The monitors of former President Charles Taylor's trial report for www.charlestaylortrial.org

Next Prosecution Witness Called

The next Prosecution has been  called (due to technical difficulties, his initial testimony was missed)  Nick Koumjian conducts the direct examination of this witness (partial name — “Mongor”??).  The following is rough summary of the session and not a transcript of events.

Pros: When born?

W: Nov. 21, 1965

Pro: Where grew up?

W: Liberia

Pro: What languages did you speak?

W: Mother’s language, Liberian english, Krio.

Pros: Military service?

W: Yes, in the Liberian national army.

Pros: When join?

W: When Doe was President.

Pros: What year?

W: It was in 1985.  He was trained but did not complete the training.  He was not a member of the Liberian army for very long, 2-3 months, as he did not want to be a soldier.  When he left the army, he started a business – he would go to the Ivory Coast for goods and then sell them in Liberia.  He was involved in this for some period of time until “the war met us.”  In “Christmas month” of 1989 the rebels who called themselves freedom fighters and identified themselves as the NPFL entered the village he was in.  When they entered they shot guns.  Some people ran away.  When they ceased firing the villagers came outside, after which the rebels took the young men to their base.  He did not recall the village he was in when he was captured.  In the village there were no fighters.

The rebels handpicked some of them (young men and women) in the town and took them along.  The range of ages included children, young women and young girls.  They were taken to the base at Gborpaly for training.  (Some discussion concerning the spelling of this camp)  This was a training base to fight for “our country” (Liberia).  The rebels indicated that that their leader was Charles Taylor, known as the “CIC” (Commander in Chief), and Mongor was there when Taylor came.

Mongor was trained for 2 months.  They were given guerilla training and taught how to fire guns.  The ages of those being trained included small boys and small girls as well as adults.

Pros: Youngest age of those being trained?

W: There were people about 10 years.

Pros: Any ceremony at end of training?

W: No, just graduated us and said we had completed training.

Pros: Where assigned after training?

W: Assigned to fight on the war front.  Fought in same Nima country in Gmata (sp?).  When I fought there for some time (Ganta (sp?)) the CIC came there for some time before they could advance.  They next moved to Banga and fought from evening up to midnight up to the next moring until Prince Johnson was flushed out of the area.

Pros: Did your unit have a designation?

W: Yes.  At the time we captured Banga they took me to join the executive mansion guard, the CIC bodyguard group.  The overall boss was [?].  He did not know exactly when he became a member of this unit, but said it was the next year after he had been captured.

The duties of the Executive Mansion guard included guarding Taylor, fighting on the front line and going with the CIC wherever he went.  When he was there himself, he operated the heavy weapons and moved first before the whole group.  At that time he was a sergeant.  When he was using the AA (anti-aircraft gun) he was the advance team commander when the CIC went to the front line.

Pros: How often see Taylor?

W: I saw him every day because executive mansion guards had access to him.  They would explain what was happening on the front line, so I saw him always.

Pros: Routine?

W: Used to have a parade when the “Pa himself” (Taylor) would come to inspect the troops.  The CIC himself would come to see the men.  At the parade ground, there were SBUs (small boy units), and some other units also such as the Artillery units, which he was a member. Age range of small boys was 10 - ? years.  They were among the guards and used to go to the front line to fight.

Pros: How was security for the CIC arranged?

W: Sometimes when he was about to go somewhere he used to disguise himself, he didn’t want people to know.  Sometimes Taylor would be among the SBUs, and sometimes among others.  I was at the head of the advance team and would always be in front.

Pros: Was Taylor considered by troops as military leader or political leader?

Munyard (objecting): Which troops?  Objects to sweeping question.

Pros: I’ll rephrase.  Did you yourself receive any information on whether Taylor had any military training?

W: I heard Taylor was a soldier and somone who had been in the military.  He was the commander for the fighters.

Pros: You ever witness Taylor giving military commands?

W: Yes, he would give people military commands where he would tell them to go the front line to fight.

Pros: When you were a member of the executive mansion guard, did you observe how NPFL forces were supplied with ammunition?

