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The Fourth Day of the TRC Public Hearings Proceedings
held on Thursday May 22nd, 2008 at the Administrative Building
Gbarnga City.
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.
Twenty-Fifth Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Gbarnga, Bong County
George
T. Kendima
(First Primary Witness of day four)
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 and welcome to the TRC; we want
to say thank you for coming; TRC was organized so that we all can express our
past experience as relates the past conflict so that we can find the solution.
Please tell us your name again.
Primary Witness: My name is George T. Kendima
What is your age or when you were
born?
Primary Witness: I was born on December 8, 1977.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in Bong Mines, Fuamah
District, Bong County.
What do you do for living?
Primary Witness: I am a farmer now.
Please tell us your testimony.
Primary Witness: My story goes like this, in 2001,
I was upper-turned to attend the BWI; I was doing both academy and technical
training; two of my friends joined me for us to o on a weekend to visit our
parents. While we were on our way to our parents, we did not know that the war
had become so rough and we came in contact with a general called Shavy and he
arrested us. General Shavy took us to his base and said that we should be train
since we were able men. When we got on the base, one of his fighters called Loose-Talk
took his knife and hurt me on my side because I was like resisting and telling
them that we were students and did not want to train; they finally took us
where they were training the other people. There were many people on the base
at the time.
After two days, they gave us arm
to guard the certain portion of the base; they carried my friends to the other
side of the base and I was assigned with him. My friends managed and ran away
but unfortunately for them, they met Loose Talk on the way and he brought them
back on the base. When they got back on the base, Loose Talk told General Shavy
that these two gays were running away; right away, General Shavy said that no
one can see his base and run away so he was going to set example on them. They
brought by friends right in our presence and executed them.
It did not take too long and
there was an attack in Bopolu and they sent us there to fight; when we got
there, I just went under the bush and lay down and they started fighting,
shooting for almost three hours and later we heard General Shavy calling that
we should the bush and come in town because he had captured the town. I saw the
other fighters going to town and I followed them. A day later, LURD came with
counter-attack and I managed to run in the bush and started escaping from
there; while I was going, I met three boys who were hiding in the bush; I went
to them and told them my story but they were afraid but one of them said that
they should show me the road to town. The four of us started going towards the
town and we did not even walked for one hour and we fell in General Shavy's arm
bush and we were arrested again and taken to town. When we got in town, General
shavy knew me and he sent me different side and they jail the boys. When I went
to go check for the boys the next day at the jail, one of the fighters guarding
the jail told me that they had killed the boys and I should and see their dead
bodies; when we went, I saw the bodies of the three men.
The next day, there was another
attack and we started going, I met the operation man and he caught me and said
that I was leaving behind so when I am captured, then I will show the enemies
where they are; while he was carrying me, I managed to escaped and went Bong
Mines and I left there until the war ended and the Peace Keepers came. When
disarmament started, one of my friends gave me rocket to go and disarm; when I
got on the line, General Shavy ordered his men to take me from the line and
that I was not a soldier, they took me from the line and took the arm from as
well. It did not take too long when I saw Shavy in a new pick-up and he said
that he was working in Firestone as Chief of Security; his fighting name is
General Shavy and his real name is Joseph Duo. So I want the TRC to bring this
man to justice, he caused some of us to be holding cutlass today.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Chairman: Since the war ended, have you been back on
campus?
Primary Witness: No, the Company is not
opened; I am just doing my farm work.
Commissioner Syllah: What are the names of the men that were
killed?
Primary Witness: They were: Makarvelee
David, Abdullai Kamara and I cannot remember the name of the other man.
Can you remember their age range?
Primary Witness: No, but I think we were
all in the same age range.
What is the name of the fighter that killed these men?
Primary Witness: It was General Shavy.
How these men were killed?
Primary Witness: They cut their throats
with knife.
Is Shavy still in Firestone?
Primary Witness: Yes.
Why general Shavy took you from the disarmament line when
you went to go disarm?
Primary Witness: I the time they forced
me to join them, I used to hide myself from him all the time, so I think that
was his reason.
What are some of the things you saw the fighters doing?
Primary Witness: I used to see them with
human parts with gambol seed around it and somebody will be carrying the pot on
their head before them when they are going to the battle front.
What grade were you in before the war?
Primary Witness: I was in the 11th
grade.
How the parents of the men killed got the news of their
death?
Primary Witness: I knew the parents and
so I told them the news and how they were killed.
Commissioner Stewart: Which year this thing happened to you?
Primary Witness: It was in the year
2001.
Was general Shavy an ATU personnel or a militia?
Primary Witness: He was an ATU personnel
and he at the time that it was the President that sent him to control the
militia around the area.
You heard about any Bandits Group?
Primary Witness: Yes, he organized that
group and they had the Solari group that used to have the human parts with them
at the battle front.
Do you remember name of anyone of their commanders?
Primary Witness: Yes, I used to head
about Dolo and Prince.
Who was in control of Kakata at the time?
Primary Witness: It was Cucu Dennis.
He used to visit the base?
Primary Witness: Yes, twice; he used to
bring food and other supplies at the base.
He knew about the killings by these fighters?
Primary Witness: Yes, I think he knew
because when you enter the area, you will see all the dead bodies and it will
be smelling; and each time he came, he never used to asked why these people
were killed and by whom.
What are some of the things he used to do when he comes on the
base?
Primary Witness: When he comes, he will
just call for formation and divide the supplies he brought, sometimes T-shirts
and other goods.
Who were the bodies that used to be around, was it
civilians?
Primary Witness: Most of them were
civilians.
What kind of gun they gave you at the base?
Primary Witness: They gave me LAR.
They trained you before sending to the battle front?
Primary Witness:
The only training I had was just to shot and how to put the
magazine in the gun and from there, they sent me on the front line.
What is the name of the area you went to disarm?
Primary Witness:
I went to Bong Mines.
