Most articles in the international press about Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in Liberia have been simplistic and sensational. But this AP story in the New York Times is neither. The article is about Sekou Damate Conneh’s Wednesday testimony before the TRC. Conneh led Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, or LURD, the rebel group that closed in on Tayor in 2003 and repeatedly shelled Monrovia that year, killing thousands of civilians. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
Mr. Conneh contended [during his TRC testimony] that the shelling was the work of Mr. Taylor’s forces, even though Mr. Conneh’s rebels allowed themselves to be filmed as they assaulted the city.He made a brief opening statement before the commission, then said he was willing to answer questions. But he asked more questions of the commissioners than he answered.
“If a minister embezzles or carries out any act of corruption, would you hold the president liable? The president is not responsible for a minister’s mistake,” Mr. Conneh said when asked whether he was accountable for his men’s actions.
Mr. Conneh, who was a candidate in the 2005 presidential election, expressed surprise that “as a liberator you are questioning me, when you should be happy about my role.”
Talk about living in a different world. Come on Sekou. Even my Liberian security guards were laughing about Conneh’s testimony. Didn’t Wylie testify earlier that LURD sent Sekou to Italy so he would think or pretend to be a world leader. Dude…a monument is built for you each day when some locals defecate on the beaches of Sinkor.
Sekou Conneh should not be proud of what he did to us. There is no justification for killing innocent people. He needs to face TRC for the second time and say the real facts.