W: Ammunition was supplied to us on the Executive Mansion ground.  When Taylor was ready to move to the front line the ammunition would be at the rear of the line where he was going.  He kept it at the Coca Cola factory and gave the troops weapons to fight.  This factory is in Monrovia.

Pros: Where was the Exective Mansion?

W: It was in different locations but the main location was Banga. We had some other bases like Bomo mines (sp?) and Harbel, but Banga was the main base for the CIC (Taylor).  At Banga, they kept the ammunition on the executive ground.

Pros: Where?

W: Where Taylor himself was.

Pros: Need permission to obtain weapons from that location?

W: Always have to ensure Taylor approved for ammunition to come out of that place.  if not, no ammunition would come out to go anywhere.

Pros: Place where ammunition kept locked?

W: Yes.  It was locked and there was somebody there to ensure that when “the Pa” (Taylor) needed ammunition he would come and open.  Moses Duoh came to get ammunition.

Pros: You talked about SBUs.  Do you recall names of any young members?

W: Well, we had like Mosquito (Christopher Varmah), Zevun (SBU commander).

Pros: At some time, did you get a new assignment?

W: Yes, there came a time when I had a new assingment.  But before then I was fighting on the front line.

Pros: What locations were you fighting at on the front line before you took the new assignment?

W: Places where I fought: Bomo mines (sp.), towards Coca Cola factory, and then towards Monrovia.  Didn’t capture the whole city but captured some areas.  Were very close.  We could stand there and see the mansion ground.

Pros: Any other forces fought against in Liberia?

W: Prince Johnson’s group and the AFL.

Pros: Any other locations you fought at the front line?

W: Those are the places I can recall for now.  I fought at Kakata of course.  I went to AFL military base.  At that time, Taylor himself who was among the attacking force, attacking an AFL barracks.  Later they captured it.  The barracks was Schefflin barracks.

Pros: The new assignment, what was it?

W: The new assignment was to go and train people who were to go and fight in Sierra Leone.

Pros: Recall the year given this assignment?

W: It was in 1990.  That was the time I was given the assignment to go and train those people.  This was in March or April.  I cannot say exactly but it could be within that period.

Pros: How first learn about assignment?

W: Well, I was one of the executive mansion guards. I was able to get this assignment from the CIC to help his friend (Foday Sankoh) but at that time we were in Liberia and didn’t know him by that name.  Taylor called me and said to go with Sankoh.  He told me I should go with “his brother” to help him train his people.  I want you to know that at the time we were fighting in Liberia, Taylor used to talk over the BBC.  He said to the Sierra Leonean people at that time they one day they would “taste the bitterness of war.”  This was because the alpha jets used to come from Sierra Leone and bomb them.  Taylor gave the order to arrest the Nigerians.  Most were put in jail, some were killed.  He told me to go and train people who will fight in Sierra Leone.

Pros: How was this assignment given to you?

W: Sankoh had already started discussing with Taylor before I was invited.  Taylor told him to go with “his brother” to go train his people.

Pros: Where were you when this order was given?

W: I was on the ground where Taylor was, the executive ground.

Pros: Who was present?

W: When they called me I met and say Taylor and Sankoh together.  I used to see Sankoh a lot but I didn’t know he was a rebel leader.

Pros: After turned over to Sankoh, where did you go to do this training?

W: Went through the training at [?], which was the AFL military base.  We had already been in control of that area.

W: Camp Nama (sp?) is in Bong Country.  The camp was a military camp and was a big place.  It had houses there and the NPFL had their own base there.  Taylor had given directions to arrest Sierra Leoneans and Nigerians.

Pros: Before, when you said you were captured, did you and the others have a choice of wherher or not to tade wit the NPFL?

W: At that point, we never had a choice.

Pros: What nationalties were at the executive mansion? There were people from Burkina Fasa, Gambians, Liberians.  At the time he was with them the foreign forces within were trusted and believed more than the Special Forces who were Liberians.

W: In 1990, the ages of people he was training with were when in NPFL — SBUs were training on the base.  There were women.  They were mature men also there.  Some Liberians were also there.

Pros: names of other trainers at camp?

W: Witness says names.   Gongano.  Sam Dripo.

Pros: All teaching the same subjects?

