Mr Santora, please proceed.

Thank you, your Honour.

Mr Witness, are you hearing me translated into Liberian English?

Yes.

Mr Witness, can you please state your name for the Court?

My name is Foday Lansana.

Do you go by any other name?

Yes, commonly known as CO Nya.

Can you go ahead and spell Nya?

N-Y-A.

Mr Witness, where were you born?

I was born in Nimba County, Ganta Town, Liberia.

Just for the Court's clarification, let me just spell the name of the witness as well. I apologise. Foday F-O-D-A-Y Lansana L-A-N-S-A-N-A.

And Ganta? Ganta Town?

Ganta is G-H-A-N-T-A [sic]:

And you said "Nimba County", correct, witness?

Yes.

The Court does have the spelling of that:

Do you know when you were born?

Yes.

When was it?

I was born in the year 1969, 22 June.

And where did you grow up?

I grew up in Nimba County.

Did you go to school?

Yes.

How far did you get in school?

I entered university. I entered school from elementary up to university.

What university did you enter up to?

The University of Liberia.

Where is the University of Liberia?

The University of Liberia is located on the Capitol Hill.

How far did you - how far - how long were you at the university?

I entered in 1989 and the war interrupted and I couldn't continue.

And what were you studying at the university when the war interrupted?

I had a plan to study electrical engineering.

And before I go on to that, Mr Witness, do you have - are you - do you speak - what languages do you speak?

I speak Mano, partly Krio and English.

Mr Witness, we understand there may be a problem when you start to answer before the interpreter has finished interpreting. So, if you could wait until you hear the question fully and then answer.

Okay.

You said you speak Mano. Are you a member of the Mano ethnic group in Liberia?

Yes.

What happened when your university studies were interrupted by the war?

In the year 1989, whilst I was at the university, there came information that a group of people entered from the Ivorian side into Liberia in a nearby town called Yekepa. After a few weeks, civilians were displaced. The country was completely under chaos. There was confusion at the university and in the entire Republic of Liberia.

Okay. Mr Witness, before you continue, first of all for the Court Yekepa spelling Y-E-K-E-P-A. Mr Witness, you said a group of people had entered from Ivory Coast. Who were the group of people, do you know?

According to the BBC report and as time went on, I came to know these people as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia under the control and command of Mr Charles Ghankay Taylor.

Now, you stated that there was confusion where you were. What do you mean?

The country was at that time unsettled. People were accusing one and - people were accusing each other. Especially the Mano and the Gio they were accusing the Krahn and Mandingo and people started attacking each other, and those soldiers in Liberia were targeting the Mano and the Gios as rebels.

I am sorry, I didn't catch that. And also what? Mr Interpreter you said what?

I said the Gio and the Mano were targeted by the Mandingo and the Krahn and the soldiers were also targeting the Mano and referred to them as rebels.

Mr Witness, at this time while you were in university in Monrovia, who was in power in Liberia?

Mr Samuel Kanyon Doe was the President of Liberia.

Now, you said the soldiers targeted the Mano and the Gio. Are you referring to government soldiers here?

Yes, the Armed Forces of Liberia.

And these are under the government of Samuel Doe. Is that correct?

Yes.

Okay. So, how did this affect you personally as a Mano?

I was a member of the tribe called Mano because my father is Mano and I am also a Mano, and the fact that the Mano were targeted the entire student body, especially the males in the University of Liberia, were under serious attack and most of our siblings were killed. So, I decided to avoid Monrovia and go back to Nimba County.

Just let me be clear. Mr Witness, what language are you answering in as I seem to be hearing both you and the interpreter and yours sounds like English? Could I be clear on this, please?

Yes, I can speak English and I can speak Liberian English.

And which language do you prefer to answer in?

I am answering in Liberian English.

Please proceed.

Now, after you left Monrovia - you said you left Monrovia as a result of the problems you were having as a Mano. Is that correct?

Yes, yes.

And you went back to Nimba County?

Yes.

Okay. From Nimba County where did you go, if anywhere?

In Nimba County I was in Ganta Town, and the same problem continued in Ganta Town and the soldiers used to kill our people. They arrested the male and take them to the training base, and based on those information I decided to join my family in a nearby village around the Liberian and Guinean border line.

Okay. Mr Witness, you said "the problem continued in Ganta Town and the soldiers used to kill our people". Are these soldiers you are referring to again the soldiers of Samuel Doe?

Objection, Madam President. Counsel has led the witness on about two or three occasions now and I have made no objections, including the reason why he left Monrovia, including the first question of this series regarding which soldiers were responsible for targeting the Manos, and I make an objection for the record.

Your Honours, may I respond on that?

Yes, Mr Santora.

Your Honours, it is the practice of the international tribunals to allow some degree of leading when it comes to background and/or information that is not contested. I am simply taking the witness through his movements to a certain point for efficiency's sake and not to waste the Court's time. I don't think that if there was some degree of leading as to the movement of a location, I do not think it is - I submit it is not impermissible leading at this point, your Honour.

