Liberia's "big man" surely thought he'd enjoy a comfortable retirement when he left power back in 2003. But on April 26 the Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity, proving that even the most powerful aren't immune from justice.
As I watched Taylor looking on somberly as the verdict was read, I recalled that for years, the prospects for Taylor's surrender looked extremely bleak. Despite an international arrest warrant for him, the Nigerian government offered Taylor safe haven and he went into exile.
The judges at the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, a mixed international-national war crimes court sitting in The Hague, found Taylor guilty of aiding and abetting all 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity on which he was charged. He was also found guilty of planning the crimes during attacks on three districts in Sierra Leone. This decision is the first of its kind against a head of state.
The conviction is a triumph for the Sierra Leone victims. When I traveled to Freetown in 2004, people consistently told me they wouldn't consider justice complete for the country's armed conflict, which ended in 2002, unless Taylor was brought to the dock. Activists emphasized that because of Taylor's involvement with Sierra Leone's rebel forces during the conflict, he was central to any effort to hold those responsible to account.
While Taylor got on with a quiet existence in Calabar, Nigeria, activists across West Africa joined with international groups such as Human Rights Watch to campaign for his surrender. We sought to make clear that seeing to it that he faced trial was not simply a matter of "Western concern," as some critics suggested, and to keep the issue on the international agenda.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's president at the time, indicated he would consider extraditing Taylor to Liberia if a duly-elected Liberian president requested it. However, Liberia's new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who took office in January 2006, initially indicated that Taylor's surrender was not a priority. Perhaps partly due to our campaigning, accompanied by urging for Taylor's surrender by the British and United States governments, Johnson Sirleaf did an about face. In March, explaining that international pressure had made it impossible for Liberia to address other issues until Taylor was surrendered, she submitted a request to the Nigerian government for his transfer.
An international chase that seemed the stuff of Hollywood films followed. But in the end - and with the apparent threat that a scheduled meeting between the Nigerian president and U.S. President George Bush would be cancelled unless Taylor was arrested - Taylor was taken into custody on Nigeria's border with Cameroon and sent to Freetown. His trial was transferred to The Hague in June 2006 due to concerns over instability if his case were tried in West Africa, and opening arguments began in June 2007.
The trial was complex. Some 115 witnesses testified, more than 1,000 exhibits were admitted, tens of thousands of pages of transcripts were generated, and hundreds of motions were decided. Taylor himself took the stand for nearly seven months.
After more than a year of deliberations, the judges announced their verdict in a session lasting more than two hours, which provided detailed findings on Taylor's role in committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone. Specifically, the court found that Taylor was individually criminally responsible for the crimes by providing arms and ammunition, military and financial support, and encouragement to the Revolutionary United Front and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, rebel groups responsible for terrorizing civilians, rape, murder, enslavement, and child recruitment, among other crimes. Appeals are now anticipated, while sentencing is scheduled for late May.
Critics of international justice often question the significance of charging suspects when they seem beyond the reach of law. The Taylor verdict shows how short-sighted that perspective is. Though Taylor did not immediately face justice after his indictment was unsealed, he ultimately was taken into custody, tried and judged for his crimes.
The verdict should put fugitives from justice - even at the highest levels of power - on notice. Notably, while President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on crimes committed in Darfur is at liberty today, he may be brought to trial in the future.
Of course, whether suspects are held to account depends on the actions of governments, and the long-term impact of the verdict beyond Sierra Leone rests with countries that are committed to accountability for the worst crimes. Countries that are members of the International Criminal Court, for example, should insist that Al-Bashir is surrendered for trial. For crimes not subject to the ICC's jurisdiction, including crimes committed in Liberia under Taylor's presidency before the ICC became operational, we look to governments to pursue prosecutions through national courts with international support as needed.
Victims obtained some justice for Taylor's brutal crimes on April 26.
Governments should build upon this landmark decision to ensure that victims everywhere have the same opportunity.
Elise Keppler is senior counsel with Human Rights Watch's international justice program.
