By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
HAGUE, Netherlands — The judges for the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor decided to allow a defense appeal over key documentation. Friday would have been the last day of testimony in the trial which began in 2007.
Charles Taylor, the first African head of state to stand trial for war crimes, has been charged with eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone in the 1990s. Taylor is accused of directing the Revolutionary United Front rebels, who became known for hacking off the limbs of their victims, to rape and murder civilians in a campaign of terror in order to control Sierra Leone’s diamond mines, using the “blood diamonds” to arm the rebels. Taylor has denied all the charges.
The Special Court for Sierra Leone refused to accept an almost 600-page case summary from the defense because they filed it 20 days after the deadline. Taylor’s defense lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, responded to the Court’s refusal by storming out of the courtroom last Tuesday. The judges have demanded an apology from Griffiths, and any possible disciplinary proceedings against him have been deferred until February 25.
Both Griffiths and Taylor boycotted the hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and indicated they would continue to boycott until the case summary was accepted. The judges then decided on Friday to allow the defense to appeal the refusal to accept the case summary. Hearings have been postponed for two weeks.
In recent reports, a leaked 2007 U.S. diplomatic cable made available by Wikileaks indicates that Charles Taylor could have as much as $400 million hidden in secret accounts. The cable reported the concerns of the Special Court for Sierra Leone prosecutor at the time, Stephen Rapp. The cable discusses the issue of Charles Taylor making reparations to victims. Rapp noted that the Court could recover about $3 million if Taylor’s funds could be found. The cable said Nigeria was helping to find some of the funds and “[t]he UN Office of Crime and Drugs as well as the World Bank are exploring ways to track the funds and both President Sirleaf of Liberia and Sierra Leone President Koroma are watching with interest.”
Another cable sent in 2009 shows the potential willingness of U.S. officials to try Charles Taylor in the U.S. if he’s acquitted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The cable urged that the international community must consider what to do if Taylor is acquitted or given a light sentence. A U.S. official noted that Taylor could not be allowed to return to Sierra Leone and “tip the balance in a fragile peace,” and therefore all legal options should be explored. This could include building a case in the U.S. against Taylor for financial crimes or using child soldiers.
Next month it will be ten years since the beginning of the civil war in Sierra Leone, and victims of the violence and Taylor’s crimes keep watch on the trial, hoping that the law will see justice done to Taylor. Sulaiman Turay, a Sierra Leonan who was forced to flee the rebels and live in the wild for four months in 1998 told the AFP that Charles Taylor’s trial is a “reminder that the world should not forget the atrocities that were waged on the civilian population.” According to the Christian Science Monitor, another Sierra Leonan, Richard Koroma, who was shot in the leg as he fled from rebels in 1997 said, “[t]here’s nothing that we can do to Charles Taylor that will be equal to what he has done to the people of Sierra Leone. But let the law take its course.”
For more information, please see:
AFP — S. Leone keeps watch as theatrics rage in Taylor trial — 12 Feb. 2011
UPI — Cable says Taylor could have millions — 12 Feb. 2011
REUTERS — Charles Taylor allowed to appeal over documents — 11 Feb. 2011
BBC — Charles Taylor war crimes trial extended in The Hague — 11 Feb. 2011
TELEGRAPH — WikiLeaks: Charles Taylor may have $400 million out of reach — 11 Feb. 2011
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR — As Charles Taylor boycotts trial, Sierra Leone’s war-battered residents hope for justice — 9 Feb. 2011
REUTERS — Taylor snubs war crimes trial for second day — 9 Feb. 2011
