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The Second day of the TRC Public Hearings Proceedings held on Tuesday February 19, 2008 at the Barclayville Central High School auditorium, Grand Kru County. The Hearings session started with the Commissioners of the TRC being ushered into their seats followed by a welcome remarks form the Chairman of the TRC Cllr. Jerome Verdier, who then called on the Hearings Officer Pastor John Teayah to invite the first Primary Witness to give his testimony.
Tenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Dembo Monu
(First Primary Witness of day two)
The Tenth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: Mr. Witness, you are welcome to the TRC, we are happy to have you here today. The people of Liberia and Grand Kru and the Commissioners of the TRC are here to listen to your story.
Where are you from?
Primary Witness: Sass town
What year were you born?
Primary Witness: 1974
What do you do?
Primary Witness: Farmer
Primary Witness: I thank your I am Dembo Monu from Sass town my statement from LPC and MODEL. First LPC, 1994 when LPC got in my women was sick she was six months pregnant so I took to Dan bridge clinic for treatment then I came back before I was going I was people coming from upper Sass town after now I heard from the people that LPC capture your women and carry her then I started searching then a group came from there where my wife was they say oh your woman not there.
Then NPFL went there their commander was William D. Toe and drop them they went and got my women in Gloaw then they came back on base NPFL now, then LPC came back the second time again they enter our town then we were running away they fire my brother after three days we went back my friend Komm Sackor and we went and buried my brother they burnt our town. The second town again the place I was air in the bush then I took my women there then we came back in the town 2003, then the thing I lost now I was mining in River Draw then MODEL men them came in 2003, first they say that Marine sent them but the commander that carried them to us was one John-John who say that their commander sent them that we should produce some gold to them without delay, we say that the water[river] was full so we could not go under water so they should give us seven days he say no he want the gold now, then I say papay please don't use force give us 7 days then it made him vex then the released order for his boys to start beating me then the people beg him, then he leave me in the evening he said he was going back then he call us again and said his commander only give him two days to stay here so he ready to go so we should give him the gold so we gave him one-one hand pan but he said it was small then he started beating us again after that they left.
Questions from commissioners:
Chairman: You said who was beating you for the gold?
Primary Witness: Commissioner John-john
Which faction he from?
Primary Witness: MODEL
Commissioner Konneh: you said LPC took your wife
Primary Witness: yes
You said it was NPFL that brought her back?
Primary Witness: No the second time now
What was the relationship between the town people and NPFL?
Primary Witness: That NPFL was Charles Taylor soldiers and LPC was the new faction, the town was for NPFL and LPC came and burnt our town. We were under Charles Taylor.
Who was the commander of LPC?
Primary Witness: Last Order
Was he a different tribe he was your country man?
Primary Witness: No I don't really know his tribe
When MODEL came what they did to your people?
Primary Witness: They never did anything to the town people
Commissioner Coleman: So Taylor troop spent long time like from the 1990 - 1997 was the fractional period, 1997 to 2003 was the government period your was under NPFL what did they do this county, did they do anything for this county?
Primary Witness: yes
What did they do for the people of Grand Kru, build road, or repair
Primary Witness: No nothing like that I can remember.
What the bad thing they did you to your?
Primary Witness: No they did not harm us, yeas the people who not do me bad that good that good rule.
Commissioner Syllah: how long you wife stay
Primary Witness: 3 month 3 days
Did she tell you anything as to how they treated her?
Primary Witness: Yes according to her she use to go draw water every morning and they not use to give her food.
How many months she was pregnant?
Primary Witness: Six months
Which faction kills your brother?
Primary Witness: LPC
How old was your brother?
Primary Witness: 1976
Did he leave any child behind?
Primary Witness: No
How old was your baby?
Primary Witness: 2 months
Is your wife still with you?
Primary Witness: No
Commissioner Stewart: what was the commander name?
Primary Witness: Last order
Where is he now?
Primary Witness: I don't know
If you see him you will know him?
Primary Witness: Yes
When LPC came to your town did they killed any one?
Primary Witness: Only my brother and they burnt our town.
Besides your wife they carry any other person from the town?
Primary Witness: Yes
What did they do to them?
Primary Witness: Well according to my woman she use to draw water every morning.
They burnt any house in the town?
Primary Witness: Yes the whole town, except church house
Who was the commander of the government troop here?
Primary Witness: William B. Toe.
Did they beat any body or tabay anybody?
Primary Witness: Yes like me they beat me.
Do you know any other name for john-john?
Primary Witness: No
Is he from this area?
Primary Witness: No
Is William B. Toe from here?
Primary Witness: Yes he from Grand Cess
Do you know his whereabouts?
Primary Witness: No
When model left from here?
Primary Witness: I can't remember the year but they came 2003.
Commissioner Bull: what is the name of your brother?
Commissioner Bull: Patrick Monu
What your wife name?
Primary Witness: Cecelia Sekpa
How old was she that time?
Primary Witness: She was born 1978.
You and her together?
Primary Witness: No
You can see her sometimes?
Primary Witness: Yes
Where is she now?
Primary Witness: In sass town
Your get children?
Primary Witness: Yes 4 but three living children now.
Commissioner Coleman: you left Cecelia or she left you?
Primary Witness: She left me
Another man was involved?
Primary Witness: Yes that different man business
Primary Witness: I have one question for your You think the john-john man who complain I just gave you think if his friends or relative go and tell him that I gave statement against him he will not come for me.
Commissioner Konneh: Bad man is bad man he will not have the courage to come to your town now, like those days no government is there now, now he don't have gun now and government is there to protect all of us, and we will let the superintendent know and the police to see after that.
Chairman: when the country was divided when people was during bad it use to be in hiding, from here you will go and talk to our security people. What we during here is not something small the government is with us and the international community as well.