W: There were different subjects that we used to teach.  In my case Gongano, Draper, and I gave them physical training.  I was the first person who had been there for almost 6 months before the others met him.  Sometimes Sankoh himself would conduct training.

Pros: Ever see Taylor there?

W: Never saw him there.

Had weapons there with Sankoh and he had his own personal weapon.  All instructors had weapons that came from Banga and were NPFL property.

Pros: Where did rice and supplies come from?

W: From excutive ground and Taylor. Recounts names of soldiers he trained.  Issa Sesay, Juan Maurice Collon; Sam Bockarie.  I want the Court to know that the Liberians had their own mosquito (Varmah) while Sierra Leoneans had their own (Bockarie).  Sankoh used to talk to the recruits.  He used to tell them that Sierra Leone had a one party system at that time and that the country was corrupt.  He was training them to free them from the one party system and take over the country.  He told the men this during the parade and they should be strong and they should be courageous.

Pros You ever spoke to Sankoh?

W: (Smiling) Yes.

Pros: Did he ever mention Taylor?

W: Yes.

Pros: Recall anything he said about Taylor?

W: He said Taylor was his brother and that when he was training those men it was Taylor who was doing it from them.

Pros: Sankoh ever say how he met Taylor?

W: Yes, said they had met.  Taylor had him released.  They had gone to Libya for training.  These were things Taylor told him.

At this point, Presiding Judge Doherty breaks for lunch.

Prosecutor Nick Koumjian resumes his direct examination of the witness.  The witness is wearing a dark blue suit, light blue shirt with tie.  The following is a rough summary of the testimony and not a complete transcript:

Pros: After your assignment training at Camp Nama(sp?), what was next assignment?

W: My next assignment was to move the men to the place we trained for (for the Sierra Leone mission) to Voinjama.  I went there with those men who I had trained and Foday Sankoh.  And we had other people who had come from Banga, who came with some trucks.  We came to Banga, that is where we met Mr. Taylor, at Voinjama.  The people who came with trucks were soldiers belonging to the NPFL.

Pros: Describe meeting with Taylor in Voinjama?

W: yes, when we got to Voinjama, we got there at night.  Taylor was on the executive ground.  Then I brought my men, put them on parade, and later Foday Sankoh and Taylor were in the house with other special forces and invited me and I went inside.  When Taylor saw me, he thanked me for the job I had done but it did not just stop there.  We still had some other mission that we were to accomplish.  So he said to go to Sierra Leone to fight and we should make sure the mission is accomplished, we should keep the ball rolling.

Pros: When did these events take place?

W: We came to Voinjama in March 1991.  We had 2 groups.  One was to go to Bomaru and one was to go to Koidu.  The Bomaru people had left before he got there.

Pros: Your group was assigned to go to Koindu?

W: Yes.

Pros: Who are the men you brought to the parade?

W: The ones I trained at Camp –.

Pros: Were they armed?

W: At that particular time, we weren’t armed.

Pros: After the meeting at the parade you were called into the house.  Whose house?

W: It was ….General Dopoe (called General Pepper).

Pros: Who was present in house?

W: Genera. Dopoe (2nd Batallion commander) Frances Murwan (special forces), Foday Sankoh, and some other generals (Ibrahim and Namin (sp.?).  Ibrahim Bah was one of the special forces, part of the NPFL.

Pros: What did Taylor say at this meeting?

W: He thanked me a lot for training those men but that was not going to be the end of the mission, coming to fight in Sierra Leone was next.  And that I should be strong and courageous and should keep the ball rolling.

Pros: Anyone indicate what goal of mission was?

W: Was to come and fight in Sierra Leone and to take over power.

Pros: Not armed at first.  Did troops eventually get arms and ammo?

W: Yes, later on.

Pros: When?

W: I got it when we left Voinjima and moved to Foya.  The arms and ammo had been brought in a truck until they got to Foya, where they were armed.

Pros: Trucks that came from Banga had arms and ammo given to troops?

W: Yes.

Pros: After meeting, what happened.

