The NEWS (Monrovia)
Sheriff Z. Adams
29 May 2008
Monrovia — Amidst death threats, former Liberian President Moses Blah is back home following speculations that he would not return to the country due to fear of reprisal from supporters of ex- President Charles Taylor.
Mr. Blah returned Monday from The Hague, Netherlands, where he testified in the war crimes trial involving ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor. His dramatic testimonies at The Hague prompted angry reactions from a number of associates of Mr. Taylor, including former Maritime Commission Benion Urey who has threatened lawsuit against Mr. Blah.
There were also media reports that the family of Mr. Blah had been threatened as a result of his explosive testimonies which appeared to have linked Mr. Taylor to crimes committed in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Former President Blah told this paper via telephone Wednesday that he was suffering from cold, but his health remains generally stable. Mr. Blah said he needed time to rest due to long flight.
Asked about security around his domicile, the former Liberian leader said President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had ordered SSS Director to increase the presence of state security personnel around him and at his residence. According to him, the UN Mission in Liberian (UNMIL) has also reinforced security at his residence and around him and family as well.
Mr. Blah testified at The Hague about a week ago after he was subpoenaed by the war crimes court. He was considered an inner circle of Mr. Taylor whose testimonies were said to have been vital to the prosecution.
Before traveling to The Hague, Mr. Blah said he would not crucify his former boss, but tell the truth.
In one of his testimonies, he told the court that the RUF often cut off civilians' arms and legs with machetes. He said Mr. Taylor rejected complaints from RUF rebels about atrocities committed by his men.
Mr. Blah told the court that RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh personally complained to Mr. Taylor about the rape, looting and killings committed by Liberians helping the RUF.
"He [Mr. Taylor] said this kind of thing must happen when you're fighting war," Blah said.
Former President Blah also explained how RUF commander "Musquito" was killed in Liberia by Taylor's men led by Gen. Benjamin Yeaten.
Mr. Blah earlier said the commander of one of Mr Taylor's units in Liberia "had a habit of eating fellow human beings".
He said he saw Nelson Gaye roast a human hand on a fire and ate it with boiled cassava.
Mr. Blah mentioned that Mr. Gaye's Marine unit was one of Taylor's forces, which he was told should not be pursued if they committed atrocities.
In court, former President Blah provided a detailed insider's account of the early days of the civil war.
He said he was one of the first 20 or so rebel fighters who received training at a military base in Burkina Faso and later Libya.
Blah told the court that he was not making up stories against his former boss, and that even if an electric machine is used to look in his head, he would still recount what he had said.
Taylor faces 11counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity which he denied. Mr. Blah, who briefly succeeded Mr. Taylor as president in 2003 - after rebels forced him into exile - is the most senior figure to have testified in The Hague.
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We need to understand that Mr Blah said what he no.What Mr Blah said didnot link Mr taylor dirrectly to any crime in Serria leon.Mr Blah dont want serve as scape-goat for mr Taylor.You cannot serve a person for about 20 year and serve all theses position,an you dont know anything at all.If Taylor was a good leader with good judgement he could be home and live as free person and be respected in africa.What people need to understand here is that Mr the evil that a man does life after him.Mr Blah did what was just right.Why with Taylor commate crime and people want Mr Blah to back him.
Moses direct eximination was nothing compared to the cross. Moses was a witenss for the defense rather than the prosecution. So far, all of the prosecution witnesses have not yet shown any direct link between Taylor and Sierra Leone. In order to convict in a criminal case, it has to be beyound all reasonal doubt. You can not take away a man's liberty base on hear say.
The prosecution is presenting a weak case. Their witnesses have no credibility. They were paid by the prosecution to lie. If the Justices can hold their grounds and failed to bend to pressure and let justice prevail... Taylor is going to walk!
I've been following the trial and don't see any major difference from what other witnesses said other than his training along side with Taylor in Libya. All other information was just in line with other witnesses which is just absurd. It is unfortunate that a lot of money is being spent on such a trial that has no life as the prosecution is just making up stories that the witness can not orderly follow. This trial is nothing but joke, as some would say it has political motive.