Mr Werner - excuse me, Mr Santora, I apologise. A certain amount of leading has been condoned in this Court. There has been an objection and I am upholding that objection. You should not lead.

Allow me just to look at the last question again:

In Ganta Town, Mr Witness, you said "the soldiers used to kill our people". At this time in 1990, who were the soldiers you were referring to?

Starting from 1989 I said repeatedly that the Armed Forces of Liberia, under the leadership of President Samuel Kanyon Doe, targeted the Mano and Gio in respect of the fighting that went on between the NPFL and the Armed Forces of Liberia.

So as a result of this where did you go, if anywhere?

Yes. Upon my arrival at Ganta after a few weeks since the same incident continued, that is the killing of our people, the Mano and the Gio, I decided to join my people in a nearby village around the Liberian/Guinean border line.

Do you remember the name of that village?

Yes.

What was it?

The village was called Gbardin.

Mr Witness, I am going to ask if you can assist the Court in spelling that village's name?

Yes.

Go ahead.

G-B-A-R-D-I-N.

And you stated this village is near the Liberian/Guinean border line?

Yes.

Where did you go from there?

Whilst we were staying in that village, we ran out of salt and Maggi cubes.

I believe the Court has already heard the spelling of Maggi:

Go ahead.

Maggi cubes and salt. So, we finally decided to cross over into Guinea.

Where in Guinea did you cross over into?

We crossed over from Gbardin to Yekeh in Guinea.

Yekeh is Y-E-K-E-H:

What was in Yekeh? In Guinea you said, right? What was in Yekeh?

Yekeh is a town in Guinea.

And what was there?

We were there as refugees when we entered into Guinea.

Now did you have occasion to leave this refugee camp, or did you remain there?

Objection, Madam President. He did not say he was in a refugee camp, as far as I recall.

I would be happy to clarify that point, your Honour.

Thank you. Please do so.

You arrived in the village in Guinea at Yekeh. Is that correct?

Yes.

And you said you arrived there as refugees. Is that correct?

Yes.

Just explain what you mean by that?

What I am trying to say is because we ran out of salt and Maggi cubes and we decided to cross over into Guinea and we were not Guinean nationals, we were refugees and we were asked to give information about ourselves, after that we were admitted into a refugee camp in Yekeh.

From - what happened at the refugee camp?

I stayed there with my family over three months and after the three months some of our brothers came from Liberia into the refugee camp.

Explain first of all when you say brothers from Liberia, what do you mean?

I meant the Mano and the Gio. They came from Liberia to the refugee camp and they made us to understand that they had captured Ganta and that we should join them in order to go and consolidate the town.

Did you know what they meant when they said go to consolidate the town?

Yes, they explained to us that they were part of the rebel group that was referred to as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, under the leadership of Mr Charles Ghankay Taylor, and they would not stand by and see the Armed Forces of Liberia killing our families. For that reason they decided to join the rebel group and they were fighting alongside with them and that at that present moment they were at Ganta and that Ganta was under their control, and they asked us also to join them to go for us to be part of them so that we fight and make sure that we secure our people.

Now when you said that the brothers from Liberia were members of the NPFL who came to you in Yekeh, did you know who they were personally? Did you know any of them?

Yes, I meant specifically the Mano and the Gio.

Now when this happened, can you tell the Court roughly the time frame when these brothers from Liberia came to the refugee camp? Approximately the time frame?

Yes, it was between February going to March 1990.

Now, did you - you said that they asked you to join them. Is that correct?

Yes.

Did you yourself join them?

Yes.

Did anybody else who was with you in Yekeh also join them?

Yes.

Can you tell the Court what happened after you joined them?

Yes, after we had departed from Yekepa we took the bush road and went back to Ganta. We met a huge number of our brothers and sisters and elderly people in Ganta Town and the surroundings.

Your Honours, could the witness say that again? That one was not clear to the interpreter.

Yes, pause, Mr Witness, please. The interpreter was not clear on the last part of your answer. Please repeat it.

After we had left Yekepa into Ganta, we met a huge crowd of our brothers, elders, sisters in Ganta, especially in Diakemein.

Just to clarify, Mr Witness, did you say "decampment", or did you say the name of a location?

Yes, it is a name of a village called Diakemein.

Can you assist the Court with the spelling of that village?

Yes.

Go ahead.

D-I-A-K-E-M-E-I-N.

Okay. After you met the crowd of your brothers and sisters in Ganta, what happened?

They briefed us that they were part of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia and they were trying to advise us, especially those of us the male, so that we can join the fighting forces in order to protect life and property in Nimba County.

Okay, you said "they" advised you. Who is "they"?

I said the elders, our mothers and the sisters that we met in Ganta, Diakemein.

And what exactly did they advise you? Can you go ahead and explain that?

Yes, they advised me that because I am properly informed about the killings that happened to our people, especially the Mano and the Gio, and that the fighting was still continuing, we were to go to the base to be part of the support to the National Patriotic Front of Liberia.

