Charles Taylor today dismissed as "lies" the evidence of a former radio operator for Sierra Leonean rebel forces, who said Mr. Taylor had talked regularly to Sierra Leone's top rebel commander during the country's conflict, asked the rebels to build airstrips in Sierra Leone for weapon deliveries from him, and provided food to the rebel forces when in Monrovia.
During his testimony in February 2008, the prosecution's 10th witness, Mohamed Perry Kamara, (alias King Perry) alleged that Mr. Taylor was in constant radio communication with Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader Foday Sankoh. The witness had told told the Special Court for Sierra Leone that based on Mr. Taylor's advice, the RUF launched an operation to capture the diamond rich town of Kono. Mr. Taylor today denied this allegation.
"I never talked to Sankoh about any operations in Kono," Mr. Taylor said. "Never did, never instructed, never discussed it with them at all."
Witness Perry also testified that in 1994, Mr. Taylor advised RUF Leader Foday Sankoh to construct an airstrip where arms and ammunition will be delivered by aircraft for use by the RUF. In his testimony today, Mr. Taylor denied having any contact with the RUF in 1994.
"What am I going to be talking to Sankoh about in 1994? There was just no contact in 1993 or 1994 between me or the RUF," the accused former president said.
"I will not dispute if some of these boys were communicating with each other. It will not be unusual if a Liberian who was fighting on the other side of the border in Sierra Leone wanted to contact a friend or family member in the NPFL [National Patriotic Front of Liberia]," Mr. Taylor added.
Witness Perry told the judges in February 2008 that he knew that Mr. Taylor and Mr. Sankoh had radio communications regularly and that the code names used by the two men were "Toyota and Beverly" respectively. In his testimony today, Mr. Taylor agreed with code names but denied that he spoke with Mr. Sankoh.
"I agree with the codes but I contest that we spoke," Mr. Taylor said. "I never spoke on the radio."
Mr. Taylor dismissed as "totally untrue" Witness Perry's allegation that the RUF "will undertake a major attack" on the advice of Mr. Taylor to Mr. Sankoh.
Witness Perry's testimony reinforced prosecution allegations that Mr. Taylor provided support to RUF rebels and that through his advice, the rebels launched strategic operations in Sierra Leone such as the attack on the country's diamond fields. Witness Perry further alleged that diamonds mined by the RUF were taken to Mr. Taylor in return for supply of weapons, food and other materials needed by the rebels. Mr. Taylor has denied these allegations.
In response to Witness Perry's allegations that Mr. Taylor provided radio communications equipment for RUF commanders, Mr. Taylor today explained that while he provided a satellite phone for use by RUF commander Sam Bockarie, he did not provide the phones used by RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Issa Sesay. When Mr. Sankoh was arrested in May 2000, Issa Sesay took over the leadership of the RUF.
Witness Perry had also said that while Sam Bockarie acted as leader of the RUF during Mr. Sankoh's detention from 1997 to 1999, Mr. Taylor gave Mr. Bockarie instructions to construct an airstrip in Kono where flights would land with weapons for the RUF. Mr. Taylor dismissed the allegation as false.
"I did not give such instructions. If this was the case, then Sam Bockarie's Salute Report is incomplete and he deceived his boss. I believe he will not have hidden these things from Sankoh. He must be ungrateful then," Mr. Taylor said.
"Your honor, this thing is all a lie. I gave no such advice. So help me God," the former president added.
Mr. Taylor further denied the witness's allegations that he (Taylor) used to provide food supplies to RUF leaders when they went to Liberia. "I did not give RUF any food. Sankoh bought rice when he came to Liberia," he said.
The former Liberian president also denied giving rice to Mr. Bockarie for use by the RUF and the witness' allegations that Mr. Bockarie informed other RUF members whenever he returned from Liberia with food and weapons from Mr. Taylor.
Also in his testimony today, Mr. Taylor expressed shock at Witness Perry's allegation that in 1998, Mr. Taylor sent a herbalist to provide traditional treatment for RUF rebels in Sierra Leone so as to prepare them for battle.
"I don believe in juju. How am I going to take someone to Sierra Leone when I don't believe in juju and I didn't use it in the NPFL?" he asked.
Mr. Taylor's testimony continues tomorrow.
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May the souls of those who died during the senseless wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone rest in peace. The wars were brought on the innocent people by Charles Taylor and Foday Sankor for their selffish gains. Taylor is now denying everything about these civil wars. The time is coming when Taylor will even deny knowing Chucky Taylor. On the other hand I do not really blame Charles Taylor for all these lies. If I kill your mothers and fathers and you still elect me to rule over you, what are you telling me. I will feel that you do not have a brain in your head. So is the case with those still residing in Liberia. Most of the Liberian people proved to the international communities that they are fools by electing Taylor and now Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Because Taylor is so psycho, he thinks he can still play his games in the International Court in the Hague, just as he did with the Liberian people. He thinks he will escape been punish by telling all the lies.
