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The Second Day of the TRC Public Hearings Proceedings
held on Tuesday May 13th, 2008 at the Administrative
Building, Saniquellie City
Nimba 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.
Third Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public
Hearings in
Saniquellie, Nimba County
William
Yeapoe
(First Primary Witness of day two)
The First 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. She was
accompanied by an interpreter.
Chairman: good morning, we
want to thank you for coming to the TRC, and welcome to the TRC public
hearings, thanks for coming because your testimony will help the TRC to do
their work so that Liberia
will move forward. Besides that, when you appear, you speak, you are speaking
for millions of Liberians who are not able to speak, so thank you very much for
coming. We will ask you few questions for the sake of the record; can you
please call your name again?
Primary Witness: I am
William Yeapo
Can you tell us your date of
birth?
Primary Witness: I was
born 1954.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: Lapea
number 2.
Which district is that?
Primary Witness: Gbare
district.
What do you do for living?
Primary Witness: I am a
farmer
Primary Witness:
Presently, I can't think, so you should bear with me. 2002, I was asleep,
during the night hour of the morning, some one came and knock at my door, his
name is Richard Gaye. Who are you knocking at my door at this time; he said I
just want to see you. So I open the door, as soon as I came out, I saw two arm
men and they tie me. So when they were carrying me, I was hearing crying sound,
my family was crying and asking where are you carrying this man by this time of
the day? So he said one Philip Johnson sent for me, and the man was living in
the same Lapea with us, he was one of the big fighters for Charles Taylor. So
when I get there he said I was a witch craft. So I said I am not a witch , so
he said your son that die, you kill him, I said, my son that I born and train
him until he reach 8th grade, how will I kill him? My son got sick,
I took him to the hospital, and they treated him for 3 weeks and he did not
recover that how he pass away then you say I kill when my son? So he said if I
don't confess he will kill me, en he there the 3 body guards to tie me, then my
brother stood for me, he said, they should forgive me. So I told him, that they
are accusing me of killing my own son.
The third day, he collected some
of us that he said are the witch craft, and we started going, and he took the
AK rifle, and cross it on the road and said if any one follows him, he will
kill the person. So the people started to go back. So my children started going
back with tears. So he took us to a creek name Larh, and when we got there, he
say I should give him six feet, so I said you just want to kill me for nothing.
So he started shooting, I was just standing there, so after that they tie me, I
think you can see the mark on my hands. They lit the fire, they were drinking
the cane juice, and they started putting some all in my nose and part of my
body. They lighted the fire, put the cutlass in the fire, and when the cutlass
gets hot, they will put it on my parts of my body, so I was there for 2 days,
so I say I think it is better that you kill me, instead of the kind of
punishment you are giving to me. So when they left me, they heard the gun
sound, my wife and my children were all crying thinking they had kill me.
That's how I came out, and they brought me to the town, and the elders said
they should loosen me and let me rest, after they did that, they say since the
first punishment did not do any thing to us, they took the razorblade and
started cutting under my feet.
Then my family members said, what
you are going through, is more then killing, so why don't you admit so you can
be free. So I said I can't agree when I am not a witch. So they kept telling
me, so I say since you people insist that I should admit to the crime, I will
do it. And this Philip man does not eat hug, he eats only sheep, he will eat
the sheep in the morning and in the evening. So the elders put together and
said that you have suffered this man too much, so they ask the people to put
500 dollars from them. So that how I had to leave and go to Monrovia, and when I came back, then TRC came
and I said yes, I have a story. And at that time, my wife was a nursing mother,
when they took me they told her in bush, she faint, and even the child we had
passed away, so I even had to take my family to the Ivory Coast where we stay
for 3 months and we came back and later the TRC came and I told them that I
have a story. So that's all I have to say.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: we want to say
sorry for all you went through and tank you for coming to the TRC, that's why I
said earlier that when you come and speak, you are speaking for many others who
do not have the chance to speak today. So at this time, commissioners will ask
you some questions. Is Philip alive?
Primary Witness: Yes he is
alive.
Is he in the same town you live?
Primary Witness: No, he is
not there.
Was there war at the time?
Primary Witness: Yes,
something like that was going on in Monrovia.
Which group?
Primary Witness: It was
Charles Taylor group and he was his junior commander.
Was he in the NPFL from the
beginning?
Primary Witness: No, he
was just a student.
Did anything happen between you
and him and his family?
Primary Witness: No,
nothing happened.
Commissioner Konneh:
thanks for expressing what affected you during the war. Thank God that you
survived, had it not being for the Grace of God some of the bullets would have
hit you. Was Richard member of NPFL?
Primary Witness: He was a
quarter chief in the town, when Anthony entered the town they always met him as
chief.
From your personal observation,
you think that Richard Gowere did it under duress or he had something against
you?
Primary Witness: To be
fair, I was not present when Richard Gowere was sent or whether he was under
duress, I do not know.
After that, did Richard Gowere
showed to you that he was under duress?
Primary Witness: No, he
has not done that.
Is Richard still the Quarter
chief?
Primary Witness: No, he is
no more a quarter chief.
Was he removed because of the
incident or what?
Primary Witness: He was
not performing his quarter, that's why they remove him.
Where is Richard now?
Primary Witness: I heard
that he was in Buchanan, Grand
Bassa County.
Did he join the beginning of the
war, when actually did he join?
Primary Witness: When Taylor came to Gborplay,
there where Philip join NPFL.
Can you tell us what the mal
treatment caused you from that time?
Primary Witness:
Sometimes, I have eyes problems and I can not see clearly.
Since the whole thing finished,
have you visited any hospital?
Primary Witness: I only
used to buy drugs from the drug store to treat my self.
Did the burning leave any mark or
scar on your body?
Primary Witness: Yes, I
have severe scars on my body.
Can you give us the names of the
names of these who were also accused and what happen to them?
Primary Witness: Yes,
amount those who were mal treated, one of them is here presently, some have
die, but one is here. One is Don Gbai, and the other is a woman call Gonlon
Baryon, and the other one is David Mongou, and the other one is Anthony
Kordean.
Can you call the names of those
who died?
Primary Witness: The names
of those who die are Borwor Sammy and Quinah.
Those who die, do you think they
die from the torture or it was a natural death?
Primary Witness: Well, I
don't know how severe they were affected, but to my thinking, their deaths were
cause by it.
Were they young people?
Primary Witness: Amongst
them, I am older then one of them, but those who are dead, they are old.
Commissioner Bull: Mr.
Witness, thank you for coming by bringing up them issue of witch craft and that
we will be able to document, that people still think it exist. And you said
that you had to confess by force because of the way they treated you. Today
before, you can get off the stress, and we thank God you are alive. We are
sorry for what happen. And the purpose of the TRC is to bring the victims and
perpetrators as well to come and tell the story. And if he does not come
voluntarily, I hope the TRC will use its power to bring him before them.
Commissioner Coleman:
sorry for the suffering that you went through. Did your parents die during the
war, or before the war?
Primary Witness: My
parents are no more.
Was it before the war?
Primary Witness: My father
die before the war and my mother die a natural death.
What happen to your brothers and
sisters?
Primary Witness: When we
went into exile, two of my relations die there?
What happen to them?
Primary Witness: They took
sick and die.
What's about your wife?
Primary Witness: She is
still alive.
What about your children are they
ok?
Primary Witness: I told
you they are ok, but only one person died when my wife give birth.
Where were you from 1985 to 1990?
Primary Witness: I was in
my home, Lapea number 2.
Did anything happen to you by the
government troop?
Primary Witness: Nothing
happen to me, but some thing did happen but I don't want to talk about it.
Commissioner Dolopei:
thank you for coming to the TRC is Richard Guawere, is he still alive, where is
he?
Primary Witness: He is
alive and in his town.
The others that were arrested,
was he the one that took the people to them?
Primary Witness: The very
night I was arrested, we went to another place to get some one, and he led
Philip's body guards to our houses.
You said the elders came to beg
for your, since that time, have they call him to say sorry or anything?
Primary Witness: Nobody
has call him
And did you make any former
report?
Primary Witness: All of
the authorities were all aware and they did nothing.
Commissioner Steward:
sorry for the pains you went through. This Philip was he a member of the ATU?
Primary Witness: No, but
he was a very strong fighter for Taylor.
Was he wearing uniform?
Primary Witness: No, he
was not wearing uniform.
At that time, who was the
commander on ground?
Primary Witness: What I
know is that he will always come from Gbarnga with his body guard and do as he
did to us and go back, he was not stationed in the town.
Besides the things he did to you,
did he treat other people in the town bad?
Primary Witness: Philip,
before he join the fighting force he use to be a good boy, but when he join, he
became so fearful and every body was afraid of him.
Did he kill anybody?
Primary Witness: I can not
say that because where he was assigned I was not there, but what he did to us
is what I am saying.
Has he been back to the town?
Primary Witness: Since the
incident, he had visited but he moved from the town.
Does he have any relatives there?
Primary Witness: Yes, his
mother and sisters are all in the town.
Have they said any thing to you?
Primary Witness: No, they
have not said any thing to me.
So there is a problem between
Philips family and yours?
Primary Witness: As for
me, when I see Philip, I can speak to him, and when I see his father I will
speak to him and we had a play name.
If you should see Philip what
will you do?
Primary Witness: I am
looking up to you, but I will tell him just as I have said to you today.
Commissioner Syllah: thank
you for coming and sorry for all you had to go through. After the way Philip
treated you, burn you and cut under your feet with blade have you been to the
hospital?
Primary Witness: No, but I
use to buy penicillin and take it.
Is there any effect?
Primary Witness: No, I
thank God I did not get cripple.
What is the name of the child
that die and his sex?
Primary Witness: His name
was Family and he was a boy.
And what was his age?
Primary Witness: I don't k
now, but he was not a year old at the time he did it.
Were the people of Philip's
family aware, were they present?
Primary Witness: Yes, they
were all there.
Chairman: Besides this
Philip Johnson was there any other NPFL troop that operated in that area?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Did you join or affiliate your
self with them?
Primary Witness: Because
of the size of my family, I did not join them.
Meaning that since 1990 to 2001,
you were in exile?
Primary Witness: I use to
come to see what was happening, and some things my friends will try to convince
me but I did not find pleasure in it.
Are you an herbalist?
Primary Witness: Yes, for
some local herbals.
How many other persons were accused?
Primary Witness: We were
many, even reach 10 to 15.
Thank you very much, before you
leave, do you have any thing to tell the TRC, like your last word?