Okay. Now, we need you to describe the scene where this was going on. What was the setting in Ganta? Was it - you said "they advised me". Were they advising you personally, or was it a larger number of people? Could you just describe the scene?

Yes, we were in a big compound and one person amongst the elders addressed us and we all shouted and accepted the advice that was given to us.

Approximately when you say "us", about how many were in your group at this parade?

We were well over one hundred.

What happened after this?

After that some of us, the male, we were taken to Saclepia in order for us to be interviewed and trained.

If you could pause, Mr Witness. I believe this may have been in the Court record, but I am going to spell Saclepia anyway. It is S-A-C-R-E-P-I-A [sic].

S-A-C-L-E-P-I-E [sic].

I stand corrected.

Saclepia. S-A-C-L-E-P-I-A.

Now, tell the Court what happened. You said - did you arrive at Saclepia?

Yes.

Tell the Court what happened at Saclepia when you arrived?

Upon our arrival in Saclepia, we were interviewed individually and after the interviews were conducted we went to a big field on the school campus at Saclepia.

Mr Witness, first of all where is Saclepia exactly?

Saclepia is in Nimba County going towards Boutou, Karnplay and Gborplay.

Now, can you elaborate when you say "Upon our arrival we were interviewed individually"? What do you mean?

Yes, we were asked to give our identities, our qualification, our areas of specialisation. If you were a student, or if you have been working with the government, that is exactly what I mean.

Who was asking you?

They had a branch that was called the Military Police and there was an intelligence officer who was conducting this interview.

Can I ask who is "they"? "They had a branch"?

A group of people that is from one office to the other. I cannot precisely recall the name of the individual.

It may be my question was not clear, Mr Witness. You said "They had a branch". Who was in Saclepia at this time?

Okay, the NPFL troops were in Saclepia at that time and there was a specific group that was referred to as Military Police.

Now, you stated that you yourself were interviewed. Is that correct?

Yes.

And you said they requested information such as identification, qualifications and specialisation. Is that correct?

Yes.

What happened as a result of this interview for you?

After knowing our individual backgrounds and our areas of specialisations, they asked us to go to the main field and we started undertaking exercise, or some physical education.

Describe for the Court what you mean when you said you undertook exercise, or some physical education?

We used to go to the field every morning and every evening, we stood in lines and there would be somebody who would demonstrate to us how to run, how to fall down, crawl, in case there was firing, how to conceal at the back of buildings and how to go into trenches in times of firing.

Do you remember who was training you?

Yes.

Who?

An individual by the name of Takpor Gbey.

I am going to ask you to assist the Court in spelling that name?

Yes, T-A-K-P-O-R G-B-E-H.

Is this like two names?

Yes, Takpor Gbey.

This physical education, how long did this last for?

I was amongst that group for three consecutive weeks.

And could you remember approximately how many people were undergoing this training?

Yes, before I arrived on that particular base I heard that from 1st Battalion up to 7th Battalion and that each battalion consisted of 992 persons.

And in your group how many people were being trained, approximately?

One platoon consisted of 62 persons.

Do you remember, or do you know, who was in charge of the base overall at Saclepia? The overall commander at the base at Saclepia?

No.

After this physical education training, what happened next?

After the physical education training exercise over three weeks, I was given an appointment and I was taken from the platoon to a signal or field radio room in order to be trained as an operator.

Describe what you mean, you were taken to a signal field radio room?

According to the person who took me to the radio room he said that they deemed it necessary for me to go and do communication, because according to my interview report that came out from the office I had ideas about communication. So, they said they deemed it necessary for me to go for the communications for the National Patriotic Front of Liberia.

Who told you this?

Takpor Gbey was the man who led me into the radio room.

Were any others in a similar situation, or were you alone at that time?

Yes.

Do you remember who else was with you?

In the radio room?

I apologise, let me rephrase the question. You said that they deemed with your background that you should work on communication. Is that correct?

Yes.

Mr Santora, the interpretation was that he had ideas about. That is different from having some idea about and I am not sure what the right interpretation would have been.

I will clarify the area probably just to:

You said, Mr Witness, that according to your interview report you had ideas about communication and so you were deemed necessary to go for the communications for the National Patriotic Front of Liberia. Is that correct?

Yes.

Did you observe if anyone else was also deemed necessary to go for communication from the training base where you were?

No, I was the only person who was given the appointment within my platoon.

Describe when you say then you went to the signal field radio room, where exactly was this?

It was at the - the house was at the centre of the training base and there were two persons in the radio room who were conducting communications for Saclepia training base.

Do you know who these two people were?

Yes, they were operators.

Did you ever have the occasion to learn their names?

Yes.

What were their names?

The first person was Emanuel Zor.

Emanuel common spelling:

I am going to ask the witness to spell Zor?

Z-O-R.

And who was the second individual?

The second person was Roosevelt Nyameleyan.

