Feature Liberia/Sierra Leone Drama at Taylor’s trial


As Charles Taylor’s trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone draws to a close, an epic drama has erupted thanks to the contents of two leaked US embassy cables published by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. The two cables appear to suggest that Washington is driving the Court towards “putting Taylor away for a long time”. This has forced Taylor’s defence team to file an urgent motion asking the Court to clear the air about its independence and impartiality, before the trial comes to a close. Osei Boateng reports.


at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, in June 2002. Since his arrest in March 2006, Taylor has maintained that his troubles have been driven by America, support- ed by Britain. But not many people be-


W 28 | March 2011 New African


hen your master is your enemy, you are doomed, said Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president currently standing trial


lieved him. Now, two US embassy ca- bles leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, appear to support Taylor’s assertion. This has compelled his de- fence team to file a last-minute “ur- gent” motion seeking clarification from the Court that it has not been inf lu- enced by outside forces, particularly the American government, to convict Taylor by all means, fair or foul; and that the


Court’s impartiality and independence have not been compromised. Te cables, one from the US embassy


in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, and the other from the US embassy in Te Hague, appear to suggest that the Ameri- can government is interfering and driving the Court towards “putting Taylor away for a long time”. Because the motion and five other out-


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