W: Following day we moved to Foya and the men were armed.  After that, we came near Koindu.  Near Mindekoma (sp?) we along the Liberian border so they could move in. After organized selves, they moved to Sierra Leones customs and started to fight.  They were fighting against the SLA (Sierra Leone Army soldiers).

Pros: What happened in that fighting?

W: When entered that place (Buedu), we captured from soldiers there and advanced to Koindu.  Fought there.  and captured the place from the soldiers.  When we captured Koindu, Foday Sankoh came there.

Pros: Had Sankoh crossed the border with troops?

W:No, he was in Liberia.  I saw him when he crossed the border.  He addressed the fighters and told us that the mission had started, so we should be strong and should be in readiness for next tartget.

Pros: contact with anyone outside your location?

W: Yes, told commander how fighting was going, where.  That was why Sankoh came was to confirm their location.

Pros: Means to communcate with Liberia/Taylor?

W: When the war started, the NPFL men were bringing reports to Taylor.  Mr. Pepper would bring the report about things going on on the ground.

Pros: How did they communicate?

W: Well, after we captured Pendembu we got a radio.  Sankoh brought a radio man called ??, also called Mr. Nya (sp.?).  First radio “his brother” Taylor had given to him.

Pros: Any other forcews fightingh with you.

W: Yes, NPFL, NPFL generals, other fighters.

Pros: What was your position during this time?

W: I was the commander who led the troops from Koindu where we were given information to advance.

Pros: Where obtain ammunition when fighting?

W: Ammunition we brought not call given to us, it was kept at Foya.  Weapons included RPGs, AKs, GMG, and G3 (another rifle but is bigger than the AK).

Pros: Did Sankoh stay in SL with you?

W: Did not stay, he would visit SL and return to Banga.

Pros: Did you stay in SL after March 1991?

W: Yes.  I used to go back but at that time I would only go to fight in Liberia.  This was in 1993 when ULIMO occupied Voinjama.  Sankoh called me and said “his brother” (Taylor)  said they should send troops there.    I fought there and captured Voinjama from ULIMO.

Pros: Who were you reporting to?

W: I reported to – General Fayai (sp.?) in charge of Lofa end, reported to him.

Pros: Who were troops fighting?

W: RUF (Revolutionary United Front”) men.    They were people who got he trained from the SL mission.

Pros: How long fighting?

W: Some months and days and then left.

Pros: Rank at this time (Lieutenant before in Liberia, then promoted to Captain, and then was made Lt. Colonel and then Accting Group Commander in 1992.

Pros: What is Battlegroup Commander?

W: In charge of fighters in diffejnt front lines.  Got reports from commanders at different front lines and would then report to those above him. This position was in the RUF and the NPFL.  Acting Battle Group commander reported to the Field Comander.

W: [discussing talking with Taylor on the radio] Knew it was him because i knew his voice.  I requested ammunition.  He promised that he would send and some ammunition was sent for us.

Pros: Operation in Lofa country, when you left there did anyone replace you?

W: Yes, Maurice Kallon and Issa Sessay.

Pros: Were they fighting against ULIMO in Lofa?

W: Yes, they too were fighting.   Tells story about Maurice Kallon escaping.  It took some time before he returned.

Pros: Sesay and Kallon fighting along with any other allies in Lofa?

W: I want to tell the Court that the “RUF was NPFL’s younger brother.”  NPFL with RUF could not occupy the position (Voinjama) from ULIMO.

Pros: Where did NPFL forces go after that?

W: Some came to Sierra Leone who were with the RUF.  One of them who came was Colonel Jungle.

Pros: What year was this?

W: It was in the year 1993 that they came into Sierra Leone.

[15 minute lapse]

Pros: During the time the border was closed, any communication going on with Liberia?

W: Yes, because had a communication set.  And the one that had been sent to us by Taylor, we had also captured other sets.  Sankoh used the radio.  He communicated with ”his brother” who is called Mr. Taylor.

Pros: Recall elections in Sierra Leone?

W: Yes. I recall that there was an election in Sierra Leone, in 1996.  At that time, we were still in the bush.

Pros: Did Sankoh ask about elections?

W: Yes.

Pros: What was RUF political position towards election?

