III 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 127
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MAY 9, 2005
Received 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Calling on the Government of the Federal Republic of Nige-
ria 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.
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 
‘‘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
HCON 127 RDS 
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 
‘‘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
HCON 127 RDS 
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; 
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.’’;
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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: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.