Ex-rebels warn against trying Taylor at war crimes court

FREETOWN – The prospect of bringing former Liberian president Charles Taylor to trial at the international war crimes tribunal in neighbouring Sierra Leone has sparked fears of renewed civil war in that country.

A former Sierra Leonean rebel group bankrolled by Taylor during the civil war – one of the most gruesome in modern history – has warned that trying him at the United Nations-backed Special Court in Freetown could spell doom for efforts to restore stability there. But victims of the brutal conflict insist Taylor, who is currently living in exile in Nigeria, must face justice, whatever the cost.”The move is dangerous.It is visibly dangerous,” said Jonathan Kposowa, secretary general of the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) which evolved from the RUF rebel group of the late Foday Sankoh.”The former Liberian leader still has massive support,” Kposowa told AFP in an interview.”The security situation in (Sierra Leone) should be seriously taken into consideration before even such a venture is decided on.”Taylor, a former warlord turned elected president, is wanted by the court on 17 counts of war crimes for arming and training the RUF, who were notorious for slashing off victims’ limbs, noses, lips, ears and breasts.And civilians who bear the ugly scars of the 1990s rebel war against the government of Sierra Leonean President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, will settle for nothing less than justice.”We want Charles Taylor to be brought to justice,” said the head of Sierra Leone’s National Amputees and War Wounded Association, Alhaji Lamin Jakka.”He has been responsible for the shape we are now in,” Jakka argued.”If others who violated our rights and inflicted bodily harm on innocent civilians are now standing trial for their deeds, who is Taylor to remain cozy in Nigeria and treated with pomp and pageantry?” Nigeria granted Taylor asylum in 2003 in a bid to end Liberia’s own civil wars, which pitted the government against two powerful rebel groups for 14 years.Liberia has asked for Taylor’s extradition and officials there say if this is granted he will be immediately handed over to the Freetown court.But Kposowa, whose fledgling RUFP is struggling to make an impact among the electorate, warned against such a move.”Any mindful Sierra Leoneans …will say the coming of Charles Taylor is not timely,” he added.It is not known just how many civilians had their limbs hacked off by the rebel RUF during its murderous “long sleeves – short sleeves” campaign.- Nampa-AFPBut victims of the brutal conflict insist Taylor, who is currently living in exile in Nigeria, must face justice, whatever the cost.”The move is dangerous.It is visibly dangerous,” said Jonathan Kposowa, secretary general of the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) which evolved from the RUF rebel group of the late Foday Sankoh.”The former Liberian leader still has massive support,” Kposowa told AFP in an interview.”The security situation in (Sierra Leone) should be seriously taken into consideration before even such a venture is decided on.”Taylor, a former warlord turned elected president, is wanted by the court on 17 counts of war crimes for arming and training the RUF, who were notorious for slashing off victims’ limbs, noses, lips, ears and breasts.And civilians who bear the ugly scars of the 1990s rebel war against the government of Sierra Leonean President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, will settle for nothing less than justice.”We want Charles Taylor to be brought to justice,” said the head of Sierra Leone’s National Amputees and War Wounded Association, Alhaji Lamin Jakka.”He has been responsible for the shape we are now in,” Jakka argued.”If others who violated our rights and inflicted bodily harm on innocent civilians are now standing trial for their deeds, who is Taylor to remain cozy in Nigeria and treated with pomp and pageantry?” Nigeria granted Taylor asylum in 2003 in a bid to end Liberia’s own civil wars, which pitted the government against two powerful rebel groups for 14 years.Liberia has asked for Taylor’s extradition and officials there say if this is granted he will be immediately handed over to the Freetown court.But Kposowa, whose fledgling RUFP is struggling to make an impact among the electorate, warned against such a move.”Any mindful Sierra Leoneans …will say the coming of Charles Taylor is not timely,” he added.It is not known just how many civilians had their limbs hacked off by the rebel RUF during its murderous “long sleeves – short sleeves” campaign.- Nampa-AFP