am sure they would not have recruited Prince Y Johnson, Charles Julu etc when they left Liberia. Even Nigeria could not recruit them, so don’t give me this presidential stuff. What was wrong with asylum?. What was wrong with moving Sam onto Nigeria or Ghana, far away from the theatre in Sierra Leone?. I am not Taylor’s enemy, Taylor was/is his own enemy.
I know this trial is not about liberia but the issue of RUF/Taylor brought lots of suffering to the liberian nation through isolation etc. During this period, Taylor who called himself a democratically elected president did not have the decency to consult and listening to the liberian public. There were no inquiry of our own as nation. It has been an open secrect not to mentioned the issue. Yes, Taylor was president and so was bush but Iam sure if Bush(i don’t beleive he gets involve in recruitment) knownly enlisted murdrers in the US army, he would have been impreached and possibly prosecuted.
Eagle eye,
probably you may not know the power of the presidency. The president has so much power given to him by the constitution. However, he president can make anybody citizen at any time once it falls within the confines of the laws. Thepresident can also pardon any criminal once it also fallswithin the confines of the laws. For an example: President William Jefferson Clinton (Bill Clinton) pardoned a notorous criminal and fugitive by the name of Mark Reich. Mark Reich fled the US for about 20 years and was living in France. However, he was pardoned. That is just to show you some of the power of the presidency. However, conservatives were mad, but couldn’t do anything about it.
Besides, who is Ms. Hollis to ask the former president of Liberia about the way he conducted the state of affairs? Is he on trial for Liberia? UNBELIEVABLE. GOOD LORD, ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAY SHOULD WE TURN? Bear in mind now, Liberia is a sovereign nation and is entitled to live by their constitution, and under the constitution, President Taylor had that right. Please Eagle eye, don’t bring your slave mentality to Liberia. If you want to be a slave contually, you can be all you want. But please don’t enslave our country by saying what you said.
Eagle eye, do you believe President Taylor won the 1997 election with over 70-75% of the total votes cast? By the way, who said you had error in your post?
Eagle,
Nice points. I will keep up with more of your threads from now on! I like to understand both sides of the argument….
thanks
bnker
bnker, good alliance with Eagle eye.
Eagle eye,
you didn’t know if president bush was involved in rectruitment. That’s fine. Do you know if President Taylor was involved in recruitment also?
We Liberians are good at quoting laws but dont pratices what the lwas require of us.
Fallah,
I have not seen your post this weekend. What is going buddy. Anyways, how’s that sugan juice treated you? “Zuba.” I hope that cane juice is working good for you.
Fallah, one more thing before I leave. “blea caly my road on the road i na zoaking ho.”
Janice Dennis,
Your statements ” We were also victimized and needed someone to fight for us, and Mr. Taylor took that risk” are sufficient to show the kind of person you are. So, by your logic, Taylor was justified in raining havoc on the rest of Liberians especially innocent women and children to revenge your grievances.
You are not only putting the chart before the horse by your claim ” Thank God for Charles Taylor, otherwise most Liberians who have been dead today from the Doe regime, and subsequently from ECOMOG inhumane BOMOBING RAIDS, and from ULIMOS , LPC, LURD, INPFL, CRC-NPFL, MODEL, BLACK BERETS, and other military forces” but you are outright lying. ECOMOG, ULIMOS, LPC, INPFL, CRC_NPFL, MODEL, BLACK BERETS and all other military forces save the AFL are all by-products of Taylor’s criminal activities. Taylor’s war led to the lost of more than 250,000 lives (10% of our entire population). So, what do you mean that more Liberians who have died?
My sister, this is far from the truth. Taylor’s war has never been about democracy, rule of laws or justice. It was simply a greed for power and wealth. Taylor took advantage of the Gios and Mano legitimate cause of ending Samuel Doe’s atrocities against them and used it for the acquisition of Power and wealth. Taylor capitalized on the illiteracy of these nice and great people to eliminate all their educated and influential people (i.e, Jackson F. Doe, Sam Dokie, Moses Duopo, etc). If Taylor’s war was about rescuing the Nimbians then why is that every prominent Nimbian that crossed over to Taylor’s controlled area ended dying in some mysterious faction? Listening to Former President Moses Blah’s testimony at the Hague and at the TRC, you will feel very sorry for these people. Taylor was so greedy, power and blood thirsty that he saw every well educated and influential Nimbians as a threat.
