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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 2-8, 2009 Page A-2
Global Village
Charles Taylor
continues
denial in court
By Alpha Sesay
The trial for former Libe-
rian president Charles Taylor
took an early adjournment
when immediately after the
mid-morning break, one of the
judges reportedly fell ill. Prior
to the court’s adjournment,
the accused Taylor denied
allegations that he sent his
rebel fighters to attack neigh-
boring Guinea, saying that he
gave approval to “hot pursuit
Charles Taylor
missions” which entered into
the neighboring country. Liberia and so they saw no
liam Clegg, said the U.S. was
When the trial resumed
reason not to commit the same
not the victim.
after the court’s mid-morning
attrocities in Sierra Leone.
“This is an offense directed
break, the presiding judge, “Sierra Leonean perpetra-
against the country of Nige-
Justice Richard Lussick, in- tors understood that was the
ria,” he said.
formed all the parties that the way you conducted yourself in
U.S. government counsel
court would take an early ad- Liberia,” Hollis told Taylor.
David Perry QC claimed that
journment because one of the
three judges, Justice Julia
“I disagree with that inter-
Tesler’s conduct had “clear
Sebutinde had fallen ill. Since
pretation. No NPFL of mine
links with the U.S.” He said
it is important that Justice Se-
went to Sierra Leone. Liberi-
U.S. contractors received the
butinde hears all the evidence
ans went there but not anyone
benefit of corrupt payments
in the trial, the other two
did I send there except in
totalling $132 million trans-
judges would not proceed in
1991-92,” Taylor responded.
mitted by Tesler via Chase
Manhattan, a bank in New
her absence, Justice Lussick Taylor is alleged to have
York. In one of the largest pen-
said. The court adjourned for had control over NPFL rebels
alties in U.S. corporate histo-
the day. in Liberia as well as RUF
ry, Halliburton and associated
Prior to the court’s adjourn-
rebels in Sierra Leone. Ac-

companies have already paid



 Anheuser-Busch InBev we salute those
ment, lead prosecutor Brenda
cording to prosecutors, Taylor
out $579 million for breaching
Hollis accused. Taylor of send-
was in a suprior position over
anti-corruption laws over the
ing rebel fighters to Guinea in
RUF rebels and he knew or
Nigerian scandal.
2001, with an aim of destabi-
had reason to know that they
lising the country. The attack
were committing attrocities in
The Nigerian government
on Guinea, which according
Sierra Leone but failed to pre-
had set up a committee to in-e: 5.75x10.25
to. Hollis, was code named
vent the commission of those
vestigate the involvement
rim: 6x10.5
v
T

