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*HUASA Fashion
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Charles Taylor genius of mayhem in Sierra Leone
Expelled Liberian President Charles Taylor ushered his political career from war lord
and diamond’s best friend. Arbitrary rule and economic collapse in the 80's culminated
in Liberia’s civil war. Dissidents of Taylor’s Patriotic Front overran most of the nation’s
countryside and executed Master Sergeant Doe, who turned president. In 1995, a
peace agreement was signed, resulting in the election of Taylor in 1996 as Liberia’s
president, Africa’s oldest republic. A country founded by freed American slaves,
nurtured mostly indigenous Africans. Slave descendants comprised 5% of the
population. Liberia was relatively calm until 1980 when William Tolbert was violently
overthrown by Sergeant S. Doe, following a food hike riot. Doe’s coup marked the end
of Afro-American minority dominance, heralding endemic wave of instability and a new
culture of dictatorship.
Travail of Taylor’s ascension to power, hallmarked the genesis of savagery and
enduring misery, with spiraling affront to human justice and dignity. Charles Taylor
and Foday Sankoh's marriage demonized a congruent diabolic witticism. These
passionate warlords, trained by Libya’s Colonel Kaddafi, intimidated to destabilize
Africa’s sub-Saharan legitimate governments. Taylor and Sankoh cemented their
romance during a military training by Libya’s dictator, who shared a common
clandestine agenda. Later, their union would hatch the eggs of Kaddafi’s ideology,
“To dismantle Africa’s political institutions.” His genius was to seize power, exorcising
terror: utilizing the deadly force of the bullet rather than the justice of the ballot.
Taylor vigorously wedged his clandestine agenda at the expense of humanity. His
insatiable lust for wealth, romanced with power instilled phobia among his people and
neighbors. Irrespective of the calamities, he pursued power aggressively. Liberians
endured macabre, insurrection and massacre which Taylor instituted. He’s the
protagonist of the world’s most brutal campaign in human history. At the brutal murder
of late President Samuel Doe of Liberia and several Liberians, their dead body parts
were severed by Taylor’s men. The rebels of Sierra Leone would later copycat this
fetish design. Displaying graphically the heads of victims killed, up high as war
banners. This sent a powerful message to the world. Respect for life and property
seemed viciously eroded in Liberia. Taylor’s men are the most ruthless and gruesome
the world had probably witnessed. They boasted that only monkeys would survive in
Liberia at the end of Taylor’s campaign. This phobia pierced through the hearts of
Liberians to elect Taylor President of Liberia, a scary litmus test for democracy. It was
necessary to end this mayhem and slaughter of poor innocent Liberians.
Taylor’s ambition was to spread his reign far beyond Liberia into West African sub-
Sahara. Because neighboring Sierra Leone provided a home for the West African
Peace Keeping Force (ECOMOG), Taylor decided to hatch a personal vendetta
punishing Sierra Leone. When Liberia was at war, Sierra Leone hosted a multitude of
Liberian refugees. Compassion sometimes germinate a snowball effect. The rationale
was to restore peace in Liberia and the sub-region, a region once adorned with
eternal solace, unity and cooperation. In 1989 Taylor began infringing on that peace
and solace, crucifying the peaceful nations that appeared on his black list. Sierra
Leone and Guinea were simply at the top of that endangered list.
Assiduously, he mapped out a scheme to destabilize Sierra Leone, a recipe for
anarchy. The hacking off of limbs, heads, hands or ears are harvest of Taylor’s
scheme. This horrendous terror mechanism he instituted during Liberia’s civil war,
when he made his dramatic insurgence. It worked then, why shouldn’t it work for
Sankoh in Sierra Leone? Taylor conceived this trend of thoughts. He provided training
resources: equipment and logistics aiding rebel activities in Sierra Leone, a campaign
to launch vendetta on peaceful Sierra Leone. Taylor and Sankoh then dangerously
close allies, had meticulously knitted a diabolic plan to destabilize Sierra Leone’s
democratic government. Anarchy was born, a spring board ushering Sankoh’s rebel
campaign. It was the dawn of a clever, heinous and destructive agenda. Sankoh and
Taylor are similar to Heaven’s rebellion championed by Satan, ushering man’s revolt
against God. They struck opportunely, and utilized a golden opportunity, showing no
mercy. The warlords had no conscience, like the proverb, “There’s no brother in the
army.” It was the dawn of a selfish, evil and catastrophic scheme.
