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The Second Day of the TRC Public Hearings Proceedings
held on Tuesday April 29th, 2008 at the C.H Dewey Auditorium, Bomi 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 her testimony.
Sixth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public
Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Maima Boakai
(First Primary Witness of day two)
The First 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 tell
you thank you for coming and welcome to the TRC. You have come to help the TRC
to do it work. Can you please tell us your name again?
Primary witness: Maima
Boakai
Where do you live?
Primary witness: Besao.
What is you age?
Primary witness: 34
What do you do for living?
Primary witness: Farmer.
Primary witness: Firstly,
I want to say thank you, for what I saw. I was to my place, a group of soldiers
came, and they now call themselves NPFL. But they didn't bother us not neither
my friends nor my family. While we were there, they brought 3 Fullah men and
their wives. So when we were there, the NPFL took the men and say they want
them to go and work for them, they took them to another town call Damah, when
they came back, we never saw he people. They kill them and after few days, we
burry them.
So after some times, they saw 4
men, they came in the town, and they put them on halt, so they ask them where
they were from, and they said they were civilians. So they started asking them
for their ID cards, and they give their ID cards, they still say those people
came on reconnaissance. So they tie them, and the other boy among them, they
call him hunger lion. So they caught those men, they kill the 4 shot the four
men, so one of the men was not dead yet, so the other one say oh, this one na
die yet oh, so their big man say but you know what to do, so they kill him. So
after that, they left them there and those people were laying down there. And
they were smelling when we use to be going on our farm, we use to run, or cover
our face with clothes and pass. So we decided to burry the people, so the brave
men in the town went and dug 2 feet, and they burry the men, but all their feet
were out side and they were smelling. So we were there, when they use to do
those things, one time ULIMO attack and I ran from here and I went through
Kakata and got to Weala and from there, were going to Gbarnga, when we were on
the line, I was standing there with the load on my head with my baby things
inside, so this boy here, when we reach to the gate, me and husband, the boy
say that where thing in the bag on your head, I say that me things them. So he
took the load from me. Then the other boy came and said where the money you
get? Because that time I was having baby. So I say the money I get, that 100
dollar and it in that load there where you take.
So the other boy just took my
hand and started carrying me, so I say where you carrying me air? He say just
lets go. So my self too, I started yelling, he was carrying me and hauling me.
Then my husband heard me shouting, and he told their big man. So the boy that
was carrying me, took me behind one house, I was crying, he took me in the
room, my baby on my back oh, he took my baby from my back, he say today I will
win this baby here. I was crying and begging him. So he push me in the room,
and he started going out with me. He started sleeping with me, so before my
husband could tell their big man, they reach there, the boy finish raping me.
So that how they came there and take me from that boy, so his big man was vex
with him and said if their boss man come, they will talk it to put him in jail,
because they were not to rape. so that how they took me from there, but I was
still crying, because of the baby, I was afraid that some thing will happen to
the little girl, so the boy said, nothing will happen to the child. So my husband
took me to one town call Zeanzue, one old man was there, my husband explain
what happen to me, then the old ma fix country medicine for the little baby and
she give me some of the medicine for me to rob on my breast, so that how
nothing happen to the little girl and today my little girl still living, she
with me to the house so that all the things that happen to me, doing the war.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: we want to thank
you for coming and helping us to do our work. At this time commissioners will
ask you questions.
Commissioner bull: we want
to thank you for coming, there are so many witnesses that give their
statements, but for you to be chosen, so many people are out there, but they
don't have the chance to talk, and as you talk today, you are giving vice to
those people. So when they ask you, what do you want for the government to do
to them?
Primary witness: as for
me, I don't want them to do any thing to them, they have already done it let just forgive
them and move on and we don't want war again.
Commissioner Konneh: thank
you for coming. You said the rebels enter in your town, can you tell us the
time this thing happened?
Primary witness: 1990,
July 26.
Which faction?
Primary witness: NPFL.
You said they kill 3 Fullah men,
what did they do to their wives?
Primary witness: They
carry them.
Have you seen them?
Primary witness: No.
You say they kill four police
men, were they having guns?
Primary witness: No, only
their clothes and their wives and children clothes
You say when you reach Suakoko,
who did you see?
Primary witness: NPFL.
Were they raping other women?
Primary witness: I don't
know.
Were they forcing people to join
them or taking people things?
Primary witness: Yes, they
even took my thing.
Commissioner Coleman:
thank you for coming, I want to know about your family, where are your parents?
Primary witness: My mother
died 1989 march 16 and my father die 1998.
Did you lost any body during the
war?
Primary witness: Yes, my
step brother Simon Cooper.
Do you have children, you mention
one?
Primary witness: Yes, two
boys and two girls.
Commissioner Dolopei: you
talked about your step brother that die, how did he die?
Primary witness: They say
he was going to Caldwell
to find food and INPFL caught him and kill him saying he was a ULIMO.
Commissioner Steward:
thank you for coming, besides the Fullah men they kill, did you see they kill
any other person?
Primary witness: Yes, they
kill one police man in the plantation and they put the head on the check point.
Did you see another person it
happened to?
Primary witness: Yes.
Was it the same head?
Primary witness: No.
Did you see them eating human
beings there?
