President Sirleaf is named in particular for having sent US$10,000 to support the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPF-L) early in that 1989~96 rebellion against the hated regime of then-President Samuel K. Doe. The leader of the NPF-L was Charles Taylor, who went on to lead a campaign of terror and atrocity that eventually did defeat the Doe regime. In victory, Charles Taylor was then installed as President after an entirely corrupt election in 1997, and went on to spread terror and disorder to neighboring countries for his own political and financial gain.
Sirleaf, Africa's first democratically elected female leader, said the money she sent while an expatriate was meant for humanitarian services and that she was never a member of his group.Well, other than thinking this sure sounds like the 'Irish Hospital' scam of the 1970's, it is probably fairer to consider this other note from the article cited:
"If there is anything that I need to apologize for to this nation, it is to apologize for being fooled by Mr. Taylor in giving any kind of support to him," Sirleaf said in February.
There were no publicly reported humanitarian works by Taylor and his fighters, especially in the first months of the war, but most atrocities were being committed by Doe's forces and Taylor was welcomed by many as a liberator fighting a barbaric dictatorship.The TRC report is not binding until approved by the national legislature, and the next Presidential election is scheduled for 2011, so whether this will preclude a political future for any of the figures named remains to be seen.
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For Reference:
The trial in the Hague of former-President Charles Taylor on 11 charges of various Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes, and Recruiting Child Soldiers, has been underway for 2 years now. The trial entered the defense phase last month.
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