So you know where john-john is right now?
Chairman: No
You can describe him?
Primary Witness: He is short bright he looks like that man with the face cap [Gabi Azzam]
Eleventh Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Samuel Kloteh Wesseh
(Second Primary Witness of day two)
The Second Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: Mr. Witness, you are welcome to the TRC, we are happy to have you here today. The people of Liberia and Grand Kru and the Commissioners of the TRC are here to listen to your story.
What do you say is your name again?
Primary Witness: I am Samuel Kloteh Wesseh.
When were you born?
Primary Witness: I was borne march 2, 1972
Where were you born?
Primary Witness: I live in Duport, Trent district.
What do you do for a living?
Primary Witness: I am a farmer.
Primary Witness: Okay, during the war, or before, I was in Grand Gedeh, which today is now River Gee. But the people, NPFL entered the town September11, so after they captured the town, they use to take people from the Glawe Villages, Glawe Town. And before us they use to kill people in our presence because they were Kra so myself I look at the conditions for long I decided to leave the area. So that how I went to Grand Kru. When I got to Grand Kru, I went to Logah where I went to look for living. Then from there, MODEL came, and when MODEL came, they captured me and told me to join them, I refused to join them. Well, they started beating me; I think you can see the mark on my face and also my back. So after two days because I could not join them, their commander was Chea Julu. So my friends joined them and told me to go. So after we went they went behind me and started looting and all my little thing I had. They took my mattress, my single barrel gun and 2000 Liberian dollars from me, so we all came back to town and the house I was living in had broke down, so I had to struggle to build tank to bring my children and wife. So now I am fine.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: What year all of this happen?
Primary Witness: The first group that came which was NPFL, I was in Grand Gedeh County. They arrived to us 1991 September 11.
How many of your friends they took with them?
Primary Witness: Well, I only remember three persons one is Fred, Wilson and Christian Deah
When MODEL captured this area?
Primary Witness: 2003, April 11.
Who was the model leader? Cha Wilson. Is he from Grand Kru? Yes River Gee County
Commissioner Konneh: Do you know why they were killing the Krahn people?
Primary Witness: No, they never told me any thing. But in my thinking, I think because of the late President Doe.
I thought President Doe was dead?
Primary Witness: No, was it 1991? I don't understand.
Are you a Krahn man?
Primary Witness: No,
Why were you afraid?
Primary Witness: Because of killing my friend human being before me that what make me afraid.
Do you remember the two persons that were killed in your presence?
One Cyrus and Adolphus, they were government officer and a police men.
Commissioner Stewart: Why did you not want to join them?
Primary Witness: Because I don't just like to waste human blood, that why I did not join military.
Are you married?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Do you have children?
Primary Witness: Yes, I have five living children.
Were they with you during the war time?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Commissioner Syllah: You said when they caught you they starting beating you,
Why did they hurt or cut you?
Primary Witness: I think you can see my face. I have a mark also on my back. There was a stick and they hit me with and also their A.K butt.
So after that time was there any hospital?
Primary Witness: No. There was no hospital.
How they killed the people?
Primary Witness: They will say give me 6ft and when you turned your back, they fire you from the back some use to take off their bent knife and killed with it and in that process, they will called the town people to come and see how those people will be killed. And I could not stand that because I did not have the spirit for that. They did it for the first and second time, and each time I lay down, I will have funny feelings .So I left.
Commissioner Dolopei: You say they beat you?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Is it your friends who joined or those who came?
Primary Witness: It was the man that came and my friends.
So the 3 persons you name were they part?
Primary Witness: No they were not there. But those who joined,
The 3 names you called are they stay living?
Primary Witness: Yes, some are in Monrovia and one in Harper.
The ones that are alive what are their names?
Primary Witness: Emmanuel and Christian.
And you say they took your 2000 dollars from you, single barrel gun and clothes?
Primary Witness: Yes.
They never give it back to you?
Primary Witness: No.
Commissioner Washington: When the NPFL went to Grand Gedeh, do you remember the commander that was there?
Primary Witness: I can only remember the commander who carried them. Sam Mah. He was a Gio man.
Do you know any of the NPFL commander name?
Primary Witness: Yes, I can remember few like Levi, they use to have name like Super Killer because they did not show us their real name.
At that time when NPFL and left how was the general situation like?
Primary Witness: Well, the only thing I can remember is one general Nayouba.
So he was the commander for them?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Do you have the name of the police officer that were killed, their last name?
Primary Witness: No.
You said the two persons they killed were officer?
Primary Witness: Yes.
What was their position?
Primary Witness: No, I don't know.
Do you think if we should go for farther information, beside you, where can we be able to get some one to give us information?
Primary Witness: No at that time, it was a company that was there. Everybody starting coming this side, myself came on this side.
What was the general situation like during general Nayoyga, were they killing people?
Primary Witness: Well they were not doing any thing with civilians much, but only searching for Krahn people.
The company you talked about do you know the name?
Primary Witness: NWPI.
Was it a diamond company?
Primary Witness: yes.
Do you know the name of the general manager?
Mozafa Fawaz.
Do you know any thing about the manager?
Primary Witness: Yes, he only cared for his workers.
Commissioner Stewart: Can you tell us more about this General Nayouba?
Primary Witness: Yes. This man was a general, His first visit to River Gee was he called all civilian and introduced himself and I think so far he had two of his armed men who was killed before the civilian and because they acted disorderly.
Why did they kill them?
Primary Witness: They said, if any one come from Sinoe without obtaining pass the car, should not pass so after their own driver came from Sinoe he never brought pass so that how the two gun men came and asked for pass and there was no pass that how they fire the tire, and when he heard it he came down. And when they went through the investigation they dealt with that.
So they killed them?
Primary Witness: Yes.
The two people that were killed, were they fighters?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Did they recognize the fighters that were in the car?
Primary Witness: Yes, but there was a mandate given them about crossing with out pass.
What do you know about Nayouba?
Primary Witness: He was a general.
Was he a bad general?
Primary Witness: Well, I was not with part of them.
During the time he was here, did he kill plenty people?
Primary Witness: Yes, that's what I am saying, they the same people used to go to town and kill the people.
So besides the killing, they did burn houses?
Primary Witness: Yes they burn house and each time they go to the people town they will bring cattle to town and eat it.
Did they force any young girls behind them as their wife?
Primary Witness: No
Commissioner Coleman: You mentioned that there was a logging company here in this county, Grand Kru MWPI?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Do you know what that means?
Primary Witness: Maryland wood processing industry?
Beside that, was there any other logging company in this county Grand Kru that was working at that time?
Primary Witness: No, I don't know.
Those guys who fired the tired, the order was given that they should not pass without pass, so the guys followed the order by shooting the tired?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Chairman: And the killing you referred to, where did it take place?
Primary Witness: It took place in the company camp.
It means that Maryland was operating?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Commissioner Washington: The MWPI, do you know who owns the company?
Primary Witness: The owner of the company, they used to call him Fahwaz.
Thank for coming, is there any thing on your mind?
Primary Witness: I want the TRC and the government to help me with little power saw so as to make my farm.
Chairman: good morning and welcome to the TRC public hearings and for taking up your time to come to the hearings to tell your story to the people of Liberia, grand kru county and the Commissioners of the TRC.
Twelfth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Peter W. Wesseh Sr.
(Third Primary Witness of day two)
The Twelfth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: thank you for coming to the TRC to give your statement, this is part of assisting us accomplished the mission that we were assigned by the government, people of Liberia and the international community. It is with the help of people like you that this peace and unity we are looking for will be achieved.
What is your name again?
Primary Witness: Peter W. Wesseh Sr.
Your date of birth?
Primary Witness: July 15, 1947
What are you doing presently?
Primary Witness: I am a Teacher
Where do you stay?
Primary Witness: Felokan
Primary Witness: Once I was in my house and some boys from TRC came around my house to find out what had happened to me or what I see happened in my the county as a whole I give them the stories that I know.
It happened that my citizens in Monrovia came up with a project and it was entrusted to me in 2000 December ending, the materials got stuck in Feloken by than I was city major and also member of this organization was undertaking the program. From our town to where the materials got stuck the distance was long like 4 hours walk, the cements were divided. The next day we started making the foundation blocks after making the blocks a friend from the nearby town a fisher man came and told me that he has a canoe that has a hole and asked if I could give him a hand full of cement, by then one boy called Wolo Weah was walking with my friend who came for the cement he was Nathaniel K. Doe. The next day Wolo Weah took my name to the town people, so the town Gbobli beat the drum and call me and other citizens to the town center and asked me about the handful of cement that I gave to my friend I told them what happened and they say I was wrong. And I asked what was the penalty and none of them could talk.
The next day on the 18th the citizens called on me to send certain information I was coming to Barclayville city to the Radio Room to call to the citizens in Monrovia while coming I saw one Thoedocius with a writ and said they were instructed to carry my living body to the Barclayville police station. But before going I pass to the County Attorney who is the present County Attorney of Grand Kru to tell him the problem then he said I should go they were going to get the F O C and later they were going to get to me then I left and went in the radio room.
As soon as I came from the Radio Room and started going the children started molesting me calling me rough-rough then people started coming around , I wanted to find out who gave them that information then on Joe-ma-Joe came and stab me and I say this man Saye Geplay, and I asked him what do you want from me he said nothing then I told him so please let me get to the County Attorney so while we were going he attempted to cuff me but I dodge him when we got to the County Attorney place he was having meeting with some citizen of Barclayville to one Isaac Wesseh house.
The first person that send the writ of arrest to me came to me that I should to his office that he had a letter for Seto in Felokan, I told him I was not taking that direction for security reason then I left and went to Felokan. The following day surprisingly to me one Christopher Blade who used to be the CID commander here use the same man to go and get me from Felokan, with the cuff and knife and all with them I say I was not going and the citizen say I was not going, so he left me there and left.
Between the 20-24 I can record the time you know we don't cook soon we can come from the farm first before the women cook so we can go to bed later I was about to go to bed then Theophillus now the aid decamp to the president now came to me with officer scot boys and go to me saying submit yourself, submit yourself I say why should I submit myself then they started kicking me and started beating my family and one boy was living with me they marked his ears. And they started carrying me and Theophillus cuffed me. While we were going the citizen ran behind them and they took me from them but the cuff was on my hands the people used power saw to cut off the cuff from my hand.
Julius B. Kommeh said I should throw the cuff away but I did not he wanted me to destroy evidence so I give it to my son in Monrovia to reserve it until other wise ordered.
The next day while I was in the town someone came to me that the if you know what I know and if you want your life you have to leave this town so that how I left and reach to Joeblokan a friend of mine is there but I did not tell directly where I was going , and I told him that I was going to the next village so that if the people get to him he will give them my right location.
My intention was to get to Kaweakan and find car to Monrovia, when I got Ottikan, the people are sleeping then he showed me the way to go Bleebo, we met the country devil was getting out so one boy came and asked me if I am a man I said yes then he say no because I was not a member of that traditions so he said I had to sleep and that how I slept there. I went to my friend call Moses Saweah and explained to him at that time Isaac G. Youman the former superintendent, so my friend advised me not to go to Monrovia but to better explain to the superintendent I reported it to him and he gave me a letter for the County Attorney. Not knowing when I left the town they came and collected some of my people and beat them and put pepper in their eye, they sent some of the people to look for me, then I went back to the superintendent and told him what they did to the citizens he said carry the letter to the County Attorney then I went to the town the city of Barclayville with the citizen that went to look for me. By later in the evening I went to the County Attorney and then next day I was in the hand of the government through the County Attorney. By then my son that left for Monrovia reported it to the citizens in Monrovia, and they say the president was sending people to collect those that were involved, then later SOD all came, then my friends keep telling me to find place to be, I went to the catholic priest and all, then I went to the radio room to call to Monrovia, then some police came to me and say Mr. Manneh was calling so while we were going I jump in the bush again and took the by pass to go Mr. Manneh and he said he was not calling me, I say ok I know the plan
Then the SOD came and they asked me and I give all of the name to them, it was one Moses who gave the statement to SOD, and the story was diffident the SOD say but that different thing this Moses Man told us is different that how they caught him and stated beating him too he and Theophillus. So they say I should sent for all my people and send for them and the SOD they said had to eat I say yes you will eat, the next day I sent for one ninny goat for them and my salary as city mayor that month at the time was used to free my people. This is what I experienced during the war.
Questions from commissioners:
Chairman: Between what times these things happened?
Primary Witness: January 2001 during the regime of Charles Taylor it finish that same time.
You say who is Theophillus?
Primary Witness: He is the aide camp to the president in Grand Kru.
Commissioner Konneh: who was this SOD?
Primary Witness: They were officer used by Taylor
Was the cement given before or after the foundation block?
Primary Witness: It was after the foundation blocks were made
Is the project completed now?
Primary Witness: Yes, I fought and completed it and is functioning now as I speak to you
What do you mean by Gbobli?
Primary Witness: Gbobli brings people together when some happened in the town. He is a head of an organization called Gbor and he is the head.
Is it a secrete society?
Primary Witness: It is not a secret society we don't that here in Grand Kru
He brought the issues to the police?
Primary Witness: I don't know who it got to the police
Was copy of the writ given to you?
Primary Witness: No, you know thing were not in order they say it
What are you referring to as writ?
Primary Witness: That writ of arrest from the magisterial
Where was it from?
Primary Witness: From the police not the magisterial court
Was Theophillus part of the group that arrested your family?
Primary Witness: Yes he was the head of the group.
How your son ear got split?
Primary Witness: It was a knife that was with them.
Was Theophillus part of that group?
Primary Witness: Yes he was the head.
Commissioner Coleman:: you said who was Big doe in your statement?
Primary Witness: Big Doe now immigration in Barclayville City and was sent Christopher Blade who was the CID commander to effect the arrest. Christopher Blade, a CID commander is now a teacher basing here and Monrovia.
Who order him to do that?
Primary Witness: The same police
Was it that they did not give you the true feeling to explain yourself?
Primary Witness: They just decided to disgrace me.
Who was the police commander?
Primary Witness: The commander was Johnson Wreh but he was in Monrovia then but he is now dead.
Commissioner Syllah: what did your friend say when they citizen called you?
Primary Witness: It was the man who was with my friend he was the one who went and explained to the town people.
What they did the town people say?
Primary Witness: They say I was wrong
What was the reason behind your arrest?
Primary Witness: I think it should the town people to tell you what the reason was.
What did the SOD do when they came?
Primary Witness: They collected all the doers and jailed those including Theophillus.
You think who sent don't you think it was his commander that sent him?
Primary Witness: I was not in the office so I can't tell who sent him.
Commissioner Washington: is this a case of being manhandled along with your family please make this clarification here.
Primary Witness: Yes
How is your relation with the community now?
Primary Witness: It is hard to say I believe to bring about development is not an easy task, people had been from time to time have been fighting me, as I speak to you now I am now under sanction no body enter my house, they say no one should enter my farm to help me. It was the same thing that they did to Sampson Wreh they said Sampson embezzled, I think if the money was embezzled by Sampson Wreh I don't think that hospital who have been and I am living under threat and all of us that think that Sampson Wreh did not embezzle we are at threat in the hands of the town people.
What is your expectation now what do you hope to achieve?
Primary Witness: I am looking up to the TRC to help solve our problem in this county that we are now presently facing.
Commissioner Stewart: what do you think the citizen were jealous of you as you said?
Primary Witness: I don't know they have their reasons.
Have you ever reported this matter to the law enforcement office in this county?
Primary Witness: You know the judicial system in this county is terrible you know recently my daughter was targeted she and some of her friends were playing and it ended up into fight, they were fighting and one of the supporters of the girl who was fighting with my daughter some one went and waste caustic soda on my son I reported it to the town head there and he did not say anything I had to come here to Barclayville city and told the police and when the police went there and he said he was about to investigate and I told the people that that particular magistrate had been fighting me since 1981 and I never him into this case in that particular case. The UNMIL police here and all have to get involve the police charged the man and sent us to court. When we went for the hearings at the court under magistrate Daniel D Jones, all the FOC were presented, the glove the man wore, the cup he use to carry the caustic all were presented but at the hearing I was surprised to hear that we were farming witnessed will not be called upon, it was my first time to hear such thing. And I still have problem with that magistrate because the case was not fairly judge.
You said you are a teacher?
Primary Witness: Yes since 77.
Have they stopped their children from sitting in your classes?
Primary Witness: No
Have you been tried to find solution to it?
Primary Witness: Yes I have tried but no way.
So you think TRC can solve this?
Primary Witness: Yes I am sure
Commissioner Bull: you said you want the TRC to help you solve this problem with the community and this is why the TRC was formed, what you have brought before here today is judicial reform and I think we can help you solve that problem, this government has said that they are careful in appointing people had such records. So we can assure that we can look in to that case.
As city major do you have a city council?
Primary Witness: Yes there was a city council; the city council should be guarding the city mayor but it was on the other way around.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience and the difficulty
Where were you during the period 1990 - 2002?