Primary witness: No.
You said you were in Cuttington,
did you see any body eating human being there to?
Primary witness: Yes.
Where?
Primary witness: That
time, I use to go sell greens in one town call Sinjay, and the rebels use to
come and attack us the civilians on the campus. So the commander jack the rebel
sent people to put stop to the people that use to come and attack us. So the
caught them boiling human part.
Who were boiling the parts?
Primary witness: Martina
Johnson and Melvin Sobanie.
If you see her will you know
Martina?
Primary witness: Yes, I
know Martina.
And do you know Melvin?
Primary witness: Yes I
know him unless he changed now.
So Martina was there?
Primary witness: Yes.
What was her rank?
Primary witness: She was a
general.
What kind of gun was she using?
Primary witness: She used
to use the dragon gun for Taylor.
How does she look?
Primary witness: She's
slim, dry girl.
You mention going to Suakoko, how
did you get there?
Primary witness: That
time, the rebels took over I left Phebe and ran to Suakoko.
Commissioner Syllah: thank
you for coming, you talked about the soldier that rape you, do you know his
name?
Primary witness: No, only
the man that rescues me, i know.
What is his name?
Primary witness: Sando.
Chairman: I want to ask
you, you said when you were in Suakoko; you stay there until ULIMO attack?
Primary witness: No,
because when they attack, that they soldiers self will be running in front.
So your too will start running?
Primary witness: Yes, you
see the soldiers running, and then you will stand?
So while you were going, your saw
dead bodies on the road?
Primary witness: Yes, even
one woman , her children were carrying her, she old, she told them to put her
down, and they did and she died when I was coming back I saw her bones.
How did you know them?
Primary witness: We knew
them before.
So that time, you saw them
boiling the human being, where was it, was it on Cuttington?
Primary witness: No, it
was in one town behind Cuttington, the village name is Sinjay.
Thank you for coming, do you have
any thing to say?
Primary witness: Yes, first
of all, I want to thank the TRC for coming to listen to our problems. So I want
to say I have problem, since the time of the raping, I have been experiencing
menstrual problem, so I want you people to help me with medication.
Seventh Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Harlee Gissi
(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: Thank God that you have managed to come to the
TRC to tell your story; the Government of Liberia sent us all over the Country
to look into the problems from the war time. Please tell us your name again.
Primary Witness: My name is Harlee Gissi.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in Cooper Town, Tubmanburg.
What is your age?
Primary Witness: I cannot remember my age, no
slipper on your foot, how you will know that one.
Which President you saw good? You
saw President Tubman?
Primary Witness: Yes, during Tubman time, I was
working in Firestone.
What's about President Barclay?
Primary Witness: That time I was mall and did not
know myself good.
You can please tell your story.
Primary Witness: Thanks very much, God must bless
your, they way your came to talk to us to make heart good.
Primary Witness: In 1990, in Thomas Camp, Cape Mount
County, NPFL did not do
me bad, but one man Mano man called Zaye made them to treat me bad. I was
working for one Mandingo man called Lassana Donzo as Field Manager on the
diamond area. This Zaye man went and told the soldiers that I was having
machine for one Mandingo man. After he said that, the soldiers came and asked
me and I told them that only three shovels, two diggers, and two cutlasses I
had and I gave it to them; they kept beating on me and later, the same Zaye
said he was lying on me. After he made the pronouncement, the soldiers shut him
right there and killed him and they released me. The soldiers started
patrolling all the villages and taking the people food and other items.
It was ULIMO that did us bad,
especially when they separated and started fighting each other. When I observed
that, I decided to go to Monrovia.
On my way to Monrovia, I saw one man and he asked me and I said to him that I
was on my way to Monrovia; but the said I should say that I was going because
he was going to kill me. I beg him and said he will not kill me but I have to
follow them because Prince Johnson was on the road. I was forced to join them
because I needed my life. We came all the way to Sanoyea, the place was packed
with human beings. After a day, we saw several taxis coming and not known, the
LURD forces were all under the cars. When the taxis came to the check point,
the soldier who was mending the check point there and they shut him and killed
him right there; from there, everybody started running away. When the LURD
forces entered the Sanyea, they said that they come only for their food items
and nobody should do anything to the civilians. As God would have it, they did
not do anything to us the civilians that were there at the time.
After few days, we started coming
to Gola-Konneh and I met my son and he told me that his rice farm was ripe and
I should leave there since I was hungry. While on the farm, it did not take
long and we saw the soldiers arrived and they started beating on us. I decided
to leave the farm and when I was on way, I was too hungry and I saw a trap that
had caught monkey and I just went and sat by the trap and waiting for the owner
to come. When the owner came, he said that I have gone to steal his meat from
his trap but I told him I was hungry and was in search on my daughter and I
call the name of my daughter. When I call the name, he said he knew the girl
and took me to her. I was there fine but it did not take long when the soldiers
came again and they said that we were supporters of the rebels and they were
going to kill us.
They took us to the place that
they were to kill us but I knew one of the men and he was cousin; he asked me
to take out my shirt and I told him no, and he asked me why I am refusing to
undress myself and I told him that I was a Mandingo man and according to our
relationship, he was my uncle. The soldier asked me to speak Mandingo and I
spoke it very well and he was very happy and he left me and he took me to the
Town Chief and against, the Town Chief was my brother. When he took me to the
Town Chief, the chief was happy and he received me with happiness.
At the time, my eyes started
giving me problems but thank God that when the war ceased, Fr. Garry took me to
the Merci Ship and they operated one of the eyes and I can see all of you
people on the table; only the other one that has not been operated still bad.
It was ULIMO that really did bad to us.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: You say only the
right eye was operated?
Primary Witness: Yes, they operated this and it is
the only one I see with.
Commissioner Syllah: Do you remember the person who was eating
human beings heart?
Primary Witness: Yes, it was Senegalese.
Who was cooking the human meat?
Primary Witness: I do not him, only Senegalese.
What was ULIMO doing to the
civilians in Lofa?
Primary Witness: We heard that ULIMO was killing
people with power saw and that year, I mad rice farm and we started hearing
heavy sound of guns and we started running away, but I did not see the
power-saw.
Which faction was Bad Wire
fighting for?
Primary Witness: He was fighting for ULIMO and he
had one bad boy behind him.
You see them use the power-saw on
people?
Primary Witness: I only heard it, but I did not see
them power saw but only guns and knives.
You eyes were alright when you
were working before the war?
Primary Witness: Yes.
When the eyes problem started?
Primary Witness: It was during this war because of
dirty water, and we ate toad from and all.
Commissioner Stewart: Any of your people died in the war?
Primary Witness: Yes, one of my aunties died but
there was no gun or knife mark on her; I think she died as a result of hunger.
You bury her body?
Primary Witness: No,
because people were running behind us, I only took her clothes and ran away.
You say burnt Sanoyea?
Primary Witness: No, I say
they burnt Marseten town, a place that was built for all the displaced people;
I do not know what got in the boy's heart, we just saw him putting fire on all
the houses.
You say who used to carried food
for your?
Primary Witness: It was Fr. Garry, the road was
blocked but he still used to carry helicopter to bring the food.
When you see him you will know
him?
Primary Witness: Yes.
At the time they carried the food
in Sanoyea and they killed many people, were you there?
Primary Witness: Yes, they were diving food and
LURD forces came and the government troops ran away but when the LURD forces
came, they were concerned about salt and magi cubes and after they took them
from the distribution site, they went back where they came.
Commissioner Dolopei: Where was your wife?
Primary Witness: At first, she was with me but
later, we separated in Sanoyea and since that time, I have not seen her.
Commissioner Coleman: You
say you have seen her?
Primary Witness: No.
How many children you and your
wife have?
Primary Witness: We have six children and one of
them is with me here.
You talked about Zaye
Primary Witness: Yes, he made me to suffer because
I was the Field Manager on the diamond and he was just a boy.
Commissioner Konneh: One of the important parts of the body is
eye. You were the only person he showed to the soldiers?
Primary Witness: Yes, only I alone he pointed out
in that village.
You say you were agent for one
Lassana Donzo?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Where is the Lassana Donzo?
Primary Witness: Since he went Guinea, I have not seen him.
What are some of the bad things
the ULIMO soldier did?
Primary Witness: They say ULIMO was killing people
with power saw but I did not see it; most of the time, they assisted me. It was
Zaye that made the Mandingo people to do bad to me.
What about other civilians?
Primary Witness: One Gola man was fasting one time
when Senegalese came to the man and said that he was going to eat his. While he
was trying to kill the man, the man begged him to leave him because he was
fasting but Senegalese insisted no and while trying kill him, the finger nails
hurt him right on his foot and up to present, the soul is still on the his
foot.
Who stopped you from going to Monrovia?
Primary Witness: It was members of the ULIMO-K
group, they just detained me and after few days, I escaped.
What LURD did to you?
Primary Witness: I did not see them disturbed any
civilians, when they got in Sanoyea, they just shut in to the air and took
their salt and other items and went back.
Have you seen Senegalese?
Primary Witness: I have not seen him some people
say he is in Monrovia
while others say he has died.
What's about Bad Wire?
Primary Witness: I do not know but he is slim, short
and black, he was the one who burnt our village.
What's Jarhanama?
Primary Witness: People say when he see you and
asked you and any mistake you make, he will kill you.
Have you seen him?
Primary Witness: People say they killed him.
You say what is the name of the
boy who burnt your village?
Primary Witness: I say it was Bad Wire, I do not
know any other name.
Commissioner Bull: Thank you for coming to the TRC to tell your
story; thank you for telling what you see and heard.
Primary Witness: I have one question for your
please: The way you people have asked us about the bad things they did to us
and we have explained to your, what is it your have for us who were victims?
Commissioner Konneh: I also have two questions for you: When
someone dies from you in your community and nobody comes to help you bury the
dead and no one also comes to sympathize with you, how will you feel?
Primary Witness: I will feel bad.
If you have a government that you
know that it is for you, and this government cannot do anything for you, how
will you feel?
Primary Witness: Very bad.
The way we came, we have come to
identify with you and all those who suffered during the war, the way you
talked, you have talked for all the people who are not able to come here.
Commissioner Dolopei: Anything happen to you during the Doe's time?
Primary Witness: No, nothing happened to me; that
time things used to be alright, we used to buy cup of rice for L$0.25, but
right now, it is not easy.
What is the name of your wife?
Primary Witness: Her name is Esther, I cannot
remember the last name because that was her father's name she was using.
Chairman: We have heard
your testimony and asked all our questions; is there anything else on your mind
that you want to tell us?
Primary Witness: Yes, I just want to say thank you
plenty, God must be with your, the way your came safely, your should go safely.
The way you people have to talk to us so that we must take all the bad feelings
from our hearts is good. I want tell Fr. Garry big thank you, the
Superintendent, the Pakistan troops here, and may God bless all of you for your
good work. My name is Harlee Gissi, I thank you all.
Eighth Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Percima Karnley
(Third Primary Witness of day two)
The Third 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: We want to say
you are welcome. We appreciate it, because it is a contribute to the process.
What is your name?
Primary Witness: My name
is Precima Karnley.
Where don you live?
Primary Witness: I live Jawajah
town Klay District.
How old are you?
Primary Witness: I am
24-25 years old.
What are you doing for a living?
Primary Witness: I help my
husband to do palm nut work.
Primary Witness: When the
ULIMO war started we were in our area and we went in the bush. While we were on
our way through Swen Mecca we came to a gate and they were asking for our
tribes and my mother said she was a Krahn and my father said he was a Gola and
they asked them to go on different sides and they asked my father to leave and
I have never seen my mother since then I am sure she is dead.
While we were moving here and
there my sister was killed. For me it was during the LURD war in our town and
we went in the bush and certain time the town was free so we came to town and
again the LURD reinforced and we went in the bush and they came there and
started asking us for food and they said if there is no food they will kill us.
They grab one of my uncles and they said if he don't gave them food they will
kill him and he was carrying them from one place to the other and they were
annoyed and they juke him with a knife.
We managed and went to Ricks
Institute and we started looking for food and we came across the ATU who said
we were LURD soldiers and we showed them our displaced cards and they tied us
together and said if we don't say the truth they will carry us on the came to
be recruited and we begged them and they said the only way they will free us is
if we can gave them the pepper we had and so we gave it to them. When we went
on the camp I saw a Mandingo guy I knew and he said we should go with him and
went. We got to a special area and he said I and the other two guys should lie
on the ground and I refused but he hit me on the back and ii got on the ground.
Then he said he is a government soldier so if we don't say the truth he will
kill us but this guy was actually a LURD soldier so we told him we are not
fighters and he dealt with us. They then took us to another area and we saw
some of their men and these guys also started treating us bad, they asked me to
pump my jaw and I said I don't know how to do it and they beat me again then a
guy came and said they should leave me, that is how I left.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: What was your
mother's name?
Primary Witness: Esther
Karnley
Since when did that happened?
Primary Witness: ULIMO war
93-95
Sorry for what happen to you.
Commissioner Syllah: Thanks
for coming to share your experience with us.
What is your mother's name?
Primary Witness: Esther
Did you notice any point in time
that young boys were recruited?
Primary Witness: Yes by
Sando Johnson
What did he do?
Primary Witness: Force
people to fight.
Can you remember him?
Primary Witness: Yes
Where is your father?
Primary Witness: Jarbeh
town.
The Sando Johnson you talk about,
is he the same Sando Johnson that is in the House of Representative?
Primary Witness: Yes
Commissioner Stewart: How
many years you have not seen your mother?
Primary Witness: 15years
The man who told you to lay down,
can you remember his name?
Primary Witness: Yes
Mohammed
Was he a soldier?
Primary Witness: Yes
From which group?
Primary Witness: LURD
Have you seen him?
Primary Witness: Yes
What did he say?
Primary Witness: Nothing.
What was his reaction?
Primary Witness: I only
told my friend about it.
What other thing did you see?
Primary Witness: Beating.
How long did you stayed in the
displace camp?
Primary Witness: Long
How was life like in the
displaced came?
Primary Witness: Difficult
Was it from Jarwajah town?
Primary Witness: Yes
Did he know you before?
Primary Witness: Yes
Was it only young men they grab
to go and fight?
Primary Witness: Yes
How about you?
Primary Witness: I escape
Do you know any of them?
Primary Witness: No not by
face.
Was it government troop?
Primary Witness: Yes, lead
by Sando Johnson
What was your experience with
ULIMO?
Primary Witness: They only
came to our area, they burn my father house.
How many houses they burn?
Primary Witness: Three
houses
How many houses are there in the
town?
Primary Witness: Thirty-three
Where did all the people go?
Primary Witness: Some went
in the bush.
Commissioner Dolopei: What
is the name of your sister?
Primary Witness: Siah
Where did she die?
Primary Witness: Yanwolee
Commissioner Coleman: Thanks
for sharing your story with us and sorry for the pain you had to go through in
life.
Commissioner Konneh: When
your mother was taken away, who was controlling the check point?
Primary Witness: ULIMO
When was it that ULIMO enter?
Primary Witness: I can't
tell
Where?
Primary Witness: Maker
How you manage to know his name?
Primary Witness: I know
him before
Was he in military uniform?
Primary Witness: No
Was he with civilians?
Primary Witness: No
military
When?
Primary Witness: 2002
The guy call Mohammed, did you
know him
Primary Witness: Yes
In Jabada?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Was he a student or what?
