MONROVIA—At the appeal hearing on Thursday for Gibril Massaquoi, commander of the Sierra Leone Revolutionary United Front, (RUF) who was tried on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the first civil war in Liberia, all the prosecution witnesses from Lofa County, Liberia. the north-western region provided a shocking testimony, stating that he and his soldiers killed the citizens of a town called Kamatahum.
At the heart of the trial, the prosecution’s witness told the Tampere District Court, which acquitted Massaquoi because the prosecution did not prove the charge “beyond a doubt” that he set fire to the house and burned people, including men, women, and children. life, or directed his soldiers to do so – allegations were also corroborated by witnesses on Thursday.
“I cannot forget the name of Gabriel Massaquoi until I die,” said “Civil 43.” “Because he ruined my whole life. His group came to our town. They arrested and killed my mother and father, then put a long rope and tied their hands.”
He said that that day in Kiatahum (where they were captured and taken to Kamatahum), Mr. Massaquoi and his troops lined up in a circle, with Mr. Massaquoi introducing himself in a fierce tone. Civilian 43 said that since that day, his name has been stuck in his head, especially because of what he allegedly did to his parents when he was a child.
Civilian 43 said that Mr. Massaquoi also mentioned his famous name.
“He said ‘I am Gibril Massaquoi, I am next to God.’
Like Civilian 43, many prosecution witnesses claimed Mr. Massaquoi revealed his name before he could kill a civilian or his friends or order the killing. The name has become an important part of the title of the appeal.
They say that it is almost impossible for anyone to survive while giving orders.
Most of the victims were innocent civilians who committed no crimes, he said.
Mr. Massaquoi, who denies the charges has followed the hearing from the district court by video link. He moved there in 2008 as part of an asylum agreement with AND then he supported the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he was a “protected witness” in the war crimes trial of Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia. The testimony was key to the convictions of Mr Taylor and other former RUF commanders.
But Civitas Maxima, a Swiss-based justice organization working with the Global Justice and Research Project, a Liberian partner, provided the Finnish Attorney General’s office with what it claimed was evidence of alleged crimes in Liberia.
They accused him of breaking the “safe house rules” of the special court and coming to Liberia to commit the crimes, including rape and aggravated murder, charges he was acquitted of.
“RUF soldiers used to hunt us,” said “Civilian 36.” “He climbed a palm tree and wherever he saw smoke, he would come and arrest everyone.”
“Civil 50,” corroborating the testimony of the previous witnesses.
He broke down in tears as he spoke about his wartime experience to the three-judge panel.
“Every time you call us here to come and say something like, you have a sore (wound),” said Civil 50. “And people take a stick and push into that pain.”
He claimed that when he and other villagers were taken prisoner to Kamatahum by Mr. Massaquoi’s soldiers, he was the only one who survived the massacre because he knew that he could read and write, so he took him out of the ranks to be among them. secretary.
“One by one, all those arrested from Kiatahum were put in the house. Likewise, I am not among those who were burned in that house.”
READ ALSO: Witness tells court Massaquoi removed baby from pregnant woman’s stomach
Civilian 50 claims he watched the house burn. The screams of the prisoners were loud, but they were all burned to death, he told the court.
He claimed that it was at Katamahum that he met Massaquoi for the first time.
On 13 April 2001, Civilian 50 said he was going to bury his son when Mr Taylor’s fighters mixed with RUF rebels attacked his village and captured him, killing dozens of civilians in Kamatahum.
As Thursday’s proceedings ended, defense attorneys became more difficult about Civil 50 because they claimed to be able to list the people who were allegedly killed in the massacre of the Kamatahum house by Massaquoi and his soldiers when he did not do so when he testified against the district. court.
But in defense of the witnesses, Matias Loneen, one of the prosecutors told Frontpage Africa/New Narratives that hearing the witnesses a second time gave a clearer picture of the alleged account of the war situation.
“I can say that we found a situation that was probably clearer than the last time because we were able to answer the questions correctly,” said Lonnen.
The trial continues on Friday.
This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West African Justice Reporting Project.
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