Primary Witness: After the 1976 when I graduated high school, I went to Zorzor Training Institute and I came back 1977 and since then I have not left this county.
What was your experience of the war?
Primary Witness: So many things, beating, eating of our cattle, NPFL came and eat some, LPC the same way but MODEL came and clear everything. In 2003 MODEL had decided to come and loot the entire town when the town the flood came in and they were handful of people so we left them but they are the group that carry the heavy cattle, you know some of your children joined them and they were the one showing them where the cattle were in the villages that were far from the road. With the exception of two cows and a bull
What did the flood do?
Primary Witness: The 2003 flood took over about three villages I announced that flood.
Was it natural?
Primary Witness: I think it was natural no one can make flood to come.
Last word: I hope you will carry whatsoever message to the government you people like me I am a teacher and no body knows what brought about the war but in my thing I think that injustices that brought this war, now our ministry which is the Ministry of Education is not ready to print I D cards even though for me I have my id card but I can fee for the others don't have the means from here to Monrovia to fix id cards and the Ministry is doing a scrutiny so they did the fixing of the ID card in the absence of the id card some of the teachers are suffering in the hands of the GEMAP team, they continue to demand id cards from the teachers. So I am recommending through you to the government that those teachers are paid on whatsoever ID cards that they have.
Question: why some of us that works for our money we can not get it?
The commission does not have any knowledge or authority of civil servant matters we can only recommend that people are paid their just paid but now why it is not paid?
Thirteenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Joseph Wesseh Kieh
(Forth Primary Witness of day two)
The Thirteenth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: Good afternoon and welcome to the TRC, we want to tank you for coming to share your experience with us. We value your presence and your contribution for this is toward the peace process of our country.
What is your name?
Primary Witness: J. Wesseh Kieh
Do you live in Barclayville?
Primary Witness: I live in Cass Town
What year were you born?
Primary Witness: In 1966
Primary Witness: What I experience in the war is in 1995 LPC went to our town and ran behind us and we went in the bush. When we went into the bush while coming back the roof of my house was damage and again in the years 1996 March, they called all the people to go and brush and my father refuse to go and they carry him to the nearby town and they beat him to death, then I went ands appeal to them to burry my father. That is what I experience.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: thank you and sorry for what happened to you. So they refuse for you to burry him?
Primary Witness: No, they give me his body and I talk to one of my friend and we burry him
How old was your father?
Primary Witness: He was 60 years
So which group did it?
Primary Witness: It was the NPFL
Who was the head of the NPFL?
Primary Witness: I don't know.
What is the name of the town?
Primary Witness: It was the Wissa Village in Sasse town.
Commissioner Konneh: when LPC to you place you said your roof was gone how about the whole town?
Primary Witness: They burned some house.
Besides burning house what was other bad things that were done in the town?
Primary Witness: They were passing by going to Maryland.
What was the reason that they killed your father?
Primary Witness: Because he refused to go and brush the road, they beat him to death.
You said the county commander was William B Toe, did he give the orders?
Primary Witness: I don't know but he was the commander.
Do you know the people who beat and killed your father?
Primary Witness: No.
Commissioner Stewart: when the LPC came what all they did?
Primary Witness: They burned some houses.
Did they rape, carry people and forced people to join them?
Primary Witness: No.
Did they kill some people?
Primary Witness: Yes.
When the NPFL came what did they do?
Primary Witness: They called the town people to come and brush the road and my father refuse and they killed him.
Who did you go to for the body of your father?
Primary Witness: I went to the town people and they give me the body and my friend help me to burry it.
Did you complain to general Toe?
Primary Witness: No.
Chairman: we want to say sorry for the death of your father and thank you for coming. You are representing you father today and he know that you are not doing anything but, but you are helping us to do the work. Last word
Primary Witness: We should forget the past and forgive those who hurt and for us to build Liberia as it was before. Let us reconcile.
Fourteenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Joseph Joah Nimene
(Fifth Primary Witness of day two)
The Fourteenth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer. He was accompanied by a translator.
Chairman: Good afternoon and welcome to the TRC. We want to thank you for coming. I know you have plenty things to do but because you believe in peace and reconciliation you have come. The Commissioners and the people of grand kru are here to listen to your story. We are here that we all discuss on how we can solve the problem that happened in our country.
You name again?
Primary Witness: Joseph Joah Namely, I am from the Casse Town district Grand Kru County.
What is your date of Birth?
Primary Witness: I was born 1940, December 6, about 6 o'clock in the morning.
What do you do?
Primary Witness: I work for the government of Liberia, I am the Kru Governor.
Primary Witness: I said I am not afraid I will explain what happen to me, that don't me I have something to hide. At the time I was a deputy town chief of my community, while we were there a commissioner said a certain group was coming called NPFL so I had the determination that the freedom fighters was coming, not knowing they were coming to eat our cattle. While we were there the NPFL got in our town and we embraced them. While we appreciated them they begin to request for cattle and when it finished, they were demanding and when we told them we did not have, they waged war on us and I am a victim and they chap me and my intestine almost came out. In my community thought out Grand Kru, people can testify to this mad treatment, this is my story. When it happened I escape and went in the bush for survival so I can not comment on the other happening, so that is my story. Thank you all.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: we want to tell you thank you for coming and say sorry for what happened to you and other people of the town. We are happy that these stories are being told to the Liberian people and the rest of the world is hearing it. Some people would have been glad to talk but they are not alive as such god blessed you to tell what happened to us. Thank God that the TRC is here to assist us find a solution to the suffering in this country. Some people were affected and they are afraid to talk, some want to come but they don't have the opportunity that is why we praise people like you who came to tell us the truth of what happened. So we say sorry again and the Commissioners will ask some small question.
