Together, Charles Taylor’s arrest and subsequent hand-over to the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) were signal moments in the history of international justice. With rare exceptions, rulers like Taylor have enjoyed impunity. Now, one such ruler has been driven from power and will be tried on 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The security concerns which forced the relocation of Taylor’s trial to The Hague have complicated evidence production and witness testimony.
At least as importantly, moving the trial out of West Africa makes it more difficult for Liberians, Leoneans and others in the region to follow its progress, let alone participate in any meaningful way.
This website is intended as a forum for news and analysis of the trial, with a particular emphasis on reaching West African audiences and reflecting West African voices.
We hope you will find the site to be a useful source of information. Content will be updated daily whenever the court is in session, so please check back often and sign up for our email service or RSS feed. We hope the site will be more than a one-way communication from the courtroom, but will also elicit your thoughts and opinions.
The success of the trial will be determined, in large part, by how it is viewed and assessed in the places where Taylor’s crimes were committed. We hope this site makes a significant contribution to that process.
Thanks for a beautiful website. It is my hope that it will serve the purpose for which it was set up.
The trial of Taylor is a land mark event that must be relayed to all around the round the world live.
Nothing short of a free, fair and just trial where all sides would be heard is what we expect.
The world is watching.
Norman Cooper
nn_cooper@yahoo.com
nonesense!
To the creators of this website:
I am astonished to see no where on your site the presumption of innocense for the accused. Instead of presenting both sides of the story, you use the same old tired and unsubstantiated rhethoric we’ve heard before. Thankfully there is a God in Heaven who will decide the merits of this case and not a biased few.
-A Patriotic Liberian
charles G. Taylor is a torrist and need to be treated like them.
I pray that he should never leave from the Huage,let the Huage be his restin place
Let Taylor go to hell along with his family.
Thanks for unpacking the legal jargon. Keep it coming.
Brillant.
Thanks a million.
I differ with Paul G. Flomo because his comment is passing judgement when in fact the trial has just started.
His comment “I pray that he should never leave The Hague, let The Hague be his resting place” is irrogant to say the least.
One precondition for Holland agreening to host the Charles Taylor war crimes and crimes against humanity trial was that if guilty he would not be imprisoned in that country. To this, Britain readily agreed to provide facility to imprison him.How can The Hague be the resting place of Taylor even if he is found guilty? You don’t have to hate the man to suggest what is not right.
I support the call for the need to contain Charles Taylor.
His containment for now is a great relief to the West African region, without which the subregion’s problem would have since worsen, including the war against the peaceful people of Sierra Leone,Guinea and Ivory Coast.
Thanks for such wonderful website, We are optimistic that it sole intend will be accomplished. I will recommend that ever bit of story meriting from this case be publish without bias and with all fairness. As we are aware of the biblical saying “He without sin; let him cast the first stone.” Let be aware that God who is the surpreme judge will one day bring his judgement.
To Judge Sebutinde, beware of tricky, corny, and non-conscience individuals who will try to manipulate you to fall on their side. Please, I take God’s name to beg you, let God be your guidance throughout this case.
S.Aaron Weah-Weah, III
A Liberian Activist