Taylor on Trial, Chichakli Slapped Down by Court
By Douglas Farah
Former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor, almost unnoticed, made his first non-appearance before the special court that has charged him with 11 counts of crimes against humanity.
Saying he was being railroaded, and having fired his attorney in order to conduct his own defense, Taylor boycotted the trial, but the opening statement by the prosecution was given anyway. It detailed the horrendous atrocities Taylor presided over in the interests of making money.
This trial of Taylor for overseeing mass murder, butchery, rape and abduction (particularly of children), is hugely important for establishing the rule of law not only in Liberia but across Africa. Taylor, who not only abused his own population but aided and abetted Hezbollah, al Qaeda, Russian organized crime, South African organized crime and a host of other inhabitants of the criminal/terrorist underworld, never believed the rule of law should be applied.
Now he is getting the kind of trial he never afforded anyone else. My full blog is here.
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