Comments on: Liberian Rebels and Government Exchanged Information With The CIA, Taylor Says; Denied Influencing Witnesses http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/ International Criminal Justice in the Making Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:22:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: great http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-34078 great Wed, 19 May 2010 14:58:31 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-34078 Tracey good day, you have not understood me quite too well. I am not saying that Mr. Taylor is the one that carried war to Sierra Leone. Iam saying that Sierra Leoneans should have said that he is the foundamental factor for the war in Sierra Leone. Reasons being that all persons taking the witness stand have never one day said that they saw Mr. Taylor in Sierra Leone. How then can you say that he carried war in that neighboring country. We know that lives and properties were destroyed and no one including me is happy about that. If sierra Leoneans have said that Mr. Taylor was the foundamental factor for the war in that country, I think by now JUSTICE should been found and VICTIMS been carter to. You must understand Tarcey that JUSTICE DELAY IS JUSTICE DENIED. We dont want that to happen to our people who are the VICTIMS of war in that country. Bye for now. Tracey good day, you have not understood me quite too well. I am not saying that Mr. Taylor is the one that carried war to Sierra Leone. Iam saying that Sierra Leoneans should have said that he is the foundamental factor for the war in Sierra Leone. Reasons being that all persons taking the witness stand have never one day said that they saw Mr. Taylor in Sierra Leone. How then can you say that he carried war in that neighboring country. We know that lives and properties were destroyed and no one including me is happy about that. If sierra Leoneans have said that Mr. Taylor was the foundamental factor for the war in that country, I think by now JUSTICE should been found and VICTIMS been carter to. You must understand Tarcey that JUSTICE DELAY IS JUSTICE DENIED. We dont want that to happen to our people who are the VICTIMS of war in that country. Bye for now.

]]> By: Tracey Gurd http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-33064 Tracey Gurd Wed, 05 May 2010 15:34:51 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-33064 Thank you Great -- that is an interesting comment. So, if I understand you correctly, you feel that the charges didn't accurately capture the real problem of Mr. Taylor's alleged role in Sierra Leone as you see it -- that is, that the war in Liberia impacted/caused the war in Sierra Leonean war, and so Mr. Taylor should have been held accountable for bringing the war to Sierra Leone in the first place (have I understood you correctly?) You know, one interesting thing about the Special Court's laws is that it doesn't have the power to determine whether going to war, or creating a war, in the first place is illegal. It only has the power to address the crimes that were committed during a conflict, or crimes which were widespread and systematically undertaken, and to hold those accountable who were suspected of propelling or facilitating the conflict (in Mr. Taylor's case, that he either jointly planned with the Sierra Leonean rebels to commit crimes to destabilize the country and benefit from its diamond wealth, or that he was in a position of control with the Sierra Leonean rebels and failed to prevent or punish their crimes, or that he actively assisted them through providing them with weapons in exchange for diamonds, according to the prosecutors). Mr. Taylor has rejected all those allegations and is entitled to fight it out in court -- but fighting it out takes a long time as the crimes are quite complex and they need a lot of evidence to back up the arguments on each side. With respect to the victims, I absolutely agree with you. For sure. Very best, Great, Tracey Thank you Great — that is an interesting comment. So, if I understand you correctly, you feel that the charges didn’t accurately capture the real problem of Mr. Taylor’s alleged role in Sierra Leone as you see it — that is, that the war in Liberia impacted/caused the war in Sierra Leonean war, and so Mr. Taylor should have been held accountable for bringing the war to Sierra Leone in the first place (have I understood you correctly?) You know, one interesting thing about the Special Court’s laws is that it doesn’t have the power to determine whether going to war, or creating a war, in the first place is illegal. It only has the power to address the crimes that were committed during a conflict, or crimes which were widespread and systematically undertaken, and to hold those accountable who were suspected of propelling or facilitating the conflict (in Mr. Taylor’s case, that he either jointly planned with the Sierra Leonean rebels to commit crimes to destabilize the country and benefit from its diamond wealth, or that he was in a position of control with the Sierra Leonean rebels and failed to prevent or punish their crimes, or that he actively assisted them through providing them with weapons in exchange for diamonds, according to the prosecutors). Mr. Taylor has rejected all those allegations and is entitled to fight it out in court — but fighting it out takes a long time as the crimes are quite complex and they need a lot of evidence to back up the arguments on each side.

With respect to the victims, I absolutely agree with you. For sure.