Primary Witness: No a
business man
How was the contribution from all
the warring factions? Was LURD present?
Primary Witness: Yes LURD
Where?
Primary Witness: In the
town call Luyah
Did they take you as war
prisoner?
Primary Witness: No I stay
two weeks with them.
What your use to do?
Primary Witness: Toot load
to Kakata
How old were you when NPFL came
to Liberia?
Primary Witness: I was
small
What is your father name?
Primary Witness: Henry
Karnley
Chairman: We want to say
thank you. Do you have any on mind?
I want to give thanks to the
counselors.
Ninth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public
Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Kpawnah Kanneh
(Fourth
Primary Witness of day two)
The Fourth 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 say welcome
and thanks for coming to the TRC. we happy that you came, because we are all
here to find out all that has happen in the past, so in that way we will find
peace for us Liberians and al our children in the future. What is your full
name?
Primary witness: My name
is Kpawnah Kanneh Morris.
What is your date of birth?
Primary witness: I am 25
years old.
Where do you live?
Primary witness: Molley
town.
What do you do for living?
Primary witness: I am a
Farmer.
Primary witness: The time
I was here during the war time, we were in the town, the LURD forces come they
say your come in the town. So when we come in the town, they say our big man
want see your so your should leave all your things them to Mahir. So we were
there, they started carrying the people them to Mahir, we just sitting down,
they were killing the people them, so we were in the big house, they were
carrying the people them. So our time, we were the last, so when they put us in
the car, they carry us to the bridge, when we reach to where they were killing
the people them, they say we should get down that their air tire spoil. So when
we got down, they started killing the people them, so I was the last on the
line. So one boy was there, that him say let me carry this girl and kill her.
So when he carry me, he asked me, you what tribe? I told him my tribe then he
said ok, bent down so I will shoot 3 times then I will say I kill you. So I
bent down the boy shoot two times and then he go say I na kill her. So that
just how I was save.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: we want to thank
you for coming today. What you are doing today, is not a mistake, all the thing
you come talk here, today you giving voice to the people who na get mouth to
talk. So we are happy you came today. What happened to you, it never happened
because you wanted it, or you bought it, but it was war and the people that
suppose to be guiding us, they were doing those bad things to us. So we say
sorry for all you went through and the sufferings. Can you remember the name of
the guy who saved you?
Primary witness: Yes, his
name is Daniel.
Which group were they fighting
for?
Primary witness: That was
NPFL.
He asked you for your tribe, what
was your tribe?
Primary witness: I
Kpelleh.
Was he a Kpelleh boy?
Primary witness: Yes.
Commissioner Konneh: the
time, they were carrying your, they say the car tire spoil, can you remember
some of the people name?
Primary witness: Yes, Sumo
Ballah, Korpo Ballah, and Lorpu and Rebecca Ballah.
Were there all the people you
knew?
Primary witness: Yes, but
they were 15 people in the car.
So do you know some of the people
that were doing that thing?
Primary witness: Yes,
Benjamin Yeaten and Roland Duo.
Commissioner Coleman: I
want to know about your family, where are your parents?
Primary witness: They took
my mother at the bridge they staved her with the bent knife.
So what's about your father?
Primary witness: He died
ever since.
Did you have brother and sisters?
Primary witness: Yes, I
was having, 2 brothers and 1 sister.
What is your mother's name?
Primary witness: My mother's name is Yatta Kanneh.
What is the name of your brother
that died?
Primary witness: His name
is Sumo Ballah.
And what is the name of your
sister that died?
Primary witness: Rebecca
Ballah.
Do you have children?
Primary witness: Yes, two
children.
Do you remember how many trips
the truck made?
Primary witness: More then
10 times the pick up came back.
Commissioner Dolopei:
Kpawnah, sorry you hear, for the death of your relatives.
Commissioner Steward:
Sorry for what happened, did you go for Konneh hill?
Primary witness: Yes, that
was from Konneh hill they took us.
So you left people to the Konneh
Hill?
Primary witness: Yes.
How many of them?
Primary witness: They were
many, I did not count them.
Did you ride the back of the
front?
Primary witness: We were
riding the back of the car.
When you reach, what happen?
Primary witness: When we
reach, they say, the car tire spoil, so we should get down, that how they
started shooting the people. So I started hiding, they were having two wise
girls, when I go there, begging them, they will say, you move from here. So I
was doing it until I was the last person, then the boy carry me and save me.
So when he saved you, where did
you go?
Primary witness: He took
me to Careysburg.
How long did you stay there?
Primary witness: I stay 5
months.
With who?
Primary witness: With the
boy that save me.
Besides your people them, they
kill, you knew some other people from Molly town?
Primary witness: No.
All the people that came from
Molly town were how many?
Primary witness: We were
15 persons in the car.
That was who?
Primary witness: My ma, my
husband, my brother, and one other man.
Your husband was there?
Primary witness: Yes
How did he get save?
Primary witness: He sat on
the bridge and hall the shirt of his friend and they fell in the water.
What is the name of the friend?
Primary witness: Tope.
Where is this Topoe?
Primary witness: They kill
him.
How?
Primary witness: He was
not too sound, so when he came from the water, he went and showed him self to
the people so they kill him.