Historically, Liberia had provided safe haven for Sierra Leone’s gems, gold and
diamonds. And Liberian boarders are vulnerable to chronic smuggling activities and
illegal immigration. Once, Taylor’s army chief and three senior government officials
were arrested on Sierra Leone's mine fields by security. They claimed to have
crossed the borders to recover a vehicle from Sierra Leone. But why were they
arrested precisely on the diamond mining site in Sierra Leone? This episode caused
grave embarrassment for Taylor. His Chief of staff was later put under house arrest
and demoted. Local experts in smuggling are skilled in concealing diamonds by
swallowing the stones and later recover the booty, medicating themselves with
laxative. Liberia and Sierra Leone are geographically intertwined. One can enter
either nation aided by the porous borders. Both nations mutually trade on a daily
basis. Crossing the boarders is within walking distance. Often one crosses unchecked
by customs and security officials. Both nations have lost immeasurable revenue from
illegal immigration and smuggling, since time immemorial.
The Manor River Union was born to help curb these eternal problems. With the
blessing of security officials from both sides, smuggling can be as easy as ABC, Vis a
Vis making a fortune. Women could craftily ignite a swimming love affair with security
officials to aid smuggling or circumvent customs. Sierra Leoneans have a passion for
United States almighty dollar. Liberia is the nearest fountain of this scarce commodity.
Smugglers take any risk in accumulating this adored commodity. But lust for scarce
US dollars by Sierra Leoneans, shrewd Taylor exploited to his advantage. Smuggling
is indeed as old as time itself. Taylor’s campaign promulgated legalization of
smuggling. Gold and diamond merchants are conveniently located along Water Side
in Monrovia, a recognized buoyant sanctuary for mineral trade in Liberia. This site is
situated just after the Manor River Bridge that connects Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone; the three parties to the Manor River Union Treaty. Rebels ply daily along this
perimeter briskly and freely conducting this juicy gem trade.
Taylor loved the juice flowing from diamonds. Cleverly, he taped the delicacy using his
witty device. Sierra Leoneans are eternally asking, “What happened to the Star of
Sierra Leone?” A huge stone discovered in Kono mining site, during the reign of late
Siaka Stevens in the 80’s. In closure to the issue, the late President who loved stones
said, “Any one who wants an answer should ask me directly.” The issue subsequently
died a natural death. Stevens was feared by most Sierra Leoneans including the
educated echelon. The world’s third largest stone was later found in a British Museum.
How did it get there? What was the contractual price? Probably, it could have been
smuggled and sold as a personal cartel, by a legitimate government official. Sierra
Leoneans are still searching for the truth. Taylor’s rationale is that history could
repeat itself. Historically, Sierra Leone once swallowed a bitter pill. Rationally, there is
enough room to swallow yet another bitter pill.
Sierra Leoneans have aided and abetted foreign nationals to smuggle stones abroad.
They have selfishly milked the nation of astronomical revenue that could have
cushioned SL’s ebbing economy. Others even connived in smuggling gems into
airplanes for meager bribe. How can one be so nice, if not naive at the expense of his
country? This act tantamount to treason. Rebels kept record of every anomaly. Their
adventure was carefully weighed in the balance. And the time was ripe to harvest from
a rotten and corrupt system.
Taylor is an economist who studied in the United States. He fused his proficiency of
economics, postulating a 'Taylornomics.'' He’s an eloquent orator, yet a horrible-
leader and villain history will give an overt appraisal. The drums of war were beating
violently in Liberia, while rebel incursion into Liberia reached epidemic and dangerous
magnitude. Aided by the international community and the Economic Community of
West African States, a bloodless truce was hatched to save war-fatigue Liberia from
another blood bath. Big brother Nigeria offered Taylor asylum in Calabar, in return
that he should step down from power as Liberia’s leader. It was a bitter pill for Taylor
to swallow, but he had no better option. Otherwise, Nigerian forces would have killed
him according to a United States directive. He was deranged, and at his departure
said, he was leaving so that Liberia can enjoy peace. His final words were “I am
leaving now but I’ll be back soon” sending mixed message to the world. He blasted the
US for acting as the world’s police, meddling in domestic affairs of other nations
around the world.