You, Taylorists, are full of contradictions. You used Taylor’s activities in Liberia to reinforce your arguments that he is an innocent man when they suit you but criticized others when they used Taylor’s criminal activities in Liberia and elsewhere to show that Taylor is pathological liar, a common criminal and a murder.
A case in point is your argument ” he prove is very clear in the 1997 elections, in which Taylor won by more than 70% of the VOTES. He won among all tribal groups to show that he had a broad appeal because the people compare the time the NPFL was in their territory and saw the difference from those other rebels who used the people as slaves, sex slaves, and human machines. There you have it.”
Ok, let go by your argument. Prince Y. Johnson won the highest vote of all Senatorial candidates in Liberia’s latest election (2005) yet we have heard repeatedly from Taylor and his supporter that Prince Y. Johnson was a traitor to the revolution. Taylor and his supporters have repeatedly told us that ECOMOG was not neutral and professional. ECOMOG was selling arms to the different factions yet it the ECOMOG organized election you are now using as justification for Taylor’s popularity in Liberia. If Taylor was as popular as you want us to believe then the Liberian people should be demonstrating days and night all over Liberia for his release.
I was an active participant in the election of 1997 and know fully well what happened. The unleveled playing field, disorganization of the political class, fear of the resumption of war if Taylor doesn’t win, ECOMOG’s weariness of remaining in Liberia and the vast illiteracy among our people all play to Taylor’s advantage. In short, except for Taylor few criminal cohorts, nobody love Taylor. Taylor is fear not love. So, please don’t confusing fear with love.
I will address each of these points in subsequent posts but let me end this point with my own experience on the first day of 2007 electoral campaigning.
I went to sanniquellie, Nimba County to campaign against electing the criminal Taylor as President of Liberia. There were very few ECOMOG soldiers at the entry and exit of this provincial capital and absolutely no ECOMOG in the entire city. When we got there, we were shocked at why the people of this city were avoiding us. We were extremely surprised to learn that the night before our arrival, Paul Vaye and Isaac Musa, two notorious commanders of Taylor’s killing machine, went around the town warning the locals that none of them should dare associate with us, associating with us were equivalent to violating the PAPAY order.
It is an open secret that Taylor kept his command structure fully intact in all his control areas and they were effectively used to intimated people into voting for him.
How can you win over 70% of the entire vote and be greatly “love” by the Liberian people but you are arrested and turned over to the Special Court yet not one soul get on the street to demonstrate against your ” wrong ” arrest?
Big Joe,
you are again misleading the people. President Taylor has always being about democracy. On top of that, I agree with Janice Dennis, that President Taylor was a savior for millions of Liberians who were seen as enemies of the state if you didn’t support Samuel Doe government. Why do you think, Taylor was and is still popular in Liberia? The revolution that President Taylor headed was known as the people’s popular uprising.
Big Joe, you talked about if Taylor was popular, why there was no demonstration in Liberia during his arrest. Do you know how he got arrested in Liberia? However, you have the entire world through the UN effecting his arrest. You have fighter jets flying and armor tanks plying all over the country, by the world’s body in other to enforce this arrest. You also have road blackades, at least 100 kilometer from the Roberts International Airport. All these Security measures put in place before the arrest. However, the people had nothing to fight with. Do you expect the people to have resisted without arms, while the other side had arms? Also, be aware, that the people were demoralized and put at gun point, not to resist the arrest. So don’t take pride of this innocent man arrest under such a condition. If you want to see the quality of our resolve, take the UN, America, and Great Britian from there; leaving it with just us. Notwithsatnding, you have the world most super powers helping your cause; and on top of that, the UN has about 15,000.00 troops on the ground in Liberia currently as we speak, and you want to make “big mouth?”
Big Joe, you must be a joker.
Jose Rodriguez,
You have to wait for the judges to decide whether there is no case against Taylor. I am either a prosecutor nor a Judge. My own concern here is hearing this gangster making mockery of my beloved country Liberia and wondering why people like you ever supported this criminal to become President of Africa’s oldest republic.
Definitely, there will be a war crime court in Liberia. Come election 2011 when, hopefully, all the warlords, murders and rapists are removed from power (both the National Legislature and Executive).
Big Joe,
you are not more Liberian than other Liberians. Your way of thinking is different from others. I am not the only Liberian that supported President Taylor and still support him. I told you before, knowing what we know now, we will still vote for him. We will still support him, and we are still supporting him.
Speaking about war crimes court, don’t wait for 2011. Advocate for it right now. don’t wait for 2011 when President Johnson Sirleaf is defeated at the polls and residing in Alanta, GA with your grand children or other places of her choice. Begin the process right now, by helping to remove the REBEL GRAND MOM, ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF FROM POWER, through constitutional means (impeachment), PRINCE JOHNSON, ETC.
andrew jlay,
You are the one who have started using harsh words “you must be out of your mind to say that Taylor inflicted havoc on you” so, you should not become angry when I called you a rebel, rapist and murder.
“Everything that happened in Liberia was a casualty in waiting.” HMMM–, everything? Gang rape? Murder innocent women and children in cold blood, cannibalism ? Everything?
I can now see the kind of person you are. No wonder, Taylor is your hero.
“here is a deeper need for change. But what have we seen, the same old wine in new bottle. corruption and so-called elite establishing authority over the larger ignorant and illiterate population. No real change is taking place. change that we can believe in. Let Ellen follow barack’s example in america. he is tackling the flaws of an age old system. it is difficult but he attempting.” Yes, things in Liberia is far from what I will want but it is a million times better Taylor’s jungle law and criminal empire. We will use the democratic process and peaceful means to change things in that country and we will full resist the Taylor ways.
Big Joe,
I understand and lament your flow of logic. I understand fully why all of you had difficulty with the connotation of the language ” recuse oneself”. Yes brother over 100 years of independence, if liberian leaders had invested in education, with 90% literacy rate we will not be talking about rape and cannibalism. Yes the one president Tolbert who came to help advance our people and nation, the americans killed him because he proposed the discontinuation of the importation of rice from america.
Yes, so it is not strange if they oppose taylor. it is the same reason they killed tolbert. but our eyes are opened.
So you guys can sit and wait, when our president is freed we will retake our country and build it with or without outside aid.
Eagle eye,
I most often find difficulty with you reasoning. According to you why should Mr. Taylor harbor Bockarie who had committed crimes in his country, sierral leone. The situation is Bockarie was allowed to leave Sierra Leone with his men and seek refuge in Liberia or a third country of his choice(american english will be of his choosing). Now why did they let this accused leave Sierra Leone in the first place, if he had committed so many crimes? why? He should not have been allowed to leave. they should have incarcerated him. What should Mr. Taylor do if Sierra Leone did not request an extradition based on criminal grounds?
Look please reason well.
Kabbah mortgage Sierra Leone for Power,
Big Joe, Fallah, Teage, Eagle Eye,
I have not seen any comments from you concerning the video from Wanikab where executive outcome and sandline broke the UN embargo with aid of Kabbah. Taylor testified about this long before this independent individual released that video. If use the premise of the accuracy of Taylor’s testimony regarding Sandline and executive outcome, as the video has proven and extend it to other testimonies then Taylor is telling the truth.
It is a wonder that Big Joe, Fallah, Teage all of you distance yourself fromt discussion of that video. Whenever I mention it, no one has come out with a rebuttal. That is how bias and malicious all of you are. But your hatred will go nowhere.
Andrew,
I can honestly say that I DO NOT read all your comments. And I have not read your comment neither have I seen the video you speak about. So do not assume that everybody that does not have the same point of view as you as in, Fallah, and who ever else you named in your post have seen the video. You are alluding to the fact that those who don’t share the same view of you have read your post saw the video you speak of and are refusing to responde to your video when I have no idea what post or video you speak of neither have I seen it. So if there is a question you wish to pose directly to me to discuss. I will be glad to. I have never “backed-down” from difficult questions neither have ignored it on this blog. So if you would like to pose a question to “ME” and not fallah big joe and who ever else you named great. I will be more than willing to answer.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=28164402
Teage,
this is the website provided to the general public by Chez Winakabs.
