[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 119, 109th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
CHARLES GHANKAY TAYLOR--
TRANSFER TO THE SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE
NOTE: May 10, 2005 -  [H.Con.Res.127]
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;


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119 STAT. 3660


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

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119 STAT. 3661

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.

Agreed to May 10, 2005.