Where were you when this man initiated killings,suffering, hunger, and sorrow on the Liberians. Or are you one of those who benefited from his immoral acts. Even the blind man can sense that he had doings in situations in Sierra Leone. Just how other people die, body parts got amputated, and people lives got destroy he needs to understand and whole heartedly repent and confess to damaging our lives, lives of children and for the many discomfort he has cause. For some of us that knew his kids, where are they today? God doesn't like ugly. Their lives have become worst than those who have suffer during the war. One thing I know and believe that God is not asleep and if all these testimonies doesn't prove him wicked, the God that he serve will judge him and there's no escape for that judgement.
Blah, is it a betryal or a service to your nation in explaining what all Taylor did during the wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone?well this is the point in discussion. God is moving all of the time in a mysterious way and as long as we feel so much powerful and forget about him, the downfall of one is bound to come. So then one feels compelt either to be good or bad if they do not want to change. Moses Blah, a Taylor Confidant and former helper in propelling the war machineries of the defunct NPFL was found confessing the inner workings of this former group. He infact went on to explain the true of the whole matter that Mr. Taylor was really involved in the fueling of the Sierra Leone's civil war. He talked of the mayhem and other atrocities carried on by he Taylor against his own people. Blah did the right thing and this is no doubt he was betraying a cause that was destructive to humanity, but God touched his whole soul to confess about the diabolical and nefarious acts carried on by them all. The former Rebel commander did the best thing to confess about their deals and deeds and this was something that was great and serviceable to the peoples of Sierra Leone and Liberia. In practical sense , Mr.Taylor's days are numbered and no matter what the case may be he needs to understand one thing , that he can not hide from his acts committed against humanity. Mr. Taylor, along with the late Houphet Boigny, Blaise Campaore, Muamar Ghadaffi and other outside individuals who perpetrated the wars in both Liberia and Sierra Leone will have their days in court or in some form investigated one of these days. God bless the peoples and countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia.
John Mannah
Chicago, Illinois
Thank you Moses for the testimony against Taylor but it was very sad that you brought yourself so low. You were not forced to be a witness but you initially conscented so, when you had a second thought and wanted to back away you were threatened with a seven years jail term. Therefore you were forced to give the pitiful story as you told it. Mind you Taylor is not being tried for the attrocities that all of you committed in Liberia. He is being made a SCAPEGOAT for what occured in Sierra Leone thereby making the Liberian war a less important issue and the intent of the international community a dubious one. You were a big part of everything that occured. You swore to the doctrine of the NPFL and all of you executed your plans and goals. Now you are playing the white angel. Do you think you can fool the Liberian poeple. Be reminded no amount of UNMIL can protect you. Your best protection is to come out openly and beg the Liberian people for forgiveness. All of you were killers and looters. We would have preferred all of you including Taylor be tried for your crimes against Liberians not Sierra Leoneans. Infact, many Sierra Leoneans are complaining that people who committed war crimes are roaming the streets of Freetown while Taylor is being tried. Why don't we see the double standard. Just as you and all other warlords are in Liberia and all Liberians are reconciling and trying to put the past behind us, bet you, Taylor would have also be forgiven. So confess your sins you killer and you will be forgiven. Thanks. Wleegbloh, Australia
Thanks for the space. This report is very one-sided. I think it will be fair enough to balance your reporting by quoting all sides of Blah's testimony. Many of us are following the trial and thank God that there are access to both the prosecution and defense interactions with the witnesses. Blah responded to questions from both the prosecution and defense and judging from what a read, there are no indications that Blah was even close to being part of Taylor's inner circle. Blah's testimony like previous witness was a joke and blow to the prosecution if you are truly following the trial (charlestaylortrial.org). You only quoted responses from Blah from qiestions asked by the prosecution and failed to balance the story by atleast a response from the defense grilling. Yannaboy