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Liberia: "My Cousin Should Not Return " Cried 36 Years Old Esther Tellewoyan of Kakata, Margibi County
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
10 March 2008
Posted to the web 10 March 2008
Madam Esther Tellewoyan has send out a call for her cousin not to return to Liberia because he is still being hunted by criminals.
Speaking to this paper on Sunday, Esther Tellewoyan said that her cousin Philip Tellewoyan should not return to Liberia because of his association with Charles Taylor's Force General John Tarnue, the former commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) who is posed to testify against Mr. Taylor at his war crime trial currently in the Hague, and his further association with the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP).
She recalled that in March of 2001, her cousin was among 40 university students who were tortured and beaten by the notorious Anti Terrorist Unit (ATU) when they attempted to stage a peaceful rally for some detained journalists in Monrovia. "On several occasions my cousin arrested and tortured by forces loyal to former President Charles Taylor," she narrated.
Madam Tellewoyan alleged that during that two of her sisters were raped by ATU officers in hot pursuit of her cousin. "Charles Taylor supporters and soldiers don't like to see people who oppose them", she noted, adding that her cousin was regarded as "anti-Taylor simply because he is half Mandingo and a strong supporter of ALCOP".
Speaking further to this paper, Esther said she and her family are under constant fear because most of her alleged perpetrators are roaming around as illicit tapers in Firestone. She said they use sulfuric acid to attack people who know their evil deals, they also threatens others who they believed could expose their activities during the civil war.
When ask how her cousin Philip left the country, Madam Esther said it was through some friends at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) and General John Tarnue who was then commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
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The fear of Esther and many other Liberians comes at the time the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is conducting hearings into alleged human rights violation during the evil days in Liberia dating as far back as the 1980's. Many are expressing fear of reprisal if they go to testify, worst about this is those who are in the Hague to testify against Charles Taylor and Philip is believed to be on of those to testify against him. Many family members fear of being attack by supporters of Charles Taylor back home.
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