Charles Taylor helped three major Sierra Leonean rebel commanders to reconcile their differences but such reconciliation was not for purposes of a military takeover of the country, the accused former Liberian president told Special Court for Sierra Leone judges today in The Hague.
Mr. Taylor was responding to questions during his cross-examination today on his decision to host Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader Foday Sankoh, his deputy Sam Bockarie and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) leader Johnny Paul Koroma in a meeting in Liberia. Mr. Taylor explained that after the signing of the peace agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the RUF in 1999, there were certain differences between the RUF and the AFRC which needed to be resolved in order to make the peace agreement successful. Prosecution counsel Mr. Nocholas Koumjian today suggested to Mr. Taylor that he wanted to help the rebel commanders reconcile their differences in order to restore a military regime in Sierra Leone.
“Did you invite Foday Sankoh, Sam Bockarie and Johnny Paul Koroma to Liberia for reconciliation on how to return to military power in Sierra Leone?” Mr. Koumjian asked Mr. Taylor.
Mr. Taylor responded with a resounding “No.”
The AFRC which was formed by members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) overthrew the elected government of Sierra Leone in 1997 and formed a merger with the RUF. The AFRC/RUF junta regime ruled Sierra Leone until 1998 when they were forcefully removed from the country’s capital by West African peacekeepers. In 1999, the government signed a peace agreement with the rebel forces in the Togolese capital, Lome.
Mr. Taylor agreed with Mr. Koumjian today that when the three rebel commanders met in Liberia, the government of Sierra Leone was not represented there.
Why not invite the government of Sierra Leone?” Mr. Koumjain asked.
“Because the government of Sierra Leone was not part of the issues between them. There was bad blood between the SLAs and the RUF and their purpose was to sort out that bad blood,” Mr. Taylor said.
Mr. Taylor said that Sierra Leonean president Ahmed Tejan Kabbah “was kept informed” of the meeting between the rebel commanders in Liberia.
Mr. Taylor insisted that the meeting with the rebel commanders in Liberia was necessary to make the peace agreement between the Sierra Leone government and the rebels successful. He explained that at the signing of the peace agreement in Togo, a decision was taken to make RUF leader Mr. Sankoh vice president of Sierra Leone but nothing was said about what position should be given to AFRC leader Mr. Koroma. It was at the meeting in Liberia, of which President Kabbah was kept informed, that a decision was taken to make Mr. Koroma the Chairman for the Commission for Consolidation of Peace (CCP), Mr. Taylor said. Mr. Taylor said that he kept other West African leaders informed of these developments.
“I did not act alone,” Mr. Taylor said.
“I was on the phone with with Obasanjo [Nigerian president], Eyadema [Togolese president] and Kabbah [Sierra Leonean president]. I was not a lone ranger in this. Johnny Paul Koroma needed assurance and i assured him,” he added. According to the former Liberian president, it was after this reconciliatory meeting in Liberia that the RUF and AFRC leaders decided to travel together to Sierra Leone. They were received in Sierra Leone by president Kabbah, Mr. Taylor said.
On Mr. Koumjian’s suggestion that “that was not the purpose of the meeting” in Liberia, Mr. Taylor responded that “if Kabbah as the legitimate president of Sierra Leone did not want them in Sierra Leone, he would not have allowed them.”
Mr. Taylor explained that Nigerian president “Obasanjo sent them a plane, he sent me 225,000 USD for them and i sent them to Sierra Leone.”
Right through his testimony as a witness in his defense, Mr. Taylor has insisted that his involvement with Sierra Leonean rebels was purely for peaceful purposes in the West African country. He has explained that upon his election as president of Liberia, he became a member of the Committee of Five, a body set up by West African leaders with a mandate of facilitating a peaceful end to the conflict in Sierra Leone. Prosecutors on the otherhand have alleged that Mr. Taylor was involved in a joint criminal enterprise with the RUF rebels in Sierra Leone. The rebels, prosecutors say, used to transport Sierra Leone’s blood diamonds to Mr. Taylor in Liberia and that in return, the Liberian president gave them supplies of arms and ammunition for use in Sierra Leone. Mr. Taylor has said that he did not have arms and ammunition to fight rebel forces in his own country and therefore could not have supplied any materials to the RUF. As he continues his testimony, the former president has challenged prosecutors to present evidence that he used Sierra Leone’s diamonds to enrich himself and open bank accounts in various countries as alleged. From July 14 to November 10, Mr. Taylor testified in direct-examination as a witness in his own defense. As his cross-examination commenced, prosecutors sought to present “fresh evidence” to impeach Mr. Taylor’s testimony but the accussed former president’s defense objected, calling it a “trial by ambush.” The judges will use Monday to determine whether such “fresh evidence” should be used by the prosecution. There will therefore be not court hearings on Monday.
Mr. Taylor’s cross-examination continues on Tuesday.
ALL I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW IS LONG LIVE GHANKAY….
Again, today we saw the GAME PLAN of the prosecutors…..EXPOSE Mr. Taylor on ALL fronts and hope something happens enabling them to score. Today, we got MORE insight of Mr. Taylor’s finance…..finally ALL rumors and lies have come to a FULL STOP. Nothing else in my view to hide…Mr. Taylor told us how he was financed and his properties.
Tuesday is D DAY…..if the judges rule aginst the prosecutors, 80% of the case is over but today, Mr. Koumjain went around the Accord in a clever way but met at all points Mr. Taylor and a REASON. If the judges rule in favor of the defense, I say DO NOT call anymore witness unless there is a VERY IMPORTTANT matter relevant to the case.
What’s about the document presented that was FRESHLY SIGNEd….a photo copy of someone signing as Ben Yeaten?? What a DIRTY TRICK?? The person didn’t sign the original which cannot be found but instead a PHOTO COPY. DISBELIEVE!!!
Oh the score reads Mr. Taylor 8 vs Ms. Hollis and Mr. Koumjain 0. Yes he kept Mr. Taylor moving backward at the end but he was TAYLORIZED…..the steam he came with yesterday was a HOT AIR. He even BEGGED for time……hmmm
Senator elect Mrs. Geraldin Doe Sherif,
first of all, congratulations for your victory against President Johnson Sirleaf Unity Party. I’m kindly asking you to please put this on your agenda item as one of your first legislations. We need to have an election reform in Liberia. However, we can not continue to have an election commissioner in person of James flomoyah, who served as one of President Johnson Sirleaf’s campaign managers in the 1997 election as election commission of Liberia in 2011 election. Also, be advised, that Ellen and her international partners will get angrier with the Liberian people decision from the result of the by election and they will come back at us even harder. like the way they are already calling us names such as rebels, “grownah boy” (grown up boys), uneducated, haters of education, killers, Taylor supporters, and etc. So stand by and be strong to see more hostilities from these people.
Jose,
I’ll like to say here that this blog is not about Ellen so I shouldn’t be responding to such a ridiculer lies, but since Mr. Jose Rodriguez continue to advice un-founded Lies about Liberia current events and stretching the lies, it only makes sense to address his lying views. First and fore-most, Mr. James flomoyah was never and has never been a campaign manager for Ellen party. I m ashamed of you about writing such a lie, because you’ve been an outstanding blogger, my half Liberian brother, JOSE. How can this Election commissioner be so bias when more then half of the Bi-elections has been won by Ellen’s opponent? Apart from vague and un-supported lies, can you point out cheat(s) that you or your party’s official saw. If you can come up with them, then I suggest we have an election’s re-run. Geraldin Doe Sherif won, so what? Is that what we’ll EAT?