You were the only woman in the
car?
Primary witness: No, we
were so, so woman, and plenty children.
So you were standing is there
when they kill all those children?
Primary witness: No, the
children them they w ere throwing them in the water.
Commissioner Syllah: we
want to thank you for coming to tell us you story.
Chairman: can you tell us
your husband's name?
Primary witness: My
husband name is Morris Konneh.
Today, we want to thank you for
coming to the TRC. Is there any thing, you will like to tell the TRC?
Primary witness: I am just
asking them to help me with school in our village, because there is no school
there.
How many house in Molley town?
Primary witness: The
houses are many, more then 15 houses.
You got any other school there?
Primary witness: No.
What's about water?
Primary witness: Water
there, but the pump spoilt.
Is there a clinic there?
Primary witness: No.
You can walk from there here?
Primary witness: Yes, 15
minutes walk.
Tenth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public
Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Anthony Boakai
(Fifth Primary Witness of day two)
The Fifth 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: Thanks for coming to the TRC; we have been
given the responsibility to investigate all the wrong things that went on
during the civil war. Please tell us your name again.
Primary Witness: My name is Anthony Boakai.
How old are you?
Primary Witness: I am 45 years old.
What do you do for living?
Primary Witness: I am a farmer.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in Vorkor Town,
Klay District.
You now please tell us your story.
Primary Witness: It was in 1992 when ULIMO captured
Bomi and we were in Theo's Village and we came to Vorkor town. When we got in
town, my Uncle and brother were going to our house when the NPFL soldiers saw
them and called them. When they got to them, they asked them as to where they
were coming from and they said they were coming from the house. One of the
soldiers said that they were ULIMO soldiers and they carried them down the
hill. At the time, Plan International was building a school in our town and the
zinc and planks were in one of our uncle's house and they tied the planks and
put it on their head. When they reached with the items to where they wanted,
one of the soldiers said that they are ULIMO soldiers and so they must kill
them. Later, they took them to an intersection and killed them.
Few days after they killed them,
around 6:00 am, ULIMO entered and woke another brother up and said they wanted
to see everybody in the town in the center of the town and in no time,
everybody gathered at the center of the town. After we got there, one of the
soldiers said that one Government troop soldier ran and came in our town and so
they wanted to look for him. Another uncle of mine was the Town Chief and he
gave them the go ahead to search the entire town. After they looked and did not
find anyone, my aunty cooked for them and brought it. After they ate the food,
they arrested me and another brother and said that their commander called Opassium
wants to see us. One of the soldiers called Abu got rope and tied the two of
us; the entire town talked to them but he refused and started taking us to the
direction of his boss. When we took off and got in the other town, he call for
cutlass and we thought that he was going to kill us. They brought the cutlass
and he took us behind the house and cut the ropes from our hands and started
apologizing to us that he has wrong us. We accepted his apology and went back
home to our people.
When we got in our town, we saw
all the people crying thinking that they have killed us; as God would have it,
we arrived in the town. This is what happened to us during the war.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: What is the name
of your uncle and brother that were killed?
Primary Witness: My uncle name was Sando Leesar and
my brother name was Lassana Boakai and he was 22 years old.
Commissioner Konneh: Sorry for the death of your uncle and brother.
What was your uncle's age?
Primary Witness: I do not know.
Which group killed these people?
Primary Witness: It was the NPFL soldiers.
They told your the reasons why
they killed these people?
Primary Witness: No.
What else you remember the NPFL
soldiers did to the civilians?
Primary Witness: The tension was very high.
Is your mother still alive?
Primary Witness: Yes.
What other experience you
witnesses from ULIMO?
Primary Witness: They did not tie anyone in the
village.
What's about MODEL?
Primary Witness: I did not see MODEL; they were in Grand Bassa
County.
What's about LURD?
Primary Witness: I did not see LURD, it was here in
Vorkor that some of our brothers sent for me for us to clean our town; after
clearing the area, we left.
Your Uncle and brother left
children behind?
Primary Witness: Yes, they left children behind.
Commissioner Coleman: what's about your father?
Primary Witness: My father died in December 1999 as
a result of sickness.
Anyone from your family died
besides your uncle and brother in the war?
Primary Witness: Yes, two of my nephews were
killed.
Are you married?
Primary Witness: Yes, I am married with 5 children
including my Late brother's own.
You say which group killed your
uncle and brother?
Primary Witness: It was the NPFL soldiers.
What is the name of your original
village?
Primary Witness: It is called Tino's Village.
Who was Abu's commander?
Primary Witness: His name was Opposium.
What was your general experience
with the NPFL soldiers?
Primary Witness: They killed some people and put
some people in the well in a town called Dormagbarma in the year 1992.
Commissioner Dolopei: you say that two brothers they killed?
Primary Witness: No, only one of my brothers that
was killed.
Commissioner Stewart: Where is Dormagbarma village located?
Primary Witness: Right after Vorkor, the next town
is Dormagbarma village.
You remember any of the NPFL
commanders at the time?
Primary Witness: Yes, it was Rambo and Roland
Anderson.
You can identify these people
when you see them?
Primary Witness: Yes, I know Roland Anderson
personally.
Where is Roland Anderson?