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WHO EVVER AUTHORED THIS COMMENT IS CLEARLY NOT FOR THE BLACK LIBERATION OF ALL AFRICA. THE INTERNARNATIONAL COURT IS BASED SOLEY ON EUROEAN INTERPRETATION OFLAWS. THEY ABSENTLY EXCUSE THEMSELVES FROM BEIGN SIGNATOURTIES TO THESE LAWS SO THE COURT DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM ; HOWEVER THEY WANT TO BE THE WORLD SPOL;ICE MEN AS CORRUPT AS THEY ARTE WE MUST PUT OUR TRUST IN THEIR JUSTICE SYSTEM. ARE AFRICANS SO LACKING IN INTGERIRY THAT WE CAN NOT FIND OUR OWN COURTS OF HIGH QUALITY AND JUSTICE. THRUOUT AFRICA WE HAVE GREAT ACADAMIANS WHOM ARE WELL VERSED IN LAWS INTERNATIONALYU AND NATIONALY WE NEEED THESE MANS ' TO SIT DOWN PENA JUDICIAL REVIEW THAT WILL BE RESPECTED BY ALL THE MEMBERS INOUR GLORIOUS AFRICAN UNION. IF WE AS AFRICANS DO NOT ELEVVATEW THE UNION OF BROTHERS TO SEEK REFEMPTION FROM COLONIAL MISJUSTICE AND NATO IMPERIALISM ZIONISM THE HEGEMOPNIES OF THESE ORGANISATIONS WILL IMPRISON AFRICA FOR ANOTHER THOUSAND YEARS WHERE THEY WILL HAVE UNDERMINED ALL OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EARTHS HISTORY AND THEIR LIES WOULD HAVE BECOME STANDARD FOR ALL TO BELIVE. WE MUST KNOW THAT WEW MUST EDUCATE OURSELKVES WE MUST TEACH THOSE WHO HAVE NEANS TO TEACH THEMSELVES. IT IS OUR DUTIES TO BE OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS. IT IS UNMISLAMIC
WHO EVVER AUTHORED THIS COMMENT IS CLEARLY NOT FOR THE BLACK LIBERATION OF ALL AFRICA. THE INTERNARNATIONAL COURT IS BASED SOLEY ON EUROEAN INTERPRETATION OFLAWS. THEY ABSENTLY EXCUSE THEMSELVES FROM BEIGN SIGNATOURTIES TO THESE LAWS SO THE COURT DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM ; HOWEVER THEY WANT TO BE THE WORLD SPOL;ICE MEN AS CORRUPT AS THEY ARTE WE MUST PUT OUR TRUST IN THEIR JUSTICE SYSTEM. ARE AFRICANS SO LACKING IN INTGERIRY THAT WE CAN NOT FIND OUR OWN COURTS OF HIGH QUALITY AND JUSTICE. THRUOUT AFRICA WE HAVE GREAT ACADAMIANS WHOM ARE WELL VERSED IN LAWS INTERNATIONALYU AND NATIONALY WE NEEED THESE MANS ' TO SIT DOWN PENA JUDICIAL REVIEW THAT WILL BE RESPECTED BY ALL THE MEMBERS INOUR GLORIOUS AFRICAN UNION. IF WE AS AFRICANS DO NOT ELEVATE THE UNION OF BROTHERS TO SEEK REFEMPTION FROM COLONIAL MISJUSTICE AND NATO IMPERIALISM ZIONISM THE HEGEMOPNIES OF THESE ORGANISATIONS WILL IMPRISON AFRICA FOR ANOTHER THOUSAND YEARS WHERE THEY WILL HAVE UNDERMINED ALL OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EARTHS HISTORY AND THEIR LIES WOULD HAVE BECOME STANDARD FOR ALL TO BELIVE. WE MUST KNOW THAT WEW MUST EDUCATE OURSELKVES WE MUST TEACH THOSE WHO HAVE NEANS TO TEACH THEMSELVES. IT IS OUR DUTIES TO BE OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS. IT IS UNMISLAMIC TO NOT PROTECT HUMANITY FROM SIGHTING " "ALLAH HAS GIVEN US MANY WAYS TO FOLLOW HIS GUIDELINES WITHOUT THE USE OF "PEACE2 AS THE SUPREME WEAPON OF JUSTICE. WHATEVER WE DO ON EARTH MUST BE CONSUMED WITH WIZE INTELLECT AND JSUTICE THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL VIRTUES OF ISLAM OR ANY RIGHTEOUSS MAN. EQUITY PARITY ARE STRESSED IN FUNDAMENTAL ISLAM. WE MUST ALSO KNOW THAT CONTRARY TO WHAT IS DAID THAT THE TRUTH OF WHAT WAS UTTERED BY THE "PROPHET MUHAMAAD2 PEACE BE UPON HIM HAS BEEN CORRUPTED BY MANY. IF THIS WEWRE NOT SO THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE SECTARIANISM THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CAL, FOR DIFFERNCES IN ISLAM AS THE