31 October 2008
The Rev. Clearance Moore, former Chaplain General of then Ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP), and now General Overseer/Pastor of Gate of External Life Children International has written, Cllr. Courtenay Griffiths, the lead counsel of the defense team of the former President Charles Taylor, expressing disgust about the manner in which the former Liberian president is being treated in his own country.
In his letter dated October 23, 2008, Rev. Elder Moore, Sr. primarily saluted Cllr. Griffiths and his defense colleagues for job well done.
"I should first of all congratulate and commend you and your hardworking legal defense team for the splendid and very fruitful legal services you all are rendering so effectively and relentlessly for our former president Charles Taylor and country."
Besides applauding the team, he recognized that the interest of the former president is stake as far as the case is concerned, not only in the team's legal work, but also ensuring his safety and personal well-being.
He credited the work of the legal team as "remarkable and a worthy initiative" which should be welcomed and cherished by every patriotic Liberian at home and abroad.
In the letter which, by and large, epitomizes his displeasure about the approach of Liberians to the Taylor case, the prelate also applauded the stance of the legal team to deny and shun the decision of "so-called TRC in Liberia" for what he called "their dubious, hypocritical and sheer pretending request for former President Taylor to be permitted to appear before its ongoing public hearings."
He said he had thought the government would have protected the former president when he was brought to Liberia, but very embarrassingly, the government turned him over the United Nations.
He thought the issue could have been treated like a national tragedy that would claim the attention of every Liberian. Instead, Liberians are engaging in acts that are detrimental to the interest of the former president at the trial.
"Therefore I share your concerns that this request by the TRC is an affront mockery and total disregard for the present status of the former president, as his trial has been ignored and downplayed by both the current UP-led government and the TRC," he said in his letter.
He said the TRC and the government are trying to serve as both grand jury for the court to "clandestinely convict former President Taylor at all cost in the trial in favor of the people of Sierra Leone."
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