And I will spell the surname. It is Roosevelt, common spelling, NYAMELEYAN:

What happened when you arrived in the radio room? The signal field radio room?

Upon my arrival into the signal or radio room I was asked to introduce myself, and after I did the introduction they asked me to enter the radio room and after I had entered the radio room they made me to understand that they were operators and that they have heard information about me that I had basic ideas about the HF radio.

What do you mean by HF radio?

HF is a high frequency and it is a communication set that is normally used on the field in times of military operations used to transmit messages.

Now, Mr Witness, you said that they heard you had ideas about communication. At this point in your life, had you ever worked or operated a high frequency radio?

Yes.

When was that?

I was at one time a waiter whilst I was attending school in Saniquellie. At the time I was attending St Mary's High School.

Can you again spell Saniquellie just for clarification?

Yes, S-A-N-N-I-Q-U-E-L-L-I-E.

And so you said you had previously had some experience while you were at St Mary's High School in operating a high frequency radio?

Yes.

Why? What was the circumstances? What were the circumstances?

Pardon me?

What were the circumstances at St Mary's High School that led to you working with the radio?

Okay. That was part of a career that I had planned to undergo and the priest at the school loved me so much that he allowed me to go through the training, because there was a technical school there which gave access to people to study about land phone and the HF radio. I was very close to him and so therefore I was able to know how to receive and communicate on the HF radio whilst I was at St Mary's School.

Okay. Now, I want to take you back to what you just --

Mr Santora, he also said he learnt to operate the radio when he was at one time a waiter. Has that got anything to do with St Mary's School, or is it totally irrelevant?

I understood it to be just something contemporaneous, but I will clarify:

You have just described the circumstances of when you first had the chance to work on an HF radio and you said while you were a waiter. Does being a waiter have anything to do with this?

Yes.

How is that?

You will sit down and listen for a call and then respond to the call, or you call the person that was deemed necessary to be called.

What do you mean by "waiter"?

You sit and listen to the communication sets to receive messages, or a call.

So when you say "waiter", you are not referring to anything associated with a restaurant or meals?

No, no.

Does that clarify it? Yes, okay:

Now taking you back to when you were brought to the signal field radio room and just to clarify, was this also in Saclepia?

Yes.

And did you then have the occasion to undergo training in the radio operations at Saclepia?

Yes.

Now, describe first of all how long did that training last approximately?

I was there until the time we got the information that there was serious fighting in Monrovia and that President Doe was killed. And I was on the technical side, they taught me how to receive the message, to encode a message, how to install a radio and how to transmit or to improve on transmission in times of bad weather.

Okay. Before I talk more about - ask you more about the composition of your training, you said you heard Samuel Doe was killed?

Yes.

About when did this happen, in terms of were you already in the process of radio training when this happened?

Yes.

About how long did your radio training last?

I was there over two months doing the exercise of the training.

Now, describe again the composition of your training for the Court in terms of what - what were you actually learning to do?

They trained me how to receive message, transmit message, how to encode a message and how to decode a message.

I will ask you more later on about what this means, but just for now can you explain at this point what was - what did you mean by coding?

Code is a secret way to transform information for which somebody who is not supposed to know about that information will definitely not know. It is a secret information book.

Who was teaching you this coding?

I was taught by Emanuel Zor and the second person was Roosevelt Nyameleyan.

Okay. Now, you said your training was over two months?

Yes.

Upon the completion of this training, what happened?

After going through the training I said that there was an information on the BBC that President Doe was killed - President Doe was killed - and they asked that we should go to Coca-Cola factory in Monrovia as a reinforcement.

Was that "Coca-Cola"?

Yes, your Honour, Coca-Cola as in the beverage:

Can you tell the Court where is the Coca-Cola factory?

Yes, Coca-Cola factory is at the entrance of Monrovia whilst coming from Kakata into Monrovia City.

Describe the Coca-Cola factory. What is it exactly?

Coca-Cola factory consists of big buildings. I can say it is a factory where they produce Coca-Cola.

You said that you were asked - "They asked that we should go to Coca-Cola factory in Monrovia as reinforcement". First of all, who is "they"? Who asked you to go?

I meant that we were taken as reinforcement. It was Isaac Musa who was looking out for reinforcements in order to take them to Coca-Cola factory.

Isaac Musa has been spelt for the Court before, your Honour:

Who is Isaac Musa?

Isaac Musa was one of the special forces that came along with Mr Charles Ghankay Taylor into Liberia in order to carry out the fighting in Liberia.

When you say "special forces", what do you mean?

Special forces were the trained commandos, fighting men who were trained out of Liberia and who facilitated the training. They were the bosses of the entire fighting that went on under the control of Mr Charles Ghankay Taylor.

Do you know where this training out of Liberia occurred?

As time went on whilst I was in the NPFL, I came to know that some of the special forces were trained in Libya, some in Burkina Faso, some in Ivory Coast and in some other subregional countries in West Africa.

Now, you said that you were asked to go as reinforcement. Did you then go to Coca-Cola factory?