Commissioner Coleman: Where was the base located?
Primary Witness: It was located at
Service Station way in the mine.
Which year they arrested you and your friends?
Primary Witness: In 2001.
Anyone of your family died during the war?
Primary Witness: No.
Commissioner Konneh: What is General Shavy's real name?
Primary Witness: His real name is Joseph
Duo and his fighting name is General Shavy.
What are the names of the other three men they killed and
you saw their bodies the next day at the jail?
Primary Witness: I did not know them, we
just met in the bush and they decided to help me to show me the road when I ran
away from general Shavy.
You say it was General Shavy that organized the Bandits?
Primary Witness: Yes.
How do you know?
Primary Witness: He used to give orders
to the fighters to do anything he wanted them to do.
Was he a member of an organization?
Primary Witness: I only heard say that
the only way his friends/enemy bullets will hit him except the person does not
have private parts; he made this remark when he killed my friends.
How many time Cucu Dennis visited the base?
Primary Witness: Plenty times, some
times he and General Varney used to come visit us.
You say Cucu Dennis was aware of all the killings the
fighters did?
Primary Witness: Yes, because when he
comes, he will not ask questions as to who killed those people.
How many times you witnessed General Shavy killed civilians?
Primary Witness: Plenty times; one time
some people came and told him that LURD was planning attack on his base and he
said that they were enemies and he killed them.
Have you come to the TRC to tell us what you did or to
report General Shavy?
Primary Witness: He is the one who
denied me the opportunity to go to school and also disarm; I would have
completed school by now.
Can you face General Shavy at the TRC anytime when he is
call?
Primary Witness: Yes, when he sees me,
he will know.
How many times you went on the battle front?
Primary Witness: I went to the battle
front two (2) times.
Did you at any time remember where you killed anyone at the
battle front?
Primary Witness: No, no, when the
fighters are firing I used to just go under the trees and lay down.
You say you did not kill anyone?
Primary Witness: No, to my oath, I did
not kill any one.
Commissioner Dolopei: What kind of human parts the fighters used to
have?
Primary Witness: The human heart, the
liver and sometimes I used to hear him say the only way your gun will hit him
except you do not have private parts.
You say them eating human being?
Primary Witness:
No.
Chairman: You were engaged in battle two times, what was
it you did there?
Primary Witness: When we went to the
battle front, I lay down under the tree and they fought for more than three
hours and I later just heard General Shavy saying come to town, I have captured
it, and we all went to town.
What kind of weapons they had?
Primary Witness: They had GMG, Rockets,
AK-47, and plenty others.
What kind of training they used to gave on the base?
Primary Witness: People used to die
under the other one they bad-wire, when you go under the bad wire, he general
shavy will be shooting over your head and when you get up, the bullet will kill
you and nothing will come from inside.
They buried the bodies of those killed?
Primary Witness: No, they just used to
throw the bodies in the hole the where the company left behind and the training
continues.
Women were on the base?
Primary Witness: Yes, women were the
main people who used execute orders very quickly.
You saw children on the base?
Primary Witness: Yes, I saw about four
(4) children.
Who was this Loose Talk?
Primary Witness: He was the main bad
man; he just used to killed people anytime.
What other names Loose-Talk had?
Primary Witness: Only the Loose-Talk
name I knew.
Can you please describe General Shavy?
Primary Witness: Yes, he was an ugly
small man, he used to plat his hair and he was light skinny in complexion.
Now that you have completed your testimony and we too have
exhausted our questions, is there anything else you want to say before you
leave?
Primary Witness: Yes, I took this time
to come from way Bong Mines; I really want to see Shavy brought to justice so
that he will know that there is law in this country. I thank you.
Twenty-Six Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Gbarnga, Bong County
James Kahakie
(Second Primary Witness of day four)
The Second Primary Witness of the
day was called to the stand and he was accompanied by the psychosocial officer
and the protections officer of the TRC. The Primary Witness was then sworn to
tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer.
Chairman:
Mr. Witness, good after noon and welcome. As we welcome you, I want to introduce you to
us the commissioners because you will be interacting with us in the next few
minutes as such I want you to know us.
What
is your name?
Primary
Witness: My name is James Kahkie
When
were you born?
Primary
Witness: I was born 1937.
Where
do you live?
Primary
Witness: I live in Handi, Fama District.
What
do you do for a living?
Primary
Witness: I am a farmer.
Primary
Witness: I thank God that I am here. TRC has sent for us to come and
express our feelings. After this war, some of us are suffering for what really
happen to us. Especially I sitting down here. Really the beginning of this war,
1990 I was living in Handi. First we heard news that war is coming, war is
coming. And we don't know the difference of war. One time we heard that war was
in Liberia.
We were doing our thing them. Until one time people were still fighting. But I
could not believe it that the war was reaching to us. So later on, I saw one
guy I think that was in June. He went to Bong mines he was the NPFL commander they
call him Kokah one Gio man. That the first time they attacked in Bong Mines, so
people went Handi and told us that the people have also captured Bong Mines. So
you people should not sit down here even they looking for Mandingo people, and
the Mandingo people were in our town, they all escaped and we stay. When the
people entered the town, because we were the elders that were living there,
they call us. When I went, they say here is our people here, here's our
stranger. Our saviors, they come to save us so we greet them. You know why?
When you scare you can do something. You have to do something, but I say the
people get gun. Then they come to redeem us? I don't know how they will redeem
us? They said, you should not feel bad, we will do something good for your.
They say your just show us where soldiers are living. We say, we don't know.
They said if your lie to us when we catch your we will kill your. That time
those soldiers had crossed St. Paul
River and gone to the
other side. We were not having soldiers here. So they said here are the
strangers. We took cola and give it to them and say okay we give ourselves to
your, we are one. Your must feel free nothing will happen to your and so we
were there.