FUNDAMENTAL S ARE UNIVERSAL. NO MAN HAS MONOPOKY OVER "ALLAH" QUITE TO THE CONTRARY "ALLAH" HAS MONOPOLY OVER ALL AMN AS "HE" IS "OUR LORD AN CREATOR" HE IS INDEED "THE SUPREMED BEING"SO WE ARE OBLIGATED TO LOVE HUMANITY AS WE LOVE OURSELVES BECAUSE WE ARE ALL THE CREATORS OF ONE SOURCE THJIS MAKES US FAMILY IN BLOOD AS WE ALL THE SHARE THE SAME BLOOD LINE. SUDAN IS ONE PEOPLE WHETER YOU SPEAK ARABIC ORSWAHILI THIS STILL THE LAND OF THE BLACKS AS IT WAS SO WISELY CALLED. THERE ARE NO INTEGHRAL DIFFERNCES BETWEEN AN ARAB OR AN UGANDAN EXCEPT THAT ONE HAS SUBMITTED TO "ALLAH "AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT "THERE ARE NO OTHERS GRETAER THAN HE" THIS OCNCEPT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIOS OF AFRICANS BEFORE THE CORRUPTION OF WESTERN CHRISTIANITY. THIS NOT TO SAY THAT THERE CAN NOT BE CHRISTINNAS WHO ARE INDEED RIGHTEOUSS AND KNOW TRHE THE TRUE TEACHINGS ARE THAT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ALL LIIVNG BY THE MERCIES OF "ALLAH" ABOVE HIM THERE IS NONE AND HE RULES UNACCOMPANIED" MANY IN CHRITIANDOM HAVE BEGAN TO SIGHT THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE ORIGINALY THOUGHT AS BLACK MAN . EAST AFRICA WAS ORIGIANLLY THE BIRTH PLACE OF MAN WE THEN SET TO EMBARK UPON THE TEACHINGS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ADAAM HE WAS THE FIRST TO BE INSTRUCTED BY "ALLAH" "ALLAH DI NOT LEAVE HI TO FGEND FOR HIMSELF HE WAS GIVERN THE TEACHINGS OF THE UNIVERS E THE PLANET AND ALL ITS KNWOLEGE. WHEN YOU READ THE SCRIPTURES OF OLD IT IS CLEAR THAT MAN WAS GIVEN DOMINION OVER ALL THINGS THIS CLEARLY SIGHTS THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARTH THE SKIES THE SEAS WERE GIVEN TO THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE THE "ALMIGHTY GOD'S " CREATION. ADAAM WAS INSTRUCTED TO INSTRCUT HIS SONS AND HIS WIFE WHAT WE MUST KNOW THAT "ALLAH" WAS VIGILANT INM THE LIVES OF MAN WHEN WE WALKED THE PLANET AS GIANTS. WE CONSTRUCTED AND MADE GREAT CIVLIZATIONS THAT ECOMPASSED THE PLANET BUT HERE IN AFRICA WAS THE GARDEN OF EDEN. HERE ON THE PLANET TODAY WE FIND EVERY SINGLE BIRD EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL THAT WAS ORIGINALY FROM THIS CONTINENT. WHEN MANTRAVLED HE BROUGHT MANY ANIMNALS WITH HIM BUT THE VAST MAJOURITY STILL REMAINS IN AFRICA. WE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO MANY CHANGES ON THE PLANET BUT WE ARE STILL THE DOMINANT FORCE THAT EXIST WITHOUT WISENESS AND TJE WILL OF ALLAH WE WOULD NOT BEHERE TO DAY. WHAT WE MUST ALSO REOCNISE THAT THE BLACK AFRICAN IS PRINMARY TO THE GENE POOL OF ALL HUMANITY HE IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE BIRTH OF ALL THE DIFFERNT PEOPLES WE SEE ON THE PLANET. THERE IS NO MAN THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS GRETA GENE OF THE FIRST AND ORIGINAL MAN. WEHAVE FOR YEARS IN THE MILLIONS WALKED AND GOVERNED THIS GLORIOUS PLANET EARTH. WE MSUT NOT SUBJECT ORUSELVES IN BECOMING WEAK AND DISPARITE WITH OUT JUSTICE AND EQUITY WHAT WE KNOW TO BE FUNDAMENTAL TO ALL MUSLIMS. ISLAM IS AN AFRICAN IDEOLOGY AND ARABIC IS ALSO A ABLACK LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED BY THE PROPHET MUHAMAD TO TEACH AND UNITE PEOPLE OF ISLAM THIS LANGUAGE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SPREEADING OF ISLAM. WE SEE THAT THE IDEOLOGY WASS UNIVERSAL AS THE ARABIC LANGUAGE HAS SPREAD OUTSIDE AFRICA TO ALOT OF ASIA THE WEST AND