WEST AFRICAN YOUTH NETWORK WAYN GHANA
REGIONAL SECRETARIAT LIAISON TO ECOWAS
ROOM 40-41 P O BOX DC 824
NATIONAL STADIUM, MAIN BOWL DANSOMAN COM
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE ACCRA-GHANA
[email protected] [email protected]
www.waynyouth.org +233-244-666-045

It is Time To Bring War Criminal Charles Taylor to Justice
The pressure is mounting on Taylor; it is time to turn him over to the Court.

Peace is something that may never be completely actualized in world affairs. Human history is a record of its elusiveness. However, it is in our common interest to recognize that peace remains a goal to constantly strive for, a condition to be sought after, and an ideal to be approximated. Yet, with all of humanity's failed to attempts to bring peace about, peace may seem to be virtually unobtainable or confined to the realm of abstraction. However, despite the disappointments and setbacks, we can at least recognize within ourselves the undeniable feeling that we have a responsibility as citizens of the world to strive toward realizing peace.
WE, the youth of Africa, are calling on our Governments to ask Nigeria to immediately turn over the former Liberian President to the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). The SCSL has indicted Taylor for his role in committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law during the war in Sierra Leone in the late 1990's.
In August 2003, Nigeria, in consultation with other world powers, agreed to accept Charles Taylor on its territory. This good-faith agreement removed Taylor from Liberia and allowed the Liberian peace process to start. Taylor went to Nigeria on the condition that he no longer be involved in Liberian or West African affairs, and that he no longer speak to the media.
From the beginning of his stay in Nigeria, Charles Taylor has broken his word to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, by speaking to the media, maintaining day-to-day involvement in Liberian politics, and seeking to destabilise West Africa.
Because Taylor remains involved in Liberian politics, it is particularly important that he be transferred to Freetown for a fair trial before elections in Liberia this October. Nigeria accepted Taylor in the interests of Liberian peace. Now, the interests of Liberian peace demand that he immediately be sent for trial to Freetown.
"Taylor was responsible for mass carnage in Sierra Leone. There have been numerous reports of his violations of the terms of his asylum; he should be turned over and have to face the Court," U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA-40).
The SCSL has indicted Taylor on 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity based on his role in directly supporting the actions of the rebel Revolutionary United Front, which include widespread and systematic attacks upon the civilian population of Sierra Leone. The charges against Taylor include terrorizing civilians, mass murder, rape, abduction, forced labor, and cutting off of limbs.
The international community cannot allow Taylor to evade responsibility for his unconscionable actions. The Court was established to bring those who bear the greatest responsibility to justice; Charles Taylor undoubtedly bears the greatest responsibility
We invite you to join hands with youth of Africa and the Special Court for Sierra Leone and other leading global peace personalities to sign a petition to our Governments to ask Nigeria to turn over the former Liberian President Mr. Charles Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)

Sincerely

Daniel Edah, Sammy Jacobs Abbey
Executive Director Liaison officer to ECOWAS
Africa Peace, Benin West Africa Youth Network, GH
www.africa-peace.org www.waynyouth.org
Tél.+229 07 64 08 +233-244-666-045
[email protected] [email protected]
Campaign Coordinator Campaign Co- Assistant

With my signature I endorse the immediate transfer of Charles Taylor to the SCSL………………………….

WAYN Member Countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Ivory Coast
Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso