109TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 127
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Calling on the Government of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria to transfer Charles Ghankay Taylor,
former President of the Republic of Liberia, to
the Special Court for Sierra Leone to be tried for
war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other
serious violations of international humanitarian
law.
109TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 127
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas on January 16, 2002, as requested by United Na-
tions Security Council Resolution 1315 (2000), an agree-
ment 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
•HCON 127 EH
‘‘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 Repub-
lic 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 di-
rectly supporting and materially, logistically, and politi-
cally abetting the rebel Revolutionary United Front
(RUF) and its actions, including its notorious, wide-
spread, and systematic attacks upon the civilian popu-
lation of Sierra Leone;
Whereas the indictment of Charles Taylor includes charges of
terrorizing civilians and subjecting civilians to collective
punishment, mass murder, sexual slavery and rape, ab-
duction 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 Revolu-
tionary 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
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‘‘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 Libe-
ria for Calabar, Nigeria, where he was granted asylum
and, according to press reports, agreed to end his involve-
ment in Liberian politics;
Whereas in September 2003 the Government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria warned Taylor that it would ‘‘not tol-
erate any breach of this condition and others which for-
bid him from engaging in active communications with
anyone engaged in political, illegal or governmental ac-
tivities in Liberia’’;
Whereas the United States, Nigeria, and other concerned na-
tions have contributed extensive political, human, mili-
tary, financial, and material resources toward the build-
ing 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 de-
serving 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 plan-
ning to undermine the peace process’’ in Liberia;
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Whereas David Crane, Chief Prosecutor at the Special Court
for Sierra Leone, stated: ‘‘Unless and until Charles Tay-
lor is brought to justice, there will be no peace. Charles
Taylor is a big cloud hanging over Liberia. He is still rul-
ing the country from his house arrest in Calabar. His
agents remain influential in the country.’’;
Whereas on March 22, 2005, Jacques Klein, the United Na-
tions 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 con-
tinuing 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
concurring), 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 Si-
erra Leone to undergo a fair and open trial for war crimes,
crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of
international humanitarian law.
Passed the House of Representatives May 4, 2005.
Attest:
Clerk.