Category Archives: Charles Taylor

Gus Kouwenhoven on trial again – Dutch Supreme Court orders

Posted on 20 April 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Two years ago – on March 10, 2008 – I commented on the acquittal of Gus Kouwenhoven, also known as Guus van Kouwenhoven, a Dutch timber trader and business partner of Charles Taylor, accused of illegal arms trade for his … Continue reading →

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April 12, 1980 – 2010

Posted on 11 April 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I can’t help but think of April 12, 1980 when the anniversary of Samuel Doe’s bloody coup d’état approaches. I happened to be in Monrovia on that historic day, en route to Burkina Faso, then still called Upper Volta, where … Continue reading →

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Twenty Years Charles Taylor: 1989 – 2009

Posted on 6 October 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Today I was reading the daily and weekly summaries of the Trial of Charles Taylor site, that excellent initiative and project of the Open Society Justice Initiative. Again I was fascinated by what is happening a few miles from where … Continue reading →

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From the ‘rice riots’ to the Special Court for Sierra Leone

Posted on 13 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Thirty years ago the ‘rice riots’ were the beginning of the end of the Administration of President William Tolbert (1971 – 80). April 14, 1979 – ‘The day Monrovia stood still’, as described by the late Albert Porte, one of … Continue reading →

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Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 4)

Posted on 8 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 8) Three high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – Sierra Leone’s rebel movement which terrorized the population of the West African republic from 1991 to 2002 – were sentenced yesterday in Freetown for crimes against … Continue reading →

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Ellen: ‘I supported Taylor…’

Posted on 8 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 7) Though the SCSL’s mandate is clear and very distinct from the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), the two are often related in the case of Taylor’s activities. Three recent testimonies before the TRC are worth … Continue reading →

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Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 2)

Posted on 7 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 6) It was to be expected that the defence would like to have all charges against former Liberian President Charles Taylor dismissed. His counsel, Mr Morris Anyah, argued in a lenghty submission that took all day (yesterday) … Continue reading →

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The Special Court for Sierra Leone – Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 1)

Posted on 6 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

He was impeccably dressed, wearing a double-breasted suit, a blue-silver tie and shaded, gold-rimmed glasses, each hand decorated with a big golden ring. When former Liberian President Charles Taylor entered the court room at 9:25 A.M. this morning, he cordially … Continue reading →

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An end to impunity in Africa?

Posted on 26 May 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Charles Taylor is not the only former African head of state who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes and is being prosecuted. Today it was announced that Ethiopia’s Supreme Court has sentenced former Ethiopian ruler Mengistu – … Continue reading →

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Taylor ’s machine of death and the people behind him

Posted on 16 May 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I have been reading for the past six hours the proceedings of Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp’s examination of Charles Taylor’s former Vice-President, Moses Blah, and related websites. Moses Blah became President of Liberia after Taylor’s resignation following international pressure in … Continue reading →

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