That
time NPFL used to send rice. They carried rice they call all of us. They
divided the rice among the people. After few time, they were not receiving
rice, so later they call the citizens. And they said well, you people are here
and we came to fight for your, for the food business, your will be feeding us.
But they say who is the elder? They took me to be the chief elder among the
other group. I use to be receiving the food and I divide it. So I told the
people they agreed. So each time they use to come. Every week they collect rice
and the amount that they will receive from me, they give me receipt. So when
the rice was finishing, then they used to go in the bushes to collect things.
And the people use to complain saying they sent rice but the soldiers were
going and collecting there things. And I said to them what I should do when the
people have guns?
So
we stay on that and bear it until, almost two years. So later on we heard that
another war was coming, it was ULIMO, so it was not easy, each time people
coming and passing by us, crossing the rive, coming in town. So I say this war
is not easy, I told my wife, I did not want to stay, she said I should just
bear it. I said because when people come from far off coming and going, when
the people reach here, what will they do? Myself didn't take it to be any
thing. But when ULIMO entered, they went Handi to move NPFL. That's the time
they attack. It was not easy. All those soldiers that were there, they all run
away and went in the bush. When day break those of us who did not run away,
they collected us, and they told us if we knew where NPFL soldiers where, we
should let them know. We said we did not see any of them, and so we were with
them and they said they were not like NPFL soldiers but they were coming help.
So just how we were acting to NPFL, we starting to act the same to them. So
some one told me say, maybe the same devil that was here maybe that's the same
devil. I say let's just bear patience, we will see. So not knowing, NPFL has
gone to make another attempt to come and move them. That's the time you use to
hear about massacre. That's the same night they went and attack Handi. It was
not easy, but I was not in the town that night. I was to the other village,
Jahkpala, Handi. So they went there, where NPFL, ULIMO they fought that night,
it was not easy. We our self we went in the bush, we slept there day break, we
can't see NPFL, when they did that, they escaped. So we were there, two days,
they call us again and said, you people sent your children in the bush to set
for us? And we came to delivery your and you people don't want to concord with
us. That you people get the children here why you did not bring them? We say
but I did not know, that soldier to soldier. Then they started to damage us.
Each time, they come; they will start to beat people. So I went there and told
them say it was not so because, we don't know how you people can fight. When
one group leaves another group comes. And so when the other people come to
fight your, you want to blame us? So we were there until one day, because they
use to point at people. Because the people in Handi say that I get money, I get
houses there. So they people came they kill people but they did not burn my
house. So for that reason, my son was fighting with them, so that's why they
didn't burn my house. They burn other people houses. And I said no my children
did not join soldier. And one man was there and he said how about your foster
child? He said, you didn't have some body who you were raising here? I said
yes, one time my brother born his son in Bong Mines. At time I was working in
Bong Mines, he died but the child I took care off until he man for himself. He
is after his school. He said but that's the man we talking about. I said but
the man is not with me. They say any way, you are not responsible but why they
burn the other people house and they did not burn your own? We will kill you.
You will not enjoy your own house. That's the crime they put on me. I say, I
don't know anything about it. Infact, my children they are not soldiers, they
are here.
So
they tie me and put me in my own house and say if I don't pay the money until
7:00 o'clock, then they will kill me that evening. My wife them were crying, so
I told them say your don't cry. The commander in Bong Mines was call T, then
they went and explain it to T. and he say oh, your go and bring this man, and
they went and sent form me and they carry me to Bong Mines. At time I knew that
I was not going to live again. Because when that was the only commander when he
says this, it will happen. he call me
and ask me I say well, my children they
are not soldier, but the man who was a small boy here, that my brother's son,
but he's a man now for he self I don't even know where he is now, he's marry.
So he say for that reason, myself my ma advise me not to join soldier. The way
how I force myself, if I kill somebody, they can't go and kill my ma, if I am a
soldier, let me bear my own panty. So for that reason, we will not kill you. He
asked me what I get for him. I say well, I don't have anything and I don't know
if I will live? Well, he made a statement.
He said the one who make this, he give it to me. I think you can read
it. He told me say go back to Handi. If anybody touched you there, that person
you and him will die. And they give it to me we went then they free me. After
they free me, you know sometimes is good to do good. You know the children that
were there, I use to feed them with food. One boy said to me if you stay here,
they will put different crime on you, try and find your way in town. So that
same day, I came back to Bong Mines. When I came I was hiding my self, then I
told one man who was a soldier, I said Barwou, please help me to carry me in
town because people use to walk by land to get to Kakata. So I took my two sons
with one of my daughters. But the group was too much so I didn't take all of
them with me. I left some of the important ones because if I could move them,
they were going to hold them responsible.
So I carry the bigger ones.
We
walk from Bong Mines the whole night we got to Kakata in the morning 6:00. To
pass to Kalaymue way to get to Bong Mines is was not easy. So when we got
there, we still in Kakata two night no food. So I told the children say let's
try and find way in town. So one of friends told me say just go BWI, there
where you will find ECOMG soldiers they can bring truck they will help you. So
when we got there, I say your pleased carry me. They say okay, pay 300dallars.
They put my family and my self in the car, we went in town. When we went in
town, I pass and went straight to Lakarey Mission. When I was working with the
company, one security man was there he and myself were friendly, they call him
Allen, he was on Lakarey Mission I was there with him he carry me to Mr.
