The New Dawn (Monrovia)

Liberia: 'General Butt Naked' Supports War Crimes Court

The rebel general who commanded troops stripped naked at battle fronts during the Liberian civil conflict says he's in support of the establishment of a war crime court here.

Joshua Milton Blayee, notoriously known as "General Butt Naked", now an evangelist, said he and others identified as people who committed heinous crimes should have their day in court.

"Those of us listed in the TRC report of bearing the responsibility for the untold suffering of our people must be prosecuted," said Blayee, who got the battle name "Butt Naked" because of striping himself naked at the battlefront as charms protection strategy during the civil war.

The ex-rebel general, who is the first former fighter to publicly declared support for the establishment of a war crimes court, said he was prepared to go before a tribunal to testify like he did during the TRC hearings.

"The trial would serve as deterrent to future generations because we do not want anything to create setback for the development of our country," Blayee noted.

He once fought with the disbanded rebel ULIMO-J led by the late Roosevelt Johnson. Blayee testified before the TRC hearing in 2008 where he admitted to killing over 20,000 persons during the course of the conflict.

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