A Voice for the Voiceless

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former Liberian President Charles Taylor sits on trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for 11 counts of war crimes, including murder, rape, mutilation, and terrorizing the population for his involvement and control of the Sierra Leonean Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels.  Sierra Leone was involved in a brutal civil war throughout the 1990s, with the RUF rebels committing widespread atrocities, including their trademark “amputations” of hacking off limbs to breed terror among the citizens. 

The first prosecution witness this week was Canadian “blood diamond” expert Ian Smilie who testified that these abuses were designed to spread terror and were partially designed to allow the rebels to mine diamonds without a population around to disturb them.  These “blood diamonds” where then used to fuel and fund the war for the rebels. 

The second prosecution witness was a rural pastor, the Reverend Alex Tamba Teh who testified as to the numerous atrocities allegedly committed by the RUF.   The Reverend Teh recalled a mass murder by machine gun of unarmed civilian men and the brutal dismemberment of a civilian boy.   

The defense immediately objected to such evidence provided by the Reverend, and British Queen’s Counsel Courtenay Griffiths argued that such evidence played to the heartstrings of the world and it was unnecessary to make people relive the events.   He said that it is “not contested that atrocities were committed” but that it “is not what this trial is about.”  Rather, the defense contests the main charge that Taylor backed the RUF and Griffiths says that is what the prosecution should concentrate on. 

After hearing arguments regarding the evidence, the panel of judges led by Justice Julia Sebutinde from Uganda admitted the evidence and stated they would determine its weight later. 

The third prosecution witness to testify was a former Liberian army commander, Varmunyan Sheriff.  Sheriff testified as to the role Taylor allegedly played in the brokerage of a dispute between Sierra Leonean rebel leaders Sam Bockarie and Issa Sesay, which resulted in Sesay becoming the new leader of the RUF and Bockarie traveling to Liberia with 350 RUF fighters on Taylor’s orders.    Sheriff also testified as to the alleged control Taylor had over the RUF rebels, as evidenced by two occasions where RUF fighters were deployed by Taylor.  Sheriff further alleged that Mr. Taylor ordered him to run guns and ammunition to the RUF rebels.

The prosecution also questioned Sheriff about the treatment of civilians by the RUF, the treatment of civilians in Liberia, and the use of child soldiers.   The prosecution also sought to establish that Mr. Taylor was on notice of the atrocities being committed through questioning Sheriff about Taylor’s access to radio and television which had broadcast programs regarding the “amputations” and use of child soldiers.

On cross-examination Mr. Griffiths worked to discredit Sheriff by establishing he had formerly been a commander for a Liberian rebel group that had fought Mr. Taylor and that his groups had been armed and backed by the Sierra Leonean government.  Mr. Griffiths also alleged that Sheriff is mentally unstable and that his testimony is therefore unreliable.

Taylor is the first former African head of state to appear before the international tribunal.  His trial is expected to last at least a year.

For more information, please see:

AP – Taylor Attorney Calls Witness Unstable – 11 January 2008

AllAfrica.com – Cross-Examination of Prosecution Linkage Witness, Defense Challenges Insider Status – 11 January 2008

BBC News – Taylor faces the past in court – 11 January 2008

AFP – Lawyers at Taylor trial aim to discredit witness – 11 January 2008

Newsweek – Trials Without Borders – 10 January 2008

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – African Union chief and Ghanaian President John Kufuor left Nairobi yesterday without resolving the standoff between President Mwai Kibaki and opponent Raila Odinga. The three-day conference, aimed at mediating the political conflict that has sparked a humanitarian crisis, ended disappointingly with trades of accusations rather than discussions of mediation. Both sides have however, agreed to finding an end to the violence that have left nearly 600 people dead, more than 250,000 displaced, and roughly 500,000 in need of humanitarian aid.

As President Kufuor and the AU chief leave the country, Former U.N. head Kofi Annan, Graca Machel, wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and former Tanzanian leader Ben Mkapa are expected to take their place as mediators. In a report, Annan said “[w]e are not going to impose solutions but work together with [Kibaki and Odinga] to arrive at viable and long-lasting solutions to the problem in hopes of coming to a mediated settlement.”

However, a Kenyan government spokesman said that Kibaki is not interested in a mediated settlement but prefers a face-to-face talk with Odinga. Odinga has refused all invitations to sit down one-on-one with Kibaki, who he says robbed him of the presidency by rigging the December 27 presidential polls.

According to spokesman Alfred Mutua, although Kibaki welcomes anyone who will “facilitate dialogue” with Odinga, he has taken the position that a crisis does not exist that requires mediators.

Both sides have rejected the idea of a coalition government.

Kibaki has continued business as usual. On Thursday, Kibaki swore in 17 ministers as part of a partial cabinet and has recalled the parliament. Even the World Bank has recognized Kibaki as the leader of Kenya.

In an effort to keep the momentum of his movement, Odinga has called on a three-day nationwide protest. Despite the fact that police have banned all political rallies and past protests have led to riots, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o says Kenyans have every right to protest peacefully.

The ongoing unrest has damaged Kenya’s reputation as east Africa’s most stable and booming economy. One local reporter wrote, “Our leaders are stuck in mortal combat, unable to rise above their ambitions and put the interests of the country and the people first.”

For more information please see:

AllAfrica.com- Kenya: Peace Talks Deadlock – 11 January 2008

Reuters: Africa- Kenya Opposition Calls Wave of Protests – 11 January 2008

Yahoo News- Kenya Crisis Talks Fail as Crisis Deepens – 10 January 2008

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NIAMEY, Niger – Since December, there have been three landmine explosions in the south of Niger. Just this week, the director of a private radio station, Abou Mahaman, was killed when he ran over the device with his car in Niamey, Niger. A woman traveling with Mahaman was seriously injured. Moreover, forensic experts believe that a second landmine was planted at the side of the road but did not explode.

Government officials have accused Tuareg-led rebels of planting the previous two landmines. At this point, no group has officially claimed responsibility. Moreover, it is unclear if Mr. Mahaman was a deliberate target. BBC reporter Baroue claims that Mahaman was not known to be a critical supporter of either faction.

This attack is the first attack to occur inside the capital where army officers, including the chief of staff, work and reside. Presently, journalists are banned from visiting northern Niger to interview rebel leaders of the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ). Last December, two French journalists were arrested when they ignored the ban and were charged with colluding with armed rebels.

In the past year, land mine explosions and ambushed have displaced over 11,000 citizens and cut off large parts of the northern region from aid.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Niger reporter killed by landmine –   9 January 2008

All Africa –   Niger: Mine Explosion in Niamey –  9 January 2008

All Africa – Niger: Media Director Killed by Landmine –   – 9 January 2008