Benson. Mr. Benson carry me to his big house, nine rooms house because he his
self he was scary he was not living in his own house he told me to be there
with my family and mine the place no rant. I was there, and they give me place
to make cassava farm, potatoes farm, feeding my family. Even some of them are
there now, even one is there going to school, Philip Kahaie. So after the war
cease my wife went for me and say James come there is no more war the people
are free they are not hampering people. I told her that they say another war
coming again; they couldn't believe it so I went back. Two years times again we
heard that the war was coming back, which they call dissident war. So I became
to say that oh, if I knew I couldn't come. So I say that?s the same thing, the
people will give me hard time. So we were there again war came I was not able
to escape. So I was with them. We saw another group from Monrovia, we saw ATU they were the one in
control. They went there and say they will take care of us; they will give us
every thing that we want so we must not be afraid of them. I was in one room
they took the other apartment. Not knowing they making another plan for me. So
somebody went and told them say this man get money, he get three women. So they
took the woman from me and all I had and so I was not afraid again. They went
to my village which they call Woekoma, I bought two steel mill after the
company pay me off, I carried there I was doing my business. So they went and
took that mill and brought it to Handi. The man who was living there that was
one Dennis living there.
Questions
from the Commissioners:
Chairman:
You say what Dennis was doing?
Primary
Witness: Kuku Dennis, they are the one who were with the people. He
was living there?
Where?
Primary
Witness: Farma. They get a little town there, there were he had his
own the soldiers.
So I went and
put this report before him and say the people brought all my things here. My
mill they went and looted all from there and brought it, so I told them to give
me it and they didn't bring it back. He said what was the mill? I said the mill
was across. He said okay, the mill was across suppose now dissident could come
and take it, what you were going to do? I said but that's the reason why God make
it to be on your side, because you promise that you will save us. He did not
talk anything. Not known he himself already promise to carry that mill, so he
told the people to go for it. So they brought the mill. Everything they put it
in the car, they went and burn my house, they took the zinc out right before
me, and they say I should buy the zinc I say no, I don't get money. My wife
told me say when you buy it they will take the money and you will lost both
side. So I didn't do anything, they carry it. So that's one of the major things
that hurt me. They tied me of course, but God bless me they didn't beat me, but
all my properties. Right now I am in Handi I am doing farming work again. The
children are going to school no money, the only thing they are cleaver, they
finish high school they want to go college, but small one there I don't know
where he's getting money from, but he putting himself in college, sometimes he
can call for money I don't have. Again this Handi, this ULIMO war, they
destroyed our people for nothing and I don't know the reason. One man they call
combat Gayah, he was the commander there, Mandingo people went there they were
fisher man every time they use to kill the fish, one time they went and lay
their net, so Gayah use to come, he will say the fish is small. So the next
day, when he go there, he himself will go and check that net, so when he went,
the people say don't go there the net is not good, he was dress in uniform so
he got in the canoe they went and took all the net with the fish. While coming,
they went under the water, he left there. So the people say we who are living
in Handi, we are witchcraft we are the cause of it. Then they sent soldiers
from Bong Mines, they went that evening, twelve of our family they tie them and
kill them. And they sent for another people across because their believe was
that they are the one that live under water. Town chiefs upon, town chiefs they
were going to kill more then hundred.
Later on one
fellow they call him Amos I am forgetting his name. So they sent for him and
say they people are killing our people here. So he went there and ask a
question say why your killing this amount of people here for one person
business? They put stop to it that's the only way the other people could
survived. That's the ending of my story. But I can't explain what all went on
but they destroyed. I myself sitting down nothing to do now, I am a victim. I
work with Bong Mines for ten years, no job and I want my children to go to
school.
Questions
from the Commissioners:
Chairman:
The main one that caught your heart is what you have explained?
Primary
Witness: Yes, my mill is gone.
Your mill was
taken away, three-thousand dollars was taken away from you too?
Primary
Witness: Say twelve thousand dollars. I got some over sea and I got
some from free zone. That was two mills almost to twelve thousand.
That's twelve
values?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
What about
cash, they took cash from you?
Primary
Witness: Yes,
How much?
Primary
Witness: 6000LD. Because they say if I don't give that money they
will kill me.
So it was
6000LD taken from you?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
You presented a
paper, what is that paper?
Primary
Witness: It was clearance from S-2 commander.
So it is a
paper to say that you were free?
Primary
Witness: Yes, to be free. That was the day I was going to die.
Because it was the reason I did not stay there. If I was going to stay there,
they were going to put another crime on me because, they say that my son went
and brought war back to them. So all that destruction they made he was the
cause. Because they didn't burn my own the house but they burn houses there.
And my son self he was not there at time. Since then, I have not seen him.
Since then, you
have not seen your son?
Primary
Witness: No, I have not seen him; I don't know weather he survived.
Thank you very
for coming to express your self. That's the reason why we have organized this
TRC, so that people can come and say what is inside people heart. And so we say
the war is over, we get peace, we know
the concern of every citizens and government know what to do, the Liberia
people know what to do, to make sure that we don't have conflict coming into
our country again. And we say sorry for your son and any other relatives that
die during the war.
Commissioner
Konneh: Can you tell me when you started experiencing all these
things what you have just explained during the war?
Primary
Witness: From 1990 up to dissident war.
How many
warring factions went to your area?
Primary
Witness: NPFL, ULIMO, and ATU they are the one that took my last
thing. The dissident I didn't see them. They were across and we were on this
side.
Who you call
dissident?
Primary
Witness: I don't know. But they just use to call them dissident.
What was your
experience with NPFL?
Primary
Witness: On my side, it was not good.
They did don't
any thing in that area?
Primary
Witness: They didn't beat me only my property I told you and my
Money, they took money from me. I was the leader for them as elder. Anything we
get for them I use to divide it and they never harm me. After the attack, they were not there again.
Then ULIMO took over.
What
NPFL did in your area there?
Primary
Witness: They destroyed. The massacre that took place there they are
the one.
What they
destroyed?
Primary
Witness: They killed lot of people there
Civilians or?
Primary
Witness: Yes, civilians.
Did they loot
any thing from you people?
Primary
Witness: No, they didn't take my mill.
Did they
recruit any young people from your area?
Primary
Witness: Plenty they are the one who cause of it.
They said your
son was among them?
Primary
Witness: No, not my son now, but some body who I rear. My brother's
son, he was among them, but that time I did not know, they just say he join
them.
