adminA cross section of Liberians opposing the conviction and sentencing of Taylor described the entire trial and sentencing during a local phone-in talk show as Western propaganda to keep him in jail.
A shoeshine boy, Matthew Pelena, said despite being a victim of atrocities by Taylor’s men-in-arms, he holds no malice against the man because his action was destined by God. “He was destined to lead this country and would not have done what he did without the approval of God,” he added.
But many in favour of their former president’s conviction and subsequent sentencing welcomed it, saying that justice has been delivered to those who died because of his involvement in another country’s problem.
A former soldier of Taylor’s ATU forces, Nathaniel Gibson, said: “we all hailed the man’s idea when he started war until it engulfed us. Some of us were forced to join for fear of reprisal. It was either you were with him or against him and no one wanted to be against Taylor.”
Gibson, an unemployed man said: “The man deserved what came to him. He knew one day his excesses would get back at him.”
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) early yesterday morning deployed soldiers and tanks at strategic places to curb any unrest.
“Mr Taylor benefited from this terror and the destruction,” said the presiding judge of the court Richard Lussick before announcing his jail term.
“He was found responsible for aiding and abetting some of the most heinous and brutal crimes in recorded history,” Lussick said. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter