Dear Readers – Ms. Judith Armatta is a lawyer, journalist, and human rights advocate who has previously monitored the trial of Slobodan Milosevic on behalf of the Coalition for International Justice. She will be reporting on the trial of Charles Taylor this week in place of our regular monitor, Mr. Alpha Sesay. We hope you find her reports helpful.
For the third day, the prosecution cross-examined defense witness Sam Flomo Kolleh (a.k.a. Sam Mustapha Karome), a Liberian member of the Sierra Leonean Revolutionary United Front (RUF). As the prosecution sought to connect the accused Charles Taylor to the war and atrocities in Sierra Leone, the witness continued to deny any connection.
Weapons Transport to Liberia from Sierra Leone
In 2000, the RUF captured 500 UNAMSIL (United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone) soldiers with their weapons. The prosecution maintains the RUF transported the weapons from Sierra Leone to Liberia for Mr. Charles Taylor. Mr. Kolleh said he was not aware of it, and he was not personally involved in any such transport.
At the end of the war, the RUF was ordered to disarm and turn over all weapons to UNAMSIL and ECOMOG (Economic Community of West Africa Monitoring Group). Mr. Kolleh was in charge of collecting weapons from RUF soldiers in Kailahun. According to UN documents, the RUF had turned over very few weapons by September 2001. Nevertheless, Mr. Kolleh insisted he was unaware of any captured weapons that were not returned from Kailahun. Nor did he know anything about hostage taking despite being a senior officer.
Earlier, the witness testified it was physically impossible to transport heavy weapons from Sierra Leone to Liberia because a ferry over the river was not in operation. To challenge this the prosecutor, Nicholas Koumjian, read from the testimony of prior witnesses stating that weapons were stripped from vehicles and transported separately on orders from Issa Sesay, RUF commander. UN Security Council documents also reported that vehicles had been stripped of weapons. This makes them much lighter and easier to transport, the prosecutor suggested. Again, the witness said he knew nothing about it. When one of the judges offered that perhaps weapons could not be transported across the border because Pakistani troops were there, Mr. Kolleh readily agreed. When the judge then asked why he had never said so before, he received no satisfactory answer.
Showing a photograph of a large gun said to be a Howitzer, Mr. Koumjian asked if it was possible to transport by canoe, the method of transport used by Mr. Kolleh according to his testimony. The witness said it was not. However, Charles Taylor testified earlier that the RUF brought the Howitzer to him from Foday Sankoh, the prosecutor pointed out. The witness did not agree.
Mr. Koumjian also attempted to have Mr. Kolleh agree that weapons came to Sierra Leone from Liberia as well as vice versa. Issa Sesay had testified that Sam Bockarie brought ammunition from Liberia to Sierra Leone by a 10 wheel truck. If a 10 wheel truck could cross from Liberia to Sierra Leone, heavy weapons dismantled from vehicles and hidden among sacks of rice on pick up trucks could cross the other way.
AFL and RUF Attack on Guinea
The prosecutor turned to the RUF’s attack on Guinea, putting to the witness that the attack was made by a combined force of RUF and Charles Taylor’s Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Mr. Kolleh agreed that both attacked Guinea but insisted they acted separately. While stating he did not participate in the attack, he said he was in the area where he heard sounds indicating the AFL had joined the attack already begun by the RUF. Nor did he change his testimony when told that John Vincent, a member of Charles Taylor’s Special Security Service (SSS), had testified that the RUF and AFL attacked Guinea together after the Lome Peace Accords.
Other witnesses, according to Mr. Koumjian, testified that Charles Taylor ordered Issa Sesay to attack Guinea. Reasons given varied from the need to get arms into Guinea before any disarmament to keeping open a route for reinforcements.
