I’m sure this question has been keeping you up at night: What has Charles Taylor said about the Lebanese in West Africa during his testimony at the Special Court for Sierra Leone?
Well not to worry. I’ve done a key word search of
trial transcripts from the first day he started testifying through Wednesday. Here are the the three most interesting references, along with some commentary:
- When Taylor was 13 he got a scholarship from a Lebanese-owned company called Rasamany Brothers Corporation to study at a Baptist school.
- Taylor spoke about a document the NPFL sent to the US State Department outlining the rebel group’s goals. While not explicitly mentioned in the document, Taylor interpreted the economic goals to include “encourag[ing] Liberians to get involved in the whole economic structure by doing some business.” (Sidenote: I always find the use of the word encourage in these contexts inaccurate. Liberians at that time didn’t need encouragement to start an electronics shop. They needed the government to get out of bed with the Lebanese and start issuing import permits to Liberians. They needed more capital to pay bribes to guys at the port, and small loans for more legitimate start-up expenses. They didn’t need encouragement.) Taylor also said: “It’s important for the Court to understand that Liberia is one of the curious countries where the commercial part of our economy was–I would almost say 85% held by foreign nationals; Lebanese, Indians and other nationals that you could hardly find a Liberian with one little storefront to sell dry goods and other things.” You know what I think is curious, Taylor? That when you guys finally got power in 1997 you helped to consolidate Lebanese monopolies.
- Taylor said his father was a judge in a case where Doe (pre-1980s) bought things from a Lebanese shop and paid with IOU notes. Doe took too long to pay, the Lebanese owner snatched some money from Doe, Doe got the money back, and took the owner to court. Taylor’s father told the owner to give Doe more time to pay for the items. When Doe learned that Taylor was the son of this judge, he immediately took a liking to him, Taylor said.
Posted in Uncategorized.
By Shelby
– July 24, 2009
Buy:Synthroid.Valtrex.100% Pure Okinawan Coral Calcium.Zyban.Mega Hoodia.Petcam (Metacam) Oral Suspension.Zovirax.Actos.Arimidex.Nexium.Prednisolone.Human Growth Hormone.Accutane.Lumigan.Retin-A.Prevacid….