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Special Court Prosecutor Desmond de Silva QC has welcomed a resolution adopted unanimously by Sierra Leone’s Parliament on Wednesday urging the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR

PRESS RELEASE

Freetown, 9 February 2006

Prosecutor Welcomes Sierra Leone Parliamentary Resolution Supporting Taylor’s Trial at the Special Court

Special Court Prosecutor Desmond de Silva QC has welcomed a resolution adopted unanimously by Sierra Leone’s Parliament on Wednesday urging the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

In proposing the Private Members Motion, Hon. Dr. Princess Baba Jigida (Freetown West-East), called for “the temporary asylum of Charles Taylor” to come to an end.

“In my frequent outreach meetings with ordinary people around the country, the question I am asked most frequently is when Charles Taylor will face justice before the Special Court,” Mr. de Silva said. “This resolution clearly reflects the will of the people of Sierra Leone."

“With its unanimous adoption yesterday, it is clear that it reflects the will of their elected representatives as well.”

Hon. Dauda Kamara (Kambia District) also spoke to the motion, and called for support for the Court to complete “its vital work”.

“We all know that external factors and actors exacerbated the internal conflict in Sierra Leone,” Hon. Kamara said. “Therefore it is vital for us that Charles Taylor is brought to the Court for it to be documented the role that was played by others, as well as by himself.”

Said Mr. de Silva: “As Hon. Dr. Princess Baba Jigida stated yesterday in Parliament, the whole world is now speaking with one voice. The Sierra Leone Parliament has now added its own voice.”

“Nigeria cannot ignore the growing consensus, both here and internationally, that Mr Taylor’s temporary asylum must be brought to an end,” Mr. de Silva said. “He must answer before the Special Court for what he has done to the people of this country and this region.”

#END

Produced by the
Office of the Prosecutor
Special Court for Sierra Leone
Email: [email protected]

Visit the Special Court’s website at www.sc-sl.org

PROPOSER: HON. DR. PRINCESS BABA JIGIDA

SECONDER: HON. MOMOH PUJEH

BE IT RESOLVED:

That this Honourable House congratulate the United Nations through the Secretary-General, Dr. Kofi Annan, Esq., on the occasion of the attainment of sixty years of existence recognising their role in:

i. The independence of African nations
ii. Peacekeeping in various troubled war areas of the world
iii. The MDGs with focus on poverty reduction
iv. The establishment of a “Special War Tribunal Court” in Sierra Leone

and attached to which appreciation is our well-considered request that the Republic of Liberia’s former President, Charles Taylor, be tried, and in absentia in the event that he fails to appear in court in person.