Comments on: The International Community Had Its Mind Made Up Against Taylor, He Says

By: andrew jlay

andrew jlay — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:25:14 +0000

Musa,

Accepted and thanks. But sincerely I overlooked the disconnect in both statements. I guessed I was overwhelm because I have seen Liberian documents during the same period that refer to Bockarie as a Sierra Leonean. So when Mr. Taylor refer to that I assume he was right.

But again, this law, it is evidence that matter.

so let us continue the discourse.

By: bnker

bnker — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:04:15 +0000

You are truly from Bentol! You know the families for real…some of which I know well! So do I call it Bensonville or Bentol? I know some family members still refers to it as Bentol!

By: bnker

bnker — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:02:38 +0000

Jocone,

You stated, “In July of 1990, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told Taylor on BBC to level Monrovia to the ground and she was going to Build it in 6 Months, do you remember that?” Point of correction this interviewed happened and another after Doe was captured. She didn’t say “she” was going to build Monrovia in six months”, she said “we”, and that they had secure millions of dollars to do so. You are right a statement similar in nature was made, but not exactly.

By: Jocone

Jocone — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:21:13 +0000

Jana,
You have said that the late William R. Tolbert daughter is your personal friend but I am a blood family to the Tolbert’s. I was born in Bensonville on Sept. 24,1972. I am from Dee Tolbert side of the family. All of Johnney Tolbert Children, Frank E. Tolbert Children, Stephen Tolbert Son and William R. Tolbert sister ( Aunt lucia and her husband Hunphy Vamplet) knows me. The interview of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that I am talking about on BBC, was done 7 July 1990….. I didn’t telling you that I read it in the paper instead, I listing to the interview on BBC at the VOA compound in Caresbury.
I can tell you the names of few families from Bentol who you can ask since you’re a personal friend to Uncle william daughter and I am sure she know many of them and you might know some them as well. The Carter family, the Cooker’s, Garnett’s, Fagans, Parkers, the Holder’s, the Brents, the Snyder’s just to name a few.

By: Tracey Gurd

Tracey Gurd — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:23:49 +0000

Jana,

Thank you for your contribution. I understand that you wanted to explain your beliefs in response to Wadi’s comment. And I know this site addresses a range of issues raised by the Charles Taylor trial, and some which are closely related but beyond the immediate scope of the trial — including the credibility of witnesses and evidence, events that occurred during the wars, the rule of law, the possibility of national trials for crimes committed during war, reconstruction in Liberia and Sierra Leone after the wars and where the law fits into that rebuilding process.

This also seems like a good opportunity for us to be reminded of the focus of this site: the trial of Charles Taylor. To the extent that we can keep our comments focused on the trial and the issues it raises – like the ones I’ve noted above — we are all placed well to engage actively and constructively as we are all following the trial’s progress.

Thanks again for your comment, Jana, and we’ll look forward to continued conversations with you about the trial and the various issues it raises.

Best,
Tracey

By: Jana Williams

Jana Williams — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:02:21 +0000

Wadi,

Let me shed some light on this. Jesus was and is around during these times. That doesn’t mean that all is well with the world. He has given us the choice of free will. Which means all the evil that implies is still around us. Those who choose not to accept Him as their personal Savior (the ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD!) are still all around us. But He does give us comfort in those very difficult times. If you know anything about the bible and Paul’s life it might shed some light on the power of prayer and faith in Jesus and the strength and comfort it provides. Paul, like so many, was persecuted, jailed, beaten, etc. but remained strong in his faith. Corie Ten Boom who lived in a concentration camp, starved and abused, watched innocent people all around her, including her own sister, die merely because they were of Jewish decent and yet drew strength and comfort from her “relationship with Jesus”. She didn’t blame Him for not plucking her out of her personal torture chamber! One of your own who escaped during the war has told me his story. And let me tell you, Jesus was with him during this time. There were many situations in which he should have been dead but time and time again JESUS (not mohamed) reached in and carried him out. My friend tells his story with love in his heart and a smile on his face. Where Jesus is, there is no room for hate. Hate and evil is of this world. As long as we live in this world we will always be faced with it. Jesus never said believers would walk a life without any pain or trials. But He did say He would never leave us or forsake us. And in that I draw much comfort. Jesus fills our otherwise evil and hateful hearts with His love. As a born again, spirit filled, Christ centered believer, I am able to love even the vilest of offenders in our society. Being a christian is not a religion! IT IS A RELATIONSHIP!! The choice is given to all of us.

By: Musa

Musa — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:52:36 +0000

Andrew,

I mean no harm when I say, your trick did not work. Honestly, I don’t intend to cause injury to your feeling and I owe you apology for taking my statement as an offense. What I mean is that you try to dodge the incoherent statements Mr. Taylor made by referring me to one that supports your argument. Please accept my apology.

I love serious and honest intellectual discourse without injury.

Thanks for your understanding.

By: Wadi Williams

Wadi Williams — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:14:04 +0000

I am not sure that jesus is an issue,or part of the solution, after all, jesus, mohamed,allah jehovah etc etc were presumably all around when our children,brothers,sisters,mothers and fathers were been tortured and butchered,I am sure they were all around when those blood thirsty ‘lunatics took over the asylum’ and unleashed terror upon the innocent. Are we to understand that they simply stood by and watched
We need to move away from the corrosive poison of these religions!!!
As Always Wadi’The Zima’

By: Wadi Williams

Wadi Williams — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:34:37 +0000

Actually Musa is quoting directly from the transcript,those were the actual words of taylor in reponse to his counsels question. And taylor does confirm that Bockarie was granted Liberian Citizenship.

As Always Wadi’The Zima’

By: Wadi Williams

Wadi Williams — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:22:18 +0000

I must say that, you are mistaken in your claim that Bockarie has nothing to do with this case. As a matter of fact, the issue of Bockaries life and death goes to the heart of this complex case, it specifically goes to the question of ‘Linkage’. Had he survived he would have been in a position to confirm or deny the whole question of ‘Linkage’, he would have been able to give credence or otherwise to the prosecutions claim that taylor was the ‘eminence grise’, that diamonds were passed to him, that he provided Arms, instructions etc to the RUFand their Allies and as such culpable.
In a word, Bockarie could have destroyed taylors defence and it is for this reason that it is suggested that taylor had both a motive and interest in having Bockarie and his followers killed., and indeed, is suspected of doing just that…….In this narrative taylor could be said to be covering his tracks by murdering those who could provide direct linkage. If this narrative is accepted or given weight then it would go some way towords solidifying the prosecutions case.
We have to ask ourselves, ‘Is it purely ‘coincidence’ that nearly all the major potential witnesses (Sam Bockarie, Daniel Tamba AKA ‘Jungle’, Dennis Mingo, Johnny Paul Koroma etc)`were mostly murdered in Liberia?’
It is one of the questions that the judges will have to consider in their deliberations.

As Always Wadi’The Zima’