By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – After seven days of closed testimony, the Charles Taylor trial resumed open session this week and heard testimony from a former RUF Radio Communication Officer and a former member of the Gambian military.
Perry Mohamad Kamara, a former RUF Radio Communications Officer, testified regarding the close relationship and coordination between RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Taylor, the RUF’s command and structure at that time, and the methods of communication used by the RUF. Kamara testified that he heard Sankoh and Taylor communicate via code names, and heard Taylor giving military advice to Sankoh. Kamara also testified regarding RUF attacks on civilians, the attack on Freetown, and forced diamond mining.
On cross examination the Defense counsel questioned Kamara on what he had actually observed or witnessed and the procedures used regarding communication. Defense counsel also questioned him regarding the likelihood of Taylor giving Sankoh military advice, considering Taylor had never served in the military.
The prosecution next called Mr. Camara, nicknamed Suwanzy. Camara testified that after spending five years in the military, he left Gambia and traveled to Liberia where he met Koukoi Samba Sanyang and eventually joined the Special Operational Force for Africa (SOFA), which was planning on training people in Liberia to overthrow the government in Gambia. He further testified that he met Sankoh and Taylor in 1990.
The prosecution will continue their examination of Camara next week.
For more information, please see:
AllAfrica.com – Prosecution Completes Redirect Examination of TF1-371; Begins Examination of Fromer RUF Radio Communications Officer – 5 February 2008
AllAfrica.com – Former RUF Radio Operator Testifies Concerning RUF Operations – 6 February 2008
AllAfrica.com – Kamara Testified Concerning RUF Attacks on Civilians and Freetown – 7 February 2008
AllAfrica.com – Cross Examination of RUF Radio Operator Concludes – 8 February 2008