Primary Witness: I want to
thank the TRC so far, Lapea where I came from, I am the town chief. I pray and
request that we are many and there is no school, so we want the government to
help us, and the road is bad, and there is no drinking water.
How many houses are there?
Primary Witness: I don't know the amount of houses but there
are about 2000 human beings there.
What kind of schools are you
talking about?
Primary Witness: We need
an Elementary school.
Fourth Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Saniquellie, Nimba County
Martha Wosehyarlo
(Second Primary Witness of day two)
The Second 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: Welcome to the TRC, thanks for coming voluntarily
to share your testimony with the Liberian people; whatever you will tell us
here today, it will help the TRC and the Government find solutions to the problems
we are faced with. Feel free to talk the truth and nothing but the truth.
Please repeat your name.
Primary Witness: My name is Martha Wosehyarlo
What is your age?
Primary Witness: I am 60 years old.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in Lapea #2, Gbehlay-Geh
District.
What do you do for living?
Primary Witness: I am a farmer.
Primary Witness: From 1990 to 2002, these were the
things that I experienced; on July 4, 2002 on a Friday night, Roland Duo and
his men came in our town and he took 7 of our children to Lofa County.
In 2003, bullet hit my son on his hand in Lofa and they carried him to Monrovia for treatment.
After the war subsided, my son came back in Lapea#2. In all, 5 of the children
returned and we have not seen or heard about 2 of the children Roland Duo
carried to Lofa.
I got so discouraged that I went
to Monrovia
with my son but his hand has got crippled and that has given me pressure. The
father of my son left in the war; and I am taking care of all the children and
nobody to help me; this is why when I heard about the TRC, I decided to come.
Thanks for coming; we are pleased
to hear your testimony. The Commissioners will ask you some questions.
Questions from the
Commissioners:
Chairman: How many
children Roland Duo took from you?
Primary Witness: I had only one among the children
that he carried and the bullet hit him.
How many children in all he took?
Primary Witness: They took the children from all
different directions.
So you know about only 3?
Primary Witness: Yes, only three I know about.
What is the name of your son?
Primary Witness: His name is Oldpa Daytuah.
When was he born?
Primary Witness: He was born in 1984.
When they adopted him?
Primary Witness: He was adopted in 2002.
How they were adopted, were they
forced or they asked you're the parents?
Primary Witness: They brought car and carried it on
the football field and put music on and when the children went there, they got
in the car and then took them to Lofa
County. On Saturday
morning, people came and told me that they had taken my son and other children
to Lofa County.
What message was given on the
sound system?
Primary Witness: I was not on the field to get the
message and so I do not know what happened before they took the children to Lofa County.
Your son brought himself back in
your town or it was somebody that that carried him?
Primary Witness: When he got injured, they took him
to Monrovia but
he came in our home alone.
Commissioner Syllah: Sorry for all that happened to you. Please
tell us what happened in 1990.
Primary Witness: We the war started, we all went to
Ivory Coast.
What is the name of your husband?
Primary Witness: His name is Philip Daytuah.
What happened to him; he just
disappeared?
Primary Witness: When the war entered, people were
running in different directions and we went different way and he went another
side, and from that time, I ready do not know where he is.
How many children you and your
husband have?
Primary Witness: We have five children.
What are the names of the
children?
Primary Witness: Old-Pa Daytuah, Papay Daytuah,
Tarkpor Daytuah, Perzlanpo Daytuah, Mamie Daytuah and Lerloewoah Daytuah.
Is Old-Pa the oldest?
Primary Witness: No, Mamie is the oldest followed
by Old-Pa.
Since your husband disappeared,
how are you and the children surviving?
Primary Witness: I can struggle to take care of the
children and sometimes, some family members can help me.
Are some of the children in
school?
Primary Witness: Yes, two are now in school and
staying with different people.
Commissioner Washington: What Old-Pa say happened to him when he came?
Primary Witness: He said that it was Roland Duo
that carried them to Lofa
County.
Did he tell you the main place
Roland Duo carried them?
Primary Witness: Yes, he said they took them to
Foya in Lofa County.
Did he tell you the name of their
training commanders?
Primary Witness: He said they did not train them
but they just gave them guns to fight.
Your son told you names of other
people in the government troop besides Roland Duo?
Primary Witness: Yes, he called one Peanut Butter.
Did he tell you how he was hit by
the bullet?
Primary Witness: He cannot agreed to tell me the
actual story as to how the bullet hit him but he will only say bullet hit him
on his hand.
Did he tell you they were
treated?
Primary Witness: He said that they used to feed
them with food.
He told you that they took them
else where besides Lofa
County?
Primary Witness: He said they were used to be taken
from village to village in Lofa.
How long they stayed in Lofa?
Primary Witness: They went in 2002 and in 2003 we
heard that bullet hit him.
Did he tell you who took him to
the hospital and who paid for the treatment?
Primary Witness: Yes, he said it was Roland Duo
that paid the hospital bills.
Which hospital he got the
treatment?
Primary Witness: He said
he was taken to the JFK hospital and later to the Mansion.
Please tell us how he is
crippling?
Primary Witness: His arm,
so he cannot do anything with the arm.
Commissioner Stewart: What
you son say when he came back; did he say that Roland Duo forced them or they
just wanted to join?
Primary Witness: He has not told me whether he was
forced or not; he only said that when the car came, they got in it and they
took them to Lofa.