MANY MORE PLACES BUT THE LANGAUGE IS NOT SPOKEN ANY HWERE MORE THAN ON THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA. WHAT THAT SUGGEST IS THAT THE WHITES HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL INMDESTROYOIN ARABIC IN AFRICA AS THIS WAS THE LANGUAGE OF EDUCATION AND POETRY MUSICS ETC. WE MUST NOT FORGET OUR ROOTS AND WE MUST NTO ALLOW FOR RACISM AGAINST OUR BROTHERS AND SISTER THE WEST HAS DENIED THEM THE TRUTH THEY TRICKED AN DCONNED THEM INTO ACCEPTING A WITE GOD AN DIN ESSENCE FOL;LOW THEIR TEACHINGSAS BEING SUPERIOR TO THE BLACK MAN. THEY HAVE TAKEN OUR TEACHINGS INMCLUDING THE GOSPELS REWRITTEN IT TO SUITT THEIR POLITICAL ENDS. THEY DO NOT BELIVE IN GOD NOR DO THEY ACCEPT THAT THERE IS AN AFTER LIFE THSE FUNDEAMEWNTAL THOUGHST ARE FAR AAND WIDE IN WHAT AFRICANS BELIVE AND I ASSURE YOU THAT EVEN WITH THE CORRUPTION BY WHITES WHICH WE MUSTY REMEBER THAT DURING THE TIMES OF THE GOSPELLS THEY WERE SATILL UNBNCIVILISED SO THE TEACHINGS WERE RESSP[ONSIBLE TO REACH THEM AND TEACH THEM OF"ALLAH". WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS SWITCHED THE TRUTH TO MAKLE IT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE THE TEACHESR AND THEY CAME TO INSTRUCT US WHEN IT IS QUITE TO THE CONTARY. SCIENCE AND INTELLECT HAS MADE ME RIGHT AND THEM WRONG. THEY HAVE NO JURISDICTION IN AFRICA IN THE WAYS THEY SEEK TO DO. WE MUST REAQUAINT ALL THE PEOPLE WITH KNWOLEDGE AND NOT BIAS AND CONFUSSION IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO BRING AS MANY WE CAN TO THE TRUE RIGHTEOUSS CAUSE OF "ALLAH "AND ALL HIS GLORIOUS TEACHINGS" BLACK FATHERS AND MOTHERS SHOULD KNOW WHO THEY ARE WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SCATTERED ABOUT THE WORLD DECIDED TO COME INTO AFRICA THEY CALLED US "THE GODS". "AFRICA WAS THE LAND OF THE GODS" THIS DID NOT CHANGE WHEN THEY STARTED CALLING JESUS A GOD HE TOLD THEM DIFFERNTLY BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR IGNORANCE THETY REWROTE THE SRCIPTURES AND MADE HIM GOD IN THEIR IMAGE. WE MUST KNOW THE TRUTH."ALLPRAISES ARE DUE TO THE MOST HIGH"
The CRIMINAL MIND is what it is and can not be changed. People are always seeking to do sick stuff to others and whine and justify themselves. That's why they are JUDGED by the broader society and held accoutable whether they like it or not. If you exist on this earth you leave evidence by the very FACT you exist. It's called DNA among others. The GREATEST security aparatus is the sea of people all around the criminals. Eyes and ears all around. That will ALWAYS be. I don't know everything, thus I can NEVER understand why people lust to hurt others. Can't relate. But they exist and only the broader societies do diligence keeps the criminal mind from becoming ALL EVERYWHERE. The richest criminal to the poorest criminal and everything in between. And even throw in POETIC JUSTICE (a.k.a. the justice they didn't expect from an unseen force).
And who is next,Bush and Blair for war crimes in Iraq?Or Obama for the murder of Bin Laden?Add Sarkozy and Cameron for the murder of Gadaffi and the on going war in Pakistan,Somalia and Afghanistan.Who are you trying to fool with your white lies?
And who is next,Bush and Blair for war crimes in Iraq?Or Obama for the murder of Bin Laden?Add Sarkozy and Cameron for the murder of Gadaffi and the on going war in Pakistan,Somalia and Afghanistan.Who are you trying to fool with your white lies?