Small Boys Unit and Small Girls Unit
As he had yesterday, the prosecutor asked Mr. Kolleh about the SBUs (Small Boys Unit). They were not armed and only helped commanders with domestic duties, he responded. From “Footpaths to Democracy” written by a doctor who accompanied the witness in escorting hostages to the border, the prosecutor read: “The RUF trained and armed a large number of men and women, including elderly, youth, children, and the disabled.” Mr. Kolleh responded that the RUF gauged the age of children by their height and trained only those who “appeared” older than 15 years. In response, the prosecution quoted from the RUF anthem: “Go and tell my parents they will see me no more,” then quoted a defense witness also an RUF member, stating the RUF armed children from 10 and up. The whole world knew it, this previous witness testified. Mr. Kolleh continued to deny the RUF’s use of children.
Nor did he change his testimony when Mr. Koumjian asked him about a boy named Musa who was with him at the time. Mr. Kolleh replied that Musa is 30 years old or more now and was very big at the time. If he is 30 now, the prosecutor noted, he would have been 14 then. He and another youth named Saar or Sahr helped him carry things when he was a transporter, the witness said. They were not on the front line. They were his bodyguards. Denying they were SBU, he said only Saar carried a weapon.
Death of Sam Bockarie
The prosecutor turned to the defense summary of the topics Mr. Kolleh would testify about. As required by tribunal rule, the defense provided the summary to the prosecution prior to Mr. Kolleh’s testimony. While it stated he would discuss the death of Sam Bockarie (a.k.a. Mosquito), he had not. The prosecution gave him the opportunity to do so.
The witness said that in 2006 Pa Maribo (another Vanguard) told him how Mosquito died. Benjamin Yeaten, former Director of the SSS, took Mr. Bockarie’s wife to the border claiming that her husband wanted to see her. After two days they heard Mosquito, his wife, and children had been killed. Though Mosquito was his friend, Mr. Kolleh did not ask who killed him or the circumstances of his death, the prosecutor noted, implying that he already knew.
Mr. Koumjian pointed out that other RUF colleagues were killed in Liberia at the same time – perhaps as a warning to keep quiet about Liberia’s part in the war and atrocities. Mr. Kolleh said RUF members were not frightened because Mr. Taylor’s Chief of Security (Benjamin Yeaten) had allegedly killed Mr. Bockarie.
Around this time, Issa Sesay arrested the witness, tying his elbows behind him in a very painful position. Mr. Kolleh claimed that Mr. Sesay did it because “they were not satisfied with me.” Later, Mr. Sesay himself was arrested. Mr. Bockarie was killed two months later. Before that, however, Mr. Yeaten allegedly killed Superman (a.k.a. Dennis Mingo), Pa Maribo told Mr. Kolleh. Despite these allegations against Yeaten, Charles Taylor told the prosecutor earlier that he would hire him again if he returned to power.
Combined Forces Attack Freetown
Mr. Koumjian played part of a BBC radio interview with Colonel FAT Sesay on the day the RUF took Freetown, January 6, 1999. During the interview, Col. Sesay says he has entered Freetown and is calling from the state house. He identifies the invaders as “the combined forces of the AFL and the RUF” and says they met no resistance on entering the city. His forces, led by Brigadier TAB Yaya were on their way to capture Lungi, site of the airport and necessary for reinforcements. Mr. Kolleh denied ever meeting Col. Sesay and insisted the forces were fighting separately.
The cross-examination of Mr. Kolleh will resume on Monday afternoon.
when will the trail end its been a very long time is he or is he not going to pay for the charges to be honest i think he is inocent most of the presidents in these 3rd world countrys are always guilty of something they just dont get caught up i read a lot of things about this man some good some bad but i think the biggest fear is they dont wont this man back in west africa again do you think
Now, do you guys see how lies never hold together? Sam flomo Kolleh,a.k.a Sam Mustapha Karoma, has no idea,about anything that implicates taylor, nor any knowledge about facts of the matter! Is this not the same patterns from previous witnesses for defense? Didn’t I mention earlier how this liar was going to get the judges annoyed and perhaps, get thrown out of court, had fallah sat on this case?
