[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 127 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 127


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 9, 2005

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Calling on the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to 
 transfer Charles Ghankay Taylor, former President of the Republic of 
  Liberia, to the Special Court for Sierra Leone to be tried for war 
   crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of 
                    international humanitarian law.

Whereas on January 16, 2002, as requested by United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1315 (2000), an agreement was signed by the Government of the 
        Republic of Sierra Leone and the United Nations to establish the Special 
        Court for Sierra Leone;
Whereas the Special Court for Sierra Leone was given the power to prosecute 
        persons who have committed and ``bear the greatest responsibility'' for 
        war crimes, crimes against humanity, other serious violations of 
        international humanitarian law, and certain crimes under Sierra Leonean 
        law committed within the territory of Sierra Leone during that country's 
        brutal civil war during the period after November 30, 1996;
Whereas on June 4, 2003, the Special Court for Sierra Leone unsealed an 
        indictment issued on March 3, 2003, against Charles Ghankay Taylor, 
        former President of the Republic of Liberia, charging him with seventeen 
        counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of 
        international humanitarian law relating to his role in directly 
        supporting and materially, logistically, and politically abetting the 
        rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and its actions, including its 
        notorious, widespread, and systematic attacks upon the civilian 
        population of Sierra Leone;
Whereas the indictment of Charles Taylor includes charges of terrorizing 
        civilians and subjecting civilians to collective punishment, mass 
        murder, sexual slavery and rape, abduction and hostage taking, severe 
        mutilation, including the cutting off of limbs and other physical 
        violence and inhumane acts, enslavement, forced labor, forced military 
        conscription, including forced conscription of children, theft, arson, 
        looting, and pillage, and widespread attacks upon the United Nations 
        Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and humanitarian workers by the 
        Revolutionary United Front combatants;
Whereas the Revolutionary United Front was notorious for brutally murdering and 
        torturing civilians, including the amputation of limbs with machetes, 
        and by carving ``RUF'' onto the bodies of thousands of victims, 
        including women and children;
Whereas the Revolutionary United Front made widespread use of abducted children 
        as laborers and soldiers and forced many of the abducted children to 
        perform severe human rights abuses, constituting a serious crime under 
        the jurisdiction of the Special Court for Sierra Leone;
Whereas on August 11, 2003, Charles Taylor departed Liberia for Calabar, 
        Nigeria, where he was granted asylum and, according to press reports, 
        agreed to end his involvement in Liberian politics;
Whereas in September 2003 the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 
        warned Taylor that it would ``not tolerate any breach of this condition 
        and others which forbid him from engaging in active communications with 
        anyone engaged in political, illegal or governmental activities in 
        Liberia'';
Whereas the United States, Nigeria, and other concerned nations have contributed 
        extensive political, human, military, financial, and material resources 
        toward the building of peace and stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone;
Whereas the Special Court for Sierra Leone has contributed to developing the 
        rule of law in Sierra Leone and is deserving of support;
Whereas on March 17, 2005, the United Nations Secretary-General reported to the 
        United Nations Security Council that Charles Taylor's ``former military 
        commanders and business associates, as well as members of his political 
        party, maintain regular contact with him and are planning to undermine 
        the peace process'' in Liberia;
Whereas David Crane, Chief Prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, 
        stated: ``Unless and until Charles Taylor is brought to justice, there 
        will be no peace. Charles Taylor is a big cloud hanging over Liberia. He 
        is still ruling the country from his house arrest in Calabar. His agents 
        remain influential in the country.'';
Whereas on March 22, 2005, Jacques Klein, the United Nations Special 
        Representative of the Secretary-General to Liberia, stated: ``Charles 
        Taylor is a psychopath and a killer . . . He's still very much involved 
        [in and is . . . ] intrusive in Liberian politics.''; and
Whereas Charles Taylor remains a serious present and continuing threat to 
        Liberian and West African subregional political stability, security, and 
        peace, and to United States interests in the region: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress urges the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 
to expeditiously transfer Charles Ghankay Taylor, former President of 
the Republic of Liberia, to the jurisdiction of the Special Court for 
Sierra Leone to undergo a fair and open trial for war crimes, crimes 
against humanity, and other serious violations of international 
humanitarian law.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 4, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.