Congratulation to her because she campaign well, designed great election strategies, and laid a good platform which I read. I guess it’s because she graduated from Fallah’s reputable University in Liberia un-like the CDC standard barrier. Liberian saw through the BS and voted for her. Please put your attention back on the trial or is the prosecution boring you? Let us know and we might be able to help MY DEAR BLOGGER
Grebo,
you considered me your half Liberian brother. However, I consider you a whole of my Liberian brother instead of half. Let me make it very clear, I’m not a member of the CDC or any political party.
Grebo however, it is essentially important to know that a coalition has been built by th trial of President Taylor. This coalition is comprising of both fans of President Johnson Sirleaf, Taylor supporters, political parties, and others. Therefore, I personally will not want to make that coalition fragile. Correct me if my assumption is wrong. I think you are one of those fans of President Johnson Sirleaf who thinks that the prosecution is doing a sloppy and lousy job. You may also agree with most on this site, that President Taylor is innocent as charged based upon the evidence produced thus far. However, in as much much as you agree with me “almost all the times on this trial” , you feel compelled to fight back, if I engage in a conduct of saying things not favorable to Ellen. Grebo, I can understand that. But bear in mind, this is a two way street. While it is true that you may take serious exception to the bashing of Ellen, some on this site have also engaged in the conduct of bashing President Taylor too. And these people are suspected of being Ellen supporters. As the result some of us don’t see Ellen to be inoculated from such criticism. Just imagine some are saying they want to see a photo of the former president of the Republic of Liberia in shackles and handcuffs, while some call him all kinds of detastable names. However, I hope you understand too.
Lastly Grebo, thanks for the kind words of agreeing with me “almost all the times on issue concerning this trial” and how you enjoy my writings and postings. I appreciate BROTHER.
Now concerning the election commission of Liberia, there have been reports of fraud, irregularities and illegal activities involving the commission during the just ended by election. Commissioner James fromoya, conceded that about 23,000.00 extra votes were discovered that was not a part of the actual votes on the records. he also admitted that ballot boxes were were not delivered on time and some people were not able to vote as the result of their names not on the registral due to poor planing. So my whole brother Grebo, we need election reform in Liberia.
President Johnson Sirleaf,
Goodbye Ellen 2011. Bye Bye rebel grandma. The Special Court for Sierra Leone will vote for you in 2011, or George Bush and Tony Blair will maneuver for you again.
UN, please don’t take your 15,000.00 troops from Liberia when President Sirleaf is defeated in 2011, don’t leave., because she and LURD, and MODEL will bring war on us again. Always maintain this standard that you have set for President john Sirleaf government for the next one. Don’t change because you are very unreliable.
We told you Ellen to take your domestic policies seriously, but you thought you could play games with us. What had happened to all the awards you were winning? Oh!! I forgot. it is on your wall. However, did it translate into vote? I guess not.
Hey Jose,
If you think the Liberian people will vote for Oppong in the upcoming Election, stop joking. Here are all the facts, Ellen is experienced and has the resume to so for, educated and has the Diploma to show for, credible and has the name to show for. CDC Oppong has NO WORKING EXPERIENCED to show for, and if you say he has, please name only 1. Did CDC oppong obtain a diploma from Well-hairston? I don’t even believe this dude graduated from high school Yo! What kinds of credible position this CDC dude has ever taking-up? Oh, forgot honorable Ambassador for UN. That makes Angelina J. Pitts more then qualify for President of the USA. Can this dude actually put forth a national agenda in this critical period of Liberia history? Why are you playing fun with the position of President
Grebo,
like I said, The coalition that has been built by a larger population of cross section of the liberian people on behalf of President Taylor, will not be fragile or crushed by Opong and Ellen supporters. Grebo, therefore, I need you and others on my side to make the coalition even stronger than ever before. However, I have not supported and do not support Ambassador George Weah nor President Johnson Sirleaf. Therefore, I will not allow both Opong and Ellen debate to destroy my coalition. And to both Ellen and Opong supporters, I’m watching the political fight between the two. However Grebo, I’m not engaged in the practice of defending Opong Ellen in public or private. So the fact that you even asking me questions, that will insinuate the defense of Opong is a total disrespect for me who you previously called “half brother.” My coalition is a high inclination to any practical compromise, my “whole brother.” And that is what I work with anybody who sees this international conspiracy of this innocent man as being wrong. In short, I need you to continue the path of moral high grounds in defending this innocent man on this website.
Finally Grebo, don’t do it to me next time. I’m warning you, if you do it, ” I will show you who born dog, or what kind of fire I can warm my back with.” A hint to the wise is quite sufficient.
bnker,
you have lost all credibilities from me and so many people on this site. What is your problem? Why can’t you be who you really are instead of falsely claiming unto a status that you are not, neutrality? Why are you so dishonest? Look at the video again, and tell me, if the reinstatement of President Kabbah was not a part of the discussion. Look at that video again and tell me, if it did not cover the time frame under consideration or the time President Taylor is being held accountable forin Sierra Leone mess? Why are you intentionally lying?
Bnker however, Alpha has just reinforced what I posted couple of days ago in response to your assertion that the video did not cover the timeframe under review. In Alpha’s report, he said, the government of kabbah was overthrown in 1997 or words to that effect and there was a merger of both the AFRC and RUF. The merger rule until 1998. And an agreement was signed in 1999 between the Kabbah government and the rebels in the Togolese capital, Lome?.
Pretty tell me. Didn’t the video cover the overthrowing of kabbah? Didn’t the video cover the reinstatement of kabba? Isn’t President Taylor charges cover from 1996 to 2003? Didn’t the overthrowing and reinstatement fall between 1996-2003?
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the video in question.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=28164402
Jose,
This Blog is set-up for monitoring and blogging ABOUT CHARLES TAYLOR TRIAL. As much as I agreed with you on almost everything you stand for in your writing about the on-going trial, it’s only appropriate you stop calling OUR President Names. May-be you’re indeed an American citizen and careless, but there are lots of us who still holds loyalty to person who represent us to the outside World which is President Ellen.
If you think you can call our Pres. Ellen rebel Ma, and at the same time advocate for the release of Taylor, you’re fooling yourself because they’re all of the same denominator. Please focus your attention on the trial of Taylor. You seems to be headed toward counter- productiveness because the outcome is bleak. I m sorry Mr. CDC advocate but you just turn the wrong way, on a one way traffic road. I suggest you stop and turn around.
There are lots of Liberian blogs out there where you can write against Ellen, advocate for CDC etc and If you need help in finding one of those blog, many folks will be happy to sent you links. JOSE, I m warning you, this blog is not about Ellen, and as long as you write trash about her, lots of others including me will always respond ;thereby, side-stepping the greater purpose. I can guarantee you, I’ll respond as many times as you can write against her or even double. To avoid that, we’re all on one side here ( Un-fair prosecution of Taylor). So please let it stay like that.
Hey Alpha,
Thank you for the Thanksgiving day wishes. You know we have a salient, but silent and unconscious responsibility during the thanksgiving; that is to deplete the entire stock of turkey in america, so that the farmers appreciate our appetite and work hard to replenish the stock in preparation for the next depletion. And this is a continual cycle.
Another thing that I must commend you on beside the hardwork that you Tracey and others are putting into this work, is the accuracy and professionalism of your reports. I do not arrive at this conclusion based on the evaluation of activities on this site alone, but I reach measured the quality and content of your reports with that of other media outlets, and found that you have been more than accurate and professional, you have been phenomenal. Let me further justify my comments. I have reviews several news media accounts of the trial at a specific timeframe and found that they reports that they carried and those that Alpha published hastily and under pressure were very synchronized.
I have observed these patterns in reports carried by the BBC, VOA, TIMES MAGAZINE, WASHINGTON POST, ALLAFRICA.COM, RUNNINGAFRICA to name a few.
So, thank you Alpha. As we say in give the guy his flower before he goes to look for herbs.
Andrew Jlay,
Thanks very much for your very kind words. I am glad that the work we do has been very useful to you all. You, our valued readers have contributed significantly to the huge impact our work on this trial continues to create. We commit to continue giving you all our objective and professional reports on this trial and we look forward to keeping you all engaged in discussions bothering on the case. Your valued comments help a great deal in not only keeping us one our toes, but also in helping to hold the tribunal accountable.
Thanks again for your kind sentiments and we look forward to keeping you all engaged.
Best,
Alpha
When Taylor was explaining about how much he paid for house and the so-called land he brought, my mind ran straight to Oldma Nowah Flomo. The old woman that was butchered in Congo town because she refused to give her us house ( a house near Taylor’s white flower residence) to Taylor’s Security.
May Nowah Flomo rest in perfect peace. Rest assured that your killers will be punished so manner how long it takes
noko5,
After reading , “Look. The reason why Gerldine won was because she was fully supported by people of the NPP, and not because of geoge weahs’ popularity. Another thing I want you get clear today is that, you guys need to stop making weah feel that he can become president in Liberia. The job weah knows is football and that where he is going to stay.. PERIODE!!!” do you think anyone on this site will ever take you serious?
We all know that the NPP party was divided during this senatorial election with one group led by Bennoi Urey supporting his brother the UP candidate and another group led by Taylor former wife supporting the CDC. Yes, one of the UP campaign strategy was to accuse Mrs Sheriff as being an NPFL fighter because it was a strategy that would have cost her the election. That just go to show that being accused as being an NPFL fighter can cost you an election otherwise the UP wouldn’t have used it. Your argument is like saying because Obama was accused of being a radical Muslim in some republican dirty campaign and still won the election then being a radical muslim is very popular in the United States.
Yes, George Weah is the most popular and best love Liberian. Even Taylor knew this fact very well that is why he was very afraid of Weah’s popularity and made this nice and easy-going guy his enemy and going as far as ordering the looting of Weah’s properties.
I personally don’t think Weah is a Presidential material but the ordinary Liberians think otherwise. The primary reason Liberians love and respect George Weah is for the fact that when Charles Taylor and his killing machine were making the worst possible news in Liberia, the only positive about Liberia was the exploit of George Weah. When Taylor was destroying Liberia and killing many Liberians and making many other Liberians’ lives unbearable, Weah was bringing great joy to Liberians by his performances on the football field. While Taylor was drugging our children, teaching them how to commit some of the most heinous crimes and turning them in harden murderers, Weah was showing our youth what can be achieved with natural talents.
Taylor comes from the America-Liberian clique that robbed our country for over 139 years, went to University in the US on the sweat and toil of our people and then used our people ignorance and illiteracy to divide and rule them whereas Weah was a victim of the America-Liberian bad leadership, was deprived of equal opportunity and the right to decent life yet despite these odds Weah rose to become the greatest Liberian today. Taylor is an embodiment of everything wrong with Liberia while Weah is a true representation of the Liberian courage and the Liberian potentiality. Yes, Weah is an embodiment of what is good about Liberia. When Taylor was stealing almost a million from the GSA, Weah was going with hungry stomach and bare feet to practice soccer. When Taylor was moving all over the sub-region recruiting men to destroy his own country, Weah was working hard on taking Liberia to the World Cup. When Taylor starting killing Liberians, recruiting kids to fight and looting Liberia, Weah was being named Africa Player of the year. When Weah was being named African, European and African Player of the year, Taylor was strategizing how to rain havoc on the densely populated Monrovia and inflict enough horror and suffering in the presence of ECOMOG so that the Liberian people can know that is just a dress rehearse of what Taylor will do if he is not voted President
The most famous Liberian today is Weah while the most notorious Liberian today is Taylor. The most love Liberian today is Weah while the most fear Liberian today is Taylor. The most respected Liberian today is Weah while the most disgraced Liberian is Taylor. The richest Liberian through honest means is Weah while the richest Liberian through ill-gotten means is Taylor. The most unifying Liberian is Weah while the most polarizing Liberian is Taylor. The Liberian that has brought the most joy to his people is Weah while the Liberian that has brought more sorrow to his people is Taylor. Taylor will forever be remembered as the First African President to ever be tried for War crimes whereas George Weah forever being remembered as the First African to ever become the World best Footballer. The comparing between Weah and Taylor is like the comparing between heaven and hell.
In short, Taylor is the antonym of Weah.
Jose Rodriguez,
Nobody is argument against Taylor winning an election with over 70-75% of the total votes cast in 1997. The argument is whether Taylor won out of love or fear. For your information, Saddam Hussein won 100% of the votes in Iraq just before his removal. So, don’t be too excited about 70-75%.
If Taylor really won out of Love, the Liberian people would have resisted his arrest. The fact that President Sirleaf made Nigeria to turn Taylor over to the Special Court via the Liberian government without seeking the approval of the National Legislature and yet not a single soul , save Taylor’s henchmen, has protested against Taylor’ arrest only goes to tell you that this criminal and liar Taylor was never love by the Liberian People. If Taylor is love by the Liberian people as you want us to believe then why are there no public protest or demonstration around Liberia calling for his release? Don’t tell us that the Liberian people are cowards and afraid to get on the street. For even the crook Mulbah Morlu has been able to carry out several public demonstrations calling for the establishment of a war crime court in Liberia and the former AFL personnel have held several demonstrations for their pensions and other benefits. How can a very patriot, a nationalism, a pan-Africanism and beloved President of Liberia be ‘wrongly’ arrested and ‘wrongly’ charged yet no reputable patriotic organizations, human right organizations, pan-african institutions, Liberian political institutions, Liberian social organization, etc has come out to condemn Taylor’s arrest? The United Nations is against Taylor, the AU is against Taylor, ECOWAS is against Taylor, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast is against Taylor, Nigeria and South Africa is against Taylor. How can everybody of relevant and important because one individual? Even Saddam had supporters in UN and around the world. Even Ahmadinejad of Iran has supporters around the world. Even Sudanese President Bashir is getting some support from the AU against his indictment by the ICC but your man Taylor none.
The bitter truth is that Taylor is a disgraced and no serious minded person want to be associated with him. We know and fully understand that you Taylorists miss Taylor and his jungle justice. You guys miss the days when you would used your guns to get anything you wanted. We understand that you guys are not use to living in a normal society-where you will have to work to make a living. So, we understand why you keep on deluding yourself that Taylor is winning the case. My brother you write claim it million times that Taylor is not guilty that will never change the fact that Taylor is a cold blood murderer and a criminal of the highest order. You need to get use to the hard fact that Taylor will never be a free man again and that your glorious land of lawlessness will never return to Liberia
Big Joe,
Many many and I say many citizens were interviewed after the election and NOT one said or mentioned they voted out of “FEAR”. Face it, he won because he was the BETTER candidate!!! If he is given the opportunity to run in 2011, he will win. So to equate what happened in Iraq does not hold AIR not water but AIR.
How was the people to resist his arrest??? Did you read Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf’s book??? She was afraid so much that she insisted that ONLY Europeans members of UNMIL be on hand to arrest him upon arrival and NOT informed the African units, which in it self was a GROSS violation to Mr. Taylor’s constitutional rights. His RIGHTS in the courts of Liberia to fight his extradiction. She did not inform the nation of Mr. Taylor been transfered back to Liberia until after he was been flown into Sierra Leone…..a COWARD.
No stop twisting the FACTS…..most of Africa’s Presidents were against this move by Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf that she was even shown DISPLEASURE at AU meeting. So please I beg you……maybe Sierra Leone and Guinea were.
What is your view of Pres. Kabah???
Noko4,
In fact, they kept that thing Confidential Top Secret. Moreover, it was only the Irish Troops that put their hands on him. No African Troops even dare to come close to where the arrest was made. However, he did not even stay five minutes in the country. Besides, there were F16, F18 Fighter Jets flying all over the country especially at the Robert International Airport. They also had Armor Tanks, War Tanks and tactical military vehicles plying the streets of Monrovia while wearing full battle router as if we were fighting war with the entire world. There was also Tight Security Parameter put in place about 100 kilometers “No GO Zone towards the airport”. Not even fly could fly around the 100 kilometers. Notwithstanding, they did not want that Confidential Top Secret to leak in any way. In fact, right after she did it, it was the end of her presidency. However, Ellen regrets everyday. The promise that was made to develop Liberia if this innocent man is turned over, is yet to being felt by the people, that is one of the main reasons why all the angers and frustrations of the people continues to vote against Ellen and her UP.
Noko4; apparently, you did not comprehend any sentence in Big Joe’s brilliant and educative break down of the difference between Weah and taylor! This is where I personally question your level of rationality and sometimes, lack og logic in all your arguments posted on this blog. You sound like taylor himself; believing in only yourself! Go to school Noko 4!
Big Joe,
Now you are blaming President Taylor again for Opong popularity. You are also accusing people who have different views from you on this fake case as not well meaning Liberian. You are also acknowledging that the prosecution is doing a slopping job, if President Taylor is set freed. Certainly, you mentioned the US will want to hold him for breaking jail, if he is found not guilty. Therefore, Taylor will never be a free man again.
Big Joe, you have just defeated your own purpose. You are drowning while I’m chilling and having fun with my Rami Martin Cognaic Grand Kru Cognaic, and my Taylor wine, along with Royal Crown Cook with my friends.
All you have said, clearly, shows that you don’t care about the case and the Sierra Leonean people; instead, you just want to see this innocent man being put away.
Bro, aint going to happen. Taylor is your next president, if he is acquitted in 2010. If he is acquitted 2011 before election, we will prevail upon him to run and he better not refuse our petition and request.
So Big Joe, standby to standby. It is going to happen.
Big Joe,
I was one of those Liberians that got on the streets of Monrovia singing that song, “you killed my ma, you killed my pa, i will vote for you.” True. We voted for him. How can you tell me that I voted for him because I was afraid? I know myself more than you knowing me. So please don’t lie for me to the world. Again, knowing what we know now, we will still vote for him. We will still sing that song even more with new words or lines.
Speaking about President Taylor arrest, some African presidents condemned his arrest. For example: Mommar khadafee of Lybia, the late Oman Bongo of Gabon, and etc. So, stop misrepresenting the facts. Secondly, a statute of President Taylor was erected in Monrovia, though vandalized with graffiti at times. Billboards have also been erected in Monrovia for President Taylor.
Lastly Big Joe, why didn’t President Johnson Sirleasf bring the issue of President Taylor arrest to our people through our National Legislature if you say he is unpopular? OK, forget about that question. Why he couldn’t have been tried in Sierra Leone or Liberia? Alright, forget about this question too. Why did Ellen say she didn’t want him to spend at least five minutes in Liberia? Leave this other question also. Why is Great Britian offering prison facilitate for him and not Liberia? Play this other question low. Why Ellen said “Liberia has no charge on Taylor”?
King Gray,
Did I hear you calling the song “you killed my ma or you killed my pa we will vote for you” famous?
This is the problem with you Taylorists. You can’t distinguish between famous and notorious. We can’t tell the difference between fear and love. You can’t tell the difference between flattery and praise.
How can any Liberian in his sound mind be proud of such a terrible song? Only mad and pervert beings can sing such song.
My point was very clear. Political party doesn’t use promoting statements for its opposition. The attempt to connect Ms. Doe Sheriff with Taylor was a clever plot of the UP done out of desperation to stop Mrs. Sheriff from winning the election. The mere fact that the Taylor connect (NPP/NPFL) would be used by the Unity Party shows that connecting your opponent with Taylor is a bad taste. Ms. Sheriff winning despite UP strategy only show that the plot didn’t work. That, the Liberian people were smart to see that it is simply a propaganda. In the US, Obama was being called a muslim, a close associate of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, an extremist Professor from Chicago and another extremist supporter of the PLO yet he won the election. So, should we conclude that being an extremist muslim and associating with extremists are popular things in the US? No, not at all. Some fanatics try to associate Obama with these distasteful things out of desperation but it didn’t work because the American people saw the deception. This is the same with associating Mrs. Sheriff with Taylor, the Liberian people didn’t fall for that cheap politicking.
Do you think Mrs. Victoria Taylor, Cyril Allen, John T. Richardson, Lewis Brown, and Taylor other henchmen don’t want to be Senator of Monsterrado? The fact is that they know fully well that they can never win an election in Liberia because of their connection with the criminal Taylor. So, stop lying to yourself that it is NPP support that make CDC to win the election. NPP is a very insignificant party in Liberia.
The hottest brand in Liberia is George Weah. It is unfortunate that a semi-illiterate will be calling the shots in Liberia but the responsible for this again fall directly on Taylor’s shoulders. If Taylor has not brought a war that destroyed all our institutions of learning and recruited most of our young people to fight his dirty war, Liberia would have had a high literacy and well informed population. If Taylor has not brought his war that destroyed all productive activities and made Killing, rape, looting and extreme suffering the only news coming out of Liberia, Weah exploits on the football wouldn’t have gotten the kind of attention it got thus translating Weah into some sort of cult figure.
As someone rightly put it “Every wrong in some way tends to abolish itself.”
The illiteracy and ignorance of our people entrenched by Taylor and his unholy alliance with our nasty politicians is now being used against them. Taylor and his stooges and henchmen deliberately keep our people illiterate, indoctrinated them with lies and deception and used them to eliminate their own educated people with the aim of keeping them loyal perpetually. Now, this high degree of illiteracy and ignorance is now working against the ruling elite.
Don’t get me wrong. I, in no way, support the barbarism of Samuel Doe but I believe that war has never been and will never be the best ways of solving problems. There were many other alternatives of getting rid of Doe without War.
I am 101% convinced that Taylor’s war was not about democracy, rule of law or justice for all Liberia. It was all about Taylor greedy for ill-gotten wealth and Power canopy under the name of liberation and he would go any length including Sierra Leone and do anything to achieve such.
All objective, well-informed and well meaning Liberians know that Taylor is guilt for all the crimes he is being prosecuted for and even more. I am certain that Taylor will be found guilt despite the brilliancy of his defense consul. I’m certain because the blood of our innocent beloved ones will never be in vain. I have heard the argument that Taylor is not being tried for crimes committed in Liberia. That is indeed truth but doesn’t deny the fact that Taylor being found guilt will be a form of justice for all victims of Taylor’s madness even if indirectly.
In the very unlikely event that Taylor win this case, it will not because he is innocent but simply because the prosecution didn’t do a good work. If the impossible was to happen that these charges are dropped against Taylor, that will just be the beginning of Taylor’s problems. The US government can request his extradition to the US for breaking jail and many other individuals and government he is lying on save his neck can also take him to court.
One thing is certain, Taylor will never again become a free man
Big Joe,
are you aware that Cyril Allen was banned by President Sirleaf election commissioner James Fromaya in th by election of Margibi county. The reason why he was banned according to the commissioner was because he was not allegedly a legal residence of Kakatown, which of course was not true. However, they knew he would have won, that’s why he was stopped before he sent the right signal to the world. However, he endorsed the CDC candidate Kaine Roland Cooper, who inevitably won President Johnson Sirleaf UP Party.