He joined which
group?
Primary
Witness: He joined NPFL
unknown to me. I use to advise them, but he is the only one that joined. S And
since that time I have not seen him I don't know weather he's alive.
Who was the
commandeering officer of ULIMO J that you know?
Primary
Witness: ULIMO J that Johnson.
ULIMO J was
Johnson, ULIMO K was Kromah. Which one visited your area?
Primary
Witness: Both of them went there.
As for ULIMO J, I saw the man himself he went and spoke to us.
You know who
was the commander of ULIMO J?
Primary
Witness: But that's what I telling you, Amos Sayea.
What about
ULIMO K?
Primary
Witness: ULIMO K that Johnson.
You said, NPFL,
ULIMO J,ULIMO K visited your area, among the three groups, which of group that
real did the civilian killing, looting and ect?
Primary
Witness: Most people brought complain .Because some times when the
people bring the complaint to me, when I want to judge it they say I speaking
for the people. So Edward said let every body speak for their self. And for
that reason, sometimes when they bring some matter, we will not judge it
according to the people's satisfaction. They use to say you wrong this person.
One time they went there, this same Johnson asked me what we were doing for the
people. Well, I told them say we feeding the people. They go on the farms and
the people seed rice that there, they will take it from the people. Then I said
you should advise them. Then they say oh that food business you talking here,
so it was hard on me. So some of that matter that they used to bring here I use
to be scare to judge. So when you carried your matter, I say I am not in power.
They use to go all on people's farm taking things that they not suppose to
take. ULIMO, NPFL and also ATU they use to do it. That the last one gave us
hard time.
Commission
Coleman: What is the name of your town, what district or county that
these incidents happen, particularly at the beginning of 1990, where were you
living and what happen?
Primary
Witness: I was in Handi, Fama district, Bong County.
There you were
a chief or you were a spokes man, what was your title at time?
Primary
Witness: I was there as elder, that was my mother's village.
So you were the
head?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
During the
period 1990, before ULIMO came there was NPFL right?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
Were they the
one (NPFL) that took your steel Mill?
Primary
Witness: No, I say the last people.
So when they
came there 1990, before ULIMO, what did they do to you and your people, did
they do any thing bad, or they just introduce themselves?
Primary
Witness: NPFL did not do bad thing from the beginning to me they
were alright, until ULIMO went that's why I brought this paper.
So your problem
started when ULIMO came?
What year was
that?
Primary
Witness: 1994
1994, when
ULIMO came, you know who was the chief of the head for the ULIMO group that
came to your town Handi?
Primary
Witness: ULIMO head name was Johnson that the only man name we used
to heard.
You saw him, he
himself, he went to your town?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
So when he came
to your town, what they did do there, they did fight with NPFL to move them
out, or what happen when they first came? Because you said, NPFL was there
before, so for them to come it must have been a struggle?
Primary
Witness: Yes, they were there. We were all living together first
when NPLF was living there, later on before ULIMO came to move them out. That's
the time now we started having problem. After ULIMO captured the place, NPFL
went out.
So you said
that your son had join NPFL?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
You said some
thing about when they burn the houses in the town; they didn't burn your house
because your son was there?
Primary
Witness: Yes, they say that my son went and told the people that
they should not burn my house, that's was the story they brought to me.
That was before
ULIMO came when they did the burning of the houses or that was after the ULIMO
when the war came?
Primary
Witness: When the people entered to attack, that was NPFL that's
what I telling you until ULIMO attack them until they went away. They wanted to
come take over again that same night that was the time now they fought and they
burn houses, they killed lot of people. I don't know which one, NPFL kill or
ULIMO kill, but when day break now, we couldn't see NPFL people they all escape
they took some people from there again and carry them out but we are they one
who stayed again with ULIMO and they are the one who said that we put our
children in the bush to kill them.
Which one was
the one that actually took all the things from you ULIMO or the NPFL group?
Primary
Witness: No. it was not NPFL. No, my Mill was there they didn't
carry it
And also did
they bother any of your family people. They did rape any of the women in your
family or your group during the time the ULIMO or the NPFL came there?
Primary
Witness: No.
Besides your
son, who joined the NPFL, did any body else in your family got hurt, kill, or
abuse from this whole war experience?
Primary
Witness: No.
We move up now
to the 95 time up to ULIMO period where we had suffering, where the houses were
burn and the Mill was taken. What time was that?
Primary
Witness: That's just the same time they went for the mill.
What year?
Primary
Witness: 2007
Who was that
new group, you know the group they call LURD?
You know the
LURD group?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
You know any
commander in that group that came to the town?
Primary
Witness: No, because they didn't cross. They were over the water.
So the
government forces that came to protect your town that was the ATU group?
Primary
Witness: Yes, they are the one that say they coming protect us, they
are the same group that carry our things them.
So they were
the one that did that bad thing to you, the steel mill, they took the cash.
They did do any bad thing to your family at that time?
Primary
Witness: No, only my property they took.
So they were only
concern about the money and the mill they didn't come and raped any of the
women, they didn't hurt any body nothing like that?
Primary
Witness: No. well on my side it didn't happen.
Commissioner
Dolopei: You explained this story about the soldiers who went on the
canoe to go and fishing, your warned him and he refused and went and the canoe
felt and he died. Which group was that, was it the ATU? They came in the town
and kill people including twelve of your people, can you please give me the
names of the twelve people who died if you can remember
Primary
Witness: Yes, I can remember some; My uncle Kutuma Barclay Acting
Clan chief, Golay, Yah Dumah the general town chief, Zoe, my mother in-law, Duralow
Commissioner
Stewart: You mentioned Kuku Dennis, what Kuku Dennis do to you?
Primary
Witness: After the people took the mill from me, he was in
controller on that side.
What side was
he controlling?