Opposing rebel forces had taken control of part of Monrovia: the capital housing
Taylor’s government was in arms way. History was about to repeat itself. A similar
tragedy that consumed Doe was very close to happen again. However, the wheels of
misfortune swayed the opposite direction. The destitute nation was spared of blood
bath and mayhem. While this development progressed, United Nations Special Court
in Sierra Leone had indicted Taylor for war crimes in Sierra Leone. A warrant for his
arrest was issued at a summit he attended in Ghana. But host nation Ghana, refused
to execute his arrest. Moreover, pressure on Taylor has not yet subsided. Nigeria was
under pressure to turn Taylor to the Sierra Leone Courts. And the plan was that
Nigeria would not be forced by any power to give up Taylor. Only Liberia had the right
to request the return of Taylor to answer to allegations of his reign of terror in Liberia.
(To be continued)
Roland Bankole Marke is a Florida based freelance writer, poet and author of 3 books: Teardrops
Keep Falling, Silver Rain and Blizzard, and Harvest of Hate: Fuel for the soul. Visit his website: www.
rolandmarke.com
Expelled Liberian President Charles Taylor ushered his political career from war lord
and diamond’s best friend. Arbitrary rule and economic collapse in the 80's culminated
in Liberia’s civil war. Dissidents of Taylor’s Patriotic Front overran most of the nation’s
countryside and executed Master Sergeant Doe, who turned president. In 1995, a
peace agreement was signed, resulting in the election of Taylor in 1996 as Liberia’s
president, Africa’s oldest republic. A country founded by freed American slaves,
nurtured mostly indigenous Africans. Slave descendants comprised 5% of the
population. Liberia was relatively calm until 1980 when William Tolbert was violently
overthrown by Sergeant S. Doe, following a food hike riot. Doe’s coup marked the end
of Afro-American minority dominance, heralding endemic wave of instability and a new
culture of dictatorship.
Travail of Taylor’s ascension to power, hallmarked the genesis of savagery and
enduring misery, with spiraling affront to human justice and dignity. Charles Taylor
and Foday Sankoh's marriage demonized a congruent diabolic witticism. These
passionate warlords, trained by Libya’s Colonel Kaddafi, intimidated to destabilize
Africa’s sub-Saharan legitimate governments. Taylor and Sankoh cemented their
romance during a military training by Libya’s dictator, who shared a common
clandestine agenda. Later, their union would hatch the eggs of Kaddafi’s ideology,
“To dismantle Africa’s political institutions.” His genius was to seize power, exorcising
terror: utilizing the deadly force of the bullet rather than the justice of the ballot.
Taylor vigorously wedged his clandestine agenda at the expense of humanity. His
insatiable lust for wealth, romanced with power instilled phobia among his people and
neighbors. Irrespective of the calamities, he pursued power aggressively. Liberians
endured macabre, insurrection and massacre which Taylor instituted. He’s the
protagonist of the world’s most brutal campaign in human history. At the brutal murder
of late President Samuel Doe of Liberia and several Liberians, their dead body parts
were severed by Taylor’s men. The rebels of Sierra Leone would later copycat this
fetish design. Displaying graphically the heads of victims killed, up high as war
banners. This sent a powerful message to the world. Respect for life and property
seemed viciously eroded in Liberia. Taylor’s men are the most ruthless and gruesome
the world had probably witnessed. They boasted that only monkeys would survive in
Liberia at the end of Taylor’s campaign. This phobia pierced through the hearts of
Liberians to elect Taylor President of Liberia, a scary litmus test for democracy. It was
necessary to end this mayhem and slaughter of poor innocent Liberians.