Nice try though
Jose, your comments are the most dumb disconnected piece of phrases I have read all week! Are you really a Liberian or some kind of man who has lost his self esteem over the love for gankay?
Fallah,
you can say all you want to say about Jose and his writings. However, you are at liberty to say. But, what I will not let you do is to accept your perception about me as being my reality.
Fallah Menjor,
Are you a liberian or a former diamond miner from sierraleone????
Big Joe,
I think you need to go and write your novel some where else. This site was not created to help you spread your lies. Stop your plenty talking. Maybe if Weah is calling the shots in monrovia or liberia now, it is because the ROOSTER is not in town yet. You know that crap will change as soon as theres a smell of GHANKAY. One thing I want to also tell you is that , there is noway that any one could brake PLYMOUTH COUNTY JAIL. I live in boston and know what and where I am speaking about. Leave the dream world and be real…
But wait now noko5,
why can’t Ellen call the shots instead of Opong right now in Liberia?
Jose,
I am glad you discover him too . The brother taught his chameleon game would go far..
Pekin Noko5,
we own these guys. They think the Liberian people are stupid. However, some of them are suggesting that they treat us like equals, why some are saying we are not educated therefore, we can not be treated as equals.
Trust me, bnker will run away if he continues his game plan. Noko5, we are winning. We will win this thing. President Taylor will be acquitted.
Noko5, my only concern is that President Taylor may not want to run in 2011, if he is acquitted before the election.
Notwithstanding, President Taylor, what ever paper work you may sign with the white man, do not sign any paper that will narrow you from participating in the 2011 election. However, simlpy tell them that you can not promise them, whether you will run or not. You will have to consult however, your people before making any decision of running or not running.
Jose,
You are very right. You see people like Big joe could be one of those failed big mouth lieing politicians. This guy could be one of those politicians who leaves LU campus, insight those poor kids to behave disorderly on campus just to promote their selfish and nuproductive political views. Quite frankly, you are right . Taylor on one hand will have to make that decision. But how ever, lets pray first of all for his safe release….
Noko5,
I get you.
Jose,
You really think Taylor will be acquitte? I think this trial is political….he will not be aquitted. If he is then that’s good news for him and Liberia. Then we can pursue with our case against all of them–with no exception–I mean all!
Hi Jose — you submitted s comment yesterday at 1:32pm that I cannot post in its current form as it does not meet our policy. If you can remove a couple of sentences that focus on another reader and resubmit, I will be happy to post your comment. Thanks for your understanding.
Best,
Tracey
I want to first of all congratulate CDC for winning a hard fought battle for the senetorial seat for montserrado. This is a clear sign of improved democracy and stability in Liberia. Congratulations to all liberians too for making this a success and I hope we can have much more heated debates and a peaceful elections in the next general elections and in future to come.
Jose, you keeping referring to this videos as a case that taylor is innocent of the charges and Kabbah is guilty. Do you actual understand why Taylor is been charged?. Because if you did then you wouldn’t be saying this. You are not the only one who is aware of this video. The issue of sandline/executive outcome has been around for a very long time and even taylor’s team cannot argue that Kabbah should be charged. Kabbah can only possibly be charged with breaking UN sanction(once), after all even taylor has accepted as head of state he would import arm to defend the country in breach of UN sanction. I don’t believe any legal mind will setup a human right court for this. At most Kabbah could have been impreached by Sierra Leone and if any criminality was involve be tried in a criminal court. The tasks of the special court for sierra leone is to investigate human right abuse. AGAIN, THE PURCAHSE OF ARMS LEGAL/ILLEGAL DOES NOT AMOUNT TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
I don’t think even the sierra leone will agree with you that Kabbah should be tried. To tell you how the people of sierra leone feels, one of the main reason for the failure of the slpp in the last election was because they(Slpp) handedover Hinga Norman and some of the CDF members to SCSL. Sierra Leoneans generaly consider them heros. Yes, they did commit some offences, that will happened in wars but it was no where near what the RUF/AFRC did. By international standard it is only proper that all sides be investigated to avoid prejudice and the verdict of SCSL and sentences impose of the CDF members are far less, as indication of the level of abuse they were involve in.
Lets be clear here, Taylor has not been found guilty but the core of the charges is that Taylor knew and even directed the ruf to impose themselves on the people of sierra leone by subjecting them to terrible abuses and throughout that time he could stop their(sierra leonean people) suffering but refuse to do so because it benefitted him. All Taylor has to do is clear himself. I don’tr see the problem here at all.
My take on this is, why did Taylor failed to instigated an investigation in liberia on these allegation when he was president. He cannot denied he was not aware because the sierra leone govt even too a child to ecowas meeting as a proof that widespread amputation was taking place in their country with external help. Everyone include me(however dumm) knew the external forces they were refering to was Liberia and in particular Charles Taylor. I believe the liberian govt was also made aware of these charges but Taylor decided they were not worth his attention.
So please Jose tell us the charges you think Kabbah should facing the SCSL?. Please be specific as it will people like me to understand a bit more.
Well Eagle eye,
thank god for your eyeball opening now. The video in circulations show how arms and ammunitions were sent to Sierra Leone, How Sierra Leone was infested with arms amid UN arm embargo, and how those arms and ammunitions were used to annihilate , amputate, kille, rape, and etc. Those arms were used by the Kamajor, AFRC, RUF, and others in various places. Some of those arms were captured by anti Kabbah troops and were used to carry out what they did.
Now Eagle, where the most blatant display of moral and illegal hypocrisy is, is to falsely blame someone who is totally innocent of the very arms and ammunitions that were used to carry out these henious crimes. Where are the proofs that President Taylor sent arms to Sierra Leone? There is no proof as far the record is concerned.
Eagle eye, we showed you proof upon proof including this video how President Taylor is innocent. Where is your video to show us that Taylor sent arms to Sierra Leone.
Concerning investigation, the UN, Ecowas, US and AU were all asked to launch an investigation by President Taylor. At times, for example, they all were at the border when Taylor was accused of deploying 500 troops at the Sierra leone/liberia border. They found it was not true. Another investigation was launched again at Camp Namah , where they accused Taylor of training the RUF, it ended up being false.
Eagle eye, documents in the possession of the court from the UN clearly stated that it was Ecomog that was training some Liberians and Sierra Leoneans at “RICKS INSTITUTE” outside Monrovia. So buddy, the video did not reveal any “T” except Tim Spicer.
Now you are giving reason why Kabbah did what he did in breaking the UN Resolution. According to you, he has all rights to do what he did in order to defend his country. Don’t you think the same standard of measurement that is accorded Kabbah must be applicable to President Taylor or he doesn’t have rights to defend his country since he is Taylor? However, why you guys destroying that country because of one man?
In reponse to charges that I think kabbah should be tried for, I tell you this. I can care less if he is charged or not. That decision will be left with the relavent agency and the Sierra Leonean people.
My paramount cercern is that President must be acquitted based on the evidence produced thus far.
What is going on with mr koumjian.. He was asking question as if he was afraid of something.. I thought he was confused. I dont need to explain.. Listen to his voice why asking mr taylor…here is the link http://www.myspace.com/charlestaylortrial?albid=&songid=60750124
The judges should stop this trial now , in order to save money. total nonsense!
Borris Nickson,
I concurred buddy. They need to stop the trial and acquit this innocent man.