Primary
Witness: From Handi, I say he had his base right in Kpan town. From
Handi you come to his base. He was ruling the people there he and Varney, Taylor sent them there. So
they were controlling everything there. So I carry the complaint to him and say
the soldiers people took my mill.
The Varney what
is his full name?
Primary Witness: I don't
know. We didn't ask them, we were scared of them. But that's his name Varney
and Kuku Dennis.
And what
happen?
Primary
Witness: So when they took the mill I brought the report to him and
say chief please let the people give me that mill they took. That's my mill.
And he asked me and say suppose that was dissent that took your mill; were
going to get it from them? I told him I say well, that's what God say I should
be on your side so you can help me. He didn't talk.
And the mill
was been taken?
Primary
Witness: Yes, until now.
Do you believe
that he sent for the mill?
Primary
Witness: Yes, because they didn't give me hard time. I knew he's the
one who sent for it. That morning he sent message to Gakpalea, that every body that there they should come
and cut grass not known he had already make a plan to go for it that mill so
when the people came, they brush the whole and they say they should not to go home and so some of them escape.
When they went they grab them and put every one of them in jail, so that they
will not move. Soon in the morning, they return every body across just to go
bring that mill. So he cause of it.
In St. Paul River?
Primary
Witness: Not far from the island.
Your mill was
on Duplu Island?
Primary
Witness: Behind Duplu
Island, when you cross
the water, every thing we do we cross the water. In farming, we cross the
water.
So that in
Gbarpolu?
Primary
Witness: Weather that Gbarpolu I don't know. That's Bong Mines That
the same Bong County, my village, Landma, Laybanma, the boundary behind there.
So the people
who were in town that taken these things the report to Kuku Dennis, Kuku Dennis
was in charge, he was in control of all of them?
Primary
Witness: Yes. All the soldiers that were there he was in control of
them, but he was not living across on this side, he was in Handi.
And then you
carry the report to him?
Primary
Witness: Because the people
went, they sent people there to bring it on this side. Bong County
is behind the water.
During the time
they took your mill, any fighting went on in that area?
Primary
Witness: No.
The rebel ever
came there at the time?
Primary
Witness: You know when the people captured Bong Mines, we that live
across they will go and get us and bring us across so. Which means the place is
free. They don't like to live back there because they say the water is there.
Any thing, they are on this side, because we the Bong County people we there
every times, because we get our things there, sometimes when we want go for
food in the night, they can put soldiers behind your to go and bring food.
Themselves they can go and collect food from there. Some times then which means
they will want stop us, so that we will not go and bring our own food maybe so
they will go and bring every thing. So that's what they use to do.
Chairman:
Your mill that was taken, you saw them putting it in any particular
car, to take it away?
Primary
Witness: The people had their own car. I am telling you some thing,
if the people take something from you, they don't want you to even be around
them and they don't want you to see what they are doing. So when they catch you
now, some times they will just kill you because they don't want you to explain
any thing.
So you get to
hid yourself?
Primary
Witness: Yes, but my people that were there told me. Even one hand
pump was there that day; they put it in the car.
In NPFL car?
Primary
Witness: No, ATU. NPFL didn't carry my mill; ULIMO didn't carry it,
but ATU
Your Nephew who
you real as your son, can you tell us his name?
Primary
Witness: We just used to call him Joseph Kahaie, but his other name
is Gbanah his Kpelleh.
What was his
age at the time he went and join?
Primary
Witness: He was born in Bong Mines, 1970.
I did not hear
you say any thing about your wife or children what happen to them during that
time?
Primary
Witness: That one I don't blame any body some times. Because being
that I was not having nothing again, to feed the women, some of them can love
to soldier men them all that one there. We all were in the same town, I know
them. So myself I just cut off from all that one there. Some times when they
there, they look frown on me, and people tell me say be careful and there was
no way to come back in Monrovia
again.
They use to
force people to take their wives away from them?
Primary
Witness: Yes, they carry. So after the war, my one went back and
apology and say that's not any thing, being that we been together no way, we
have twelve children.
By your other
wife, or you and all of your wives had Twelve children, twelve children in all?
Primary
Witness: Yes, twelve
All the
children survive the war?
Primary
Witness: Yes, one die but it
because the little boy mother was
inside the house after they attack Handi, he
didn't even tell his mother that the people are here, he took the baby
and run away. He took the baby and carried the baby way to Belemue way when we
came to get the baby, whole year, we can't get the baby, and we can't get him.
So the baby died from him. That's the only one that died from me. He didn't
come
Who was he, was
that one of your sons?
Primary Witness:
Yes, that's one of my sons and we were looking for him and the baby. So the
baby died. The boy is in Monrovia
now.
Your big son is
in Monrovia
now?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
So the baby
that die what's the baby's name?
Primary
Witness: They call him Nykollie Kahaie.
How old was
Nykollie at the time?
Primary
Witness: She was not even correct one year.
So which of the
factions took your wife?
Primary
Witness: That this same ATU. They were loving to them I can't say
they take her. She was loving to them so myself I cut off. The thing what hurt
me, they took her. But she came and apology. I move it from in my heart, but
that's not too much, I can think about it.
So that's all
your wives they took?
Primary
Witness: Not all, but some of them, two love to soldier man so I
left. I leave that one there. I didn't hamper myself because, certain time to
get food to eat myself it was hard, so why should I disturb my self for woman
business.
So the
other one is still with you?
Primary
Witness: Yes, one came back and the other one they are in town with
the children
So two
went with the soldiers and one came back?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
That's
the one stay with you now?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
Thank
you very much. You said that's ATU who did it?
Primary
Witness: Yes, ATU hurt my feelings more.
All
the people that were killed, especially when NPFL back pass the ULIMO J and
came to the town, you can tell us the number of people you think that were
killed In Handi?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
Primary
Witness: Oh no, they too much. Because that's Monday night, the people use to come because
they went to us you know, they went to check that night it was just good some of us didn't out that
kind of way, so they were in the house. So when the people came, they
collected every one of them. So that why make it they kill lot of people.