Was he a fighter before?
Primary Witness: No.
Was he in school?
Primary Witness: Yes, they
were all in school.
Was he in school up to the time
they took them to Lofa?
Primary Witness: No, he
was just waiting for his tuition.
Did he participate in the DDRR
Program?
Primary Witness: No, he
did not go through it.
What's about the other children?
Primary Witness: The other boys are back in Lapea
and going to school.
What is the distance from Lapea
#2 to Kahnplay?
Primary Witness: It is a long distance but people
can walk.
Where were you when the 1990 war
entered Kahnplay?
Primary Witness: I was in Lapea #1.
The fighting reached in Lapea?
Primary Witness: Yes, it came and went through to
Customs.
Anyone was killed in your town
when the war got there?
Primary Witness: Yes,
someone was killed in Lapea #1.
Who killed the person, was it AFL
soldiers or NPFL rebels?
Primary Witness: People
told me that it was the AFL soldiers, when they got in town; they met some elderly
people who could not run away so they killed them.
Where were you at the time?
Primary Witness: I was in the bushes; it was men
who came from there told me the news.
Where was your husband?
Primary Witness: As I said, we were all in the
bushes.
What's about your children?
Primary Witness: They were all with me in the
bushes.
Commissioner Dolopei: What are the names of the other 4 boys?
Primary Witness: Zlanyakunwon Gbardeh, Markarloe
Gbeh, Gbardeh Kaph; these were the only ones I could remember.
Which one of your son's hands the
bullet hit?
Primary Witness: On the right hand.
How is he crippled?
Primary Witness: The bullet passed through his
right hand and affected it and he cannot hold cutlass to work for himself.
You say your husband is missing?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Commissioner Coleman: From 1985 to 1990, did you hear anything
about war?
Primary Witness: I was in the Ivory Coast with my sister and was not in Liberia
at the time.
From Taylor time, what you know that you can tell
us?
Primary Witness: In 1989, I was here and when we
heard that war had entered, we ran in the bushes.
Anyone died from you during the
war?
Primary Witness: Yes, but in Lofa county.
In what year?
Primary Witness: In 2002, he was in the diamond
camp in Lofa.
They took children from your town
during the 1990 war?
Primary Witness: I cannot
tell because I took all my children and we went in the bushes.
They burnt any houses or you saw
any dead bodies in your town when you returned?
Primary Witness: They
burnt some houses in the town but I did not se any dead body.
Did the 2000 war reach Nimba County?
Primary Witness: We were
in the bushes and so I cannot tell whether the war reach in Nimba.
Commissioner Bull: The
information you gave is very important for our work; thanks for coming to the
TRC to tell your story.
Commissioner Konneh: Your
testimony is confirming what happened in this war and not just in Nimba County.
What can you tell us about his mental ability, is he suffering from any mental
problems?
Primary Witness: Since he came, he is behaving
well, only his hand problem I am faced with now.
Where is your son now?
Primary Witness: In living with me in Lapea #2.
You brought him here?
Primary Witness: No.
You think he will be willing to
come here and testify?
Primary Witness: Yes, I think he will be able to
come.
Your son could be the best person
to answer the questions that we are asking you, but if we give you car, can you
bring here to testify?
Primary Witness: Yes, he is able to come.
In which war your husband
disappeared, was it the first, second or third war?
Primary Witness: It happened during the middle of
the war.
Have you contacted the Red Cross?
Primary Witness: Yes, I and his families had made
several contacts over and again but we have not heard from him or seen him.
Are you prepared to make announcement
to your husband that you are looking for him?
Primary Witness: Yes,
Philip Daytuah, I am Martha Wosehyarloe your wife, wherever you are, me and
your children are here in Layea #2 and so please come back home, we are missing
you and want to see you. Thanks very much.
Chairman: Thanks for coming to talk to us. Please tell
us when your son was born, the month and year.
Primary Witness: He was born on March 3 1984.
Do you remember the month he was
recruited?
Primary Witness: Yes, he was recruited in July
2002.
Now that you have completed your
testimony, is there anything else on your mind that you want to share with us
before you leave?
Primary Witness: Yes, this is what I have to say; I
am facing serious problems with the children, I am struggling to have them in
school; so, I am kindly asking your for assistance to sent my children to
school.
The other boys who went to Lofa
with Old-Pa, were they older than him?
Primary Witness: Yes, some
of them, Old-Pa was older was older than them and some were older than Old-Pa.
How old are the children?
Primary Witness: Mamie was
born in 1974 and I am in the 4th grade, Tarkpor was in 1975 and in
the 5th grade, Lerlowoah was born 2002 and Alice was born 2006.
Is there any school in your town?
Primary Witness: Yes,
there is a government elementary school there.
Fifth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public
Hearings in
Saniquellie, Nimba County
Wilson F. Z Sokpah Jr.
(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: Welcome and
thanks for coming, we are happy that you come because this is what we are doing
all over Liberia; we are
doing this so that we will not have war in Liberia again. Please tell us your
name.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in
Ganta City
What do you do for a living?
Primary Witness: I am an
instructor and a business man
When were you born?
Primary Witness: July 6th,
1964
Primary Witness: We will
start from December 1989, at the time I was a teacher and during the time of
the crises beginning we were in the bush and when I came I heard of the
incursion and on the 31 I decided to spend the new year in Nimba and my uncle
told me not to come and I adhered to this.