Primary Witness: He is in a village called Gogan.
Can you please describe Rambo?
Primary Witness: He is bright and huge looking.
They buried the people they
killed?
Primary Witness: No, they just put some of them in
the well and left some just on the ground.
How many persons they put in the
well?
Primary Witness: Two persons.
Where were you when ULIMO came?
Primary Witness: I was in my village Tino's
Village.
Was some killed in your town?
Primary Witness: No.
They looted from your?
Primary Witness: No.
Where they killed your brother
and uncle?
Primary Witness: They killed them in a town called
Jarbajeh.
When ULIMO took control of your
area?
Primary Witness: October 1992.
What ULIMO did in that area?
Primary Witness: I did not see them killing anyone.
How long ULIMO stayed in your
area?
Primary Witness: They stayed there for almost a
year.
How they used to eat?
Primary Witness: I do not know because they were in
different clan while we were in different clan.
Commissioner Syllah: do you know the names of the soldiers who
killed your brother and uncle?
Primary Witness: No, I was not to myself.
Chairman: Very sorry, we hope that you can tell your
family sorry for the death of your people. Is there anything else on your mind
that you will like to share with the TRC before you go?
Primary Witness: Yes, I want to tell TRC thanks for
bringing me here. I also want your to help carry development to our town, we do
not have pump water and so, we are appealing to your for assistance.
In which town you want the
development in particular?
Primary Witness: In Vorkor Town.
How many people live in Vorkor
town?
Primary Witness: Many people live there, more than
1000 persons.
Eleventh Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Boima Gibson
(Sixth Primary Witness of day two)
The Sixth 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: we want to thank
you for coming to the TRC, and welcome to the public hearings of the TRC. We
are happy that you took up your precious time to share your experience with us.
So we say thank you for coming. For the sake of the record can you repeat your
name?
Primary witness: My name is Boima Gibson.
Where do you live?
Primary witness: Damah,
Sinje district.
What do you do?
Primary witness:
Presently, I am the development Chairman for Damah.
What is your birth date?
Primary witness: I am 39
years old.
Primary witness: In the
year 1990, the group called NPFL captured our town. On that day, some of them
were calling themselves freedom fighters. But they told us that day, that we
were no more under the government order but we are under their order. So they
told all of us to gather in the center of the town, and they told us to report
every government soldier we have in the town. But if you don't it, they will kill
you and burn down your house. So they went in the town. They never saw any
soldier. So one day we were in the town, we heard a gun sound on July 26th
at the Guthrie plantation area way, were we normally go for market. We heard
that one man, who was and every one of us got afraid, and when we came to know,
it was one man call, he was a chief security. So we got afraid and we knew
there was war. And later, we were in the
town with them, they took away all of our food, our banana them, they use us as
slaves; they use us to carry their loads any thing they wanted. Anything they
decide to do to us they will do. So we were there this same 1990 war, people
were coming from Monrovia
to the Interior. But each time they go there, we will take them, and show them
their family. We will tell the other person take care of this and the other toke
care of this. So, one evening, I saw 4 gentlemen, they say they were coming
from Monrovia.
I was trying to stop them, but they say they were passing through Damah, to go
Besao to go to Bomi. It was almost 6:30, so I say your go, I can't do
otherwise, that our town this, if your want go, your can go. So when they reach
Besao, they slept there, the next day we heard a serious gun firing, and we heard
that 4men who pass here were killed by one hungry Lion, he call his self, the
patrol commander he kill them. Then we
got afraid, but we knew now that they came to kill and destroy us. So we were
getting sacred.
So from there, we were there, a
group called ULIMO came and capture our town, it was in 1991, the came in our
area, the Guthrie plantation area in 1990. But I will admit, they did not do
anything to me and my family. So we stay there, and later we had an attack that
brought me to the displace camp in Monrovia until the octopus war started which
was between the ECOMOG, ULIMO and the
Prince Johnson's group which was not easy. So later on I came back to my town
area. There where I settle me and my family. So while we were there, before in
the evening time, we heard the sound of gun and we saw people running coming
and some of them were running naked. We were able to ask them because they were
our brothers; we use to share with them. They said one papai they call Boima,
they said he was crossing, they will come and tell us to cross them and they
will take our things and started beating us. So we decided leaving the town. So
he decided to help us, so he went and put the man in the canoe. And when he
cross the man, so they tell the papai say, cross our friends and after he cross
them, they say that you the bad man here, so they took the papai cutlass from
him, and cut his head and they their selves they started running. So with in
that moment, we too we ran in the bush, we stay with us for 3 months and ULIMO
J came and said if we don't come from the bush, when they come for us, they
will kill us. Then we came back in the town. So while we were there, then we
saw the people coming they say their name is ULIMO K. so they erase the name on
the wall and put their name there. So they sent for us, when we came, they say
we are ULIMO K, your man Manah Zeakay went and kill our men and burn or armor
doom. But all that time, we heard news that ULIMO were taking people from the
other towns like Fortal, and other places, took them from Beh town to Sac's
town. So we were the last group, all the civilians that were around, so they
put us down and say we should sit there and wait for them. There were I saw a
young man, he was lying down, with his head cut off and his stomach open. My
cousin was there, and I ask my sister what is happening here? He say this man,
he call himself ULIMO J man, but he was forcibly recruited, so after ULIMO K
caught him, they were three, the others surrender but he refuse to surrender.