W: When got information that there was going to be an election, Sankoh was in the jungle in Zogada (sp?).  He called the commanders to tell us what the plans were that the government had with regarf to elections.  So Sankoh said it appeared to him as though the government never wanted to recognize us.  Because while the fighting was going on they did not call our attention to that.  So he said we are going to carry out some kind of offensive that will not allow the elections to uphold.  So we were called to Zogada.  I was there when his radio man came to call him and he said his brother Mr. Charles Taylor wanted to speak to him.  And then Sankoh and I went to the radio house.  So when we went there, we entered and then he sat down and started talking to his brother Mr. Taylor.  The talk lasted 20-25 minutes, during which Sankoh explained how we had been cut off and were not even getting supplies from Liberia any longer, and the plan to carry on with elections.  So he called on his commanders and wanted to instruct them to go on an offensive.  And that this offensive should make fearful, anyone we capture we “will have to amputate” that person.   And then his brother told him in his reply (Taylor) that the plan was not a bad one.  Two days after they spoke with each other, we went on the offensive.

The radio man was present and he was called Zedman (?).  Security didn’t enter the radio room, they took positions around the booth where the radio was located.  Then Sankoh entered the radio room and he say down.  Myself, I stood just in front of the radio room where he entered.  Let me tell you, it wasn’t as if the radio room had a room you could lock, it was something like a thatch hut.  Somebody who stood in front could hear and understand someone speaking on the radio.

Pros: Could you heard what Sankoh said?

W: Yes, and I also heard Mr. Taylor’s responses to him.

Pros: What was your position at that time?

W: I was a major.  I was one of the commanders in the northern jungle.  Superman was a commander in the western area.  Peter Vandi (sp?) was Kailun area district commander as well.

Pros: Who was above area commanders in RUF structure?

W: The man who was field commander.

Pros: Was there a battlegroup commander at that time?

W: Yes, that was Sam Bockerie.

Pros: Correct to say that you were among the top half dozen or so commanders of the RUF?

W: Please repeat that one.

Pros.  repeats.

W: Yes, I was one of them myself.

Pros: In command of northern jungle, what areas of SL?

W: I was in the ___ district.

Pros: Was the RUF participating in the elections in 1996?

W: We didn’t take part, that was why we went on the offensive because the government did not recognize us.

Pros: Did Sankoh talk about what Taylor told him with anyone else after that?

W: Sankoh didn’t hide things from us.  Told us that the plan for which I’ve called for us to carry on, my brother called me and I’ve explained everything to him,  and in response Taylor told me that the plan was not a bad plan at all.

Pros: Sankoh talked about cutting hands?

W: Yes.  Said anybody whom we captured we should amputate that person and tell that person he should take his hands off the election .  So the people who were going to vote are who they should do that to.

W: Some of the people after voting would have blue ink on their fingers.  That was how we identified them.

Pros: Targets for this attack, what was yours?

W: I was to go to Masinbe, that was where I was supposed to attack.

Pros: Recall any targets given to other commanders?

W: Western jungle was __ and Superman.  I was to go to Masinbe.  Rambo and Mosquito were to go to Kenema town.

Pros: Who was present at commanders meeting?

W: We were many, such as Issa Sessay (he was under punishment), names others (Rocky/Emmanuel Williams, Rambo, Jungle).  Rambo was Liberian and was an RUF member.

Pros: Did the operation have a name?

W: Yes.  The name the operation had was Operation Stop Election.

Pros: Was the border still blocked at this time?

W: Yes.

Pros: After you had the meeting with the commanders and you were given your assignment what did you do?

W: I went directly to my own target Masinbe to attack there.

Pros: 2 days after the radio call was the meeting with the commanders?

W: Yes, that is what I told you.  After they had the radio communication, “the Pa” said we should go on that operation and stop the election.  He explains that the Pa is Foday Sankoh.

W: We had a parade, it was our daily routine.  On the parade ground we would know if we had a mission at hand or did not.  There I explained to them exactly what Sankoh said with regard to the elections and the operation.  I attacked Masinbe but I was unable to overun there.  I was fighting against the SLA and the Kommajos.

Pros: Able to capture any civilians participating in the elections?

W: We were unable to capture people taking part in the elections in our area.