Yes.

Okay. Can you tell the Court what happened at Coca-Cola factory while you were there?

Yes, we left Saclepia base and we went to Coca-Cola factory and I was assigned into a radio room in Coca-Cola factory. After a day or two, I saw a large crowd of people coming into the radio room. Roosevelt Nyameleyan made me to understand that there was a meeting in that office and that I should wait on the radio, or that I should be monitoring and listening for any communication that will come in. Whilst I sat by the radio --

Before you proceed, I just want to clarify a few things. You said that when you arrived at Coca-Cola factory you were assigned into a radio room. Who exactly assigned you and what was the assignment? Let me just break it up, I am sorry. Who assigned you?

I came down there as reinforcement operator, so upon our arrival at Coca-Cola factory we were assigned according to the document that was given to the reinforcement commander and that was Isaac Musa.

Now what was exactly your assignment?

I was taken into the radio room as an operator.

And where was the radio room within Coca-Cola factory?

The radio room was located right at the point just when you enter into the Coca-Cola factory by the right-hand side and there were a series of offices there, but I can recall one to which I was sent together with Roosevelt as operator.

When you arrived, just to understand the situation - just so the Court can understand the situation, was Coca-Cola factory operational?

Pardon me?

When you arrived at Coca-Cola factory, was Coca-Cola being produced there at that time?

No, but there were Coca-Colas in the factory.

So, who was in control of the Coca-Cola factory compound?

NPFL was in control of the Coca-Cola factory and they used there as a base in order to go on at the fighting front in Monrovia Town.

Now, you said that you arrived into the radio room at Coca-Cola factory. Is that correct?

Yes.

What happened after you arrived into the room? I am sorry, you said there was going to be a meeting in that office?

I said I arrived at Coca-Cola factory and I was there for a day, and after that the second day I saw a large crowd of people coming into the radio room and Roosevelt made me to understand that there was a meeting in that radio room and that I should stay there by the radio as a waiter and then I should be monitoring whilst he was by me.

What happened after this conversation with Roosevelt?

I saw a large group of people coming in and then he whispered to me that the Chief was coming in and that they were going to be having a meeting in this radio room. As I looked towards the entrance I saw a bright, huge person. In the past I used to know him by photograph, but that was the first day that I saw him and he was Mr Charles Ghankay Taylor and he was coming walking along with special forces who together with him entered into the radio room.

When you were in the - did you remain in the radio room after this group entered?

Yes.

When you say "a large group", can you tell approximately how many people entered?

Yes, it composed of over 25 persons. Some of them were bodyguards, who took positions by the entrance, and the others all of them sat into the various chairs in the radio room.

And you said this was the first time you saw Mr Charles Taylor?

Yes.

And did he also when he arrived in the room do you know where he seated himself, or where he went to?

Yes, he sat very close to the radio and he was guarded by two men and the other people took positions around him.

Do you know the names of the two men who were guarding him?

Yes, one was called Domingo and the other was called Mustapha Jallow.

I believe these spellings have already been on the record:

Now, you said he came along with special forces as well. About how many special forces came into the meeting?

There were many, but I knew very few.

Do you remember the ones you did know?

Yes, yes.

Can you list them?

Yes, one was Isaac Musa, Francis Mewon --

I believe that is on the record as spelled as well:

Go ahead.

Dopoe Menkarzon.

Any others that you remember?

Yes, Anthony Menquenagbeh.

Okay. Now, I believe those names are also on the record. However, if the Chamber wishes I can respell them.

No, that is not necessary, Mr Santora.

Okay:

So, tell the Court what happened at this point after these individuals arrived into this room?

Like I said I was informed by Roosevelt that there was going to be a meeting, and as he entered everybody sat into their individual positions and at that time Mr Charles Taylor started addressing them. According to what he said, he said it has come to his notice that the Alpha jet is killing the people of Liberia and that it was coming from Sierra Leone from a base known as Lungi and that was Lungi international airport. The special forces joined him in his discussion and at the end of the meeting he said he would inform the world that Sierra Leone has been used as a base to kill his people.

Did anyone else speak at the meeting?

Yes, all the members of the special forces collectively contributed to that particular meeting.

When you say "collectively contributed", do you remember specifically what else was said at the meeting?

Yes. Like for Isaac Musa he did say that on several occasions he had been informing the Chief, in brackets Mr Charles Ghankay Taylor, for proper action into the issue of the killing of the civilians by the Alpha jet coming from Sierra Leone.

Did Mr Taylor say anything else with relation to Sierra Leone at the meeting?

Yes, he concluded that he was going to inform the world about the role of Sierra Leone into his country.

How long did this meeting last, Mr Witness?

It lasted for over 15 minutes.

Your Honour, I think it may be that I don't have to - I can stop now.

Thank you, Mr Santora. Mr Witness, this is the time when we normally take the mid-morning break. We will adjourn now for 30 minutes and resume Court at 12 o'clock. Please adjourn Court.

