Communicating Justice

September 22, 2008

A Former Correspondent of Radio France International and Reuters who covered both Liberian and Sierra Leonean Civil wars has taken the stand testifying in the Trials of Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor in The Hague. Mr. Stephen Smith said he was humiliated by Taylor’s forces in 1990, and later expelled from Liberia by Taylor himself. Mr. Smith, now a professor at the Duke University in America is testifying to his knowledge of the civil wars in the two neighbouring countries. Since the resumption of the trials after the annual summer break, this is the first time a white man is testifying in the Taylor’s Trial.

 Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah’s report (September 22, 2008)

September 23, 2008

In less than two weeks another prosecution witness has testified to atrocities allegedly committed by the Civil Defence Force known as Kamajors in the Sierra Leonean civil war.  The witness, an Assistant Superintendent of Police said some of his fellow police officers lost their lives as a result of Kamajors brutality. The Kamajors were loyal to Former Sierra Leonean President, Tejan Kabba. 

September 24, 2008

A pastor of the International Mission Church in Kono District began his testimonies by singing in open court the song he heard from Soldiers on May 25th 1997, when the Sierra Leone Army overthrew the Tejan Kabba Government. The witness also testified about the killing of twenty-one civilians at Mortema town in Kono.  Pastor Samuel Bull is a crime-based witness. As Mariama Khai Fornah reports, the witness said his own relatives were also part of the massacre.

 Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah’s report (September 24, 2008)

 
September 25, 2008 
A witness has testified that in 1998 in Kono, he and his entire family ran to the bush for refuge during the war in Sierra Leone because at that time, they had no trust in the security. Mr. Emmanuel Bull a graduate of the University of Sierra Leone said they stayed in a cave. Mr. Bull is testifying in the on going trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor who is being tried for crimes he allegedly committed in Sierra Leone. Mr. Taylor is being tried on eleven count charges for crimes against humanity. The witness also explained how the AFRC and RUF rebel terrorised the civilians during the war in Sierra Leone.

 Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah’s report (September 25, 2008)

 
September 26, 2008

 The normal sitting of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague was disrupted on Friday by the excessive outpouring of grief by the 45^TH Prosecution witness testifying against Charles Taylor. On direct examination, the outspoken and dramatic storyteller lost his concentration and speech and wept loudly.

 Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah’s report (September 26, 2008)