Jose, Noko4 ,noko5&6,gankay 4 and anrew, let me tell you this; you seem so upset over this trial that it makes me wonder what your motives! You guys attack and attack even when no one is paying attention to your silly unintellectual arguments and illogical conclusions.
Do you guys realize how some of us have ignored your typical NPFL kind of propoganda mechine for the past two weeks; when you are not only attacking opposite views but the very moderators that have made it possible for you to enjoy the very joy of defending your Rebel Chief who deserves nothing but street justice you all are accustomed to? Who cares if an NPFL wins an election or all that gabbage? Doesn’t that , in itself. tell you about the Maturity and fair play of Democracy as upheld by the Unity Party of Ellen? Would gankay permit such in his ganster NPFL Government? You guys need to shut up and follow the trial and learn something from it!
Fallah,
you are back again, after two weeks of no call no show like Ms. Hollis. Anyways, what kind of street justice President Taylor deserves? Fallah, all along he lived in Liberia; you could not have administer the street justice you talk about. However, it is still not late. Go to the Hague and administer your street justice on him, or wait, when he is acquitted, he’s coming back to Liberia. Give him the street justice there. Sitting in the comfort of your home and making outrageous statement like that will not help your course. Do something Fallah, don’t just sit there.
Thanks Jose; I thought you were the only rooster on this blogg! Who do you think you are calling others names all day because you are in love with your Boss Man,gankay my foot! Ellen is what you will have for the time of your unemployment since you do not seem to have any job but to write nonesense about Ellen instead of you focusing on your chief last public appearance on TV! Let me reinterate to you again; Taylor is accused of Rapes, murders, force slavery, force labour, recruitments of children, and mendling in the internal affairs of Sierra Leone plus conniving with criminal Junta of that country to commit crimes againt Humanity! If you do not remember this I will remind you everyday as of today!
Fallah Menjor,
Come up with some facts against Taylor. How long is your research going to take. Stop this DUM accusation against the poor guy. Please tell us your area of speacilty…You claim to have two master, but your trend of argument has remain sensless for a long periode… WHY?????
Fallah,
where did that come from, “I think I was the only rooster”?
Fallah where is the proof that President Taylor is responsible for those things you say he is responsible for? No Proof Buddy.
It seems very silly,Jose, for you to ask me to go to the Hague and administer street justice on taylor, who is already in chains and being watched 24/7 by the best guards you could find! It is some of you who need the street justice for the fact that you seem to have participated fully in recking your homeland and now bragging about it indirectly to the outside world! Your type is the one that now need street justice badly!
Fallah,
I am really worried about you. Seriously, are you OK? For real, I ‘m concerned. However Fallah, you were the one who said Taylor “deserves nothing but street justice”. However, my respond to you was is not too late to go to the Hague and administer the street justice there to him or wait for him in Liberia because there where he’s going after his acquittal.
Fallah, where is the proof? Where is the 5 billion dollars?
Thanks for the ramblling Fallah. could you please comment on the performance of the prosecution so far in this trial? are you impressed? I thought you were boasting about us waiting until the cross examination when Ghankay’s “lies” will be unravelled. well as you can see that hasnt happened yet after a month of cross examination. I think the prosecution really needs your help at this point Ms Teage’s efforts will also probably be appreciated along with Eagle-eye’s.
My message is clear Sam. You know it ! You cannot express your thoughts better I..thanks again..Jfallahmenjor
Mr. Fallah Menjor,
Welcome back oldman. Eventhough you bounced back cussing the hell out of all your boys, but thats no problem. We are glad to have again into the nucleus of this conversation. Only thing I see is that you did not say the turth of the fire power that cause your retreat. Hope you came stronger, not forgetting your pressure pills. Papay, you know what the NPP did to Ellen when the great DHAKPANA when arround. You know Taylor will spiritually exert him self again when he returns.. the next eletions will anounce Taylor as your president elect.. ok!!
Fallah,
The motive is simple. Bring the facts to the table. We are fedup with your games, lies,deceptions. Stop fooling the world. That by itself is criminal.. Fallah why have you joined the white people to lie on your former countryman..Brother are you baptised?? Say it.. tell me the truth.. it will set you free!!!
Good thread Big Joe. Ghankay will NEVER again become a free man.
Brave,
YOU WISH.
Don’t you have anything to say Jose? Come on Big Shot, gankay is in the lead of the 20011 elections in Liberia! You will will be his Ambassador to Somalia, and Noko 4 and 5 his foreign and Finance Ministers, while Helen becomes minister of presidential affairs to the Rogue president of NPFL government at the New Homeland for Gankay in the United Kingdom he hates so much! In fact this president gankay should join his fellow rapists and murderers in Camp Luwanda to serve his first term in office! This’s my welcome to you taylor boys and girls for the 1St week of December!
Fallah,
I have so much to say as evident to your respond to my comments.
Fallah, you have just being reunited with reality by even suggesting that President is in the Lead in the 2011 election. You may want to down play it as though you are making mockery of the fact that he is still the most popular Liberian politician of our times. Concerning jobs, I have all right under my constitution to work for my government in any capacity as fit by the authority. However, I don’t necessarily have to work in government in order to contribute to Liberia.
I tell you what. If I want to work right now in President Johnson’s government, bro, I can make that happen. However, this trial is not about work if that’s what you thought. instead, it is about justice.
Fallah,
Could this posting be one of the proofs we are still asking you to provide to the court????
Noke4,
You continue to amaze me with your leap in logic.
I said Taylor was voted into power largely on the basis of fear then you come up with the ludicrous statements “Many many and I say many citizens were interviewed after the election and NOT one said or mentioned they voted out of “FEAR”. Face it, he won because he was the BETTER candidate!!! If he is given the opportunity to run in 2011, he will win. So to equate what happened in Iraq does not hold AIR not water but AIR.”
Do you expect a person who voted Taylor out of fear at the time Taylor didn’t have absolute Power ( at least there were ECOMOG and other forces around) and then when Taylor have absolute power in the land for that person to say he voted for Taylor out of fear? Are you too dull to understand that the fact that a man to cast a secret ballot out of fear then he will be much more frighten to come up in the open to say I cast my vote out of fear?
You asked a question “How was the people to resist his arrest???” and then provided not only a completely wrong answer but something completely unrelated to your question ” She was afraid so much that she insisted that ONLY Europeans members of UNMIL be on hand to arrest him upon arrival and NOT informed the African units, which in it self was a GROSS violation to Mr. Taylor’s constitutional rights. His RIGHTS in the courts of Liberia to fight his extradiction. She did not inform the nation of Mr. Taylor been transfered back to Liberia until after he was been flown into Sierra Leone…..a COWARD.” The answer to your question is simply to protest in whatever ways permitted by the constitution of the land-demonstration, petitions to their representatives, government, ECOWAS, AU and UN, etc. If Taylor was really love by the Liberian people you would see daily protest on his behave.
Maybe an example with the case of the closure of the guantanamo bay prison will help you see the illogicality in your answer to your own question. In fulfillment of his electoral promise, Obama signed an executive orders to shut down the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention center within a year but it is very much unlikely that this executive order will not be enforced on time. The simple reason is that many Americans are afraid of allowing these harden criminals and murderers to be imprisoned in their neighborhoods. For doing so, may increase the chances of terrorist attacks in those neighborhoods. So, do you expect us to conclude that it was because of the popularity and great love of the terrorists that resulted in them not being imprisoned on the American mainland? I don’t know how many times should I tell you that fear is not synonymous to Love. Taking Taylor from this region infected by Taylor’s criminal gangs was a very wise decision.
What is the meaning of your statements?