Mr Santora, please proceed.

Thank you, your Honour. Just to note that Alain Werner has left the Courtroom.

Thank you, I will record that.

Mr Witness, can you tell the Court what happened after this meeting in the radio room?

Yes. At the end of the meeting Mr Charles Taylor addressed the entire body and he told them that he was going to speak with the BBC to inform the whole world of the Alpha jet which was flying from Sierra Leone into Liberia and was killing his people. So he brought the meeting to an end and everybody went out.

At exactly 5.06 while listening to the BBC Mr Charles Taylor was being interviewed by Mr Robin White. I heard him say to the world that if Sierra Leone or ECOMOG does not stop using Sierra Leone or the Alpha jet from destroying his people in Liberia Sierra Leone will also feel the bitterness of war.

Just before you go to your next question, Mr Santora, can I clarify was this meeting lasting over 15 or 50, one five or five zero minutes.

I will clarify that with the witness, your Honour:

Mr Witness, the meeting you were referring to in the radio room with Mr Taylor and the Special Forces, about how long did that meeting last?

I said the meeting lasted --

Your Honours, it's still not clear whether it's 15 or 50.

Mr Witness, was it one five minutes or five zero minutes?

Over 15 minutes.

Thank you.

Mr Witness, you said that at exactly 5.06 while listening to the BBC you heard that Mr Taylor --

5.06.

You said that you heard Mr Taylor being interviewed by Mr Robin White?

Yes.

About how long after the meeting did this BBC broadcast occur?

It lasted long because the meeting was conducted at midday and the communication between Mr Taylor and Robin White took place in the afternoon.

So was this on the same day? Was the BBC broadcast --

Yes, yes.

Where were you when you heard the BBC broadcast?

I was still at the Coca-Cola factory.

Where exactly?

I had previously told you that the Coca-Cola factory was located at the entrance of Monrovia from Kakata into Monrovia city.

Maybe my question wasn't clear, Mr Witness. Where within the Coca-Cola factory were you when you heard this BBC broadcast?

Okay, I was in the radio room listening to the BBC when I got this communiqué over the BBC.

Do you know where Mr Taylor was when he was being interviewed by Robin White?

No.

And how did you know it was Mr Taylor being interviewed?

His voice was one and for the past that I had been listening to radio communiqué while Mr Taylor was being interviewed over the BBC.

Do you remember what program on the BBC this interview occurred?

Pardon me?

Do you know what program on the BBC that this interview with Robin White occurred?

Yes. Focus on Africa.

How frequently would you listen to the BBC around this time?

I used to listen to the BBC frequently because that was the only source we could get the information - we could get information about the war in Liberia.

When you say frequently, what exactly do you mean?

There were precise hours on which we listened to the BBC, at 3.05, 5.05. Those were the required times that I used to tune to the BBC as well as network in the morning to listen to the BBC in relation to the war or the progress of the war or to know wherever attacks took place so that I would get that information.

And was this - at 3.05 and 5.05, was this every day or every week? Describe the frequency?

Yes, it used to happen every day when Focus is on at 3.05 and 5.05, except Sunday.

And while you were there at Coca-Cola factory did you observe if others within your group were listening to the BBC as well?

Yes. Those who had access to communication or the commercial radio used to also listen.

After you heard this interview on the BBC can you tell the Court what happened?

Yes, after I had heard this communication there was serious panic at the Coca-Cola factory area and within that week there was a serious attack on the positions of the NPFL at the highway of Kakata in Monrovia city. The highway was cut off by Prince Johnson, the leader of the breakaway faction of the NPFL.

Mr Witness, did you remain with the NPFL at this time?

Yes.

And how long at this time did you remain with the NPFL?

I was an operator, like I said before. When the highway was cut off by Prince Johnson's troops we retreated to Kakata and I was still in Kakata as an operator for the NPFL.

Now did there come a time when you left the NPFL?

Yes. While I was in Kakata they requested us to go to Gbarnga in order to carry on with some advanced training in communication. We were in Gbarnga for a month of advanced training and at the end of the training we were told to stand by or to wait for further instructions. During this particular time I took leave to go to Ganta to greet my people.

Mr Witness, before we go to the time when you took leave you said they requested us to go to Gbarnga for advanced training. Is that correct?

Yes.

You said you were in Gbarnga for approximately one month?

Yes.

Can you give an approximate time frame as to when you were in Gbarnga in terms of the year and the month?

Yes. In 1990 from September to October. They conducted the advanced training and at the end of October we were dismissed and we were told to stand by for further instructions.

Now can you describe what you mean by advanced training?

Yes. We were called upon by the deputy for all signal commanders of the NPFL, Mr Galakpalah. According to him there were some misunderstandings in the encoding system, how to encode, decode and transmit messages, and there were a series of different communications in the NPFL at that time. So we were called in order to acquaint ourselves with those sets and how to master the encoding system.

Can you just tell the Court who called you to Gbarnga?