Very best, Great,
Tracey

]]> By: great http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-33060 great Wed, 05 May 2010 15:13:59 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-33060 Good day Tracey, Ireally hope that the international community will see reasons to address the plight of the victims of wars and not only in Sierra Leone. Let turn a bit on reason why Taylor is been trailed in the hague. I personally feel that The charges level against Taylor was not properly posted thereby causing the trail to take this long. I feel that the inditee should had said that" Taylor is the foundamental factor that cause war to enter Sierra Leone" and not to say that "Taylor carry war in Sierra Leone". TO CARRY SOMETHING and BEING THE FOUNDAMENTAL FACTOR OF SOMETHING are completely two different things. We are not saying this in defense of Taylor, but we are saying this because we see people who are victims of war who cannot be cater to because there is no conviction. Looking at the geographical locations of Liberia and Sierra Leone will tell you that any negative happening in one will have an impact on the other. Tracey thank you and bye for now. Good day Tracey, Ireally hope that the international community will see reasons to address the plight of the victims of wars and not only in Sierra Leone. Let turn a bit on reason why Taylor is been trailed in the hague. I personally feel that The charges level against Taylor was not properly posted thereby causing the trail to take this long. I feel that the inditee should had said that” Taylor is the foundamental factor that cause war to enter Sierra Leone” and not to say that “Taylor carry war in Sierra Leone”. TO CARRY SOMETHING and BEING THE FOUNDAMENTAL FACTOR OF SOMETHING are completely two different things. We are not saying this in defense of Taylor, but we are saying this because we see people who are victims of war who cannot be cater to because there is no conviction. Looking at the geographical locations of Liberia and Sierra Leone will tell you that any negative happening in one will have an impact on the other. Tracey thank you and bye for now.

]]> By: Tracey Gurd http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-31909 Tracey Gurd Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:21:50 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-31909 Great - I agree with you totally. I hope the ideas you describe is how the thinking evolves in dealing with post-war justice issues in relation to victims. Best, Tracey Great – I agree with you totally. I hope the ideas you describe is how the thinking evolves in dealing with post-war justice issues in relation to victims.
Best,
Tracey

]]> By: great http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-31793 great Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:08:00 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-31793 Thank you Tracey, I am gradually becoming happy about the formation of a trust fund for the victims which the ICC has or is putting in place. I take this time to command them for such a good job done or would be done. Well, the question asked as to what I think can be done or should be done to address the issue of the victims of war? 1. help them out of their state of trauma by counselling. 2. open some vocational training centers where they are train in marketing.3. give them loans and monitor their businesses until they become self reliance. This I feel will personally help in minimizing their frustrations in life. Once a person is cripple or not cripple, rape or not rape and is able to cater to his/her responsibilities there bound to be some sense of dignity within them. Tracey, lets understand that not what goes in a person that makes them but rather what comes out of them. I wait to hear from you. Thank you Tracey, I am gradually becoming happy about the formation of a trust fund for the victims which the ICC has or is putting in place. I take this time to command them for such a good job done or would be done. Well, the question asked as to what I think can be done or should be done to address the issue of the victims of war? 1. help them out of their state of trauma by counselling. 2. open some vocational training centers where they are train in marketing.3. give them loans and monitor their businesses until they become self reliance. This I feel will personally help in minimizing their frustrations in life. Once a person is cripple or not cripple, rape or not rape and is able to cater to his/her responsibilities there bound to be some sense of dignity within them. Tracey, lets understand that not what goes in a person that makes them but rather what comes out of them. I wait to hear from you.

]]> By: Tracey Gurd http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-31527 Tracey Gurd Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:15:09 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-31527 Dear Great -- you raise very compelling questions about what the definition of justice is. I understand you to be saying: What does "big picture" justice mean when "individual justice" is still not felt by individual victims struggling to survive after the war? I think the International Criminal Court, for example, has been trying to do a more extensive job in addressing victims' needs than the other tribunals have been mandated to do - although even the ICC cannot address every victim's needs by itself and still needs help from others. The ICC has set up a trust fund for victims, that can pay out orders for reparations for victims that the ICC judges make against a person found guilty of a crime (there has been no convictions yet, so no reparations orders). It can also undertake general activities to benefit victims of crimes falling within the court's mandate -- such as provide medical care and operations for people whose limbs or faces have been disfigured by fighting forces, or psychological and medical support for rape survivors. So the international community is definitely thinking more about how these courts can help address individual victims' needs as well as bigger picture justice - but you are very right to point out that more thinking (and action) is needed. I'm interested to hear what you and other readers think can or should be done to try to address the sufferings and sense of justice of the victims? Best, Tracey Dear Great — you raise very compelling questions about what the definition of justice is. I understand you to be saying: What does “big picture” justice mean when “individual justice” is still not felt by individual victims struggling to survive after the war?

I think the International Criminal Court, for example, has been trying to do a more extensive job in addressing victims’ needs than the other tribunals have been mandated to do – although even the ICC cannot address every victim’s needs by itself and still needs help from others. The ICC has set up a trust fund for victims, that can pay out orders for reparations for victims that the ICC judges make against a person found guilty of a crime (there has been no convictions yet, so no reparations orders). It can also undertake general activities to benefit victims of crimes falling within the court’s mandate — such as provide medical care and operations for people whose limbs or faces have been disfigured by fighting forces, or psychological and medical support for rape survivors. So the international community is definitely thinking more about how these courts can help address individual victims’ needs as well as bigger picture justice – but you are very right to point out that more thinking (and action) is needed.

I’m interested to hear what you and other readers think can or should be done to try to address the sufferings and sense of justice of the victims?

Best,
Tracey

]]> By: great http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-31495 great Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:59:25 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-31495 Thank you very much Tracey, you have understood my point to some extent. The trail of Taylor is actually aim to allow people who commit or commited crimes not go with impunity. But while these trails are going on, there should be some level of mechanisian put in place to lessing the pains on thoes that are victims by the actions of these people. If the rule of law is promoted and those who are the victims dont be cater to, the families of these people may see it as the rule of law is not still in place, because their families are not being taking care of. So while the international community is promoting the rule of law, they should at the same time be promoting the victims so that one will not feel that they are being bais in the process. Tracey i suggest that let all things be held constant. By and wait to hear from you. Thank you very much Tracey, you have understood my point to some extent. The trail of Taylor is actually aim to allow people who commit or commited crimes not go with impunity. But while these trails are going on, there should be some level of mechanisian put in place to lessing the pains on thoes that are victims by the actions of these people. If the rule of law is promoted and those who are the victims dont be cater to, the families of these people may see it as the rule of law is not still in place, because their families are not being taking care of. So while the international community is promoting the rule of law, they should at the same time be promoting the victims so that one will not feel that they are being bais in the process. Tracey i suggest that let all things be held constant. By and wait to hear from you.

]]> By: Tracey Gurd http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-30896 Tracey Gurd Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:16:06 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-30896 Dear Great -- I completely understand what you are saying. Yes, the enormous suffering in Sierra Leone after the war is a huge issue. More definitely needs to be done to help address people's living conditions and needs, I fundamentally agree. My question would be whether we should see trials like those undertaken by the Special Court for Sierra Leone as inconsistent with efforts to try to address suffering, even if the outcomes are not so immediate or obvious. In saying so, I do think that in Sierra Leone and in other places where conflict has occured and people are suffering, more money and aid should be invested to address people's immediate and longer-term conditions of living and survival needs. At the same time, the idea behind these trials is, at least in part, to try to create a more stable environment in the longer-term by ensuring that the rule of law is followed and that there is a sense of accountability for those suspected of being responsibile for the crimes that created the suffering in the first place, ensuring that nobody is above the law, and hence contributing to a framework that might help promote longer-term peace. I'm curious what you think about that idea, Great. I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts. Best, Tracey Dear Great — I completely understand what you are saying. Yes, the enormous suffering in Sierra Leone after the war is a huge issue. More definitely needs to be done to help address people’s living conditions and needs, I fundamentally agree.

My question would be whether we should see trials like those undertaken by the Special Court for Sierra Leone as inconsistent with efforts to try to address suffering, even if the outcomes are not so immediate or obvious. In saying so, I do think that in Sierra Leone and in other places where conflict has occured and people are suffering, more money and aid should be invested to address people’s immediate and longer-term conditions of living and survival needs. At the same time, the idea behind these trials is, at least in part, to try to create a more stable environment in the longer-term by ensuring that the rule of law is followed and that there is a sense of accountability for those suspected of being responsibile for the crimes that created the suffering in the first place, ensuring that nobody is above the law, and hence contributing to a framework that might help promote longer-term peace.

I’m curious what you think about that idea, Great. I’ll look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best,
Tracey

]]> By: great http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-30875 great Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:24:08 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-30875 THANKS Tracey, the issue here is not about readers agreement. The issue is the suffering masses in Sierra Leone. What are they doing about them. Wether Taylor is found guilty or not is not the solution to the suffering masses in Sierra Leone. We are saying that those that were affected by the so-called war in Sierra Leone should be properly address to.The issue of Taylor trail in the hague is secondary to me and the paramount issue is the suffering masses. So i you saying that the issue of Taylor will be solve before anything for the people to be address to? THANKS Tracey, the issue here is not about readers agreement. The issue is the suffering masses in Sierra Leone. What are they doing about them. Wether Taylor is found guilty or not is not the solution to the suffering masses in Sierra Leone. We are saying that those that were affected by the so-called war in Sierra Leone should be properly address to.The issue of Taylor trail in the hague is secondary to me and the paramount issue is the suffering masses. So i you saying that the issue of Taylor will be solve before anything for the people to be address to?

]]> By: Tracey Gurd http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/2009/11/16/liberian-rebels-and-government-exchanged-information-with-the-cia-taylor-says-denied-influencing-witnesses/#comment-30563 Tracey Gurd Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:58:48 +0000 http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/?p=4540#comment-30563 Interesting perspective, Great. I'm curious whether other readers agree with you. Best, Tracey Interesting perspective, Great. I’m curious whether other readers agree with you.

Best,
Tracey

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