By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor continued this week with the cross-examination of prosecution witness TF1-275 Foday Lansana (“Lansana”), a former radio operator for the Revolutionary United Front (“RUF”). As the examination continued, Taylor was taken to the hospital for undisclosed reasons, where he remained a day for monitoring. No further reports on his health were released, though it was generally understood that he was kept overnight strictly for monitoring. Though Taylor was out of the courtroom, he gave his consent to his defense counsel to continue with the cross examination of Lansana.
Defense counsel Morris Anyah (“Anyah”) conducted the cross examination of Lansana, first attacking the witness’s credibility claiming Lansana’s entire testimony was based on information he heard while imprisoned, and that “none of it actually happened.” Lansana denied this allegation, and stated that he experienced all of the things he spoke of in his direct examination.
Anyah continued to question Lansana on events, names and places that the former radio operator had testified about, attempting to establish that Lansana fabricated testimony. Most notably, Anyah questioned Lansana about his testimony relating to the “Coca Cola Factory” speech Taylor gave to the special forces, that Lansana purportedly witnessed. Anyah focused mainly on other documents, where Lansana claimed to have heard the speech over the radio. Lansana disputed this, saying he was present for the speech, but not when Taylor spoke on the phone with a correspondent at the BBC relaying the message from the speech. Prosecution documents placed Lansana at both locations, a fact the witness admitted was false.
The defense also focused their cross-examination on times when Lansana either “did not work as a radio operator or did not function well as such.” Other questions revolved around Lansana’s substandard performance and the activities of another Foday Lansana who was also working with the RUF.
After the cross-examination finished, Prosecutor Christopher Santora re-directed the witness clarifying the discrepancy in Lansana’s testimony regarding the Coca-Cola factory speech as well as other smaller details. The witness was then dismissed.
The court this week also determined that the next prosecution witness, witness TF1-362, will be examined in closed session.
Two other notable developments involving the trial occurred this week. First, Prosecutor Stephen Rapp (“Rapp”) announced that he was closing in on a 600 million dollar (400 millions Euros) blood diamond-haul that had been collected by Taylor. The prosecution would like to reclaim these assets, and “make them available to victims both in Sierra Leone and Liberia.” The funds would be used not only to pay the legal bills, but also to aid thousands of victims in the countries, intentionally mutilated by the rebels. Not all of these assets are officially in Taylor’s name, but the prosecution is working with a special team from the British government to bring them back.
Second, Varmuyan Sherif (“Sherif”), a former bodyguard for Taylor who testified earlier in the trial has gone into hiding after receiving multiple threats relating to the evidence he gave. Rapp said rocks were thrown at Sherif’s home, and a threatening letter was sent to his brother. Sherif and his family have been temporarily relocated, until it is safe for them to return. United Nations officials and local police are investigating the threats.
Sherif testified that Taylor smuggled arms, cash and communications equipment to the militia.
Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from actions during Sierra Leone’s ten-year war, which ended in 2002. The charges against him include rape, murder, torture and enlisting child soldiers.
For more information, please see:
allAfrica.com – Taylor Taken to Hospital But Proceedings Continue – 27 February 2008
allAfrica.com – Charles Taylor Taken for Medical Attention – 27 February 2008
The Trial of Charles Taylor – last accessed 1 March 2008
Associated Press – Taylor witnesses being threatened – 28 February 2008
AFP – War crimes prosecutor has Taylor blood diamond haul in sights – 29 February 2008
Impunity Watch – Update on Charles Taylor Trial – 23 February 2008