Courtesy to Winakabs. This is a website that I’m “not” taking credit for. However, all credits go to our Sierra Leonean brother Chez Winakabs.
This website clearly revealed how arms were sent to Sierra Leone and how President Kabba was involed in the business of selling Sierra Leonean diamonds for weapons
Andrew,
excellent point. The names you have called dare to even come close to comment on that all powerful video provided by OUR SIERRA LEONEAN BROTHER WANIKAB. The video clearly revealed how Sierra Leone was infested with arms. Who provided these arms and ammunition. The quantity of the arms. And all of the big companies from Van couver,Canada, British Columbia, Great Britian, etc that was involved in the diamond wealth of Sierra Leone. These are the kind of evidence we are talking about. Fist hand testimony and evidence directly incriminating Kabba, Executive Outcome, Sandline and etc.
Andrew, if president Taylor was in that video, don’t you think that would have done it for the prosecution? The names you have mentioned, and the so-called neutral man, “bnker,” will be all over it. But right now, they can not be all over it because it is not pointing at the innocent man, Taylor.
Jose and Andrew, I sometime wonder if you choose to delibrately misunderstand my posting simply because it hits the core of the trial. I have never said Taylor should not have brought Boakarie to Liberia. What I said was that it could have been better to grant him asylum than citizenship since he was a controversial figure.
Secondly, I wonder why he was employed in the security services, when there were dozen ofliberians who could fill the same position. I have never suggested the president did not have the right to grant someone citizenship. What I want as a liberian is for Taylor to give us his reason, not just because I was president and it is my business.
Jose, you keep refering to election. I don’t think anyone dispute taylor won the election, the margin, well we all know that was suspect but that is arguement for another day. But simply winning an election does not make Taylor an emperor. My stand on this issue has been that the Liberia as nation should not support Taylor because he blantantly disregard the electorate that voted him. As a president, if that was what he considered himself, an issue of such magnitude, which could bring the country in such disrepute with rest of world, should consult with the people. WHERE/WHEN DID TAYLOR EVER HAVE AN INQUIRY INTO THESE ALLEGATION?. TELL ME PLEASE, SINCE IAM SUPPOSE TO BE IGNORANT?.
It is this sheer level of arrogancy that have drag liberia down to where it is. I will never put anyone before my country. So if you think Taylor is better than liberia, my friend I beg to differ. Slave mentality from me, oh Jose, is that all you can do brother?.
Eagle eye,
“arrogancy” ? I dont think so. Taylor and vast majority of the Liberian people were never arrogant. Instead, they continually reinforced their own confidence. So Eagle eye, if reinforcing one own confidence means arrogance, than I stand to accept. However, you said why I keep talking about the 1997 election. I am talking about it because of statement like this. ” Taylor who called himself a democratically elected president” and etc. Now, Eagle eye, this statement was made by you. If he called himself a democratically elected president, how do you call him? Do you doubt that? Do you recognized that?
Concerning Bockarie, it falls with in the purview or description of the President. Like the way you said you had a problem, what did you do about it? Did you ask your representative to bring it up for discussion? Did you submit any petition?
Nice try Eagle eye.
Andrew don’t try to distract us for what has happened. No one is on trial for illegal importation of arms to sierra leone. Nor the RUF, AFRC or CDF.
Those who went on trial are there for actions in use of arm legal or illegal. There is no court in the world which will indict anyone for crimes against humanity for importation of arms. It is the conduct in the use of arm which warrant such a charge.If you arguement is that Kabbah order these arms, told sandline to go out and kill civilian then I will say you are dishonest and have very little idea of what went on in Sierra Leone. Civilians die in conflict everywhere. If the death of every civilian results in war crimes court, trials will never end.
Besides, kabbah as the constitutional president of Sierra Leone had rights to sign agreement with other in relation to his country, Taylor has no right over Sierra Leone.
Eyes,
Pres. Kabah’s deputies are locked up…they told the court in Freetown that they got “ORDERS” from Pres. Kabah. Why is Mr. Taylor on trial when he was NEVER EVER in Sierra Leone??
I will tell you…….LINK!!! Now if those deputies can establish a LINK between them and Pres. Kabah and on the other side, the prosecutors are trying to FIND a LINK, which is worse??