Commissioner Bull: Mr. Kru Governor thank you I hear your story.
Commissioner Stewart: thank you very mush, Can you remember the year the NPFL came to your town?
Primary Witness: Thank you, when it is traditional year I can call it but the English way I can be confuse.
You can call it,
Primary Witness: It was 1995.
Was it the first time they came to your town?
Primary Witness: The year is not the year they enter but the year they ate our cattle.
Who was the leader, who brought them?
Primary Witness: 1990 the Commander was Wantu.
What did they do at the time they came?
Primary Witness: They never killed anybody but they took our cattle and ate them.
Did they killed and rape?
Primary Witness: They tied people and when you pay money they release you but they did not kill.
Did the NPFL kill people anybody?
Primary Witness: They kill many people, but I can remember a few: Tomu Doe, Jeffry Sieh, they were many.
Did you sent complain to Taylor when they were eating your cattle?
Primary Witness: At the time we could not see Taylor and our leader never had time for us.
What did LPC do?
Primary Witness: When they came we fled the town and they burned our houses, they burned three houses. Not only mine, but majority of us.
Can you tell us what happened for the rebels to chap you?
Primary Witness: They wanted cattle and money and I never had.
Was there any fighting between the LPC and the NPFL in your area?
Primary Witness: At the time of the LPC I sustain the injuries and I was in the bush so I don't know what happened.
Do you know the name Paul Doe?
Primary Witness: Yes I know him.
Who was he in the area?
Primary Witness: Paul Doe was part of the Group that general Toe mad treated which I am a victim.
What happened to general Toe?
Primary Witness: My self I am in doubt what happened because general Toe was with us and he wanted cattle which we did not have and he treated us like that.
What was the situation with the defense force?
Primary Witness: For the defense it was like the young people who were in the town were use to defend the town, they were our own children in the town.
Did they fight against the rebels?
Primary Witness: Well the defense force were our own children incase they wanted food and cattle we were using them to hand it over to them for their feeding.
Who was this Kon Nimley in the defense force?
Primary Witness: He was my immediate deputy in the town; he was heading the young people.
What role did you play in the defense force?
Primary Witness: I was just the assistant chief in the town. I am dead I can do anything presently. I can't do physical work, so it is God who brought you people here.
Commissioner Syllah: you said you were hit on the back and your intestine almost came where did you go for treatment?
Primary Witness: When it happened because my people love me they took me to the bush for treatment.
So you did not go to the hospital?
Primary Witness: I never had the means so I use the traditional means.
So at the time how was life for your family?
Primary Witness: When it happened I ran in the bush and my children even ran and one of my child was killed.
What is the name of that child?
Primary Witness: Koffa Nimely, they tied my wife and they put pepper in her eyes and it is difficult for her to see now.
You son that died was he sick?
Primary Witness: He died from the beating and the order was giving by general Toe.
Commissioner Coleman: sorry for the lost of your son and thank you for sharing your story.
Was there a big company in this area before?
Primary Witness: Only agriculture people were here at the time. At the time we had an airfield and so Air Liberia use to come here.
By the way you said that your son died how many children did you have?
Primary Witness: Only two boys and one is living now, only family children are helping me presently?
What about his mother?
Primary Witness: She died before the war.
Commissioner Konneh: the way you talk, it looks like you yse to be a strong and powerful man?
Primary Witness: Had it not being for being here as TRC I would have taken you to my house and you will know who I am, and you will eat fish and get tire, if you want to make sure you can send somebody behind me.
If I don't go there now, I will come one day and follow you to see.
Primary Witness: Yes I will be happy, every body clap for him (Laughter)
Did this Doe man belong to your tribe?
Primary Witness: Maybe it is a misunderstanding, I said Toe and not Doe, he is a son of the soil and he caused us to surfer.
Is he the same William Toe?
Primary Witness: Yes he is the one.
Where is he now?
Primary Witness: He came here during the 2005 election and he wanted to be a representative, but I don't know where he is now.
Is there any confusion between his people and the entire county, because his name is in every statement?
Primary Witness: The issue is that he is a son of the soil, and when he came we embarrassed him so for him to turn around and started treating us bad, that is what brought the problem.
Is the Wolu man also the son of the soil?
Primary Witness: He is a son of the soil from the same county. He lived in Greenville and there is where he came from and brought the people.
In every faction there is the political wing and the military wing, so where was your county?
Primary Witness: Thank you, at the time the incident took place and I was taken in the bush and could not come to town and so I don't know about that.
As a strong man, were you in favor of the NPFL when they came?
Primary Witness: Well when the fighters came they were armed and they were soldiers and there is nothing I could do but to appreciate them.
When the LPC came was the NPFL on the ground?
Primary Witness: When General Toe mad treated us, the whole Sasse town scatter in the bushes and se we could not tell what went on for we could not distinguish.
Were you in the bush when the LPC came?
Primary Witness: Yes at the time of the incident we were in the bush and the LPC came and burned and they went.
Can you tell us what your one child is doing now?
Primary Witness: He is now working, he is riding wheel barrow in Monrovia. At the time I never had money to send him to school so he was on his own.
How is your health condition now?
Primary Witness: Since that incident I don't have the money to go to the hospital and when the incident happened, I have to use my country medicine.
Chairman: we want to thank you very much for coming and to say sorry for all you have experienced. Which of the groups were supported by the citizens of the Town?
Primary Witness: Because of their ill treatment towards us and the way they did their things, we were against all of them. At the time every day some body will come and say they are big man ands we had to accept them.
You are a very strong and brave man.
Primary Witness: A hero can depend on a coward and a coward can depend on a hero so for me to come before you people I will share tears because of the past.
The TRC want to tell you thank you and to applaud your bravery. You have come forward to make sure the Liberian people get to know what went on. If there is anything final you have to say, you can say it.