Taylor’s ambition was to spread his reign far beyond Liberia into West African sub-
Sahara. Because neighboring Sierra Leone provided a home for the West African
Peace Keeping Force (ECOMOG), Taylor decided to hatch a personal vendetta
punishing Sierra Leone. When Liberia was at war, Sierra Leone hosted a multitude of
Liberian refugees. Compassion sometimes germinate a snowball effect. The rationale
was to restore peace in Liberia and the sub-region, a region once adorned with
eternal solace, unity and cooperation. In 1989 Taylor began infringing on that peace
and solace, crucifying the peaceful nations that appeared on his black list. Sierra
Leone and Guinea were simply at the top of that endangered list.
Assiduously, he mapped out a scheme to destabilize Sierra Leone, a recipe for
anarchy. The hacking off of limbs, heads, hands or ears are harvest of Taylor’s
scheme. This horrendous terror mechanism he instituted during Liberia’s civil war,
when he made his dramatic insurgence. It worked then, why shouldn’t it work for
Sankoh in Sierra Leone? Taylor conceived this trend of thoughts. He provided training
resources: equipment and logistics aiding rebel activities in Sierra Leone, a campaign
to launch vendetta on peaceful Sierra Leone. Taylor and Sankoh then dangerously
close allies, had meticulously knitted a diabolic plan to destabilize Sierra Leone’s
democratic government. Anarchy was born, a spring board ushering Sankoh’s rebel
campaign. It was the dawn of a clever, heinous and destructive agenda. Sankoh and
Taylor are similar to Heaven’s rebellion championed by Satan, ushering man’s revolt
against God. They struck opportunely, and utilized a golden opportunity, showing no
mercy. The warlords had no conscience, like the proverb, “There’s no brother in the
army.” It was the dawn of a selfish, evil and catastrophic scheme.
Historically, Liberia had provided safe haven for Sierra Leone’s gems, gold and
diamonds. And Liberian boarders are vulnerable to chronic smuggling activities and
illegal immigration. Once, Taylor’s army chief and three senior government officials
were arrested on Sierra Leone's mine fields by security. They claimed to have
crossed the borders to recover a vehicle from Sierra Leone. But why were they
arrested precisely on the diamond mining site in Sierra Leone? This episode caused
grave embarrassment for Taylor. His Chief of staff was later put under house arrest
and demoted. Local experts in smuggling are skilled in concealing diamonds by
swallowing the stones and later recover the booty, medicating themselves with
laxative. Liberia and Sierra Leone are geographically intertwined. One can enter
either nation aided by the porous borders. Both nations mutually trade on a daily
basis. Crossing the boarders is within walking distance. Often one crosses unchecked
by customs and security officials. Both nations have lost immeasurable revenue from
illegal immigration and smuggling, since time immemorial.
The Manor River Union was born to help curb these eternal problems. With the
blessing of security officials from both sides, smuggling can be as easy as ABC, Vis a
Vis making a fortune. Women could craftily ignite a swimming love affair with security
officials to aid smuggling or circumvent customs. Sierra Leoneans have a passion for
United States almighty dollar. Liberia is the nearest fountain of this scarce commodity.
Smugglers take any risk in accumulating this adored commodity. But lust for scarce
US dollars by Sierra Leoneans, shrewd Taylor exploited to his advantage. Smuggling
is indeed as old as time itself. Taylor’s campaign promulgated legalization of
smuggling. Gold and diamond merchants are conveniently located along Water Side
in Monrovia, a recognized buoyant sanctuary for mineral trade in Liberia. This site is
situated just after the Manor River Bridge that connects Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone; the three parties to the Manor River Union Treaty. Rebels ply daily along this
perimeter briskly and freely conducting this juicy gem trade.
Taylor loved the juice flowing from diamonds. Cleverly, he taped the delicacy using his
witty device. Sierra Leoneans are eternally asking, “What happened to the Star of
Sierra Leone?” A huge stone discovered in Kono mining site, during the reign of late
Siaka Stevens in the 80’s. In closure to the issue, the late President who loved stones
said, “Any one who wants an answer should ask me directly.” The issue subsequently
died a natural death. Stevens was feared by most Sierra Leoneans including the
educated echelon. The world’s third largest stone was later found in a British Museum.
