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Grand Gedeans Indicted:For War in Cote d’Ivoire
Nineteen Liberians who were accused of participating in the war in Ivory Coast Tuesday denied all charges brought against them after their indictment was read to them by the Criminal Court “D” at the Temple of Justice. Read More -
AFL Deploys Tomorrow To Mali
After months of training, a platoon size of the Armed Forces of Liberia will deploy to northern Mali for a “combat mission” to contribute to the African-led International Support Mission to (AFISMA). Read More -
Guinean, Liberian Face Deportation
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court in The Gambia has ordered the deportation of a Guinean and a Liberian after serving their sentences. Read More -
Wife Killer Gets Life Sentence
Presiding Judge Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court “A” Tuesday affirmed the trial jury’s unanimous guilty verdict against John Kollie for killing his wife by sentencing him to life imprisonment. Read More -
Unlikely Connection Saves Pastor’s Life
When Pastor Dan Anderson of Monument Bible Church in Scottsbluff and Pastor Moses Paye of Liberia met at a conference in Liberia, they never could have imagined that their chance encounter would end up saving Paye’s life. Read More
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Grand Gedeans Indicted:For War in Cote d’Ivoire
AFL Deploys Tomorrow To Mali
Guinean, Liberian Face Deportation
Wife Killer Gets Life Sentence
Unlikely Connection Saves Pastor’s Life
Excitement In Volunteer Blood Donation
Weapons Of Creation :Guns Turn Into Art
WAEC Results Expected Next Month
Liberian Arrested For Black Money:In Vietnam
Liberia To Benefit From US$100B Investment From Indian
ECOBANK Sues LIBERCELL for U$3m Debt
US$695m Complex For Liberia
LBS Ghanaian Employee Resigns
Baccus Matthews’ Foundation Keeps Alive
Prayers For Tom
President Off To G8 Summit
LBS Boss Under Fire:Ordered To Account for US$350,000 & Dismiss Ghanaian Employee
Stop Collecting Bond Fees: Chief Justice Warns Magistrates
Peacekeepers Honoured
New Law Against Illicit Drugs
Land Secured For Ministerial Complex
Fire Back When Attacked:Commander Orders Nigerian UNMIL Troops
SG Dashes Ex-Soldiers’ Hopes:For US$48 million Benefits
EU Signs Agreement For Bee Health In Liberia
Ghanaian Firm Takes Over Liberian Company
Gov’t Blasts Global Witness
More Gay Woes Insight
Gold Prospects In Cape Mount
Wife Killer Guilty
National Archives Documents Financial Records
Mother Denies Killing Daughter
Liberia Battles ‘Demons’
Celebrating 10 Years of Peace
Liberia Wants Neighbors Boost Mining
Frontpage Slapped With US$1m Lawsuit
Liberia Suffers Governance Gap
On Thursday, there will be a verdict in the historic trial of Charles Taylor.
Taylor is the former President of Liberia, but he’s accused of orchestrating the brutal war in neighboring Sierra Leone, aiding frontline forces by sending cash and guns in return for diamonds.
The UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone tried Taylor on 11 counts – including murder, rape, and the use of child soldiers.
If convicted, Taylor would become the first African Head of State to be found guilty of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
His trial has attracted international attention. But nowhere is it being followed more closely than in Sierra Leone, where thousands were killed or mutilated.
Edward Conteh is one of the survivors. Riding in a small yellow taxi in the capital Freetown, Conteh lifts his left arm — amputated just below the elbow — to gesture up the road: “It’s up there where they amputated my hand.”
It was 1999. A rebel group called the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) had joined forces with a new military junta to invade the city, murdering and mutilating anyone in their path.
Conteh was hiding out with in a house with his nine children.
“There was no food, no water. I had a little girl, four years old, she started crying.”
After three days, desperate to feed his children, Conteh ventured out in search of food. A rebel soldier found him and chopped off his arm with an axe. Amputating hands was a trademark of the RUF fighters in their campaign of terror.
But Conteh blames a man who never even set foot in Sierra Leone; Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia. Conteh calls Taylor the “Godfather” of Sierra Leone’s war.
“Why? Because he was the one sponsoring them. If there was no sponsor, then these things should not have happened.”
Taylor is accused of backing and arming the rebels in Sierra Leone, sending them cash and guns in return for so-called blood diamonds. The Special Court for Sierra Leone moved his trial to The Hague out of fear that it would destabilize the West African region.
The trial has lasted three years.
While it’s clear that thousands of people were killed and that children were used as soldiers and sex slaves, proving that Taylor was responsible is another matter.