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO TO YOU MY BROTHER, I THINK FROM MY OBSERVATION YOU ARE ONE OF THE CONCERN LIBERIAN THAT I EVER GOT. OK LET KEEP ON TELLING THE PEOPLE THEIR ERROR IN OUR HOME. ONCE AGAIN THANKS AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. OMELL
You're a sound mind indeed.I remembered on that day,as I was on my facts-finding mission in Liberia.On that day it was announced that the great holy ghost(Charles Taylor)of Liberia was coming to the capital,Monrovia.At this point I found myself amongst some sweaty-smell youths with their mouths wide open singing"you kill ma Ma,you kill ma Pa,I'll vote for you".From the USTC company onto the Broad street,was jammed packed and the air filled with different melodious sounds of the above song version.
My judgement at the time was,are Liberians happy to welcome the bandit that turned himself to a holy ghost for his people? Well, certainly,I was right!But,there were some people who went on the streets to see how this man will feel and react to the people who were welcoming him to the capital that he once vowed to destroy and a capital that he once told the most educated Sawyer,"that even if Sawyer paint the streets in Monrovia white there'll be no peace".This was the time when Sawyer offered peace and Ecomog was flying white Flags.
On that day one great thing that left me thinking,was my question to one of the happily dancing Lady with a sweaty face as she looked at me.I ask,"why are you so happy when yesterday you were crying with this man's name?"She said,"you meh...we tayer wit dis fighting,if we na vot for dis Taylor he we go back in the bush".On this note I concluded that many were still afraid of this rebel lord.
It was not only this lady that touched my concern,but even the most popular radio fm owners were happily broadcasting the coming of Taylor to the Capital,using the best vocabs,adjectives,verbs,nouns,that you can find in the Queen's Language.I supported them because they were doing their jobs as stipulated by the job they were trained for(Journalism).The most ethically created profession in the World.They don't take side,they're not politicians,you can't buy their profession and they don't trade their pride to politicians.
Brother man,I'll like you to search "The website that your boss doesn't want you to know about.(Psst...it's FREE) http://www.ezinfocenter.com/3766348/Free HEADLINE:Can Charles Taylor's Apologists Explain His Ties to Al Qaeda? BYLINE:Ryan Lizza,an associate editor at TNR
There was no way the suffering Liberian masses could compromise the peace or set pre-conditions for peace.We badly needed a stop to the nonsense that was going on at the time.I don't blame the poor masses on that day.It was necessary for such a crowd on the streets,to make him know and understand that people were really yarning for peace at all cost.Can you imaging seeing a boy of five desperately looking for food on the bare coal tarr at the st.paul bridge community.
I shed tears when I saw this boy picking on chewed sugar cane that some one dropped on the tarr.The boy's stomach was protruding because there was no balance diet for him and not only him,but no one could boast of having a balanced diet in 1990,1992,1996 or 2003.Even the very Diplomats,Ecomog or anyone else.I could've helped that little boy...but how? As I stood gazing at this boy,it was possible to check my own rib bones because my skin flesh was escaping from the bones.There was no lubricant(Food)to nourish my skin flesh,which could help shelter my bones. So forgive us if we did violate the rules of engagement by singing on the streets for Taylor.
Fellow Liberians, I was only a teenager when the war started in 1989. I was only dreaming about graduating from high school in order to pursue higher education, but the dream came to a stand still when the senseless civil war started. After been separated from family and friends and living in the bushes for a year and half, the Lord God provided a way for me to travel to the Ivory Coast. While in the Ivory Coast, the Lord provided a way for me and eighteen members of my family, including my dad to resettle in the U.S.A. in 1993. Upon my arrival in the U.S.A. I went on to fulfill my dream, which is graduating from high school. Althought , I was a twenty - year old man at the time, but my dream came through. I am very thankful to the Lord Almighty God for where he took me from and for where he has brought me in life. I am presently an Electronic Technician, a plumber, a married man with a seven years old son, a Sergeant in the United States Army, an Engineer Equipments Repairer, and a student expecting to get my Bsc in Human Services during the spring of 2010. Fellow Liberians, I am a soldier, and I want to tell you that "WAR is HELL", and we don't want that in Liberia again. My cousin got killed by Charles Taylor's men in Paynesville in 1996. They broke both of his eyes, tied him to a pickup truck, and dragged him to death. WHY? WHY? Fellow Liberians, why? I have forgiven those involved, but it is time for Liberians both at home and abroad to change our ways of life. It is time to go to school or help our children to go to school so that the so called educated masses will not fool us to take up arms again against each other. Does that make sense? Thank you. May God bless all Liberians and Liberia as a whole.
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