Concord Times (Freetown)
Bhoyy Jalloh
27 August 2008
Lead defence counsel said the Dutch security measure to put a chain round the waist of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, standing trial for war crimes in The Hague was particularly objectionable and obnoxious.
Courtney Griffiths argued in an interview with a BBC world service trust reporter at the Special Court sitting in The Netherlands that: "you can imagine coming from an African background with our history of slavery. What it must feel like to a black person to be led with a chain around his waist." He said his client considered the action as an affront to his humanity, adding that Taylor was willing to compromise on the other provision because he understood the security reasons of such a measure.
"But so far as the chain around his waist is concerned, he fails to understand - and neither do we as his legal counsel - why that should be felt necessary when he's escorted to court by a number of fully-armed Dutch security officers." However, Griffiths said they intend to take up this issue with the President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and provide written submissions in the hope that they would be able to resolve these matters with the Dutch authorities.
"And having been briefed by head of the court, their response was that there was no rational basis or justification for these measures being imposed against Mr. Taylor. So I was merely repeating a conclusion to which these Judges, who obviously know a thing or two about security considerations, had already said."
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"In the history of religion", it is believed that "when you do good, the good will follow you and when you the bad, the bad will follow you" - So if Charles Taylor could have think of this ealier, he could have not led the team of brutality, killing and committing human right abuses on the innocent civilians that are connected to anyhow of the past governments in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He tortured and killing. So, if he is been chained, what is wrong with that? Man must live and life must go on. Mr Taylor, enjoy your stay… [Read Full Text]
Rafil, don't say WE, because I, personally, with millions of other Liberians, don't give a damn what happens to Taylor. Taylor killed hundred of thousands of people in the most brutal and inhumane ways and violently catapulted Liberia back into the Stone Ages, so you have to give me more evidents of racism than chains around his neck in The Hague to prove your case. In fact, Charles Taylor a trial is too decent for him, he should have been trialed like he trialed thousands of Liberia: two questions at gun point and the answers having nothing to do with… [Read Full Text]
Have you met or communicated with "millions" of humans in the territory of Liberia. (I reassert my contention that Liberia IS NOT A NATION.)
Even if, in the STATISTICALLY unlikely event that you have, how do you know that they are not fibbing, and if you assert they ARE not, produce the evidentiary basis of your position.
Moreover, are you one of those who KNOW that there are 'races'? If so, then produce the evidence. And, please do not throw Webster at me, as is your HABITUS, BECAUSE THIS TIME, I'LL GO TO THE MAT WITH YOU, GIVEN… [Read Full Text]
Do you KNOW that there are 'races'? You must adopt on the ground of consistency, that theoretical conjecture, otherwise you would not hurl the charge of 'racism' at anyone.
Now, if you KNOW that there are 'races,' then produce the evidence that there are such phenomena among human beings?
I await your seasonable and well-argued response.
Jallohlaw, Sir, I don't have my own definition of race, once again, why reinvent the wheel? Why should I have my own definition of a race when there is generally accepted definition that I personally don't have any reason to refute? As far as me asking you what is YOUR definition of a country or nation are, I give up, I have given you enough time to give me those definitions to no avail. So, I've given up.
There you go again! Your rhetorical topos of "reinventing the wheel" has run out of steam. I suppose that for you everything has been 'invented.' Silly: we have here a rustic version of Fukuyama's irrational theory of the "end of history," and, before him, the dense and xenophobic student of Hegel, Karl Marx.
It is worth noting that in a public forum, such as allafrica.com, either you put up or shut up.
The substantive issue is 'race.' I asked you for a definition, and you riposte from the valley of naivete that the definition of race… [Read Full Text]
Well, here it goes, I'm completely satisfied with the definitions of all the words and ideas that I have encounter thus far in these web postings and I have no reason, are your ready for this, to reinvent the wheel. You on the other hand, are willing to contest all the words and phrases you come across. I guess that's what makes different. I agree that I'm the goat taken to a stream that refuses to drink. There is, however, one problem, what your have lead me to is not a free flowing stream, but a muddy puddle; forgive… [Read Full Text]
Mister, you voluntarily and understandingly call yourself a goat? Very well, a goat you are then.
Incredible: wonders abound even in the age of demytholization, the age of disenchantement, the age of cynicism boundless. Man becomes goat. That's simply enchanting, if not 'miraculous.'
Ueber 'miraculous' is the nauseating factum that this self-dehumanization surged on the worldwide web: wonders to the nth power. Man becomes goat.
Singularly revelatory, but true, is the sordid fact (for the goats) that no goat has the cognitive endowment of the least endowed human.
Stay with me awhile: wasn't this… [Read Full Text]
Sir, it's very interesting how simple concepts and ideas fail to find their marks on you. You compared me to a goat in your earlier posting and for the sake of arguement, I acquiesced and now you pretend as if I was the one who introduced that abuse; please don't tell me that your verbal arsenal is depleting!
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This is racism at work,unjustifiable treatment of a former president who voluntarily stepped down for peace to reign being racially humiliated like this is scornful and not surprising, judging by our knowledge of lack of humanity in these alien race that,s continually doing all they can to cast black people in bad light.These barbaric and hate filled set of people who are trying to make us (blacks) believe that this resentful behaviour will be accepted by us Africans,we will never accept it.Ironically,Charles taylor is not a bigger criminal than racist rhodesian smith,what was done to him? nothing,or is he… [Read Full Text]