Yes. I said Mr Galakpalah, deputy over all signal commanders of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia.

And can you assist the Court with the spelling of his name?

Galakpalah, it is spelt as G-A-L-A-K-P-A-L-A-H.

So you said we were called to Gbarnga in order to acquaint ourselves with those sets and how to master the encoding system. First of all how many of you were called to Gbarnga for this advanced training?

We were called upon from different stations. From Harbel, Kakata, Ganta, Saclepia and all other areas that had communication at that time in order for us to get the full briefing on the encoding systems and 0the different types of communication that were available at the time at Gbarnga with Mr Galakpalah.

I believe all those locations are on the record as spelled, your Honour.

Including Harbel, the first. I don't recall.

Okay:

The first place you mentioned was Harbel?

Yeah.

Can you spell that for the Court?

I said Harbel. Harbel. Harbel is a town between Buchanan and Monrovia, the rubber plantation company. Harbel, H-A-R-B-E-L.

Describe then the actual composition of the training in terms of the encoding systems. What were you actually taught?

They taught us the alphabetical and numerical and appointment titles of important people that you will be operating under.

And do you know why they were conducting this particular advanced training at the time? Why this particular advanced training was being conducted?

Yes. It was because there was a problem with the encoding systems which was causing some confusion among operators and authorities who could not understand the encoding system of the NPFL at the time.

Now you said this lasted for approximately a month. Is that correct?

I said one month. That is from September to October.

And after that time you took leave and went back to Ganta. Is that correct?

Not Gbarnga. I said Ganta.

Ganta, that's what I understood as well, Mr Witness. Now what happened when you took leave?

I was in Ganta with my people for a while and I decided to visit my extended family in Sierra Leone in a town called Bomaru.

Your Honours, the spelling of Bomaru is B-O-M-A-R-U.

No.

What is the spelling, Mr Witness?

B-O-M-A-R-U, Bomaru.

Okay, I believe that's what I said --

Perhaps his interpreter is telling him things.

I can only speculate, your Honour:

Well, Mr Witness, what happened when you arrived in Bomaru?

I went to visit my grandfather in Bomaru in 1991 in January.

Before you go on, Mr Witness, where did you cross from Liberia into Sierra Leone? Where was that? Do you remember the border crossing?

Yes.

Where was that?

I used a bush path from Vahun on to Bomaru town.

And do you know what district Bomaru is in in Sierra Leone?

Yes. Bomaru is in the Upper Bambara, Kailahun District in Sierra Leone.

How long did you remain at Bomaru?

I was in Bomaru from January to June, July when I was recaptured by the NPFL/RUF fighters who were in Sierra Leone.

Mr Witness, when you entered Sierra Leone - well, I withdraw that question. You said the --

Mr Santora, I don't understand when he says by the NPFL/RUF? Who are these?

Exactly. That's why I withdrew the question and I was going to clarify that:

You said you were captured by the NPFL and RUF in June, July 1991. Is that correct?

Quite correct.

What do you mean by NPFL/RUF?

At this time in Sierra Leone the combined forces of National Patriotic Front of Liberia as well as the newly created group called Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone, they were fighting side by side in Sierra Leone.

Mr Witness, when you entered Sierra Leone was there fighting going on?

No.

And you said that was approximately January '91 when you entered Sierra Leone?

Yes.

What do you mean the NPFL and RUF were fighting side by side?

There were two groups. One was headed by Sam Tuah and the other one was called RUF headed by Mohamed Tarawalli. At the time that I was captured and in Potoru and transferred to Bomaru, during my interview I had to know that there were two groups fighting, even though they were fighting for the same goal, they were working side by side. One was headed by Mohamed Tarawalli of the RUF, Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone, and the other group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, was headed by Sam Tuah.

I believe the spellings are on the record.

Madam President, I'm sorry to interrupt but it would be helpful if the reference by the witness to being recaptured is perhaps clarified. I don't recall him saying he was captured previous to this.

I'm waiting for that. I'm sure it will come in due course, Mr Anyah.

Thank you, your Honour.

I will clarify that now for your Honours:

Mr Witness, you said you were recaptured?

Okay, I want to make it very clear to the Court that that was the second time to join this fighting force.

The first time you joined the fighting force which you've described --

It was in Liberia when we surfaced in Ganta and taken to Saclepia for training and this was the second time in Sierra Leone in Bomaru.

Did you join the first time voluntarily?

Yes, I did.

So when you used the word recaptured what do you mean?

At this particular time I was captured or taken by the group that was doing mopping up exercises and searching for people in the nearby villages. That is what I'm trying to say.

Mr Witness, was there an earlier time when you were ever captured?

No. In Sierra Leone this was the first time that I was captured or taken away by the fighting men.

Mr Santora, it's not entirely clear to me why he had to be captured if he had left with permission. There is implications obviously, but they're not on record.

I'm sorry, I misunderstood your Honour - in terms of the --

If he left in January and was still hanging around at his grandfather's in June and July had he overstayed his leave? That's what I'm suggesting. I'm not sure why he had to be captured if he left with permission.