Is it me or do these past few summaries all read like a legal opinion. Perhaps it’s a stylistic difference, someone please clarify. While we appreciate the hard work of the moderators, we are smart enough to make our own judgements and don’t need a moderator’s subjective opinion. We want a summary of both the defense and prosecutions arguments as they unfold.
There are many statements in this summary that isn’t corroborated for the reference of the readers to the suppossed date of the original testimony or the context in which it was given.
For example statements such as, ” However, Charles Taylor testified earlier that the RUF brought the Howitzer to him from Foday Sankoh, the prosecutor pointed out. The witness did not agree.”
or “Despite these allegations against Yeaten, Charles Taylor told the prosecutor earlier that he would hire him again if he returned to power.”
Please point us to the transcript and the context in which Taylor made these statements if indeed they were made.
Also the statement below references a combined attack on freetown by the “AFL and the RUF”. Is this a typo because not even the prosecution has made this claim before.
“Mr. Koumjian played part of a BBC radio interview with Colonel FAT Sesay on the day the RUF took Freetown, January 6, 1999. During the interview, Col. Sesay says he has entered Freetown and is calling from the state house. He identifies the invaders as “the combined forces of the AFL and the RUF” and says they met no resistance on entering the city.”
Again we appreciate the hard work of the moderators but I caution all to be a little careful as these errors fuels the perception by some that the moderators aren’t fair.
I encourage all of the readers of this website to read the actual transcripts on http://www.sc-sl.org.
Mas,
You are right on the issue of the horitzer. Charles Taylor received it from Foday Sankoh long before this disarmanent process. The witness stated during the time of disarmament the ferry was not available to carry heavy weapons across.
Mas, it might be helpful for some to consider applying for the monitors jobs next time. we are going to have lots of openings for trials of war crimes in Liberia. Believe it or not, these guys are doing their best as far as international observers are concerned.This Website is “designed firstly as a resource for journalists trying to cover the trial from West Africa, but is intended for anyone with an interest in the Taylor trial.” However, we are already contemplating having one that will follow this particular one. You guys will not have it both way;want a fair trial, only for taylor and victims should not be considered, nor testimonies of prosecution considered as paid for ! What kind of justice the Court of Sierra Leone has not accorded these monsters, including Issa and others, who go on living and and talking garbage? Did taylor or Issa ever give this type of justice they are benefiting from to their victims? Therefore, apply or simply stop all these distractions about fair reporting and all that nonesense!
Fallah, Fallah..LOL..ha,ha Fallah,
Brother are you that frustrated now? Remember you committed the same alleged crimes against the Liberian people during your april 14,1979 rebel attack, which you instructed your galant forces to loot all the stores in monrovia. So now what? The only difference between you and Taylor is that you did and he didn’t. Fallah don’t think you are going to succeed in fooling anyone on this justice thing….. beg you ya..
NOKO5, for the record let me clarify the difference between taylor and fallah; taylor is ex-president of NPFL and protectorate RUF.Taylor is a millionaire turn-rebel who is presently in custody and facing 11 counts of Human Rights violations; steming from rapes to murders. On the other hand, fallah is a common freedom fighter that is not a thousandnaire nor any leader of any organization. fallah was activist in Liberia as a University student and helped in laying down foundation of freedom that Ellen is now making into reality. fallah stands by what he preaches and lives a comfortable life based upon these principles. fallah has no leadership ambitions nor cares for excessive wealth but is naturally blessed with happinese and enough to live on. These are some differences NOKO5. I am a freedom fighter and thank God that I have chosen this path all my life! Remember Albert Porte? I follow his foot-steps because he is my ROLE MODEL.
To all who found it necessary to insult me our impugn my integrity simply for me stating my opinion, namely menjor and ziggy salis I say thank you. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will certainly not.
Since I have been on this website, I have never once attacked any one’s views, neither have I addressed any blogger by name. My posts have been strictly my own commentary of the trial and sometimes the summaries. Therefore I wont stoop down into your intellectually stunted diatribes and personal attacks.
