Charles Taylor today called prosecution allegations that he was involved in ritual sacrifice and cannibalism "racist". The accused former Liberian president also dismissed his trial as an extension of regime change policies of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Mr. Taylor spent a second day responding to the evidence of prosecution witness and former member of Mr. Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), Joseph Marzah. In his 2008 testimony, Witness Marzah (otherwise known as "Zig Zag" Marzah) alleged that he was present at Mr. Taylor's residence when the former Liberian president buried a pregnant woman at the back of his house as a ritual sacrifice to obtain power in Liberia. Witness Marzah also testified that he feasted on human beings together with Mr. Taylor while he served as Chief of Operations for the NPFL.
A very angry Mr. Taylor today dismissed the allegations agaist him as being "racist."
"It is not true. But you know, there is something deeper to this whole thing. I don't care what the prosecution says but this is racist, it is as racist as it ever gets," Mr. Taylor said in a very angry voice.
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"All the murderous regimes of Europe throughout World War II coming on, nobody is eating human beings and burying pregnant women and being sadistic as this as an African. You go to Liberia and bring four uneducated people that never even went to the ninth grade, Moses Blah never went to the ninth grade, Vamunyan Sherif hardly went to school, Abu Keita hardly, and this other one that never entered a class room, never, cannot read, cannot write and you bring him here, and you have a president eating people and burying pregnant women, this is beyond racism, it shows bigotry, and that's what this case is all about," the former president said.
Mr. Taylor also vehemently denied allegations in Witness Marzah's testimony that he (Taylor) gave orders for the execution of Superman, a Liberian commander of Sierra Leone's rebel group Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Witness Marzah also said that based on Mr. Taylor instructions, Superman's hand was cut off and his heart removed and taken to Mr. Taylor. Together with Mr. Taylor, they feasted on Superman's heart, Witness Marzah said in his testimony.
Denying Witness Marzah's allegations, Mr. Taylor today said that "there was no hand, no nothing taken to my house. I am not aware of how Superman was killed, when or how. It is not true."
Mr. Taylor further denied allegations made by Witness Marzah in his 2008 testimony that he ordered the execution of certain members of the RUF, such as commanders Sam Bockarie and Daniel Tamba (otherwise known as "Jungle"), and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) chairman Johnny Paul Koroma. [The AFRC overthrew the government of Sierra Leonean president Ahmed Tejan Kabbah in 1997 and formed an alliance with the RUF. The AFRC/RUF alliance was forcefully removed from power by West African peacekeepers in 1998. Mr. Taylor is accused of supporting both the RUF and AFRC through the supply of arms and ammunition in return for Sierra Leone's diamonds]. In his testimony today, Mr. Taylor denied killing Mr. Koroma.
"This is a lie," he said. "Johnny Paul Koroma, not to my knowledge, never entered Liberia. But as this case proceeds, most of the individuals mentioned here will come forward and give the real story."
Responding to Witness Marzah's claim that Mr. Taylor executed the Sierra Leonean rebels in order to cover any trace of his links with the RUF, Mr. Taylor said "to cover it from what? That will be total nonsense and only a sick mind will suggest that."
Mr. Taylor in his testimony, also told the judges today that his trial is part of a wave of regime change policies by western powers especially the United States and Great Britain.
"I did know that certain countries like the United States and United Kingdom were against me and were seeking regime change in Liberia. I am brought here by Britain and America," Mr. Taylor said. "At this particular time in the world when there was Iraq and regime change, it was good to go into Africa, snatch one little leader from a small country, let's set an example of him to show there is no impunity."
"Listen, there is nothing that is just about this, I have no control over it, I am going through it, and I will go through it. There is nothing legal about this," Mr. Taylor said. "Until I go to my grave, there is nothing just about this. The big powers have executed their powers, they have brought me here."
Mr. Taylor denied other allegations by Witness Marzah that he (Taylor) order that the NPFL and RUF to subject civilians to sexual violence and forced labour. He also denied giving orders to kill and eat the members of the Krahn tribe in Liberia, or to kill United Nations and West African peacekeepers. Mr. Taylor further denied supplying arms and ammunition to rebel forces in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Taylor called Witness Marzah's entire testimony a "complete set-up and it is as programmed as this."