Primary Witness: Thank you very much, Statement takers that visited us first, I told them that before everything can finish and peace will come you have to take our story. It is God who heard our cry and today we have peace. For me I am a brave man, but only God is the head and those of you that came as head of the TRC I must commend. We say thank you for coming and God will bless, for me nothing is on my heart anymore, as such I want to thank you once more. So every body should clap for the TRC.
Fifteenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Jerkins B. Nah
(Sixth Primary Witness of day two)
The Fifteenth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: thank you for coming to the TRC; this is the opportunity for you to tell the people of the county, the Liberian people and the Commissioners of the TRC your story. Feel free and relax and tell your story, don't be afraid.
Primary Witness: Thank you.
Primary Witness: During the time LPC came 1994 we ran away from them in the bush and they spent one day and we came back to town we who were the citizen. Then NPFL came and they build three gates, and we who were the citizen we beg them to move the gate near the market because the use to take people things and we beg them to take the gate from there and they refuse. Then they sent for their General Toe and he came and started catching people in the night and I was running there and they arrested me. That night all the town people slept in the jail and we were beaten. The next morning they were taking us to Garlaway beach and they said they were going to kill us. We were on the road from 5 o to 4 in the afternoon. So while we were crying they send one man to free us and when he came he took us and say let us go to Banwen and that is how we were free.
So that pat end, secondly, the killed one of my friend, he was killed by LPC and when they came to town the kill three big men. And that time again we ran away. That is all.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: thank you for the story. We will ask you the questions. Any body died from you during the war?
Primary Witness: Yes but that na in our home, that in Monrovia.
That what years LPC came?
Primary Witness: That was 1994.
Commissioner Konneh: NPFL and LPC, which of the two came in the area first?
Primary Witness: The NPFL came first.
How did they treat the town people?
Primary Witness: They were not use to trouble us first, but later they started giving us trouble.
What kind of trouble are you talking about?
Primary Witness: They use to take things from us.
Did they beat and killed people?
Primary Witness: The time I talked about, they use to beat and kill us.
Who is this general Toe, is he a citizen of this area?
Primary Witness: Yes he is a citizen.
Which town he came from?
Primary Witness: I don't know the town he came from.
What about Jebo?
Primary Witness: I don't know him.
Was there any disagreement between the NPFL and the people of your town?
Primary Witness: No.
Were some of your children among the LPC?
Primary Witness: No I told my children not to join.
How about the children of the community?
Primary Witness: Yes they were part of them.
Why do you think the children of the community will be treating their own people bad?
Primary Witness: Well I don't know but it was our own children that help to treat us.
Do you think when the children are well treated and sent to school they will behave like that?
Primary Witness: No when they are in school and they are going to church they will not behave like that.
Commissioner Coleman: when you had to run from the NPFL and the LPC, did anybody died?
Primary Witness: No they did not kill anybody. But liter they kill people, they Kill Peter Toe and Moses
Commissioner Syllah: thank you for coming to the TRC, you said when the LPC came they collected people and put them in Jail?
Primary Witness: When the LPC came we ran away, they did not put us in jail; those that left in the town were the one they killed. When we went to the bush and we came that was the time they NPFL build the gates in the town and the third one was near the market and they were harassing people and we begged them to move the gates and they refuse. We wanted them to move the gate near the market and they send for General Toe and he did not ask anybody and he started collecting us and we slept in tabay.
In the jail, was there any woman?
Primary Witness: Yes there was one woman. And they were just beating every one of us.
Commissioner Dolopei: how many soldiers came with General Toe?
Primary Witness: I was no there when they got to town so I was going there to find out and they knock me down.
How many were you people altogether?
Primary Witness: We were more then 20.
Did they nicked some of you?
Primary Witness: All of us were nicked, but the woman tie small thing.
Did they beat your?
Primary Witness: They beat us the whole night, and when they were carrying us one of my friends they were dragging him and he died. But he did not die from the beating, he died later on.
Where did they tie the woman?
Primary Witness: They tie her hands and they did not dragged herm, they were just beating her.
The people that did these things to you, were they living with you in the town?
Primary Witness: Yes they were living in the town with us.
Do you know their name?
Primary Witness: I know bad pay bad and one Worry, but God call him, he is dead.
Commissioner Stewart: when you talk about NPFL and LPC, you said when the LPC came, they killed three person, did thy burn any house?
Primary Witness: No they did not burn any house; they were living in some of the house.
How long did they stay in those houses?
Primary Witness: One day and they were moved by the NPFL.
Did they carry anybody?
Primary Witness: Only the man who they, killed they were carrying his woman and his child, but they send them back.
Did they rape and forced people to carry their load?
Primary Witness: No
Did they force any girl to be their wife?
Primary Witness: No, when they came we escape, only those that were playing hard head.
What did they do at the check points?
Primary Witness: When you are coming like from Pleebo they will check your load and when the see anything they want they will take it from you, they were doing it to all the gates.
Did they kill the people cattle in the town?
Primary Witness: As for the cattle, they kill all.
How did you get food and who were feeding the soldiers?
Primary Witness: They use to go on our farms and collect our food we were keeping and we use to suffer, we use to eat cassava and breadfruit and plantain.
Who was the big man for the NPFL?
Primary Witness: They use to change commanders so we don't know who the big man was.
Commissioner Bull: would you please give me the name of your friend that they tied and they dreg?
Primary Witness: John Neibor.
The woman who they jail, what is her name?
Primary Witness: Waledeh.
Did you see whether the tied rope on her breast?
Primary Witness: You know we went in there by group and we were the last and we met them in the jail.
Chairman: anything lastly you want to say before you go?
