H. Con. Res. 127
Agreed to May 10, 2005
One Hundred Ninth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the fourth day of January, two thousand and five
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas on January 16, 2002, as requested by United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1315 (2000), an agreement was signed
by the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the
United Nations to establish the Special Court for Sierra Leone;
Whereas the Special Court for Sierra Leone was given the power
to prosecute persons who have committed and ‘‘bear the greatest
responsibility’’ for war crimes, crimes against humanity, other
serious violations of international humanitarian law, and certain
crimes under Sierra Leonean law committed within the territory
of Sierra Leone during that country’s brutal civil war during
the period after November 30, 1996;
Whereas on June 4, 2003, the Special Court for Sierra Leone
unsealed an indictment issued on March 3, 2003, against Charles
Ghankay Taylor, former President of the Republic of Liberia,
charging him with seventeen counts of war crimes, crimes against
humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian
law relating to his role in directly supporting and materially,
logistically, and politically abetting the rebel Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) and its actions, including its notorious, wide-
spread, and systematic attacks upon the civilian population of
Sierra Leone;
Whereas the indictment of Charles Taylor includes charges of terror-
izing civilians and subjecting civilians to collective punishment,
mass murder, sexual slavery and rape, abduction and hostage
taking, severe mutilation, including the cutting off of limbs and
other physical violence and inhumane acts, enslavement, forced
labor, forced military conscription, including forced conscription
of children, theft, arson, looting, and pillage, and widespread
attacks upon the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) and humanitarian workers by the Revolutionary
United Front combatants;
Whereas the Revolutionary United Front was notorious for brutally
murdering and torturing civilians, including the amputation of
limbs with machetes, and by carving ‘‘RUF’’ onto the bodies
of thousands of victims, including women and children;
Whereas the Revolutionary United Front made widespread use
of abducted children as laborers and soldiers and forced many
of the abducted children to perform severe human rights abuses,
constituting a serious crime under the jurisdiction of the Special
Court for Sierra Leone;
Whereas on August 11, 2003, Charles Taylor departed Liberia for
Calabar, Nigeria, where he was granted asylum and, according
H. Con. Res. 127—2
to press reports, agreed to end his involvement in Liberian poli-
tics;
Whereas in September 2003 the Government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria warned Taylor that it would ‘‘not tolerate
any breach of this condition and others which forbid him from
engaging in active communications with anyone engaged in polit-
ical, illegal or governmental activities in Liberia’’;
Whereas the United States, Nigeria, and other concerned nations
have contributed extensive political, human, military, financial,
and material resources toward the building of peace and stability
in Liberia and Sierra Leone;
Whereas the Special Court for Sierra Leone has contributed to
developing the rule of law in Sierra Leone and is deserving
of support;
Whereas on March 17, 2005, the United Nations Secretary-General
reported to the United Nations Security Council that Charles
Taylor’s ‘‘former military commanders and business associates,
as well as members of his political party, maintain regular contact
with him and are planning to undermine the peace process’’
in Liberia;
Whereas David Crane, Chief Prosecutor at the Special Court for
Sierra Leone, stated: ‘‘Unless and until Charles Taylor is brought
to justice, there will be no peace. Charles Taylor is a big cloud
hanging over Liberia. He is still ruling the country from his
house arrest in Calabar. His agents remain influential in the
country.’’;
Whereas on March 22, 2005, Jacques Klein, the United Nations
Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Liberia, stated:
‘‘Charles Taylor is a psychopath and a killer * * * He’s still
very much involved [in and is * * * ] intrusive in Liberian
politics.’’; and
Whereas Charles Taylor remains a serious present and continuing
threat to Liberian and West African subregional political stability,
security, and peace, and to United States interests in the region:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That Congress urges the Government of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria to expeditiously transfer Charles Ghankay Taylor, former
President of the Republic of Liberia, to the jurisdiction of the
Special Court for Sierra Leone to undergo a fair and open trial
H. Con. Res. 127—3
for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious viola-
tions of international humanitarian law.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.