By Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands- On Monday, a witness (identified in the transcript as DCT-008) answered questions regarding the Small Boys Unit (SBU) of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) during Taylor’s trial.  The prosecution claims the children in the SBU were forced into action for the NPFL on the front lines of conflict, made to man checkpoints and assigned as body guards to officers, including Taylor.  The witness denied using children in any military capacity and that the only SBU he knew of consisted of the younger brothers and sisters of adult members of NPFL who would perform household chores for their siblings.  This witness also testified that the NPFL turned over all their weapons to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) peacekeepers managing the disarmament in Liberia during the mid-90’s.  This witness, who was a radio operator for Taylor’s Special Security Services (SSS), also testified about his duties as a radio operator and the activities he saw at the Executive Mansion when Taylor resided there.  The following day, witness DCT-008 was again questioned by the defense and testified that unbeknownst to Taylor, SSS Director Benjamin Yeaten was friends with Revolutionary United Front (RUF) commander Sam Bockarie, giving him and the RUF aid from Liberia.  Taylor’s defense team has indicated that witness DCT-008 may be the last person they call to testify.

For more information please see;

Charles Taylor Trial- DCT-008 Concludes His Evidence– 8 September, 2010

Charles Taylor Trial- Prosecutors Conclude the Cross-Examination of DCT-008– 7 September, 2010

Charles Taylor Trial- Witness Disagrees that Charles Taylor’s NPFL Had a Small Boys Unit– 6 September, 2010