Primary Witness: Yes, some of us we were afraid to come here and they said when we come here they will carry us to big jail and that those boys help us and say nothing will happen. It is because of this that some people were afraid to give statement. So I am glad to be among your because I was afraid to come here and for me I want peace and I know that your will bring peace.
Please spreads the news to them, tell them we are here for peace, we will not jail anybody.
Sixteenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Lucy Hinnehnyonoh Nyema
(Seventh Primary Witness of day two)
The Sixteenth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and she was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: we want to welcome you Madam Lucy and thank you for coming to the TRC to tell us what happen to you. I know you have plenty things to do but because you believe in peace and reconciliation you have come. The Commissioners and the people of grand kru are here to listen to your story. We are here that we all discuss on how we can solve the problem that happened in our country.
Primary Witness: Thank you.
Do you live here?
Primary Witness: I liver in Benwhen
How old are you?
Primary Witness: I am 35 years
What are you doing?
Primary Witness: I am making cassava farm.
Primary Witness: I was living Zwedru and 1990 war came and we went in the bush and the people call us say your come in town and we say some of our people still in the bush and they say we must look for somebody so they will go for the people, so they carry one of our country boy. Near the village the boy say I going to the latrine and the people started going and my brother saw them he started running and they shot him and the say what happen, that this boy business I bring you're here and they carry him to town and he died.
In 1994 I came to my home in Banwhen and certain man General Toe was taking people things and this was spoiling the town name because they say the town people taking people things and they wrote them letters and say we are feeding your do your must take the gates and they say they will don it and they na do it and the town people took it themselves.
The people send for General Toe and he started beating all the people in the town and they beat me and kick me all inn my stomach. I told them I was not there and they say we will beat all of you and they carry our people to Gawlaway beach and they say they were going to kill them and they send message to the nest town and they sent message to Harper. And they send people there to help and the people first they kill Jacka Toe because he was the commander on the ground. That is what happened in the war.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: Who is the Jacka Toe?
Primary Witness: He was general Toe Soldier and General Sumo send people to help the people that were on the beach and they first kill Jacka Toe because he was the commander on the ground.
So what year die this happen?
Primary Witness: It was 1994, the first one I talked about was in Zwedru.
Did they loot your cattle?
Primary Witness: They did it to some people but not to me.
Commissioner Konneh: in 1994 were you occupying any positiono in Government?
Primary Witness: I was not doing any government Job.
Do you remember anytime when General Toe send soldier to Grandcess?
Primary Witness: No I can't remember.
What is the name of your brother killed in Grand Gedeh?
Primary Witness: Peter Nah.
Besides him do you remember anybody that was killed there?
Primary Witness: No, only my brother.
Do you remember NPFL killing people around here and looting?
Primary Witness: I can't remember.
What about the LPC,
Primary Witness: Kane, one Kru man called Wollo his uncle went to him and they killed him and one boy in the town but I don't remember his name.
Did they take children and give them guns?
Primary Witness: No, I don't know about it.
Commissioner Coleman: Was jack Toe related to general Toe?
Primary Witness: No he was just a soldier under him.
Commissioner Syllah: when they move the check point and they went to your house what happened to other women?
Primary Witness: They went to all the women and they beat them and they carry only one old lady and she is in the town now. I was six months pregnant, and the baby is living now she is about 13 to 13 years.
Commissioner Stewart: did the LPC beat and killed people?
Primary Witness: No they just killed those people and they pass through the town.
What happened when the NPFL came back?
Primary Witness: I was in the bush that time.
Commissioner Bull: I want to tell you thank you for coming tom be a part of the TRC process. This process is for every Liberians. Everybody did not fight in the war but most of us suffer in the war. So what you are saying is for everybody who was not able to come. Nothing will happen to you, because people are going around say something will happen. The TRC will go to every county, so thank you for coming and we want the people to know that everybody do not have to come here, there are some people we are taking statement from behind the camera. Those names who did the things to the people we gat it and we have our international partners who are helping us so anywhere you are we will get you. So thank you very much and God bless you.
Chairman: thank you for coming to give us the information that you gave us. Before you go is there anything you want to say?
Primary Witness: I have nothing to say, I tell you thank you for going around to tell us sorry for what happened to us.
Seventeenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public Hearings in
Barclayville Grand Kru County
Napoleon Sunday Toe
(Eighth Primary Witness of day two)
The Seventeenth Primary Witness of the day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman: Good afternoon, welcome and thank you for coming to the TRC. This is the forum for all the people to come and tell them what they experience during the war so that together we can solve the problem in our country. We want to thank you for taking up your valuable time to come and talk to us. This is a time for us to put right where it belongs and wrong where it belongs.
Where are you from?
Primary Witness: I am from Trembo District
When were you born?
Primary Witness: I was born 1966
What do you do?
Primary Witness: I am District Commissioner for Trembo County District
Primary Witness: During the war even though the war started since 1990 I will talk of my experience from 2003 April when MODEL enter Soroweken because thewas a company TTCO and it was populated and they came from Kaloken and they capture the town about 30 men. The bush manager and Patrick Dolo was there with us and I was the first person the caught and they say we should sound the country drums and the people came in the town.
They looted the production manager truck and they looted power saw and they looted many things and they left the town. Taylor was in the town and they were waiting for the MODEL soldiers and they went to Kaloken and one business man was looted and killed by one Moses Weah and they reported it to the NPFL and they went there in search of him. When they got there they asked if there was somebody in town here who looted money from Kaloke and they arrested Moses and he accused one Jimmy Gibah and they beat him and move all of his teeth and the woman with him they almost killed her and they carry Moses, and we have not seen him till now.
The MODEL went to Terembo and they recruited many of our boys and they went to the company camp and they looted a lot from the people. They also told the town people to register their guns and said we should pay 250 and after ding that they carry all the guns and if you have rice upstairs they will carry.
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