Thanks for contributing your thoughts and experience here to this site. I don’t think we have heard from you before, but I would like to welcome you to our discussion.

Best,
Tracey

The accumulation of assets often is associated with material wealth. Do we agree?

In a country where 85% unemployment is prevalent and of course, where it is widely reported that Liberian citizens are reportedly attempting to survive on less that $1US a day, Not to mention the poor standards of living, water purification and soaring rice prices……hence the presence of NGO’s and other aid groups……it is fair to say that to get ahead, only the fortunate were able to relocate overseas and return with their savings. Do we agree?

Now, here is a man who was detained in the USA on allegations of Embezzelment in Liberia….Government money wasn’t it? Yes, never substantiated, yet alleged. Here is a man who is now in custody on a plethera of crimes against humanity etc… Yes, never substantiated, yet alleged. Here is a man who lived the high life in Liberia, beautiful homes and compounds, vast busniess interests and POWER. Yes, never substantiated he unlawfully obtained these funds, but to a REASONABLE person, alleged.

Do you honestly believe that an alleged war lord, embezzling former Head of State in one, if not THE most corrupt countries in the world (check the corruption index) is going to deposit his money with ECOBANK or the Liberian International Bank……do you believe that he will openly declare diamond trading on the black market through Breugge or where-ever and declare his income……..do you honestly believe that he would have his Government write a receipt for the money he embezzled from the Government (look at the Port)…….Charles Taylor is no fool, you mark my words and never in the history of criminal minds and criminal money will these individuals have their money, assets or whatever laying on the table for ease of discovery……please!!! When you have money, you have the best – the best accountants, advisors, lawyers etc….

Charles Taylor is given the presumption of innocence until he is found guilty, IF, he is found guilty – justice. Having said that, take a long look at the world wide justice systems……I would suggest that if you interviewed every prisoner in the world, held in every jail in the world…..75% would tell you they are innocent. I cannot imagine anyone entering a plea of guilty on such serious indictments and spending the rest of their natural life in prison is going to admit it and just wait and see how the displacement of blame comes out – it was his fault, the CIA were involved, I didn’t know about the RUF and so it goes….prove that !!

Aki, in a country where people chanted to Taylor at the election (1997 I think) “You killed my ma, you killed my pa, but I still vote for you” there is considerable weight by similar fact to what occurred in SL – leopards dont change their spots and the greedy dont get less greedy.

I certainly respect what you are suggesting and while it is somewhat true, it does not matter about the money (unless they CAN find it and disperse it to his victims families IF found guilty), there is plenty of corroborated accounts of his transactions. So much mud has been thrown, much of it will stick……Taylor is incredibly fortunate that their is no tribunal in Liberia !!

Hey, great to discuss things in this forum Aki and thank you to the host as well.

There are so many differing opinions…….whatever the case, power, greed, corruption and no respect for human life MUST be irradicated – Africa has enough on it’s plate with malaria, AIDS and HIV.