Bleed: None
of
Li
“Operation Take No Sides,”
attrocities or failed to punish
Nigerian officials in the bribery
was led by National Patriotic
them when he knew that such
scam. Though the committee,
Front of Liberia (NPFL) com-
attrocities had been commit-
headed by the inspector-gen-
mander Mark Guan. Taylor
ted. He is accused of bearing
eral of police, it had inter-
denied Hollis’ assertion.
the greatest responsibility for
rogated a number of former
the crimes committed by the
public officers. It has yet to
American Multicultural
“I know Mark Guan but I do RUF rebels in Sierra Leone.
make a report public.
Closing Date: 11.23.9 QC: SM Pub:
not know of any operation of
that name,” Taylor said.
Prosecutors put it to the
Bribes were paid out over a
former Liberian president that
period of a decade on behalf of
He admitted that he ap- because the RUF saw how his
a consortium that was handed
proved “hot puruit missions” NPFL rebels conducted them-
contracts worth $6 billion to
into Guinea, but denied send- selves in Liberia, the com-
construct liquified natu
our Business Success
Y ral
ing fighters to attack the coun- mission of “crimes in Sierra
gas plants at Bonny Islan
AF20068051
d.
try. Leone was a continuation of
The Texas-based U.S. chief ex-
“There were operations
business as usual.”
ecutive of the subsidiary c
Ad Name:
o
Item #: P
n
Job/Order #:613123-210876
-
cerned, Jack Stanley, faces a
that crossed into Guinea but “The whole of Liberia will
potential seven-year jail sen-
they were hot pursuit opera- tell you that. Taylor did not
tence after pleading guilty to
tions and I personally ordered tolerate crimes. That’s non-
creaming off kickbacks from
those operations,” Taylor told sense,” Taylor said.
the bribe money.
the court.
“Prosecutions were just
U.S. authorities say two
Taylor has consistently ac- a cover,” Hollis told. Taylor
Britons played key roles in
cused former Guinean presi- when the accused former
the bribery scam — Tesler
dent Lansana Conte (Late) of president insisted that he en-
and another British resident,
supporting Liberians United sured that all perpetrators in
Wojcieh Chodan, who was an
for Reconciliation and De- the NPFL were prosecuted and
executive at Halliburton’s UK
mocracy (LURD) rebels who punished.
subsidiary company MW Kel-
were threatening to unseat
his government in Liberia.
“You cannot have it both
logg, headquartered in west
Prosecution witnesses have
ways,” Taylor responded. “On
London. Chodan faces sepa-
testified that Taylor used
the one had, Taylor encour-
rate extradition proceedings
this as justification to send
aged impunity by not punish-
in the new year. Tesler denies
rebel forces, including Sierra
ing for crimes, and when he
any wrongdoing. His case is
Leone’s Revolutionary United
did, it was a cover-up. You
expected to continue into next
Front (RUF) rebels, to attack
can’t have it both ways.”
month.
Guinea. Taylor has denied Mr. Taylor’s cross-examina-
giving any orders to rebels to tion continues.
South Africa’s
attack Guinea.
In response to allegations
Halliburton in
economy coming
by Hollis that based on Tay-
lor’s orders, RUF rebels joined
international
out of recession
Cape Town — South Afri-
NPFL rebels in 2001 to attack
scandal, again
ca’s economy turned around
Guinea, the former Liberian
in the third quarter of 2009,
president said that “was not
By Habeeb Pindiga registering marginal growth,
to my knowlege.”
the government’s statistics
“I am aware of hot pursuit
A British high street so- agency reported.
missions in Guinea. These
licitor laundered huge sums
were standing orders approved
of money in bribes to Nigeria
“The seasonally adjusted
by me. There are no opera-
via accounts in Switzerland
real GDP (gross domestic
tions planned but only of hot
and France, a London court
product) at market prices for
pursuit,” he added.
was told during an extradition
the third quarter of 2009 in-
hearing.
creased by an annualised rate
Taylor also denied allega-
of 0,9 per cent compared with
tions that his subordinates in
Jeffrey Tesler, 61, allegedly the second quarter of 2009,”
Liberia killed civilians during
funneled bribes in millions Statistics SA said in a state-
the country’s conflict as well
of dollars to Nigerian officials ment issued in Pretoria.
as when he became president
to facilitate an LNG contract
of the country.
at Bonny Island for U.S. con-
In the first half of 2009, the
struction firm Halliburton. He
country had registered nega-
According to Hollis, in No-
faces extradition to the US,
tive growth rates compared
vember 1994, NPFL rebels
where he risks jail if convict-
with figures six months ear-
killed over 100 civilians in
ed.
lier.
Bong County. Hollis further al-
leged that after the United Lib-
But he denies that his al-
eration Movement of Liberia
leged behavior has sufficient
for Democracy (ULIMO) attack
connection to America to jus-
on the NPFL headquarters in
tify his being flown there for THE MICHIGAN
Gbangha, NPFL rebels killed
trial.
civilians who were alleged to
At Horseferry Road magis-
CHRONICLE
be ULIMO supporters. Taylor
trates court, his counsel, Wil-
denied these allegations, in-
PUBLISHING
sisting that if he knew of any
NPFL rebels killing civilians,
HOW TO
COMPANY
they would have been pros-
ecuted. CONTACT US:
Publication No.: USPS 344-820
479 Ledyard Street
“Not to my knowlege. I
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
can’t say it did not happen but
Detroit, MI 48201
479 LEDYARD • DETROIT MI 48201
if someone did, he would have (313) 963-5522 • FAX (313) 963-8788
Phone: (313) 963-5522
been prosecuted by the NPFL
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courts. The NPFL was the only
Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
organization in Africa and Li-
Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
beria that had courts,” the
For general, local ............ Ext. 232
Closed Sat. and Sun.
former president said.
Entertainment news ........ Ext. 241
The Michigan Chronicle is published
Hollis also pointed to alle-
Homefront ....................... Ext. 248
every Wednesday. Periodical
gations that NPFL commander
Community (religion, fashion, Postage, paid at Detroit, MI. Price
Mark Guan killed nine civil-
weddings, etc) ................ Ext. 243 $1.00 and other post office.
ians in 1998, that in March
Subscriptions .................. Ext. 227
MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU
2001, 14 civilians were killed
E-commerce ................... Ext. 255 OF CIRCULATION
by Momoh Jibba, that in July POSTMASTER:
2000, 170 people were killed
–DEADLINE –
Send address changes to:
at Tubmanburg on orders of
Classified: 3 p.m Friday. Copy,
Taylor’s director of Special Se-
MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
corrections and cancellations, pre-
curity Service (SSS), Benjamin ceding the Wed nesday publica-
479 LEDYARD
Yeaten, and that in July 2003, tion.
DETROIT, MI 48201
over 70 wounded combatants
Display: 12 p.m. Friday preced-
were massacred on Yeaten’s
ing the Wednesday pub lication.
orders. Taylor dismissed
these allegations as “totally
For all news and calendar items:
incorrect.”
Deadline is two weeks prior to
event.
Hollis suggested to Taylor
Weeks that contain holidays, dead-
that his “subordinates” in
line is Thursday prior to publication
Sierra Leone understood how
date.
Taylor conducted himself in
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