When I came to Ganta the whole
town was deserted and I asked a bar tender and he told me that is was as a
result of the incursion and three soldiers came and asked me what I was doing
there and I told them I came to buy something and they told me to offer them
which I did. When I came outside I saw some other who arrested me and the other
one told them to leave me. While going I was arrested again and I told them I
was sent by Action Jackson and they release me. when I was going I was arrested
by the barracks and they asked me for my tribe and I said I was a Bassa and
some body from there told me that he knew me from Ganta and someone there said
it is not all of them that are rebels. So I left and went and one man told me I
was blessed because others did not survive, they were killed.
I left and went to Monrovia and
spent some time in the barracks and I heard that the Nimbanian were been
tortured and I had to leave and came to Nimba and here there was also tension
and people were been recruited and I was recruited in the NPFL and our first
mission was to go to Kakata and we attacked and in two days time we were able
to succeed and we continued and on the second of July we reach to Monrovia during
the time of the peace accord. Then later I went to Monrovia
and I was given a scholarship to attend the Zion colleague and later attended LU where I
was and in April I came back to Nimba because of the tension in the town.
When we came here we open a
school and in 1998 I went in the palm wine shop and one army man slapped me
which offended me and I wanted to slap him and they stop me and so I went to
Monrovia and collected me document and joined the army again and later we were
sent to Ganta where we fought for 12 weeks and the war was not easy there,
because things were not fine. At the time people were complaining against the
soldiers that they were harassing the people so I went to the chief of staff
and told him and we started to find a strategy to stop this. So we decided to
go and find a way of feeding them so that they can stop and I went and told the
chiefs to feed them and we brought food from Monrovia but this again could not stop the
problem.
As such I had to go in the field
myself and while I was going I went to Gbarnga and I meat the chief there and
while I was going he sent Tamba and instead of asking me he came and hit a
single barrel on me and my boys could not allow me to use my arms and they
attacked us and took our arms and me and my six boys were caught us and they
beat us and put us in provision for execution. While we were there they said
they were only going to execute me and leave my boys and I said I had non
problem and then one of my boys went to Gbarnga and told them what was going on
and so they sent a rescue team and that was how I was rescue.
When they rescue me they
investigated and those guys told them I wanted to attack them that was why they
did it and so I had decided to leave that. Later LURD came and enter Duo and
attacked and burned some areas and our boys were there looting so I had to go there
and arrest them. So that is why I am here to explain because people are saying
that we the commanders are the ones who killed and destroyed but it is not the
truth. There are some people who did these things. There are people like Lion
and Tamba who were harassing and doing bad to people but they are pointing
fingers at us. I pause for a while.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner Syllah: Did you target any
group?
Primary witness: No.
Is there any other name besides peanuts butter?
Primary witness: Adolphus Dolo
What's about your war name?
Primary witness: No, I don't have war
name.
You said by 93, you had not joined the war forces?
Primary witness: No, I went and came
back.
Do you know why April 6, war started?
Primary witness: I was in the class
room.
Who was the commander in the Arm forces?
Primary witness: Action Jackson
Where is he now?
Primary witness: I don't know.
Which group was general Lion part of?
Primary witness: Government troop
You said some people were arrested, were they LURD soldiers?
Primary witness: No, dissidence. Peter
Wonue, Runnie Bartue, Sam Guanue and Tamba
Primary witness: These were people
arrested with me.
Did you have any female with you?
Primary witness: I was assigned with
government troop.
You said you were with NPFL; you went to join but you came
back?
Primary witness: Yes, it was 1996 I went
to process my document.
What can you say as former general you did during that time?
Primary witness: Well, I fought in the
city; I went Ganta and put some disputes under control
Commissioner Washington: Can you give us
General Lion name?
Primary witness: I don't know
You mention that they kill JohnWenyean, where they kill
them?
Primary witness: TNC
Where did you see Sam Boker Mother's body?
Primary witness: On the foot ball field.
Do you know the ages of the children's body who saw with
Boker's mother body?
Primary witness: Well, 9th
and 12th years old.
What part of Monrovia
were you residing?
Primary witness: Red light.
April 6, you operated in Red light?
Primary witness: Yes, all the way to
ELWA.
Which area you directed, what was your target and if any
civilian die?
Primary witness: We lunch from Seth
Brother's area red light.
What year?
Primary witness: August - September
While lunching did you see civilian dying from bullets?
Primary witness: No.
For how long did you lunch?
Primary witness: It depends on the
fighting or fire support.
How long for that fire support?
Primary witness: Well, some times
20minutes or so.
So you are a class room teacher what do you tell your
students about violence?
Primary witness: I tell them that
violence is not the answer to any problem.
So if another war comes again, will you fight?
Primary witness: Well, Isaac Newton law
says, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Commissioner Stewart: Was there
Bokinafaso fighting with you during 1990 war?
Primary witness: Yes,
How many of them?
Primary witness: Well, I can't tell
Were they in special battle or company or unit?
Primary witness: No, they were not but
Special Forces.
What was the role of Kuku Dennis?
Primary witness: I was once in Ganta,
when they came to rage war in Guinea.
Can you explain that?
Primary witness: They wanted to go in Guinea and
fight war.
That was in 1990?
Primary witness: Yes.
He and who?
