CharlesTaylorTrial.org (The Hague)
Alpha Sesay
29 July 2009
Charles Taylor supported the decision of West African states to remove the Sierra Leonean junta from power in 1998, but wanted any use of force for that purpose to be authorized by the United Nations Security Council, he told Special Court for Sierra Leone judges today.
As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Five a group designed to bring peace to Sierra Leone that he had no option but to support the decision to oust the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) junta from power and restore the democratic government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, Taylor said.
"Liberia pledged its support for the ECOWAS decision to restore the government of President Kabbah to power," Taylor told the judges. He said that if Liberia had the military man power, he would have contributed troops to remove the junta from power by force.
Taylor told the judges that he was troubled that Nigeria wanted to use force to remove the junta in Sierra Leone but since he was part of the Committee of Five, he had no option but to get along with what had been agreed.
"I am troubled but I am part of the process," he said when he told judges about the decision to use force in Sierra Leone.
Taylor said that when the military intervention to remove the AFRC junta from power started in February 1998, his Liberian foreign minister, together with other West African foreign ministers, traveled to New York to address the UN Security Council on why the operation was necessary. He said that members of the Security Council, especially Britain, were opposed to the use of force in Sierra Leone without express authorization from the United Nations.
Taylor explained that his initial opposition to the use of force in Sierra Leone stemmed from the fact that any use of force without UN authorization would have had a spill-over effect on Liberia, which was just stepping out of its own conflict. He said that when tensions mounted in Sierra Leone, he closed the Sierra Leone-Liberia border so as to protect his own people.
Taylor told the judges that when he became president in 1997, he traveled to Guinea where he met with President Tejan Kabbah, who was in exile due to his overthrow by the AFRC. Taylor said his meeting with Kabbah was very cordial and there was no concern that he was supporting the AFRC.
"There was no hostility towards me by Kabbah," he said.
Taylor denied all allegations that he was a terrorist, saying that it was a phrase developed by former United States President George Bush, but its use has now been stopped by President Obama. He said western countries were opposed to him because he wanted an African solution to an African problem.
"I resent being labeled a terrorist. Africa has to be free, Africa has to determine its own destiny," he said.
The prosecution has alleged that Taylor supported the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and the AFRC junta in Sierra Leone and that by his actions or inactions, he is responsible for crimes such as murder, rape and the recruitment of children as soldiers in Sierra Leone. Taylor has denied all the allegations.
Taylor's testimony continues tomorrow.
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To above person who posted. Please stop letting emotions get the better of you. Listen to the facts of the case. Charles Taylor is telling the truth but you refused to accept it.
Taylor supported the removal of the Junta in Sierra leone? I find this like sheding "Cro- codile tears" for a friend you hate to love. Let Taylor tell us of the helicopter that the Junta leader sent to Liberia with his diamond wealth that he robbed from Sierra Leone,to his friend that was in Liberia,a very special confidant of Bukina Faso President.
Before this helicopter could reach the skies of Liberia,the Governor of the National Bank of Liberia in Taylor's Government(1stGovernor )whose Father is a Sierra Leonean,was already at the airport together with the Lands and Mines Minister,who received the diamonds.This is the reason that Taylor and the President of Bukina Faso fell-off because of this money business.There're reports that a house is been built in Liberia for the Junta Leader.
Under Sierra Leone Law this Taylor'S Governor is a bonafide Sierra Leonean citizen.We're waiting for him in Sierra Leone and he'll be arrested the day he enters Sierra Leone.His Father is already dead.We also have news that the Junta leader is still alive and enjoying in some part of the world.He'll be caught one day.I'm just security minded,so I interview,investigate and I report.So no one should tell us nonsense about Taylor's kind, evil heart.If you meet Taylor sheeting,you must take his foto or hold him with his butt on the sheet and you call people(100 or more )to see him.If you allow him to wear his troussers and you ask him the next day,he'll deny bitterly.
If the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the Hague ever allow Charles Taylor to get away with the lies he is telling, God will punish the judges. From day one of Charles Taylor's self defense, he has been telling lies, upon lies, thinking that he will get away with the killing of innocent people in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The blood of the people you killed, Mr. Taylor are crying against you for justice. You are going to prison for the rest of life. Shame on you for your lies to the Special Court. Charles Taylor you lied during the Civil Wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, now you are lying again in the Hague. Only an insane person will believe your stupid lies. Shame on those who will believe the lies of the devil and his followers like "Charles Innocent People Killer Taylor".