Do me a favor next time and challenge me on the substance of my argument rather than resorting to emotionally charged insults. One way or another we have all been hurt by the carnage in Liberia and S.L. Your hurt is not greater than mine neither is mine greater than yours.
While I emphathize with your hurt and understand your need and right to vent, this website is for rational debate and not personal attacks. Of more importance though is the larger issue that many of you engage in the same negative vices you claim you’re trying to eliminate from Africa; namely hate for dissenting views etc. It just shows me we as a continent still have a long way to go.
Fallah!!..ha..LOL,
So Taylor follow your foot steps…WOW!!,,
Dear mas,
Now you know why you will not buy her upcoming book on this trial.
Sekou
Here is another example why you should read the transcript, Judith Armatta wrote in the summary; when one of the judges offered that perhaps weapons could not be transported across the border because Pakistani troops were there, Mr. Kolleh readily agreed. When the judge then asked why he had never said so before, he received no satisfactory answer.
I missed the trial session today, but I do not believe that a judge stating their opinion about why weapons could not be transported across the border because Pakistani troops were there and Mr. Kolleh agreed with the judge that could have been a reason and then the judge ask Mr. Kolleh, why he had never said so before. There is only one satisfactory answer that was not Mr. Kolleh opinion it was the judge opinion. I will wait for the transcript for that one.
J falalh Menjor,
If the witness doesn’t know he doesn’t know. Do you want him to lie ? This is an RUF member with no loyalty to Mr. Taylor. Oh I forgot you also believed Naomi Campbell lied to save Taylor also.
Judging from the testimony of Thursday, 4 November 2010, Mr. Kolleh perhaps frustrates the partial Trial Chamber and prosecution since his response is fashioned as an informed witness.
His code of conduct in the face of the enemy; as was with Issa Seasy; reflects that of a professional Soldier; he does not assist the prosecution in its examination. It would be interesting to know what his fallout with the prosecution actually was. I am not implying there was some favor he had with the prosecution; but $90,000 is a great deal of money. I can believe the offer was made considering the documentation provided by DCT-097 (nearly $30,000). The defense has submitted evidence the prosecution surrendered which show that families were given money as well. It is well documented that the prosecution was purchasing evidence against Mr. Taylor; if not others.
Sekou
11-5-2010
@mas
I agree, it is best to read the transcripts yourself.
The opinionated summaries would be given an F if graded as legal opinions. Legal opinions must be rooted in actual testimony given and not a distortion of the testimony given.
p/b
Dear cen & noko5,
Thanks for your support; but I may have exposed the identity of others in a way that violates the terms of this site.
In other words, I have been censured.
Sekou
Sorry, this may not sit well with Koko 4&5, Devenport, Mas and others accross the table. I stand to corrected; That this last witness Sam Flomo Kolleh, a.k.a. Sam Mustapha Kroma has inflicted more darmage on the defense of Charles Taylor than anticipated. Presenting this witness, with entend of puting this prosecution team on trial has backfire; And has open the gate for prosecution to retry their case. I also think it is wrong that moderator Ms. Judith Armatta, is under constent attacks by the likes of mass. Listening to this trial and reading the daily transcripts; Her moderation is right on the point. Again Welcome Ms. Armatta. Alpha your predecessor took his share of critical reviews from the parties accross the table.
Ziggy Salis,
You have said that about all of the defense witnesses. That is nothing new from you.
I agree that there are errors in this daily summary – omissoins that show bias as Judge Lussick showed previously, (see my post yesterday).
J
Is this moderator (Judith or whatever you call him/her) looking for a job? Because I fail to understand why we keep being reminded of her/his being a ‘lawyer, journalist and human right advocate’. We don’t care what her professional background is, this is not the way to write a report. I am sick and tired of poorly educated moderators seeking to impose their ill-held opinions on readers on this page. Why can’t you people simply ‘report’ this proceedings objectively or shut down this page if you are unable to that.