That's
was more then fifteen persons?
Primary
Witness: Yes, more then fifteen persons
More
then hundred?
Primary
Witness: I didn't count it but it can be more then hundred. So the
dead bodies they buried it, the balance they put it in the hole.
So
your buried until your were tire burying?
Primary
Witness: Yes. Then all the other bodies, we put it in the sub pit
tank
So
that how many graves your dig?
Primary
Witness: I don't know.
Primary
Witness: I have not been there, some graves right to the compound.
The other one they use to double them, that the massacres now that happen then
they bury them in the grave.
So the
ones your put in the sub pit tank, it full the sub pit tank?
Primary
Witness: I don't know but they put more people in side. Only more
bones were there but they took it away and they repaint the compound.
But
some body told your that it was two hundred and fifty persons they put in the
graves, one church building was destroyed; can you remember the church
building?
Primary
Witness: I don't know the church building name.
Thank
you very much Mr. Kahaie, you have told us every that was in your heart, or
that some thing else still there you want tell us before you go?
Primary
Witness: Only advice. I just
want to advice. The advice mostly going to the war, the war is over. But the
youth, we just talk about this war, war, war here. The war just last in Liberia
here because of the youth. The young people they don't think too much, all this
arm thing that we talking about, when
they get money , the person will go
and look at you because he does not
want to do any physical work to get
money, he will say this pappy get money, this pappy get this, now then all
these things that happening is only our own children they are the one who make
it the people can't go across St. Paul River they don't know where I hide my
mill, but our own people them, the youth
mostly involve. So my advice to them is, today we are talking this but it left
with them is not us again. If they go with this advice, sometimes, Liberia will
build. But you get malice for your friend because you get money, and if I can
work you don't get it, the man get food, the man get this, that's what make us
suffering today. Because they use to do
it. That my advice to them. So that's just my advice it has happen now, right
now I can't get my mill, I can't get any thing. Those that we are boring them
now they the one will face the problem.
So you
say, during the war, because of money, because of different, different things.
You said the youth was fighting the war with different culture?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
So
your advise now is the youth should find some thing to do, physical work that
they can do to earned them money so that they will put their hands in war
business again?
Primary
Witness: Yes. Right now, our own children now they can't help you to
brush farm. They are not able.
They
want money?
Primary
Witness: Yes. They want money from you, Pappy not doing that, pappy
not doing this. You get to sell before you get some thing. They use to the war
now taking people things by force some of them, they don't want learn.
Some of them are doing arm rubbery now?
Primary
Witness: Well, we can see some of them. Some of them when they grab
them you can see them. Mostly it's going to the youth.
Most
of the young people they are garbing them now?
Primary
Witness: Yes.
That
advice is not only coming to the youth or to us here but to the whole country.
So all of us get to put hands together and find way to make sure the youth
go to school and find something to do
because, if we don't do it, it becomes a threat to us because by their stealing
and arm rubbery. Thank you very much we hear your advice, and with this advice,
I am very, very sure it will be included in the final advice from the TRC to
the government. Thank you very much, and please have our sympathy again for the
death of your nephew and your son, and for all the terrible experiences you
went through in Handi. Thank you for coming to the TRC. I hope after here your
heart will lad down small becaus3 all those things, were heavy on your heart.
Primary
Witness: Yes, I was doing my work. Yesterday I was going in the bush
when the people looking for me to come. I was going to set my ambush and I left
from there, just for me to come and do this.
Ambush
for the meat?
Primary
Witness: Yes, I don't like to eat bad food. When you come in Handi,
look for me you will see my house, I not in hiding when you ask for Kahaie you
will see me. Some times I can be on the farm so you will not see me but I there
90 days.
Okay
thank you, I see you smiling, you laughing now, all of us we happy now that you
come, you talk to us, everything okay. Thank you very much Mr.Kahaie.
Primary
Witness: And you, thank you.
Twenty-Seven Primary Witnesses of the TRC
Public Hearings in
Gbarnga, Bong County
Omasco Keller
(Third Primary Witness of day four)
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 to the
TRC. We thank you for coming to make your contribution to our section of
looking for healing and national reconciliation tour country. By giving your
testimony from your perspective, people will know what happen and then we can
reconcile. So we say you are welcome. Before we start, Can you kindly repeat
your name?
Primary Witness: My name
is Omasco Dahn Keller.
What is your date of Birth?
Primary Witness: I was
born October 18th 1967.
Where do you live?
Primary Witness: I live in
Handy in the Fuamah District.
What do you do?
Primary Witness: I am a
farmer.
Primary Witness: Firstly,
I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity. My story is about the war,
my experience, had to do with the capture of ULIMO in Bong County.
Then, some kind of attack from the NPFL and I lost some of my friends. I will
like to inform you that all my life I spent my time in Fuamah District, I was
born in Bong Mines, went to school there. I was there when NPFL enter June the
6th 1990. We were taken from classes; we saw some of the killing
activities, by then it was Mandingos and Krahn they were killing. Because of
that, we could not stand it we ran away and went across the St Paul River
where we live for one week and another NPFL troop attack, so we decided to come
back to the town. We said there was no need running from them when they were
already ahead of us so we came back and then in the same June the 28th
1990, when Prince Y. Johnson enter into Bong Mines where he stay with us for
one week and later he left. When he left it took two weeks before NPFL forces
came back to town. While there, peaceful civilians were being accused of giving
seat to Prince Johnson, we were the ones that were giving information to them;
innocent civilians' lives began to be trouble. They became to persuade the
people, so from that time on peaceful man could not live in Bong Mines anymore
myself had to leave; I went back to the district headquarters where I live now
Handy. From 1990, to the days we began hearing about ULIMO attacking from the
Mano River Congo, and they began to advance on NPFL until they reach the
headquarters of the former Bopolu district where we call now Gbarpolu County.