“No stop twisting the FACTS…..most of Africa’s Presidents were against this move by Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf that she was even shown DISPLEASURE at AU meeting. So please I beg you……maybe Sierra Leone and Guinea were.” How did the Africa’s Presidents show their displeasure with Ellen at the AU? My brother the Africa’s presidents are the ultimate power in the AU. They should have made their displeasure official like issuing a declaration demanding that Taylor be set free. Please don’t confuse one or two heads of state making reference to Taylor in passing as a response to a journalists question as showing displeasure. It is very normal for a Head of State especially one of those African dictators, in fear of the precedent set by Taylor’s arrest, to not openly support Taylor’s arrest but he will definitely not waste his time or resources bothering about Taylor.
My view on Pres. Kabah is simply that he is an ordinary African president. He might have all those vices common among African leaders but he is not a warlord. a murderer and war criminal. To the best of my knowledge, Kabbah has proud political history. But can we say the same about Ghangay. In criminal science, there is something called checking the previous criminal records of the accuse and seeing the likelihood that the accuse may have cause the crimes he is being accused of. Imprisoned in the US, Sierra Leone, Ghana and now in the Hague. I hope you can see the pattern in Ghangay Taylor’s life.
Jose Rodriguez,
There is nothing you can not come up with if you allow your imagination to run wild. These imagining boy. You really need it. I hope your delusion that Taylor will ever be a free man again will help to delay your heart attack.
Big Joe,
where did that come from? Imagination and delusion? Oh boy, the same could be said about you.
Try again.
“are you aware that Cyril Allen was banned by President Sirleaf election commissioner James Fromaya in th by election of Margibi County. The reason why he was banned according to the commissioner was because he was not allegedly a legal residence of Kakatown, which of course was not true. However, they knew he would have won, that’s why he was stopped before he sent the right signal to the world. However, he endorsed the CDC candidate Kaine Roland Cooper, who inevitably won President Johnson Sirleaf UP Party.
When did Cyril Allen become a resident of Margibi County? If you are right then Cyril Allen should have taken his case to the Supreme court of Liberia. The Election commission doesn’t hold the last word in Liberia. Taylor really did rubbed is lying anointing on you guys.
My brother, you Taylorists have to learn that Liberia is no longer the lawless place you guys created. Now, the rule of laws hold. You can’t just get up and decide to participate in an election because there is an election. There are criteria you have to meet. Cyril Allen should have tested his and Taylor’s popularity in the just ended Montserrado senatorial election. Anyway, raccoon knows which trees to clean its something on.
Big Joe,
Speaking about the laws of Liberia or the election laws on the book, I can tell you, that it is selective. if your logic is right, that cyril Allen was not of a legal residence of the county, therefore, the laws were enforced. And as theresult, he was not eligible or qualified to contest.
Big Joe, there is a blatant inconsistences and hypocrisy on the part of the law being enforced on the books by certain individuals. For example: Our election laws clearly prohabit convicts or former convict from contesting election and holding elected positions. Our laws also have the ten years residency clause. Meaning, you must have resided ten years in Liberia before you can run for the presidency. However, under our laws, President Johnson Sirleaf is disqualified and does not meet the requirement of being our president. Besides, she is an illegal president under such a prevailing circumstances. Notwithstanding, as far as the record is concerned, President Johnson Sirleaf is still a convict. At least, that convict record has not being expunged yet. Secondly, Ellen did not reside in Liberia ten years before contesting the elections. So, she did not meet the ten years clause. So pretty tell me, why the laws were not enforced and still why is not being enforced? Bro. the issue of Cyril Allen was just a ploy to prevent him from being an election official from Margibi County. Liberia is not as sophisticated like other western nations to be so accurate about people’s residence status. Besides, even in developed countries, people move to new locations just for election purposes. For example, Former Senator, Hilary Clinton of New York, moved from her Little Rock Arkasas residence to that of New York about two months before the election. Once you can prove that you live there, you are allowed to contest. And it is left with the people to decide if you will seek their interest or not. So Big Joe, in the case of Cyril Allen, he was only denied because they knew he was a potential winner and not that bogus reason they gave.
Noke 4
“Maybe if Weah is calling the shots in monrovia or liberia now, it is because the ROOSTER is not in town yet. You know that crap will change as soon as theres a smell of GHANKAY.” Haven’t LURD and MODEL taught you that nobody hold monopoly over violence. Taylor is the chick who fled when the Hawks LURD and Model came for a visit.
“One thing I want to also tell you is that , there is noway that any one could brake PLYMOUTH COUNTY JAIL. I live in boston and know what and where I am speaking about. Leave the dream world and be real…” How can you talk like this? Say, I have never seen or heard that anybody has broken PLYMOUTH COUNTY JAIL. Breaking of Jail is not an impossible thing. Much more secure prisons have been broken. Taylor has shown to be a super criminal, so I don’t see it as impossible that he did break out of that prison. Looking at this criminal trademark, it is very much possible that Taylor might have broken that jail and set a record.
Moreover, your statement is the very reason, if Taylor is not indicted by the Special Court, the Americans will want him. You know the Americans love to investigate in order to avoid future occurrence. So, Taylor will be needed to explain how he broke that jail.
Ha ha ha…….Big Joe, with the little Mr. Taylor had, he fought and if that last shipment had landed successfully, there wouldn’t have been who’s who.
Did you follow his earlier testimony pertain to Plymouth Rock?? I beg you to read it before you make yourself SHAME
You see Noko4, didn’t I mentioned this before about how some of you personally participated in recking that country and pretending today to love justice that you, never offer the poor? Why do you mean by “we are lucky because had that last shipment landed, we would know who be who?”
Fallah,
When your enemy is ARMED and you are hopeing for MIRACLE is what I meant. LURD with all the ARMING she got, couldn’t win the war. What broke for her was the SEIZURE of THAT SHIPMENT. Again, if that shipment had landed safely in the hands GOL, a different story will be telling today.
Fallah, I left Liberia in ’82 and NOTHING yesteryears or/and today are/is moving me to even go for a VISIT in case you’re wondering about me.
Noke4,
You continue to amaze me with your leap in logic.
I said Taylor was voted into power largely on the basis of fear then you come up with the ludicrous statements “Many many and I say many citizens were interviewed after the election and NOT one said or mentioned they voted out of “FEAR”. Face it, he won because he was the BETTER candidate!!! If he is given the opportunity to run in 2011, he will win. So to equate what happened in Iraq does not hold AIR not water but AIR.”
Do you expect a person who voted for Taylor out of fear at the time Taylor didn’t have absolute Power ( at least there were ECOMOG and other forces around) and then when Taylor have absolute power in the land for that person to say he voted for Taylor out of fear? Are you too dull to understand the fact that a man who casted a secret ballot out of fear will be much more frighten to come up in the open to say I cast my vote out of fear?
You asked a question “How was the people to resist his arrest???” and then provided not only a completely wrong answer but something completely unrelated to your question ” She was afraid so much that she insisted that ONLY Europeans members of UNMIL be on hand to arrest him upon arrival and NOT informed the African units, which in it self was a GROSS violation to Mr. Taylor’s constitutional rights. His RIGHTS in the courts of Liberia to fight his extradiction. She did not inform the nation of Mr. Taylor been transfered back to Liberia until after he was been flown into Sierra Leone…..a COWARD.” The answer to your question is simply to protest in whatever ways permitted by the constitution of the land-demonstrations, petitions to their representatives, government, ECOWAS, AU and UN, etc. If Taylor was really love by the Liberian people you would see daily protests on his behave. You need to face the hard truth that the Liberian people feel better and more secure with Taylor behind bars.
Maybe an example with the case of the closure of the guantanamo bay prison will help you see the illogicality in your answer to your own question. In fulfillment of his electoral promise, Obama signed an executive order to shut down the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention center within a year but it is very much unlikely that his executive order will not be enforced on time. The simple reason is that many Americans are afraid of allowing these harden criminals and murderers to be imprisoned in their neighborhoods. For doing so, may increase the chances of terrorist attacks in those neighborhoods. So, do you expect us to conclude that it was because of the popularity and great love of the terrorists that resulted in them not being imprisoned on the American mainland? I don’t know how many times should I tell you that fear is not synonymous to Love. Taking Taylor from this region infected by Taylor’s criminal gangs was a very wise decision. We know that you Taylorists are foolhardy enough to carry out a daring attempt to free Taylor if he was still in Sierra Leone and we know fully well that you will use the deadly technics he taught you guys. Taking him to the Hague is enough discouragement for any foolhardy plan. Get me right. When I say the Liberian people don’t love Taylor, I am definitely not including the Taylorists. The Taylorists just have to love Taylor, for without Taylor their world comes to an end.
What is the meaning of your statements?
“No stop twisting the FACTS…..most of Africa’s Presidents were against this move by Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf that she was even shown DISPLEASURE at AU meeting. So please I beg you……maybe Sierra Leone and Guinea were.” How did the Africa’s Presidents show their displeasure with Ellen at the AU? My brother the Africa’s presidents are the ultimate power in the AU. They should have made their displeasure official like issuing a declaration demanding that Taylor be set free. Please don’t confuse one or two heads of state making reference to Taylor’s arrest in passing as a response to a journalist question as showing displeasure. It is very normal for a Head of State, especially one of those African dictators, in fear of the precedent set by Taylor’s arrest, to not openly support Taylor’s arrest but he will definitely not waste his time or resources bothering about Taylor.
My view on Pres. Kabah is simply that he is an ordinary African president. He might have all those vices common among African leaders but he is not a warlord. a murderer and war criminal. To the best of my knowledge, Kabbah has proud political history. But can we say the same about Ghangay. In criminal science, there is something called checking the previous criminal records of the accuse and seeing the likelihood that the accuse may have cause the crimes he is being accused of. Imprisoned in the US, Sierra Leone, Ghana and now in the Hague. I hope you can see the pattern in Ghangay Taylor’s life.
Reply
Big Joe,
Maybe you VOTED out of “FEAR” but the news accounts say otherwise. Many relatives and friend of mine voted for because he was the BEST CANDIDATE amongst the crop. Name a African President who sided with Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf??? No even Kabbah or Obasanjo.
Jose, please outline the charges you think should apply to Kabbah. Tayloris not in court because he bought arms to defend liberia, he has said in court he did not need or use RUF in his wars. Yes, Jose the arms that Kabbah was used by CDF and RSLAF but at no time has a sierra leone army office, except afrc soldiers been indicted by the courts.
Jose, even taylor has accepted in court that Boakarie went to Burkina Faso to get arms. So if your arguement is Sandline supplied RUF then I accept your are dishonest. You claim taylor is innocent, I don’t think the learned judges think so, unless the prosecution fail in presenting their case he will be found guilty. So lets wait until the trial is over, i think this week will be interesting.
I am confident the prosection will be allowed to present their evidence as requested.
Eagle eye,
How many times should I tell you that Jose personally does not care about whether President Kabbah is charged or not, neither do I care to list his charges that I think he should be charged with. I told time and again, the decision will be the responsibility with the relavent agency and the Sierra Leonean people. What is in this statement that you just can not understnd? What will it takes for you to understand such a statement?
Eagle eye, it is true that I said, President Taylor is innocent. But what is not true, is your statement that says, you do not think the judges think President Taylor is innocent. However Eagle, how do you know that? Where did that come from? How did you even arrive at such an irresponsible conclusion? Look Eagle, the accused is always considered innocent until proven guilty. It is the responsibility of the prosecutors to present documents, evidences, and facts in order to prove beyond all reasonable doubts that the accused is responsible for the alleged crimes as charged. On the other end, the judges will presume that the accused is innocent until proven guilty and not the other way around. So buddy, as far as we are concerned, President Taylor is innocent.
Cousin 4 and others,
Gentlemen, I am puzzled a bit. is this big joe fellow fellow retired too? He sits and write all these uninteresting long nonesensical speeches for who to read.. Atleast it would intrest people if he was making sense and stating facts.. Sir Big Joe, could you coul you use fewer wordings to convey some facts please. Mr. Taylor had asked me to talk to you about that…..hahaha!
Noko5,
It is mostly copy and paste Big Joe has engaged in. Nothing new. Are you forgetting brother?
Big Joe,
You’re a very brilliant individual!! I enjoyed reading your comments especially the one above. Thanks for finding the site and commenting, it’s good to have more logical voice on this blog that don’t share the same sentiments about Taylor as many other bloggers on here. I appreciate your comments, you stick out like a soar thumb and I LOVE IT!!!
-Cheers
Ms. Teage
Ah. I am glad for you. Atleast you had the opportunity of your EISTEIN on this site..haha!!
Reconcile in Sierra Leone, Taylor says…..that’s laughable…..just like he help reconciliation amongst Liberians for the 14 years…..LOL!!!!
Ridiculous, just ridiculous….Charles Taylor COME ONE!!!!!!!!!
Bogus, all bogus, you couldn’t help reconciliation anywhere!!! Your claims are ridiculous!!! I don’t even know if this man is capable of such a thing!!!
Seriously!!!
This is truly a leap of logic……Reconciliation?
Jose Rodriguez,
My argument remains that Cyril Allen should have contested his case in the Supreme Court. The fact that he didn’t go to the supreme court shows that he didn’t have a case. We all know, according to the laws of Liberia, Cyril Allen is illegal to run as a representative of Margibi County.
Your arguments of Madam Sirleaf being a convict and that she didn’t meet the 10 years residential clause show that you are not only deceptive but also very ignorant of processes involved in the 2005 election.
Firstly, previous to the 2005 election, there was no indictment on Madam Sirleaf. So, your claim that she is a convict is a pure nonsense out of the figment of your imagination. I told you before and I will say it again. There is nothing one can not come up with when you allow your imagination to run wild.
Secondly, the election 0f 2005 was a special election, taking into account the abnormal situation. Most of the laws governing the election were products of the Accra comprehensive peace accord. Moreover, there is a spirit and intent of every law. The 10 residential clause has to do with deliberately not residing in Liberia for 10 years. You know fully well why Madam Sirleaf and every Liberians who have the mean wouldn’t live in Taylor’s Liberia. Stop the deception. So, comparing the 2005 election with post 2005 elections (by-elections) is poor analogy.
Your statements “Liberia is not as sophisticated like other western nations to be so accurate about people’s residence status. Besides, even in developed countries, people move to new locations just for election purposes. For example, Former Senator, Hilary Clinton of New York, moved from her Little Rock Arkasas residence to that of New York about two months before the election. Once you can prove that you live there, you are allowed to contest. And it is left with the people to decide if you will seek their interest or not.” show that you are a very confused person.
Yes, Liberia is not a sophisticated country so it is very easy to verify whether one meets the residential clause for running as a representative for a region. Your analogy of Hilary Clinton running as a Senator for New York is like saying that George Haddad Jr is eligible to become President of Liberia because he was born in Liberia despite the fact that both of his parents are Lebanese because in sophisticated countries like the US Charles G. Taylor Jr. is eligible to become President of the US since he was born in the US despite both of his parents being Liberian. I Hope you now see the absurdity of your argument. If not, then ask Noko 4 and Noko 5 to help you out.
Big Joe,
Are you asking for my HELP???