Primary witness: I remember Kuku Dennis
Were you member of the 15 group?
Primary witness: Yes.
Who were some survivals?
Primary witness: Sam Hill and not quit
five survivals
What was your mission?
Primary witness: ULIMO J came and I left
from NPFL
How was shuffling attack?
Primary witness: 2hours
Where?
Primary witness: Around SKD for Taylor to pass and go
Gbarnga.
How about child recruitment?
Primary witness: We saw them they came
to fight it was done at the recruitment base.
General Lion, what is his name?
Primary witness: I don't know
What do you know about civilian been kill at Kakata, or soul
clinic?
Primary witness: I was always at the
front line.
Did you enter the DDRR program?
Primary witness: Shuffling
Do you sometimes meet some of your former fighters?
Primary witness: Yes, but not pertaining
to war
Did you at any time serve under Rolland Duo?
Primary witness: No, I have never ever
How were you getting your arms and supplies?
Primary witness: Well, we were
government troop we were given arms by government.
Commissioner Dolopei: You started the
war, you ended the war and you said your reason was to protect your state?
Primary witness: Yes.
1990, at that time who were you protecting?
Primary witness: The rebel
Why do you think Sam Barker and others were killed by Lion?
Primary witness: Well, I think they were
power greaves.
So you think Lion wanted a job or?
Primary witness: Well, I think so.
Jackson Doe and Samuel Dokie, do you know why and what and
by whom they were killed?
Primary witness: I don't know I came
from the front line and I heard it.
Do you know why Dokie was killed?
Primary witness: No, I came from
Gbarnga.
Why you came out?
Primary witness: I don't want for people
to feel that I fought and start pointing finger at me in the community.
Now that the war is over and if you were attack what will
you do?
Primary witness: Report to authority
Commissioner Coleman: Could you give me
some example why you say that Nimba was targeted?
Primary witness: Yes,
during the Kuoyeakpa coupe in Yekepa Kidau was killed. November 12, when the
invention was announced at about 2:00 we heard the radio announcement that the
coupe has failed and they had already arrested and killed some people.
General Julu was he a part of AFL?
Primary witness: No, but a director
there in Yekepa.
Was there any other reason why you had the second thought to
retrieve your decisions?
Primary witness: After we entered Monrovia, things became
to change July 17, 1992.
You said some one slip you, who was that?
Primary witness: Christ Galazee
CNC, what does it mean?
Primary witness: Cesto Nimba
Cooperation.
Who was in charge?
Primary witness: It was not operating at
that time. It was been use as a base
Who is AB?
Primary witness: He used to be under
General Lion
During NPFL time, in terms of sexual abuse, looting and so
forth how did you deal with that?
Primary witness: Well, some times if you
did that you were putting into jail
Is it that they were not train or what?
Primary witness: Yes.
What could be your advice to us?
Primary witness: One thing
is to have good rapoo with our near by countries and also those who are
training the arm forces should include those who want to join and not to leave
some one who desire to join let them be mindful in recruiting.
Commissioner Konneh: How do you classify
your self perpetrator or what?
Primary witness: Victim.
So should we understand that everything you did in the war
was not offensive?
Primary witness: Yes, everything was
done in a military order.
You said by January 1990 -March 1990, the commander was not
treating you people fair and you met NPFL?
Primary witness: I came in March 17 and
join NPFL so I left because things were not okay and I went back Monrovia.
Are you excluding your self from bad things that was done
and not by you?
Primary witness: Yes, why because I was
on the front line.
Which group you fought for during April 6?
Primary witness:
Charles Taylor
Sixth Primary Witnesses of the TRC Public
Hearings in
Saniquellie, Nimba County
Matthew Mantoe
(Fourth Primary Witness of day two)
The Fourth 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 evening
sir, thanks for coming and welcome to the TRC. We are happy that you come for
us to establish a forum so that what that happen in the past should not
happened again. So for the sake of clarity we will ask you some questions
before you start. What is your name?
Primary Witness: My name
is Matthew Montoe.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live
Lapea number 2.
What do you do there?
Primary Witness: I am a
farmer.
What is your age?
Primary Witness: I can't
tell the exact age, but the president that was in the chair is President
Tubman. I was born when he became president and I grew up.
Primary Witness: Thank you
for coming, we were home in Lapea number 2, I can not remember the exact hour
but one man came and knocked at my door, and the man who knocked at my door was
Richard Guwere and I ask why are you knocking at my door at this time of the
night? He said you come outside, and my wife said I should come out to his
call, and I came out side. And they said Phillip Johnson sent us to cal you and
they had two arm men. And they had me in front of them and we started going.
When we got to Phillip he say I should confess that I am a witch craft. Phillip
said if I don't confess, he will burn me, so they started burning me with the
hot cutlass that was in the fire. So due to the torture and the punishment, I
confess wrongly. So he told us that when you confess, he will set you free. So
he took us to the slaughter house and I was compelled to pay more than 45 to 50
dollars a day. So I was compel to dance, he said, witch craft order us to come
and dance, he order his soldiers to out the cutlass under us. The heavy sore that
I suffered from was not easy. So he said we should walk to the creek, so we
started going, his father and my wife were crying, the crowd started to follow
us, and he said if any one follow us, he will kill the person. And when they
took us to the water we suffered at the creek and he left us in the arm of his
boys. So we were now living at the mercy of Philips anything he says, we had to
do it. So that's what I went and told my father. My father told me to go
through it and this is what they call being a man, for us to come from the
bush, that war, this Philip man, is our son, so if he does anything, we will
leave it between he and his God, that all I have to say.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: We say thank you
for coming and sorry for everything, because what he did is against the
Liberian law. The testimony has just given us some film fact to another witness
that just testified to the TRC relating to what happen. So we thank you for
coming. Do you know where is now?