Oh when did Mr. Taylor have “CONTROL OVER SIERRA LEONE”???
Hello again,Chief Rodrigruez,
Agree with me.Moses Blah did not say Taylor supported the RUF in any viable way but he(Blah mentioned that Sam Bockarie was killed by Benjamin Yeateng on the orders of president Taylor.And the reason was to conceal all evidences which could make Taylor’s involvement with the RUF somewhat vivid.
I really would not want to assume that you’ve got the tongue and the thought to defend Taylor.
Vaa Alie Mansaray,
I think you are trying so hard to be reunited with reality when you said,”Moses Blah did not say Taylor supported the RUF in any viable way.” However, where I think you are struggling even more, is when you try to build up a false reality in the midst overwhelming truthfulness, evidence, and fact
Vaa, your half truth and half false statement is just an innovated way of finding self destruct easily.
Noko4 however, has already dealt with your half false statement of Mr. Blah. However, if you were paying attention to Blah’s testimony with scrupulous care, you will realize that he said, at a National Security Council meeting in Monrovia, it was agreed upon to have Bockarie arrested when ever he puts his foot on Liberia soil. At no point in time did he say, President Taylor ordered the execution of Bockarie.
Stop misrepresenting and distorting the facts and testimonies on purpose.
Vaa,
When did Mr. Blah say such??? If this was the case, was Mr. Bockerie the ONLY person out of RUF to implicate Mr. Taylor??? What’s about the rest of the gang that were tried in Freetown??? Why none of them pointed A FINGER at Mr. Taylor???
Go through testimonies made by Blah.You will see that.
Regarding the other members of the RUF,these guys never had the kind of connection Bockarie had with Taylor.Infact,there was a time when Bockarie became the strongest mobiliser of fighters for Taylor.If you never saw that happen,we saw it.
Vaa,
Stop playing game……point out the passage please. I watched testimony and called record that. And who are the “WE SAW IT”??
Vaa Alie,
go to the Hague and testify about what you saw, since others didn’t see what you saw.
please help me join to receive updates on taylor’s trial
Rodrigruez,
I need to give others some chance to help complete the list.Thank,you just did that.May God bless you enormously for including the big fish
Vaa Ali Mansaray,
where did that come from? “I need to give some chance to help complete the list.Thank,you just did that.May God bless you enormously for including the big fish.”
Vaa, seriously, what is this? What are you talking about when you say “big fish”? Where did that come from?
Are you OK? I’m really getting worried about you. Is everything alright Vaa?
Jose,
I am against the trial in SL. My statements are all associated with Liberia and deep within your heart of hearts I have referring to Liberia. I said on one of my threads, while some people think that CT did terrible things, yet others don’t give a hoot where he spends his life in jail. I want CT in jail, true but not for activities in SL—Liberia. You know what I find comical about your arguments, you look at only one side (your side) and refuse to present the other side of the debate. If you take course in debating, you will probably learn its good present the other side of the argument then your point. If you did that maybe your views might seem more rational and mature! I think you take these debate a bit too seriously, your emotions must be at the tips of your fingers, “touchy”. While I enjoy reading some of your comments and some seem responsible, I don’t take them personally. So when you question my fairness, it does not bother me at all. That’s the nature of the discussion, if they bother you (meaning anyone including me), then its probably best to stay clear. However, for expressing our personal views, you are at liberty.
So you asked me about the TRC recommendation and my view (several days ago), I told you what I thought, what’s your take on the TRC recommendation?
Back to the trial. You are right, CT is innocent until proven guilty, I have not said or insinuated his guilt. Neither, should I give you the pleasure of trying to explain myself to you. You may believe and render whatever conclusion about “bnker” and you are at liberty to do so. Some people are supportive of the SCSL, don’t these people have the right to speak out and express their views? Why do you think that your ideas should be the loudest or the only one heard? Frankly, that is not healthy. You are in Liberia, you see opposition, they are not being muted. I think responsible mature and tolerant people accept different views.
So keep the threads coming, OK. I enjoy them! After we are done yelling and laughing at each other, we shall meet in Monrovia and have lunch, OK. These debate are the premise of our democratic process.