Charles Taylor today accused the United Nations of making him responsible for the presence of Liberian fighters among rebel forces in Sierra Leone during its 11-year conflict. This misconception, he said, had landed him in jail today.
Mr. Taylor's defence counsel Courtenay Griffiths read from a United Nations (UN) Security Council report which stated that over 100 Liberian fighters were identified among rebel forces killed by Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) soldiers after the military intervention that forced the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and Revolutionary United Front (RUF) junta from power in 1998. The report further read that about 65 Liberian fighters had been arrested and detained at Sierra Leone's maximum security prisons. The information is said to have been provided by Mr. Francis Okello, the then Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Taylor denied these allegations and informed the judges that the government of Sierra Leone was aware that the Liberians fighting in Sierra Leone were not sent by him, but were former members of the Liberian army who had escaped to Sierra Leone, had become part of the Special Task Force and then hired to fight alonsgide the Sierra Leone army.
"We are shocked by this because we knew, the government of Sierra Leone and ECOWAS knew who the Liberians were," Mr. Taylor said.
Mr. Taylor said that this was the first time that such an allegation had been made against him and it only happened when he asked the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo that had been imposed on Liberia. "For the first time, this is raised. It is a complete shock to me and my government," Mr. Taylor said. "If Okello had taken his time to investigate the matter, he would have known that they were not my people. If he had done his homework, he would have known the fact. He did not do his homework."
Mr. Taylor told judges that his failure to clarify the presence of Liberians in Sierra Leone is what has brought him to his present state. "We never succeeded in putting the fact that there were Liberians in Sierra Leone but not sent by Taylor. This is what got me to jail today," he said.
The AFRC/RUF junta regime was established when soldiers of the Sierra Leone army overthrew the government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah in May 1997. The junta forces were eventually forced out of power through a military intervention by ECOMOG forces in February 1998.
The prosecution alleges that Charles Taylor supported the junta regime and provided them with arms and ammunition. The prosecution further alleges that Liberian forces under Mr. Taylor's control were sent by him to fight alongside the rebel forces in Sierra Leone. Mr. Taylor has denied the allegations and has said in his testimony that he was in concert with other West African leaders to remove the junta from power and restore peace in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Taylor told the judges that some members of the international community did not like him being president of Liberia. "Maybe some people saw me as a problem, looking back at the coup, war, a situation where he was trained in Libya, and so they tried to stop me from being elected as president, the Liberian people did not buy the arguement, I think the word came out then that we must stop Taylor," he said.
Mr. Taylor has also been accused of hosting RUF commanders such as Sam Bockarie for regular meetings in Liberia. Mr. Taylor said that the first time he spoke with Sam Bockarie was in September 1998 when he became member of the ECOWAS Committee of Five, a committee that was set up to facilitate a peaceful end to the conflict in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Taylor said that he had nothing to gain from destabilizing Sierra Leone as it is "only with stability in the region will Liberia get investors."
Mr. Taylor's testimony continues tomorrow.
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Charles Taylor, Should stop telling lies to the judges in the (Hague). Charles Taylor, is responsible for all the innocent killing in Liberia and Sierria Leone. He help sponsored the RUF Rebel with deadly weapon to killed people and looting their belonging with his rebels followers. Did Charles Taylor ever tell the court that all his illegal weapon were coming from the port of Buchana because he didn't have access to the freeport of Monrovia so all his illegal deals was at the port of buchanna. Charles Taylor have to face both the(Hague) and the (TRC)here in Liberia. He has to give account of the finance ministry workers he put under house arrest and what lead to killing and burning of their homes during the July 2002 to 2003 before leaving for Nigeria. Thank God Charles Taylor left Liberia and all of his illegal weapon cease. Prince Johnosn and other warlord that are now trying to create problems in Liberia from not going to the face justice at the (TRC)hearing. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, should be shame of her self because she knew what she did to the Liberian people durings the 80's was not right at all. Her she is president illegal because she stole the vote from the soccer legend Mr. George Oppong Weah. All she have to tell the Liberian people is to tell huge lies. Liberia is not safe at all even thou we have U.N. Peace keeper but Liberia is still not safe. If the U.N. troop dare to say they are leaving because Liberia is at peace now that will not be good at all because some of those warlord that presently holding local positions in the country now will try to creat problems to become president. Liberia is only guarded by the Almighty God but not the U.N. Troops.
Diana, New Castle, United Kingdom
To Diana! With regards to your rants agains Charles Taylor for not telling the truth to the Hague and TRC please would you please volunteer and present concret evedences as a credible witnes in an impartial court of law. one has to swear to tell the truth and present evidence/s if not it will be just like lies or hearsays. I don't support Taylor but if there isn't evidence/s you become fools or someone who accuse one of wrong doing which they could have done but with no proofs.
To Diana, in a court case and procedures you have to prove beyond resonable doubt with concret evidences that Charles Taylor did those dispicable crimes when Forday Sanko and RUF where innnocent. I don't support Taylor but in all enersts and fairness prove beyond doubt that arms where received and recorded in Liberia and her ports then found later on in Sierra Leonnean territory, did Charles Taylor cross into sierra leone to rape torture, amputate when RUF who carried out the horricf crimes are innocent. Prove beyond doubt that c.Taylor ordered liberinas into Sierra Leone to commit those atrocities, if evidence is non available he might be innocence or an impartial judge will declare evidence none. He could have receive diamonds in a coffee jar or mayonasse but in a neutral court one has to present evidences both pictorials and forensics plus DNA if ever they are and were available. This is very very complex as crime was done but prove beyond doubt not just words of mouths for things alagedly done on sierra loenean territory by some one across the bordder.
Do you need proofs for April 6? Octopus? Death of Samuel Dokie? Killing of General Mosquito in Liberia? Do you want the satellite photos of Duport Road and Harbel Massacres?
While come here when you don't have anything constructive to offer? If you think you know taylor better, then go to the court and testify.With your strong evadence,you might be able to get some of the money that zigzag marzah received.What you expert? Taylor should say that he order troops to chop arms and legs? Would you have don't that if it was in your shoes?have you ever confess to your lover that you cheated on him or her.What we are talking about here today is knowledge off. Taylor may have sent arms to sierra leone for diamons.Here we have semilar formular with some other western leaders who order its troops into a poor and week country with out a manute consent of the world body. What about the torture case at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station?But most of you already desided to be slaves under the west.Where is George Bush today? Thoses judges might know that in reality, taylor give arms for diamons.But never told them to treat their people like that.This is nottaylor history, its African history. look at kenya 2 years ago.Did you hear this in liberia. was taylor responsible for the Doe krahn killing the Gio and Mano?Was charle responsible for the prince johnson and thomas quewonkpa gio and Mano killing the Krahn?Even if taylor was not going to head the npfl, liberia the dokies and johnson and other were already in fighting.So leave the man alone!
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