By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The second week of the trial against former Liberian president Charles Taylor included testimony by a former member of Taylor’s traveling security squad, a former rebel fighter, an expert in African studies, and a man who worked with former child soldiers.   Taylor is on trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone for his involvement in the Sierra Leone civil war.  It is alleged that he supported and commanded the RUF rebels in their efforts. 

The defense concluded their cross-examination of Varmuyan Sherif, a former member of Taylor’s traveling security squad.  Courtenay Griffiths, the lead defense counsel, accused the witness of “always hating” the accused and said he had a “personal history” of plotting against Taylor.   Griffiths worked to establish this bias by pointing out that Sherif was formerly a commander of the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO) which fought against Taylor’s National Patriotic Front for Liberia (NPFL).

Next to testify for the prosecution was Dennis Koker, a fighter for the AFRC rebel group that was aligned with the RUF during the war.   Koker testified that the RUF killed and raped civilians and burned their homes.    Koker also testified as to his involvement in the so-called scorched earth campaign known as “Operation No Living Thing.”   After the rebels were chased out of Freetown in 1998 5,000 AFRC rebels, including Koker, joined the RUF fighters in their retreat to the east.  When they arrived in the town of Koidu in the diamond-rich Kono district they were instructed by their commander to burn everything so that when the government forces arrived they would not be able to stay in Kono.   Koker testified that his commander told them that Operation No Living Thing was an order from high command.  The rebels then took children to do household chores and made women “wives” and were forced to work as sex slaves. 

Dr. Stephen Ellis, and expert in African Studies began his testimony on Thursday.   Dr. Ellis testified about the role and influence of Charles Taylor over the RUF rebels and his connection to the war.   Two examples were discussed: the signing of the Lome Peace Accord and Taylor’s influence and involvement in getting Foday Sankoh to attend the peace conference; and his influence over the RUF abduction of UN peacekeepers and Taylor’s proposal to be the intermediary to negotiate any release.   The cross-examination of Dr. Ellis focused on the history of conflict in Liberia and neighboring West African states and the political influence the United States held.

Last to testify this week was Jose Maria Caballera, known as Father Chema.  Father Chema, originally from Spain and now living in Sierra Leone, testified regarding his involvement with former child soldiers.  In April 1999 he started a program with UNICEF to treat the children.  From April 1999 to March 2002 he treated 3,025 children, at least 62 percent of which were child soldiers.   Father Chema recounted the number of children he saw and helped, the majority of which ranged in age from 12 to 15.  Many of the girls were “camp followers” or “sex slaves” that had been used by the fighters as bush wives.  Father Chema remembered the youngest girl was kidnapped at age 7 or 8 and had been a “bush wife” to a RUF commander until she became pregnant.  Father Chema also detailed a typical history of a child soldier, from abduction to training to anointment, to the killing of their first victim.  Following their training, the children were sent back to their villages to kill their parents and burn the village harvest.   Father Chema’s testimony is scheduled to resume on Monday morning.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Prosecution witness queried at Taylor war crimes trial – 15 January 2008

AFP – Charles Taylor trial witness tells of RUF rebels’ atrocities – 16 January 2008

AllAfrica.com – Dr. Ellis Details the History of Conflict; United States Influence in Politics Described – 18 January 2008

AllAfrica.com – Liberia: Virtual Eyes on Taylor Trial – 18 January 2008

The Trial of Charles Taylor bog – Dr. Ellis Describes the History of Conflict and Political Uprising in Liberia; Father Chema Details his Work with Child Soldiers – 18 January 2008

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Today marked the third and last day of Raila Odinga’s three-day nationwide protest. It was also the bloodiest day of the protest.  At least 13 protesters died today and more than 30 since the rally began on Wednesday.

The worst violence took place in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, where six people died and more than ten others were wounded by police gunfire. The French charity MSF called today a massacre. Police and protesters played cat and mouse games with automatic weapons as relatives collected bodies in the street. A 15-year-old girl, Rosa Otieno, was shot and killed as she washed utensil, according to her mother.

According to witnesses, police shot and killed two protesters in Mombasa, Kenya’s Indian Ocean port. Officials have only confirmed one death.

In a released statement Human Rights Watch said the police were responsible for the death of dozens of people. An unofficial “shoot to kill” policy allegedly authorizes police to open fire on looters and protesters.

In southwest Kenya, five bodies of the Kikuyu ethnic group were found with arrow and machete wounds. The Narok town has been center of clashes between President Mwai Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe and Maasai anti-government protesters.

Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) political party organized the nationwide protest after the government refused to entertain mediation by outside powers, like former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Kibaki insists he won the election, although Odinga, along with several Western nations, believe the election was rigged. About 650 people have died since the disputed December presidential election.

After three days of bloodshed, the Odinga and his party has decided to employ a new strategy. After witnessing today’s bloody clash between ethnic groups and the police’s use of the country as a “killing field”, Odinga says he will continue to pressure the government but in another manner. The ODM announced a plan to begin an economic boycott.

Kenya had the most stable government in East Africa, it’s swift slide into chaos has tarnished its democratic credentials. Kenya also has the biggest economy in East Africa and an economic boycott will only hurt the country and its people.

For more information please see:

BBC – Kenya Protesters to Mount Boycott – 18 January 2008

Yahoo News – At Least 13 Dead in Day of Kenya Protests – 18 January 2008

Reuters: Africa – Kenya Opposition Vows More Pressure – 18 January 2008

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Three men in Cameroon were sentenced to six months of hard labor due to a criminal conviction of homosexuality. Last August, Lazare Baeeg, Emmanuel Balep, and Tony Dikongue were arrested. Police did not catch the men committing an act of homosexuality.

According to a lawyer, Alice Nkom, these men have spent close to six months in a detention center in Douala, a port city in Cameroon. In Cameroon, the penalty for a conviction of homosexuality carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $450. In the last two years, more than 30 people have been arrested on charges of homosexuality.

Presently, their lawyer has plans to appeal the conviction and sentence if the men are found guilty. Alice Nkom stands by the assertion that since the police did not catch the men committing the act of homosexuality,  they should not be found guilty of an offense that they did not do.

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Campaign Programme Associate Joel Nana, who has been monitoring the cases stated, “As soon as the shadow of homosexuality enters into a case due process goes out of the window.”

For more information, please see:

Yahoo News – 3 Sentenced in Cameroon for Being Gay – 16 January 2008

The AP – Three men sentenced to hard labour for being gay in Cameroon – 16 January 2008

Pink News – Cameroon men get six months jail for being gay  – 16 January 2008