Is this what ‘Open Society Justice Initiative’ is all about? Please and please we all know you can do a better job than this. Stop giving us your opinions if you cannot write a simple report!
Is sivanus, or whatever you are called, really asking the moderator that demeaning question? Wow, you must have lost your cool, it seems. But let fallah puts you back on track, this moderator is simply doing her job in moderating fair and balance, like it or not, silvarado, or whatever you call yourself! taylor is what matters here because it’s from all the monitoring that he is going to go free or pay for crimes he is on trial for!
Fallah,
Do you think ‘Open Society Justice Initiative’ will employ you for always jumping in uninvited to defend their moderators on this page? Man, you go and look for a job else where- that is if you’ve got any skills that make you employable! Sorry mate, this is the wrong place to job-hunt!
11-9-2010
@Sylvanus
LMAO….
Thank you, I needed that laugh. It does seem that Fallah jumps uninvited at all turns. Like I have said before, he waits for any oppurtunity to incite conflict and confusion. However, to his credit, he has illuminated for all of us what is wrong in Liberia.
The end of the SCSL trial of CT is near. Let us pray the judges will have the courage and fidelity to make a just decision. As for me, I can’t wait to read their decision for denying the last defense motion.
p/b
Silvarado, I am not looking for job because I got one waiting for me in Ellen’s second term Government of the People and for the People! You guys seem to lack hearing and probably need some hearing aid! I am retired! That means, I am not seeking any active employment because I have enough to survive on and enjoy the rest of my Life, slyvanus. However, because of what I see how my african brothers think and reason, I will put my political skills behind Ellen to do the final clean-up of monrovia from all the garbage from Doe’s days to taylor’s, and to make sure we never permit that nation to have parasites that only stand to gain personally!
Judith Armatta ,
Just some quotes from your summary above with emphasis added by me to illustrate my point.
Weapons Transport to Liberia from Sierra Leone
Last sentence in Para 4:
“Nevertheless, Mr. Kolleh insisted he was unaware of any captured weapons that were not returned from Kailahun. Nor did he know anything about hostage taking DESPITE BEING A SENIOR OFFICER.” (Is this part of the summary too? or your legal conclusion based on personal opinion?)
para 5:
Earlier, the witness testified it was physically impossible to transport heavy weapons from Sierra Leone to Liberia because a ferry over the river was not in operation. To challenge this the prosecutor, Nicholas Koumjian, read from the testimony of prior witnesses stating that weapons were stripped from vehicles and transported separately on orders from Issa Sesay, RUF commander. UN Security Council documents also reported that vehicles had been stripped of weapons. This makes them much lighter and easier to transport, the prosecutor suggested. Again, the witness said he knew nothing about it. When one of the judges offered that perhaps weapons could not be transported across the border because Pakistani troops were there, Mr. Kolleh readily agreed. When the judge (it was not the same judge that confronted the witness again) then asked why he had never said so before, HE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTORY ANSWER. (Is this part of the summary too? or another opinion?)
Let me give a reply on the allegation you have misquoted above. For those of us who follow this trial religiously, we have the benefit of watching the trial live and also read the transcripts regularly. About the weapons that were allegedly transported to Liberia, it is on record that there has not been any witness that testified before this court that was physically there when those weapons were transported. All witnesses that have made these allegations were hearsay witnesses. Now it was alleged by prosecution witnesses that it was Issa Sesay that gave the order for the weapons to be transported FROM KONO to Liberia. Now, the order was not giving to any of those witnesses that testified hence they cannot talk about something they were not a part of. However when Issa Sessay was testifing before this court he vehemently denied ever giving such order and that such a thing never happened. infact this witness has corroborated Issa’s testimony when he (Issa) asserted that it was impossible to transport heavy weapons FROM KONO to Liberia because there was a river there and no ferry service was available. So Judith, the line of questioning by Mr Kumjian at the time the witnesses said it was impossible was based ON KONO. but the question that Justice El Hadji Malick Sow asked the witness was about KAILAHUN and not KONO. The witness said it was ALSO impossible to transport arms from KAILAHUN because Pakistani troops were deployed there. So the witness was responding to two DIFFERENT questions involving two diffrent TIME FRAMES. hence it is curious that you, by the tone of the 5th paragraph above, insinuates that the witness was LIEING. But honestly it is not your duty to pass judgements or give opinions in what is discribed on this site as a SUMMARY. You as an individual is perfectly entitled to your opinion but I think there should be a line between what you as an indivial thinks and what TRUELY transpired in court which you are expected to SUMMARISE. I think this site has generated a lot followership because a lot of people think they are the most balanced in terms of reporting on this trial. It will be good for the site to maintain that character rather than changing it at this late stage of the trial.
