Taylor Trial Seeks Justice for Dictator

The trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, which resumed two days ago after a six month delay granted for the reconfiguration of Taylor's defense team, represents an attempt by the international community, under the auspices of the United Nations, to bring to justice a former head of state accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The trial is being held at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Taylor was president of the African nation of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, when he accepted exile to Nigeria after leading a government characterized by Human Rights Watch as intolerant of dissent. Human Rights Watch, an organization that works to protect human rights around the world, says that Taylor's government regularly harassed members of the media, political opposition groups, and civil society in Liberia.

Taylor, besides being a ruthless dictator in Liberia who secured election as President after waging war against the government, stands accused of supporting the Revolutionary United Front during neighboring Sierra Leone's civil war. The group reportedly committed repeated human rights violations during the ten year struggle. Under a mandate from the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, Taylor was indicted on 17 different charges in March of 2003. The charges were later reduced to 11, including five counts of war crimes, five counts of crimes against humanity, and one count of using child soldiers. The indictment says that Taylor failed to abide by International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions, which Sierra Leone became party to in 1986. All of the crimes allegedly committed by Taylor occurred within Sierra Leone.

Taylor is accused of facilitating, through his support of the Revolutionary United Front, the murder, rape, maiming and mutilation of more than 1 million people, the displacement of more than 5 million people, and the widespread employment of children as soldiers. The American Society of International Law says Taylor's alleged crimes include unlawful killings, enslavement, and physical and sexual violence.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone was established under the authority of United Nations Security Council resolution 1315 in 2000. The resolution facilitated an agreement between the United Nations and the government in Sierra Leone. Taylor was arrested in Nigeria in 2006 and subsequently transferred to The Hague to stand trial. No verdict is expected until sometime next year, and it is likely that a guilty verdict will result in an appeal by Taylor and his defense team.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Indictment of Charles Taylor, American Society of International Law