Primary Witness: No, I
don't know where is now.
Do you know the other man?
Primary Witness: Yes, I
know him.
So the two of you went through
the same experience?
Primary Witness: Yes, we
were the ones.
Why do you think Philip had to
miss behave like that?
Primary Witness: I can not
tell whether it was an information given to Philip, but all I know is I came
from my farm I saw Philip and he did what he did to us.
Commissioner Konneh: we
want to express our sorrow for what happened to you. You being a farmer who
does not even know the time he was born, why should you be in such a thing as a
witch craft? Did Richard Guwere and Philip Johnson came from the same town?
Primary Witness: Yes, hey
were from the same town.
What's about the two arm men that
were with him?
Primary Witness: I don't
know where they came from, when they came I only saw them with arms at my
house.
Have you even been arrested as a
witch craft in your life?
Primary Witness: No, I
have never being caught for that.
Can you tell us what kind of
witch craft he was talking about, whether it was good witch had any witch craft
or what?
Primary Witness: There was
no specific reason, the only thing I know that night he accuse me of being a
witch craft.
Was there any confusion between
your family and his family?
Primary Witness: What
Philip did surprise every one of us because his father's head wife brought his
mother to the family and we have not had any problems before the war.
Since the ending of the war, has
the family tried to reconcile the differences?
Primary Witness: Once I
met Philip in the neighboring town and I heard he was mining gold and he call
me uncle and he asked me to give him 5 Dollars and I give it to him and I said
there are many days ahead of us. God who made us say we should forgive, that
was how I treated him.
Commissioner Dolopei:
thank you for coming today, I don't have a question, but I want to say thank
you for opening your heart to forgive Philip. God save your live so you will be
able to give Philip that 5 dollars.
Chairman: all of say sorry
for what happen to you. Your testimony had confirmed what the other man just
said here. And it also confirms that we Liberians are still ready to forgive
after all we have been through. Is there anything else you will like to say to
the TRC?
Primary Witness: Yes, what
I just explain, since the day of my torturing, I am not my self, at times; I
feel pains in my body so I need medical attention. Thank God for you people to
come others join me to tell the TRC, so that through you, the government can
help to build us a school in our town.
Seventh Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Saniquellie, Nimba County
Emmanuel Kordon
(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.
Co-Chair: Thanks very much for coming to the TRC. Please
call your name again for our record.
Primary Witness: My Name is Emmanuel Korden, Sr.
What is your age or when you were
born?
Primary Witness: I was born 1974 and I am 34 years
old.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in Lapea #1
What do you do for living?
Primary Witness: I am a farmer now.
What you were doing before?
Primary Witness: I was going to school and I am in
the 10th grade.
Please tell us your testimony.
Primary Witness: During the 1990 war, me and my
parents and brothers and sisters ran to the Ivory Coast. After few years, we
retuned home and in 1992, my brother came from Monrovia and he was a good footballer and his
football name was Zero - Zero.
One day when one Special Forces
called Brooks Gonkarnue who also a citizen of the town came and forcibly
recruited my brother to be his body guard. While in that process, one day, he
took him to the border and later we saw my brother been tied by Brooks on
grounds that he took people money. When he brought the boy to our town, some
elders went to him to ask him but he said he was not going to listen to anyone
except he does what he wants to do and he started beating the boy severely.
Everybody talked to Brooks but he refused to listen to them and he finally
fired my brother in the presence of my mother and my brother's wife and killed
him. Some of our uncles went there to apologize to him but he threatened to
kill them so they left and myself had to run away into the bush for safety.
After he got through killing my
brother, he said that no one should cry and if anyone cries, he was going to
kill them too; so the whole town was just very quite; my brother left behind
four children and from that time, his wife developed pressure and died later;
my grand mother was always in tears and before she could die, she asked me what
I could do for my brother? And I said I will leave it with God. Right now, I am
suffering with the four children, that is why I had to dropped from school.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner Syllah: Sorry
for the death of your brother. What is the name your brother that was killed?
Primary Witness: His name was Moses Zarwo Korden.
What is the name of your Grand
mother?
Primary Witness: his name was Serllon Korden.
What is the name of your
brother's wife?
Primary Witness: Her name was Marie Korden.
Brooks knew your family before
the war?
Primary Witness: Yes, we all are from the same town
and quarter but he was one of Charles Taylor's Special Forces Commandos.
Brooks carried other boys at the
time he took your brother?
Primary Witness: Yes, he carried several boys.
Where is Brooks family and had
they talked to you since the war ended?
Primary Witness: They are all in the same town with
us but they had never said anything to us.
Has his person said anything to
your family?
Primary Witness: No, up to now, he or his people
have said nothing to us.
What are names of your brother's
children?
Primary Witness: They are: Dopoe, Biaaye, Dokie and
Lekarway Korden.
Commissioner Washington: Where is Brooks now?
Primary Witness: He is in Monrovia.