There they live for some months,
later they decided to move on NPFL in Bong County
that is in Handy. On the 8th of December 1992, while I was sitting
on my porch, ever since my mother born me, I have not seen the moon light
shinning like that. The moon was shinning that if you see me from afar, and you
know me, you will recognized me. So when I was there that night, when I saw 2
men running from NPFL defense gate, but we the civilians never knew what was
happening. And they pass and went to the direction where NPFL had their
headquarters and this check point, their commander was one 18 year old boy, he
was from Bassa, they use to call him one colonel Soka. When they went, after 15
minutes, we saw up to 18 heavily arm men matching towards the direction those
arm men were going.
And so, when they got close to
us, I heard general Sankor order his boys to arrest all civilian men in the
house where I was living in. and I got arrested my and one of my cousin call
Abraham B. Truhau and other civilian men that was there with me. So we walk to
him, you know, Sankor use to be a friend when he was there. So I thought it was
a joke, then I ask him chief what happened? Then in fact, he kicked me and said
get the hell in front of me lets go. So it's like he was using us as human
shield to know the unfolding uprising in the area after getting the information
from the two men that brought the news. So he put us in front of him to this
direction. The former Bong Mining Company Director had an Airstrip in the area
there, where we crossed. We approached the district football field there; we
got to one of the strategic gates there, which was guarded by some RUF soldiers
who left Sierra Leone
to trap ULIMO. There when we reach there, they halted us. I remember ULIMO and
NPFL had a command password word: NPFL had the simply one that said ?Advance to
be recognized', the commander that was using us as shield told us to respond,
yes it is friendly forces. And so they permitted us to passed, and when we
passed, by then I think we all know that Liberia was not destroyed up to
standard. The straight road was there, you could see another person coming. By
then we saw three other arm men running coming from that direction but they
were not in shirt, they were wet with one gun. This commander Sankor halted
them. And they yield to his commander, he told them to dropped their arms and
they did, He commander me to walk and take the arm and give it to him, which I
did.
When I brought the arm, we all gather,
and he began to ask, these 3 men began to explain, and they said that they
received heavily armed men at the post which they had been minding, that the
two men that we controlling the two 60 calibers had been killed. So his fear
came into us, we as civilians but we had no means to escape because we were
already in their hands. He took two guns, two of the rifle AK 47 and gave it to
two of the Sankor soldiers and they told us to go. In fact commander them that
any attempt from us to escape, we should be killed, Taylor knows about what was happening. He
told him, carry them, I am here I will be making connection for more man power
and if there is any thing, I will let you know. And we started going. While
walking, ULIMO had already captured the crossing point and had come deep in to
where we were walking. There is an old car, right to the intersection where the
former Bong Mining Company had their hydro; there is a road from the power
house crossing where ULIMO had their men sitting there.
When they heard us talking, the
jump down and took their hiding positions in the bush until we reach to them.
When we got there, we passed. We enter the kola bush, Mr. Milton's kola bush
because of the shade you could not see any thing, even if some one was very
close to you. There we began to hear the heavy sound of men walking. So the two
men that had the guns, said halt. So he said, advance to be recognized, ULIMO
had the word, ?Who you', when they said it, they knew that was NPFL, so they
open suppressive fire and luckily for us, the 2 Sankor soldiers that were with
us died. And we jump in the bush. We travel some 30 to 35 minutes, day broke,
that how we heard that they have captured Bong Mines and there was heavy
launching there. Before the day could
clear we heard a car coming with jubilation saying that Bong Mines had fallen.
And that how, when you hear that Bong mines fall. Up to 8:30 that morning,
ULIMO had deployed all of their people in the bushes to get out all the
civilians to come for registration. By
then ULIMO was led by one general Goso. He was the general for them. But he got
kill in Kakata.
When we got to Handy, we were
taken to Bong Mines for save heaven as they said; where we lived until the 1st
of January 1993. NPFL launch it first counterpart attack. And ULIMO was able to
repair this attack, and later on they made their own military laws to the
district headquarter Handy where we had to live with one Combat Zaryea. When we
got in handy, really thing were very fine, but we were always invited in a
meeting, with the words that while we are in Handy any attempt from the NPFL
people, they will massacre we the kpelleh people, because the kpelleh people
were in support of NPFL so we should continue advising our brothers so that
there will not be any attack. Well, we
were always praying that there should be no attack from the NPFL while there.
So we stayed there until the 11th of February 1993. Before the 11th
of February there was a fisher man who came from Mali to fish because over
there in Handy there was the St. Paul River and he use to fishing and bring, it
to Combat Zaryea for the soldiers to eat. So on the 11th of
February, I don't know what stimulated him; actually, he decided to follow this
man to the River bank. While I was there I observe Zaryea had one jump suit; it
was on that day that he took out the jump suit, until that day. So he went that
day on a canoe, he did not see the Fullah man so he took the canoe and went on
the water. And according to the Fullah man, since we came over there, he has
not kill fish like that. So he went behind them and took the fish and brought
them. But before this day, one Lutheran Evangelist call Oldman Vangbare, and he
establish friend ship from combat Zaryea, he use to give him fish when ever he
gets fish for the soldier's food and give it to him. But on this day, he
brought $12 and gave it to combat and said he wanted fish. Then he said Oldman,
you my Oldman, take the money and I will give you the fish you want. So this
day when he went not knowing any thing about water; because of the weight of
the fish in the canoe, he got drown and died in the water 10: 00 clock that
morning. That where the problem started. That morning, the old man call Oldman
Gbelley, said, let all the able body men gather at the river side to find his
body.
So that morning we went to the
water side and luckily for us we found the body. So one other man was there,
his name is Negar papai, who was a Krahn fe
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