So, they kill him. So from there, they were carrying us to Sacs town, we saw a
group of soldiers running coming, because they wanted to carry us to Sawmill.
They say gentlemen, Manah Zeakay na capture Sac's town oh. So we managed to
come back to where we were and we saw the man they kill laying there. We
managed that day and we ran in the bush. The only group that helped us that day
was the Congo
defense Force, that them help us to show us the other road by the sea side. So
they said your should leave because if they meet you're here, they will kill
your. So we use the back route to go
through Karmu town area. So the Congo
defense forces took us and carry us to the other side. While we were there,
then ULIMO J soldiers them came again and took over, and they burn down the
whole town, they chop one of my friends on his head, and they thought he was
dead, I think when they retreated, ECOMOG came and took him to the hospital and
he spent 4 months in the hospital. Then after that, his family was thinking he
left in the war, and then they brought him and said here the man. So they found
his family, when I went to see him, I could not recognized him. Then later, we
left, I went back to my same home, you know the LURD war we ran again, I was
there with my family. So we were there, and they came with their war, war one,
two and three. So they na do any thing to me and my family, until everything
was over then I went back home, I think that what happen during the war.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: Thank you very
much for coming to tell us all this. So we appreciate it and so we will ask you
some questions to provide the clarity to help us do our work, did any of your
relatives die during the war?
Primary witness: Yes, they
kill my father ion law, the man that gave my wife out to me.
What is his name?
Primary witness: Siakai
Keazulu.
You said they beheaded him in the
public?
Primary witness: Yes.
And who else?
Primary witness: My two
brothers who die, but from lack of medications.
What are they names?
Primary witness: Siafa and
Lasana Gibson.
Can you remember any names of the
soldiers?
Primary witness: Yes, only
hungry lion I can remember.
Do you know the names of the 4
men they kil?
Primary witness: No, they
were just passing through Bomi.
What did you experience with ULIMO?
Primary witness: when they
were together, I never experience any thing from them.
But who kill your Father in law?
Primary witness: That was
ULIMO J.
Commissioner Syllah: thank
you for coming to the TRC, the 4 men that you say they kill, where you there?
Primary witness: No.
What happen to you sister's son?
Primary witness: He die
too of lack of medicine.
Let go back to Manah Zeakay, and
the ULIMO J.
Primary witness: I never
said Manah Zeakay, but when ULIMO J caught us, they say, that Manah burn their
armor.
So while you were there, did you
see them eating human beings?
Primary witness: Actually,
to be frank, no. I only saw dead body that they cut his head.
Where is you brother?
Primary witness: I can't
tell.
You talk about the Congo
defense force?
Primary witness: The Congo
Defense force, were the people actually that help show us the road.
Besides that area, were they any
where else?
Primary witness: No, only
in poe river.
Commissioner Coleman:
thank you for coming, I want to know about your family, where are you parents?
Primary witness: They are
alive.
What about your children?
Primary witness: They are
al fine.
How many children do you have?
Primary witness: I have 5
children.
Are they all ok?
Primary witness: Yes.
Commissioner Konneh:
thanks for coming, you said when NPFL captured your town, what is the name of
your town?
Primary witness: Damah.
Who was their leader?
Primary witness: Hungry
lion.
What are some of things ULIMO did
to you?
Primary witness: I just
talk about the old man the cut his head that cross them.
You talked about the octopus,
what did you see?
Primary witness: I was in town and I saw
the rebels killing and bursting into home and taking people's properties.
Commissioner Bull: you
said that ULIMO J did bad and they ask you what did LURD do? The question is
not only for your family, but also the things that happen to the others. Can
you say what LURD to any one else?
Primary witness: No.
Was there no shooting, no,
harassments, and no killing?
Primary witness: No, I am
not saying they did not shoot, but I say ty didn't do any thing to me.
Commissioner Dolopei: Mr.
Gibson, I got ne questions, do you know any thing about Sando who use to dance
in your town?
Primary witness: No.
And the security man they kill, who
killed him?
Primary witness: That time
it was NPFL.
Where was he working?
Primary witness: Guthrie.
You talked about the man they
open his stomach, did they talk any thing from his stomach?
Primary witness: No.
Was he citizen of the town?
Primary witness: Yes, but
I don't know his name
Chairman: you talk about
One man One, did you have any experience with him?
Primary witness: No.
What made you to go to the
displace camp?
Primary witness: Because
they were fighting in the bush, ULIMO J and not Manah Zeakay.
But do you know if Manah is still
alive?
Primary witness: No, I
don't know.
Is there any thing, you want to
tell us?
Primary witness:
Everything that has happen, has happened, but if the government can help to
build schools for our children and help for good roads. And lastly for them to
help us build our houses because the war destroy all our houses.
Twelfth Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Zoe Gbaina
(Seventh Primary Witness of day two)
The Seventh 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: Welcome to the TRC. This is a process we are
engaged in to allow Liberians share their experience of the past war. Please
tell us your name.
Where are you living?
Primary witness: Gbaseme
What are you doing?
Primary witness: I am
farming
What is your age?
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