Pros: Here about whether any success with other area commanders?

W: Other area commanders were able to succeed, they were able to capture people and they carried out what the operation called for.  And that was to make sure the people who were captured so they should amputate them.

Pros: Hear whether amputations took place?

W: Yes.  Amputated people and used razor blades to carve on peoples’ chests RUF.

Pros: Where were you when Abijan Accord was signed?

W: I was still in my area.

Pros: At some point after, did you learn of a new political development in Freetown?

W: The time they went to sign the peace there was no fighting going on because at that time the enemies never went on the offensive and we never went on the offensive.

Pros: Ever get an order to leave the northern jungle?

W: It was not in the case of the Abjidjan peace accord.

[technical trouble]

W: I received an order that said I should join the AFRC and that I should go with manpower and join the soldiers.

[technical trouble]

Pros: Who gave you the order to join the soldiers?

W: Sam Bockarie.  At that time he was the field commander.

W: Sankoh was arrested before the AFRC coup.

Pros: Who was commanding RUF in Sierra Leone at that time?

W: Sam Bockarie was the commander.

Pros: Aware of any communications with Sankoh in Nigeria?

W: Yes, because the order came from there before we went to join the brothers.  The order I received from Bockarie, he said Sankoh sent a message that we should join the brothers, that is the soldiers who had taken over the country in Freetown.  For that reason, he was passing the order to me.

Pros: What year Sankoh arrested in Nigeria?

W: In 1996 when he went to Nigeria for the peace accord.

Pros: How much time passed between arrest and coup?

W: I can’t say.  It was just like 1 year because in 1997 we joined the AFRC.

Pros: (Smiling) You stated earlier that the coup was in 2000.

W: That was a mistake.  The coup took place in 1997.

Witness describes an ambush that he participated in.

W: Describes fight in the Hastings area (RUF and SLA on one side and ECOMOG and the Kamajors on the other).  After the fighting I received instructions we should move to Freetown.  It was Johnny Paul Koroma who gave the order.  We responded and went to Freetown.  He was given a position on a council formed by them.  Later he was removed from this and was at the front line commanding the front line.  He was anti-looting squad commander.

Pros: What was council?

W: The Supreme Council with authorities who used to discuss, plan about the war.  JP = Johnny Paul Koroma.  His position was head of state.

Pros: Who else on council?

W: Tamba Brima, Esso Williams (sp?), JPK, Issa Sessay, Gullit, Mosquito (Bockarie) there were many that were members but I can only recall those few.

Pros: Did Bockarie come to Freetown after the coup?

W: Yes.  He did not spend a long time in Freetown and later went to Kenema where he was based.

Pros: At time you were on council, anyone come from another country to meet with the council?

W: Yes.  Ibrahim Bah came and met us because we knew him before.  We had fought alongside him before in Sierra Leone.  So he brought a message that Taylor gave him to give to us.  So when he came and met us he told us that the Pa (Mr. Taylor) sent me to talk to you so that you and the brothers, he is asking that you work together.

Pros: Was Bah a military or civilian person at that time?

W: I knew he was NPFL, a soldier, a fighter, one of the special forces.

Pros: Rank?

W: He was a general.

Pros: I have more on Bah but perhaps this was a good time.

Judge Doherty - We are adjourning, some administrative matters to address.  The witness leaves the room.

Munyard - I spoke to Mr. Griffiths, hasn’t yet finished cross-examination, will update at the end of the afternoon.  The latest is that he doesn’t anticipate being released from that case until sometime tomorrow.

Koumjian - bring to court’s consideration that the Prosecution will seek to impose time limits on examination of next witness.  Common practice in other courts.  Normally 50/50, but we’d be willing to conduct direct on 1 day.  Not a situation we would like but it is the only way we can ever hear the testimony of 399.

Judge Doherty - you will provide application with citations?

Koumjian: Yes.

Judge Lussick - say Prosecution 1 day, Defense 1 day?

Koumjian: No, just ask for time on redirect.

Munyard:  Unheard of to impose such time limits in courts I practice.

Judge Doherty - will deal with that in applications.

Court adjourns until tomorrow at 9:30.

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