7 March 2008
guest blog
The monitors of former President Charles Taylor's trial report for www.charlestaylortrial.org
Cross examination of Mansaray continued from noon.
Terry Munyard continued - following is an overview of the exchange in the courtroom, but not a full transcript.
Def: You said this morning that you were in Shegwema on the day of the attack on Freetown. You said that you found out about it through the BBC or radio communications. What are you telling the court about your own radio comms?
Wit: fighters were trained to be radio operators, and they communicated among themselves. They would discuss matters between themselves and then explain it to us.
Def: Did you hear about the invasion of Freetown as it was happening or later?
Wit: When the RUF and AFRC started fighting, so the comms was going on from those at the rear. They communicated.
Def: Why didn’t you tell the investigators this when they asked you qns about the invasion in Nov 2003 March 2004 and Jan 2006?
Wit: Maybe I was not asked a question about that so I did not explain that to them.
Def: In March 2004, you were asked about the January 6 invasion of Freetown — you didn’t have much knowledge on that one.
Wit: That is true - I was not with them but I had knowledge through comms. I was not there when they were planning it but I got info that Freetown was invaded. I told them that I heard about the attack but I was not there I hope that was enough.
Def: Here is what they say in Jan 2006 in a proofing. Unfortunately we are not told who the investigators were in Jan 2006 but this is what they recorded you as saying. He wanted to put it in the right time-frame.
This is what is recorded: In Feb 12998 received from Rogers an order to retreat to Daru and I stayed there for 2-3 months, Around May 1998 we moved to Kuiva and stayed about 5 months. We successfully attacked Shegwema and took ammunition from ECOMOG. I did not fight. After the attack I stayed a few months in Shegwema.
Before I go on to next sentence, I am going to take through that sequence to work out the time period.
In February 1998 receive an order to go to Daru for 2-3 months. Do you agree?
Wit: I would not agree with that. It is not everything I would agree to. It is the month you say that goes with the year.
Def: The very next words from you - around May 1998 we moved from Kuiva. So it’s correct you remained in Daru until about May?
Wit: I don’t think it is correct.
Def: This is what we are told by prosecuting investigators. Are you saying they have go this wrong?
Wit: It is possible, but the dates you have mentioned I don’t think that was the way it happened.
Def: We’ll move on. Around May 1998 we moved to Kuiva for about 5 months. That takes you about October.
Wit: The month that you called I would agree to. But to say the month you called that Gbao was the commander I would disagree with that.
Def: This was something you were supposed to have said. This is not something I am putting to you.
Wit: I am getting you clearly. But I want you to read it to me again.
Def: We will start from May. (He read the proofing again). Pausing at ECOMOG - is it correct that you took Shegwema under Gaddafi and seized arms from ECOMOG?
Wit: You are always referring to Manawa as being a commander to Augustine Gbao, but from the start of my statements I have never mentioned that.
Def: So the investigators got the record wrong?
Wit: I don’t know if they give you the report - but what I have been telling them, they always write it and then read it to me. Manawa was a fighter, and Gbao was an administrator.
Justice Doherty: Witness seems to think that it was put to him that Manawa was Gbao’s senior. What was said to the witness? He does not seem to be responding to what you are asking.
Def: Will put it to him again. (Did so). Did you report to Manawa?
Wit: Yes.
Def: And whose boss was Augustine Gbao?
Wit: I don’t know about a boss.
Def: Next sentence — Did you successfully attack Shegwema and seize arms from ECOMOG between May and October 1998?
Wit: We attacked Shegwema under the leadership of Gaddafi. And we captured some arms and ammunitions from ECOMOG.
Def: So they have that right?
Wit: The attack and the name of the commander I would agree to. But the month mentioned I would disagree.
Def: When do you say it happened?
Wit: December 1998.
Def: Then it reads….I did not carry a gun as I was the IDU officer. Did you tell the investigators that?
Wit: Yes. When we went there I was not carrying an arm to fight.
Def: And did this happen 5 days after the final attack against Koidu?
Wit: I can’t say the exact period the attack took place in Kono or Shegwema. But I know Kono was attacked before we went to Shegwema.
Def: According to this you went to Shegwema after the attack on Koidu — correct?
Wit: Yes
Def: Then you said that you stayed for 2 months.
Wit: It is not correct.
Def: Are you saying that the Prosecutors have mistaken what you told them — or are you saying that you told them something that you now think is wrong?
Wit: The way you are asking your question is wrong. I mentioned more than 2 months in my statement. I don’t know if it is you or the statement taker but I mention more than 2 months.
Def: There will be people here who will jump up and tell me that I’m wrong.
Gadaffi was reporting to Musa who was reporting to Gbao — did you tell them that?
Wit: Gaddafi was a ??? and Musa was an administrator. That was not what I told them. Gaddafi did not give reports to Musa.
Def: You continued as saying ” I stayed in Matatoka for a week before going to Pendembu to visit my family.” When was that?
Wit: That was around May/June 1999.
Def the next sentence reads, it was during the time in Pendembu that I learned about the Jan invasion of Freetown?
Wit: That wasn’t what I told them. I told them that I was at Shegwema but I did not tell them I was in Pendembu.
Def: Why would they have that so wrong?
Wit: Perhaps it was a mistake in the dates.
Def: you have never told the prosecutors in any of the dozen or more interviews that you heard about the invasion of Freetown on the radio or through BBC.
Wit: I believe I did so. I told them that I got the info through a communication.
Def: Before we move off the account recorded from you, can you tell us when it is that you moved to Kuiva? In the statement it says around May and stayed until around October?
Wit: I was there in October, but I believe it was March-April in 1998.
Def: Do you agree that you left Kuiva in October?
Wit: I don’t believe so.
Def: In this account, although you say they got it wrong about May, you agree that you were there in Ocobter. Do you remember from me reading this out, that we successfully attacked Shegwema and we stayed 2 months there. If you were in Kuiva for 5 months including October, then you would have been in Shegwema the last two months of 1998?
Be the first to Write a Comment!
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