No disrespect to this moderator but I think it is utterly rude of her not to address the concerns of people on this forum with regards to her so-called summaries. If the Open society wants to put forward an opinion or trial perspective they might as well say so . What we want from the courtroom summaries is what transpired in the court and not some persons opinion or take on whether a witness changed or did not change his evidence/testimony . I am not one disposed to complaining but this is really disgraceful.
Lastly, if this is how were reporting the Serbian trial, do note that this is an African trial and objectivity should be the watchword .
Mas,
Those BOSES thought this was going to be a cakewalk and we, Africans were just to cheer them on for a brilliant job done…..oh well, little they know WE ARE NOT SILLY, STUPID and DUMB. How do they CONVICT is what they are wrestling with for the EVIDENCES and WHATEVER HEARSAYS don’t add up…but we wait.
It is so funny how the NPFL penut gallary gets upset with objective summaries. Kouimjian is a great cross examiner and is making this witness look silly. I think moderator has shown remarkable restraint given how bad this witness is looking. And also….if the prosecutor was misrepresting what Taylor said in his earlier testimony DONT YOU THINK DEFENCE WOULFD OBJECT?! you think they would just let that go? The reason they dont object is because it is accurate. I mean some of you are so in love with defence and yet think they would ignore misrepresentations?! The only unfairness here is the pro-Taylor crowd that cant admit when anything at all goes the prosecution’s way. What is the score now? Well when the score keeper is in the pocket of the defence, does it really matter?! Evidence is overwhelming….Taylor will be convicted and he will be able to thank the ghost of Sam Bockarie from his prison cell.
11-9-2010
@ Bundu
An objective moderator does not have to show restraint. Being objective in this context means expressing facts without distortion by personal feelings or prejudices.
p/b
11-9-2010
I hear you Bundu. I hear you. I hear all of the other people that feel CT is guilty and should be convicted. I hear all of you.
However, if CT is convicted in an unfair and prejudiced manner, then it will not stand. In fact, you know in your heart that intimidation and bribery of witnesses is not beyond the pale.
Also, what about the others that are responsible for the atrocities that have occurred? Even you don’t believe CT is soley responsible for what happend in SL? Do you? What are your thoughts on the private soldiers that fought in SL? What are your thoughts on where the diamonds ultimately landed? What are your thoughts on the current state of affairs in SL?
If you decide not to answer, I understand.
p/b
The position of Mr. Kolleh at Manoma “bridge” where the ferry is broken is over 30 miles from the Liberian border near Beudu by road. The Manoma crossing is NOT on the border. The river there is over 100 feet wide.
J
Thank you Jenniferfh, that area has been effectively address by Mr Munyard in his re-exam of the witness today. infact he showed the court a map of the area in order to show that there is no river between Kailahun and Liberia.
I have questioned the summary myself and I am definitely no CT sympathiser as I have no connection with Sierra Leone or Liberia. I am an African and will like to see justice done. The summaries given recently were too biased and feel it is individual’s right to state that. Criticising the summaries is an expression of thought and gives no one the right to insult or accuse any critic. If CT gets convicted so be it but I am not too sure that this will mean justice has been served
My comment should say “ferry” instead of “bridge”
J