Update: Charles Taylor Denies Supporting RUF Rebels

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Charles Taylor has denied that he commanded the release of peacekeepers, but rather that he conveyed the international community’s message.

“It’s a lie.  I did not command him.  The only thing I did on the UN situation was to tell Issa Sesay to release those people and to release them unconditionally,” Taylor said.  “I told him the concerns of the international community and that if they did not release the peacekeepers, the international community will come down on them like a hammer.  The whole issue was not my decision.”

A witness testified that RUF (Revolutionary United Front) rebels abducted UN peacekeepers in 2000 and the hostages were eventually handed over to the UN in Liberia after Taylor ordered Sesay, Sierra Leonean rebel leader, to release them.  The witness also testified that Taylor was not sincere in his commitment to bring peace to Sierra Leone.

Taylor also denied giving Sesay arms and ammunition to take back to Sierra Leone.

Although a witness testified that in 1997 a Liberian rebel known as Jungle said he picked up weapons from Taylor’s White Flower residence, Taylor testified that his residence was never used to transport weapons.

“Nobody ever picked up weapons from White Flower.  Nobody ever picked up a single weapon there, not even Benjamin Yeaten,” Taylor said.  “I say he is lying.  He must be confused.  In fact, White Flower does not exist in 1997.  I moved into that building in January 1998.”

Taylor also denied allegations that he backed and controlled RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh during the country’s 11-year war.  Taylor maintains that his last correspondence with Sankoh was in May 1992 so there was no way that these allegations could be true.

It was admitted that there was a possibility that some of Taylor’s NPFL (National Patriotic Front of Liberia) could have been in contact with some of Sankoh’s “Special Forces” but that if he had any knowledge of it he would have put it to a stop.

“If I had known that any senior operator was in contact with Sankoh, he would have been removed and punished,” Taylor testified in front of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

The court will be observing the Islamic holiday Ramadan on Monday.  Taylor’s testimony will resume on Tuesday.

For more information, please see:

CharlesTaylorTrial.com – Taylor Did Not Have Any Contact With RUF Leader Foday Sankoh After May 1992, He Says – 17 September 2009

CharlesTaylorTrial.com – Taylor Refutes Rebel Radio Operator Evidence – 16 September 2009

CharlesTaylorTrial.com – Nobody Ever Transported Weapons From Taylor’s White Flower Residence to RUF Rebels in Sierra Leone, He Says – 15 September 2009

CharlesTaylorTrial.com – Taylor Did Not Command RUF to Release UN Hostages, Only Conveyed A Message From the International Community, He Says – 14 September 2009

Impunity Watch – Charles Taylor Still on Stand Defending His Actions – 12 September 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive