Comments on: RUF Leader Testifies: Says Taylor Neither Supported Rebels, Nor Receive Diamonds From Them

By: Tracey Gurd

Tracey Gurd — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:34:19 +0000

Hi there Randy and other readers — I’ve noticed that some people think that Alpha has come to this site witha prejudged notion of Mr. Taylor’s guilt or innocence. You are certainly boht entitled to your opinion about that, as well as entitled to express it here.

May I just say two things: (1) Alpha takes his role as a monitor which cannot take sides in a trial very seriously, and writes in a way that reflects that premise; and (2) myself and my colleagues here at the Justice Initiative take our role as an independent monitoring organization incredibly seriously. We know we must post balanced reports in order for us to retain our credibility as monitors, which is also why we have an extra layer of editing of the daily and weekly posts, to ensure that we are living up to that goal as an organization. Sometimes, our choice of words may leave people with impressions that we have a particular view on the trial — thanksfully, readers have highlighted those word choices when they raise concerns about bias or do not accurately reflect the record of the day in court. We have tried to either respond in a way that explains why we chose to report that way, or to change the wording so as to accurately reflect the courtroom happenings.

So, with that in mind, both Alpha and I continue to welcome any concerns you or others wish to raise so – we hope – we can continue to ensure that we deliver fair and accurate reporting each day that does not contain bias, particularly on the issue of Mr. Taylor’s alleged guilt or innocence.

Best,
Tracey

By: noko5

noko5 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:36:19 +0000

Alpha;
reading from what “cousin 4″ had said……non to so?????…talk non..

By: Big B

Big B — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:57:40 +0000

Aki ,

Bravo, excellent research. This prosecution seems to do anything to win. It has been alleged that the prosecution offered to bribe Ms Campbell a half million dollars for her (Ms Campbell) to testify that indeed President Taylor give her diamond.

What the prosecution fails to realize is, Ms Campbell is a self made woman, one hundred thousands dollars means a lot to some struggling Africans, but for Ms Campbell a half million dollars means nothing.

Ms Campbell will take the witness stand and she will speak the truth, the same truth she (Ms Campbell) have been saying all along, that she (Ms Campbell) doesn’t know anything about any diamond, and did not received diamond from President Taylor.

After all, Ms Campbell is a pride Black woman, under no circumstances she would allow the “Whitman” to destroyed her career and dignity. The Whiteman has destroyed many Blacks in the past and continues to do so, but Ms Campbell is no M. L. King, Malcolm X, Krume Nkrumah etc…

By: Randy Jefferson

Randy Jefferson — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:36:38 +0000

Noko4,

you are absolutely right. However, not only Alpha alone that came to this false court with guilty notion, but also so many people including Liberians.

By: sam

sam — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:21:01 +0000

Fuad,
Can you please recommend an RUF “senior commander” who is more senior to Issa Sesay to the prosecution so as to refute the testimony of Issa Sessay. As things stands now, Issa Sessay is the most senior RUF commander alive so man your case is fried!

By: Noko4

Noko4 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:01:54 +0000

Fuad,
If we use your logic, then NONE of the prosecutors witnessess are to be believed….they came in with HEARSAYS; atleast Mr. Sesay words are been backup by documents.

By: Noko4

Noko4 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:58:41 +0000

Michael,
Alpha came into this court with Mr. Taylor been GUILTY…to his surprise, his own country men and women are telling him….NO, DA BORBOR IS NOT GUILTY.

By: Noko4

Noko4 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:56:14 +0000

Morris,
Just don’t come to class…but the lesson been taught is needed.

By: Simeon Wright

Simeon Wright — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:33:47 +0000

Fallah,
could you show us where this witness is lying so we can follow up with you too. You keep saying that he’s lying but do not show us the truth. Ifyou give us the right version of events, that would be most helpful.

Fuad
Are you reading or following this witness testamonies, he admitted to the atrocities committed by the RUF so what are the lies and can you too show us the truth?

By: Big B

Big B — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:18:41 +0000

If the prosecution really wants to get to the bottom of this trial and stop wasting time and money, the prosecution needs to subpoena A. Kromah, the then ULIMO faction leader.

Preponderance of evidences showed that ULIMO was the main culprit in aiding and abetting RUF with arms and ammunitions during the S.L. crisis. Not only arms and ammunitions did ULIMO provided to RUF to committed atrocities on innocent people of S.L. ULIMO also made available herbalists, (Juju man/Voodoo man) to protect (RUF) fighters from being hit by bullets. This is far beyond my comprehension.

Hence, Kromah was the leader of ULIMO; the prosecution should take the bull down by the horns. In other words, the prosecution needs to subpoena Kromah as a rebuttal/ material witness to say what he (Kroma) knows about this whole episode.

Apparently, the prosecution doesn’t want to take the bull down by the horns, rather by the tail. Kromah, should be the one coming to testify on July 29, not Ms Campbell.