When you initially left the NPFL and went on leave did you leave with permission?

Yes, I left with permission but I didn't understand anything about the RUF until that time.

The group that captured you in Sierra Leone you said was made up of NPFL and RUF. Is that correct?

Yes.

Is this the same NPFL that you were referring to earlier in Liberia?

Yes.

Who exactly captured you?

It was a group of people who were moving in search of people in the nearby villages and that was the time I was captured around Potoru, a village three miles from Bomaru.

And who was the leader of the group that captured you, do you know?

Yes, I said it was Sam Tuah on the side of the NPFL and on the side of the RUF, as I came to know while in Bomaru, was Mohamed Tarawalli.

Do you know the position of Sam Tuah within the NPFL?

Yes. Sam Tuah was the commander that led the troops from Liberia for the NPFL that were fighting alongside the RUF in Sierra Leone at that time.

Did you have occasion to learn who Sam Tuah's boss was?

Yes, at the time we arrived in Bomaru I was interviewed by Sam Tuah and I made it clear to him what my relationship with the NPFL was and he decided to send me to Vahun.

What did you tell Sam Tuah about your relationship with the NPFL?

I told Sam Tuah that I was with the NPFL and I discussed my recruitment at Saclepia on to Coca-Cola factory, my advanced training at Gbarnga, my departure from Gbarnga on to Ganta and up to the time that I entered Sierra Leone to visit Bomaru.

Now just so for clarification you said you were taken three miles to another village. Which village were you taken to? Let me actually ask you which village were you actually captured from?

I said I was captured in Potoru, a village three miles away from Bomaru.

And were you subsequently taken to Bomaru?

I met a commander called Sam Tuah. He interviewed me and later sent me to Vahun.

Where did the interview with Sam Tuah take place?

In Bomaru town.

So when you were captured from Potoru were you taken to Bomaru?

Yes.

Now the group that captured you, do you remember about how many were in the group?

No, but they were large. They were many.

And could you determine how many were NPFL and how many were RUF in terms of their composition?

You mean at Bomaru or where?

When you were captured?

They were a large group and they were so large that you cannot determine the number. They were many. They were consolidated in Bomaru on the nearby villages so I cannot exactly say the number of people who were in a particular territory.

And you stated that Sam Tuah was the commander of the NPFL --

Yes.

-- at this time in Sierra Leone and Mohamed Tarawalli was the leader of the RUF component. Is that correct?

Yes.

Do you know who was in charge between them, who was higher ranked?

At that time Mohamed Tarawalli was the overall of the Special Forces in control of the RUF in Bomaru and Sam Tuah was the most senior officer for the NPFL in Bomaru.

You said that you were then sent to Vahun. Is that correct?

Yes.

What happened when you arrived in Vahun?

Upon my arrival in Vahun I was interviewed by a team that was in Vahun. I stayed there for some time and was transferred to Foya.

Now before we move on, Mr Witness, do you know why you were captured in Sierra Leone?

Yes.

What was the reason?

As far as I'm concerned any area that was captured by the NPFL or the RUF, they made sure that they gathered the civilians, more especially the men, interviewed them, recruited them, trained them and made them part of the organisation.

So you were not the only one captured?

No.

When you were captured do you remember approximately how many other people were captured?

Yes. A lot of civilians were captured along with me. I was the only person who was taken to Vahun after our interview.

One question again related to your capture: You said that the NPFL and RUF were fighting side by side. Do you know who they were fighting against at this time?

Yes.

Who was that?

They were fighting against the Momoh government. That is the government that was in power in Sierra Leone at that time, Joseph Momoh, the APC.

Who was Joseph Momoh?

Joseph Momoh was the president of Sierra Leone under the APC party at the time. That is 1991.

Do you know what APC stands for?

Yes. APC stands for All People's Congress.

Now you said you were the only one of the people captured taken to Vahun. Is that correct?

Yes.

Who took you to Vahun, or did you go alone?

No. I was under escort when Sam Tuah was travelling back to Vahun.

And at this time how did you cross --

I crossed using a vehicle.

Do you remember which border crossing you went through?

Yes. From Bomaru we went through Bunumbu, a nearby village, on to Vahun.

And Vahun is where?

Vahun is a borderline town in Liberia.

Do you know what county it's in?

Yes. Yes, Vahun is in Lofa County.

What happened when you arrived at Vahun?

When I arrived in Vahun I was taken to the military police headquarters in Vahun. I was interviewed and they made me to stand by at the MP headquarters for two weeks. I was later forwarded to Foya where they had the headquarters, where General Menquenagbeh had his base.

When you say military police headquarters, military police for who?

For the NPFL.

And you were interviewed, you said, at the military police headquarters?

Yes.

And who interviewed you there?

I was interviewed by the MP commander in Vahun.

Do you remember his name?

No.

What does the acronym MP --

When you say MP --

I said military police.