How did it get there? What was the contractual price? Probably, it could have been
smuggled and sold as a personal cartel, by a legitimate government official. Sierra
Leoneans are still searching for the truth. Taylor’s rationale is that history could
repeat itself. Historically, Sierra Leone once swallowed a bitter pill. Rationally, there is
enough room to swallow yet another bitter pill.
Sierra Leoneans have aided and abetted foreign nationals to smuggle stones abroad.
They have selfishly milked the nation of astronomical revenue that could have
cushioned SL’s ebbing economy. Others even connived in smuggling gems into
airplanes for meager bribe. How can one be so nice, if not naive at the expense of his
country? This act tantamount to treason. Rebels kept record of every anomaly. Their
adventure was carefully weighed in the balance. And the time was ripe to harvest from
a rotten and corrupt system.
Taylor is an economist who studied in the United States. He fused his proficiency of
economics, postulating a 'Taylornomics.'' He’s an eloquent orator, yet a horrible-
leader and villain history will give an overt appraisal. The drums of war were beating
violently in Liberia, while rebel incursion into Liberia reached epidemic and dangerous
magnitude. Aided by the international community and the Economic Community of
West African States, a bloodless truce was hatched to save war-fatigue Liberia from
another blood bath. Big brother Nigeria offered Taylor asylum in Calabar, in return
that he should step down from power as Liberia’s leader. It was a bitter pill for Taylor
to swallow, but he had no better option. Otherwise, Nigerian forces would have killed
him according to a United States directive. He was deranged, and at his departure
said, he was leaving so that Liberia can enjoy peace. His final words were “I am
leaving now but I’ll be back soon” sending mixed message to the world. He blasted the
US for acting as the world’s police, meddling in domestic affairs of other nations
around the world.
Opposing rebel forces had taken control of part of Monrovia: the capital housing
Taylor’s government was in arms way. History was about to repeat itself. A similar
tragedy that consumed Doe was very close to happen again. However, the wheels of
misfortune swayed the opposite direction. The destitute nation was spared of blood
bath and mayhem. While this development progressed, United Nations Special Court
in Sierra Leone had indicted Taylor for war crimes in Sierra Leone. A warrant for his
arrest was issued at a summit he attended in Ghana. But host nation Ghana, refused
to execute his arrest. Moreover, pressure on Taylor has not yet subsided. Nigeria was
under pressure to turn Taylor to the Sierra Leone Courts. And the plan was that
Nigeria would not be forced by any power to give up Taylor. Only Liberia had the right
to request the return of Taylor to answer to allegations of his reign of terror in Liberia.
(To be continued)
Roland Bankole Marke is a Florida based freelance writer, poet and author of 3 books: Teardrops
Keep Falling, Silver Rain and Blizzard, and Harvest of Hate: Fuel for the soul. Visit his website: www.
rolandmarke.com
Comments (1)
GODDY UMO, NIGERIA
Roland Bankole Marke did well to capture the background to the happenings before,
during and after the Liberian crisis; President Samuel Kayon Doe was not killed by
Charles Taylor's National Patrotic Front of Liberia's men but by Yomi Johnson's
Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia's men, supervised by Yomi himself.
Furthermore, elections were conducted in 1997, which ushered in Mr Taylor as
president; therefore,he was not president in 1996.Additionally, by 1980 Liberia was
one of the calmest places on the surface of the Earth. The Bacchus Mathews-led
'Rice-riot' in 1989 led to the unintended coup that year. Notwithstanding, it was a
good effort.
GODDY UMO, NIGERIA
Roland Bankole Marke did well to capture the background to the happenings before,
during and after the Liberian crisis; President Samuel Kayon Doe was not killed by
Charles Taylor's National Patrotic Front of Liberia's men but by Yomi Johnson's
Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia's men, supervised by Yomi himself.
Furthermore, elections were conducted in 1997, which ushered in Mr Taylor as
president; therefore,he was not president in 1996.Additionally, by 1980 Liberia was
one of the calmest places on the surface of the Earth. The Bacchus Mathews-led
'Rice-riot' in 1989 led to the unintended coup that year. Notwithstanding, it was a
good effort.