What is he doing in Monrovia?
Primary Witness: He is there attending at a
university.
How do you feel when you see
Brooks?
Primary Witness: When he enters our town, I can
feel very bad, during the elections, he came to our town and I did not go
around him.
Has he made any attempt to talk
to you?
Primary Witness: No, his little brother is my best
friend and one time he took me to his house in Monrovia and he spoke to me and I answered,
that's all.
Where do Brooks live in Monrovia?
Primary Witness: At first, he was living around the
Duport Road
area but I think he has moved as his little brother told me.
If you had the opportunity to say
something to Brooks, what will you say to him?
Primary Witness: I will surely tell him that what
he did to me was wrong and there was a need to apologize.
Do you think you can reconcile
with Brooks?
Primary Witness: Yes, if possible.
Commissioner Stewart: In what year and month your brother was
killed?
Primary Witness: He was killed in 1992.
Was it during the Octopus time?
Primary Witness: During that time, the people were
still fighting war.
You took Brooks complain to
anyone?
Primary Witness: No, it was not easy he was one of
the Special Forces Commandos.
Where was you when he shut your
brother dead?
Primary Witness: I had to run into the bush for
safety but my mother and his wife were present at the time he shut him dead.
If you see Brooks, what will you
tell him?
Primary Witness: If he wants us to reconcile, we
will.
Commissioner Coleman: Do you know who Brooks reported to?
Primary Witness: He was a Special Forces Commandos
What made Brooks vexed to kill
your brother?
Primary Witness: He said my brother took money when
in fact he was the one who took the money according to some of his body guards.
Commissioner Konneh: Brooks had his own group?
Primary Witness: He was a Special Forces Commandos
with many body guards.
When he entered in your town, did
he give orders to soldiers?
Primary Witness: Yes.
When your brother was accused of
taking the money, was he given the chance to defend himself or there was group
set up to investigate him?
Primary Witness: No, when our people and other
elders went there, he threatened them to kill them so all of them left and he
did what he wanted to do.
Brooks called witnesses to
testify against your brother?
Primary Witness: No.
Where this incident took place?
Primary Witness: In our own town, Lapea #1.
How your brother was recruited?
Primary Witness: He was recruited by forced by this
Brooks, by brother was just a footballer.
Commissioner Dolopei: Since that time, you and Brooks parents are
okay?
Primary Witness: Yes, we do speak to each other.
Co-Chair: Now that you have completed your testimony and
we too have completed our questions, is there anything else on your mind that
you want to tell the TRC?
Primary Witness: Yes, thanks very much, thanks also
to the Counselors. I will be pleased to be where I am but I do not want to go
back home and our people say that why I did not take the matter to them but to
the TRC, this could cause problems for me; that's the only thing I am thinking
about.
Before you came here, our
Statement Takers came and met you; so you did not bring Brooks complaints here
but if any problems that may exists, you can please contact us.
Eighth Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Saniquellie, Nimba County
Layee Sedekee Konneh
(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: Welcome and thanks for coming, we are happy
that you come because this is what we are doing all over Liberia; we are doing this so that we will not
have war in Liberia
again. Please tell us your name.
What is your name again?
Primary Witness: Layee
Sedekee Konneh
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live at
Sarclapea
What do you do?
Primary Witness: I am a
business man
What is your age?
Primary Witness: I am 70
years old.
Primary Witness: I am
happy to see me and the TRC people to sit down one place. I was in Seclepei four
to five months when one day I was sitting on my piecier when I see paramount
chief Clan chief and Town chief, they were going around to one of my friends
they call Vafin Kromah, so I got up and I went there and I say what happen here
and they said no Vice president say we must come for him and this property we
must take it and gave it to his girlfriend brother, so myself I walk there, I
say the vice president make mistake, he can't take somebody property that was
there for many years and gave it to his girlfriend brother. I sent words to Vafin Kromah I say come and
he came. I send words to my uncle Kalifa Konneh and say election finish he
should come, home better then anywhere, then he his two woman and children they
all come. I tell Mamadee Jabateh to bring his bus here, that we own town nobody
should go anywhere, that one come.
We were in-town one girl started
chunking our house with rock around 12 so we got up and we catch three boys and
we bring them to the city mayor office I say the people who chunking rock to we
house that the people this, he said okay, he took them to the police
headquarters. Day brake he told the police I am going to Ganta your keep the
three boys if I come back I will ask them why they chunk the people house for.
But the mistake what the government do in this Nimba County
here, we get five tribes here then they take all the security and gave it to
only two tribes. Mandingo Krahn, Gbee they not get we time that only two tribes
they gave the security to them. So the city mayor go there and they told him
say no we release the people because no different tribe there, that Mano and
Gio do we bad and the Mano and Gio the security so they leave the people, city
mayor take the car and go to Gbarkoyeah the Senior Senator home which is a one
mile from Sarclapea to go there.
He said Senator what the people
are doing to the Mandingo people in the town is not good, they started chunking
rocks to their houses and they catch boys and they gave them to me I carry them
to the police headquarters and the people release them, so I beg you to come
in-town and advise the people and he said okay. Tomorrow Thursday if I reach
there I will stop and I will talk to the children them. The city Mayor came and
he tell we that one there. The man own brother come and he tell we that one
there and we say okay it is finish now the senator will come here tomorrow and
he will talk to them. On that day the
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