Liberia: Prosecution Witness Describes RUF Use of Civilian Forced Labor

The monitors of former President Charles Taylor's trial report for www.charlestaylortrial.org

Prosecution Witness Describes RUF Use of Civilian Forced Labor

After having concluded the testimony of Prosecution Witness TF1-150 in closed session, this afternoon Prosecution Witness TF1-330, Aruna Gbona, was sworn in on the Quran. Gbona was wearing jeans and a white sweatshirt with a cap. Gbona was born in 1952 in Talia in the Kailahun District in Sierra Leone. Before the war he was a rice farmer.

Gbona testified to the following:

Command structure RUF - civilians working in forced labour

From 1996 until 2000, Gbona was forced to work for the rebels. In 1996 the rebels did not wear uniforms. He knew they were from the RUF because they would write this word on walls.

All groups of civilians working for the rebels had a G5 as their commander. A G5 was a soldier in charge of civilians. The first G5 of Gbona was Marri Feika who reported to Augustine Gbao. Prince Taylor was in command of all the junior and senior G5’s. Mosquito and Issa Sesay were the highest in command.

In 1996 Gbona became Deputy Chieftain Commander. Before the war Chieftain Commanders were called Paramount Chiefs. Prince Taylor, Mosquito and Issa Sesay appointed the Chieftain Commanders. Gbona’s duties of Deputy Chieftain Commander included receiving instructions from the Chieftain Commander, relaying these to civilians in his group, and then working together with these civilians to carry out the instructions. He was a Deputy Chieftain Commander from 1996 until the disarmament in 2000.

When it was necessary for Gbona to travel he received a pass from the rebels, as did other civilians while travelling. Without pass a civilian would be accused of spying and would be killed.

Forced labor involving farming, fishing, hunting and road working

Gbona did forced labor from 1996 until 2000 in his native village Talia and in/near Kailahun Town, both in the Kailahun District. The farming included cultivating rice, coffee, cocoa and palm oil. The harvest had to be handed over to the rebels who would sell it at a river nearby. Gbona considered this procedure to be slavery: before the war he could cultivate the land at his own pace and the harvest would be for him and his family to eat and to sell. Gbona knew of at least 6 farms where civilians had to work for the rebels.

At 1.5 mile distance of his village Talia is the Keyah river. The women were forced to fish there and hand these over to the rebels. Hawa Gussu, a female G5, was in command of these women civilians.

With other civilians Gbona was forced to hunt game for the rebels. At one time a commander called Fatoma Una ordered Gbona to bring game meat to Mosquito who was in Buedu at that time.

In Kailahun town Gbona and other civilians were forced to do weeding, cutting the grass on the roads so they would be easy accessible.

Mining diamonds

Patrick Bangula was appointed by Issa Sesay and Mosquito to look for diamonds in Yundohun. Bangula brought civilians together to do this mining in 1997/1998. Gbona has not been here, but heard this from persons visiting Kailanhun town, who had worked in mining there.

Monie La Hai was the head of mining in a mining area between the villages Monfitor and Sahbahun. La Hai reported to Stanley Jusu, who in turn reported to Augustine Gbao. Gbona has not been here, but heard this from persons visiting Kailahun town who had worked in mining there.

Patrick Bagula was in charge of the mining in Gama/Gyama (spelling?). Gbona was eyewitness to this mining by civilians: digging a pit, excavating gravel and washing this gravel.

Ages of rebel soldiers

Gbona testified that RUF rebels were as young as 8, 9 and 10 years old, children carrying guns. All the commanders (Issa Sesay, Mosquito, Augustine Gbao) had these young soldiers with them.

Physical treatment of civilians

Many civilians, including Gbona himself, were beaten when they were reluctant to work or when they did not work hard enough. Gbona mentions one name of a man who beat him harshly: Gerry (spelling?). This was when Gbona had to bring a group of 400 to clear a swamp. The place was difficult to reach, so he arrived with only 50 people, which was not enough according to this G5/commander. He was beaten on many other occasions.

Before the war having a hernia was not common in Sierra Leone. During the war many civilians had to carry heavy loads (such as bags of rice) for the rebels. Due to this fact many Sierra Leoneans ended up with hernias. Gbona was treated for this 2 years ago but many others have not had this treatment and still suffer from this ailment.

During the war it was difficult to find food. From the crops the rebels claimed little was returned to the civilians doing the forced labour. For a time Gbona and others were able to find yams in the bush, but this did not last long. Due to this lack of sufficient food and especially lack of food containing protein, many children suffered from oedema. Their legs and feet were swollen and many died. Five of Gbona’s children died in the year 1996.

At 4.30 p.m. the Court adjourned until tomorrow at 9.30 a.m., when Aruna Gbona will continue to be examined by the Prosecution.

Liberia: Prosecution Witness Describes RUF Use of Civilian Forced Labor

Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters

Success!

Error!

Error!