Mr. Taylor's testimony continues tomorrow.
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Waoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It seems Taylor's vocabulary is no longer as expanded as it used to be while he reigned in Liberia.
Why should he link his trial to racism?Can't he see the peace imminent in the Mano Riviver Union Basin-especially since he left Monrovia on August 11 2003?This is someone who betrayed the peace loving people of Liberia.He terrorized them for over a decade.Hence trauma deep-rooted in fear coerced said people to elect him to power on July 19,1997,thinking such would fulfil his ambition and eventually see an end to mayhem in LIberia and beyond.Instead,as soon as he assumed authority,Taylor became so power-drunk and appeared a somewhat toxic octopus with his tentacles all over his immediate neighbourhood to devour even innocent babies. Taylor is more a grief than any relief at all to Liberia and its neighbours.
To : Vandi. What kind of peace are you referring to in the so-called Minor River Basin? Is it the peace in Guinea where the Guinean Gov. is using its citizens to target practice or is it the peace in Liberia where people are in constant fear of arm robbers-night and day. I think thetre was more peace and security in Liberia when taylor was president than under Ellen.
Emmazoryon, you need to shut your mouth if you can't recall history or see reality. Are you saying that Liberians had peace when Taylor, that criminal was in power? The arm robbers that are hanging around in Liberia are Taylor's murderous he armed while looting the neighboring countries. I pitty you guys that benefited from this criminal. You should be ashamed to compare the era of Ellen to Taylor. Can't you see the difference? Are you blind by stupidity or mere ignorance? You Taylor supporters should pray that war crimes don't find you one day. The blood of the innocent people will hunt you down until you repent and ask for forgiveness. Taylor committed these crimes period. He should be man to defend his cause and stop lying. He's now calling his own general liar when he's the father of lies. Until he can come clean and confess his deeds, justice awaits him. I guess, you one of those that didn't care about the lives of babies left on side of the roads to died when you guys were on your killing spree.
to: judgement09 and Co.: I must make a few things clear to you: I have never used a gun in my whole life.I left Liberia on Sept.1,1990 and went to Ghana and I lived there until 2001 when I left for the USA.
I went for short visits to monrovia and Buchanan in 1997,1998 and the early part of 2001 and not one day I was harrassed by and ATU/SSU.I went out a lot late at night and no one bothered me.
We didnt have 15,000 United Nations police and soldiers in Liberia during the taylor years,but the was relative peace and security compared to what we have in Liberia at present-with all the international support the gov. is getting and the presence of all the UN troops.The level of peace and security in Liberia should be by far better than what it is now.
And talking about taylor being the cause of the economic suffering in Liberia.I want to say that you are mistaken.Ellen must also be held responsible,because she helped to plan and finance the civil war.She wanted to be president so bad that she didnt care how the position was won,but when Taylor gave her koto she turned his enemy.She finally got the position at last by crook( dont forget her cousin was the election commissioner,and you can not tell me that George weah didnt win the 2005 election).
are you aware that ellen administration has received more that US ONE BILLION $$$ since she came to power? why is so much suffering in that country with such a small population? She and her friends in her gov are sending the money right back to the US to pay support their families and buy properties.
Whether you agree or not,Taylor was better than ellen to me and it is my right to have an opinion so dont be causing now.We must always agree to disagree.dont forget that my brother.
If sierra leone and guinea was not so busy helping Lurd,etc. to be invading liberia from their countries taylor might done something for that country.he was not given all the chance ellen has at her disposal and what hsa she done? you tell me.
Hello Emmanzoryon,
I think Vandi is saying that without Taylor, there is now peace in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Althought there are armed robbers in Liberia, but at least the people are not living in fear like before.
Remember when people's hands were been cut off in Sierra Leone? When Charles Taylor, his son and their ATUs were terrorizing innocent Liberians?
And Judgement, please watch your words when talking to another person. It is very rude to tell someone to shut his or her mouth. I think we should be civilized, educated, and gentle enough to know how to approach other people even if they offen us. Thank you for your understanding. Case close !!!!!!!!!!
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