allAfrica.com: Liberia: RUF Radio Operator Tells of Diamond Deliveries to Taylor; Defense Begins Cross-Examination (Page 1 of 2)

Liberia: RUF Radio Operator Tells of Diamond Deliveries to Taylor; Defense Begins Cross-Examination

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

RUF Radio Operator Tells of Diamond Deliveries to Taylor; Defense Begins Cross-Examination

The prosecution finished its direct examination of protected witness TF1-516 today, and the defense began its cross-examination. Prosecutor Mohamed Bangura spent most of the remaining direct examination asking about the diamond trade. The witness testified that RUF commanders delivered diamonds that had been mined in Sierra Leone using forced labor to Charles Taylor in Monrovia. He said he had been involved in making arrangements for such trips by radio communication, and additionally had heard senior commanders say that they took diamonds to Taylor.

Defense counsel Morris Anyah then began the cross-examination of witness TF1-516. For the second witness in a row, it quickly became clear that questionable procedures by the prosecution in the investigations stage may end up damaging the credibility of their own witness in the courtroom. As with Isaac Mongor, this witness confirmed that prosecution investigators reviewed the charges in Taylor's indictment before asking him questions. Anyah then focused on the witness's operational notebook and movements between Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The court twice went into brief private session to hear arguments on a prosecution application to redact portions of the morning transcript in order to protect the witness's identity from public disclosure. The court ended the day in private session.

Diamonds from forced labor in Sierra Leone delivered to Charles Taylor in Liberia

Prosecutor Bangura asked how the witness knew of various aspects of his testimony about diamond mining yesterday, such as how mining by the RUF and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was organized. The prosecution placed particular emphasis on how the witness knew that civilians were forced to mine at gunpoint and beaten if they refused. The witness said he knew about diamond mining in Weima, Tongo district in 1995-1996 because Sam Bockarie ("Mosquito"), who was in charge of the mining, reported to RUF leader Foday Sankoh in Zogoda, where the witness worked in the radio station and monitored the reports. He said he knew details about mining in Kono district during the period of the AFRC/RUF junta (May 1997 - February 1998) because he had been stationed there and had seen details himself, and because he personally had transmitted messages from the RUF mining commander, Captain Moriba, to RUF leader Sam Bockarie, who was in Kenema. After being sent by Issa Sesay to Liberia in June-July 1999, the witness said that he remained informed about diamond mining in Kono through frequent contact with Sesay's radio operator, "Elevation". The witness said that mining expanded and intensified in this period and that there were more frequent reports of large diamonds being found.

Bangura then focused on what the witness knew about what next happened to the diamonds that were mined. The witness said that during the time of the junta, Captain Moriba brought the diamonds to Bockarie in Kenema, and communicated about this through the radio operated by the witness. Later in Kono district, from late 1998, the witness said that Captain Kennedy was then the mining commander, and that his radio operator had been in frequent contact with the witness, who said he was now stationed with Bockarie in Buedu. The witness said that when Kennedy reported having diamonds, about every two weeks or every month, Bockarie would order him to bring the diamonds to Buedu, and Kennedy sent a message that he was coming with "parcels", meaning diamonds. The witness then saw him in Buedu. He testified that Kennedy had this position until sometime in 1999 when intelligence officers accused him of stealing diamonds; he was "mercilessly beaten" and removed from his position.

Bangura asked what happened to the diamonds then. The witness testified that most often, Bockarie would then send a radio message to the radio stations of Benjamin Yeaten or Charles Taylor, or speak with Yeaten, to let them know that a commander named Eddie Kanneh was coming to Monrovia with diamonds to meet the "chief", Charles Taylor. The witness said he sent some of these messages himself. Additionally, he said that in this period, 1999, Bockarie would tell him and the other radio operators that Kanneh was taking the diamonds to Taylor. In addition to the frequent trips of Kanneh, the witness said that sometimes Bockarie and Kennedy traveled together to Monrovia, then called back to Buedu from Taylor's 020 radio station in the Executive Mansion to confirm their arrival. Before leaving, Bockarie said openly that they were taking the diamonds to Taylor. When the witness was in Liberia and Issa Sesay had taken command of the RUF from Bockarie, the witness said the Kanneh still brought diamonds to Charles Taylor. The witness said that he received communications from Kanneh's radio station, saying that he was coming to bring "parcels" to the "chief". The witness also described seeing Kanneh in Foya, underway on one such trip, and said that Kanneh was with two white men who were diamond traders on their way to see Issa Sesay. The witness said that radio communications about RUF diamond deliveries to Taylor continued until his last day in Vahun, Liberia, in late 2001.

Loose ends

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