Liberia: Ex-wife of Charles Taylor sues her war victim, rights journalist for libel. Oddly, judge rewards her $1.5 million

“Imagine somebody kills your mother and father and then sues you for saying that they committed the crime.”

Editor’s note: The name Agnes Reeves Taylor was in no small way a name during the war days in Liberia, a West African country where ex-black U.S. slaves resettled in the 1800s. As wife to ex-warlord Charles Taylor, she stood firmly by his side around 1990-92, prosecuting a brutal war which killed an estimated 300,000 Liberians and foreign nationals-action that would hunt her later. Now, 32 years later, she’s fighting a different type of battle, suing her war-victim(s), rights advocate(s) who dare criticize or accuse her of human rights abuses.

By Alphonso Nyenuh/Contributing Human Rights Journalist 

A couple of years ago, I was invited to a meeting with officials of the US Justice Department regarding the prosecution of human rights abuses in Liberia, specifically the prosecution of human rights abusers who were present in the U.S.

At that meeting one of the Justice Department officials asked me: “Alphonso, why aren’t Liberians at least suing people who committed crimes against them in civil suits for damages?”

Basically, what he meant was, why is it that those whose parents, children, loved ones were killed,  homes burnt, etc., are not suing the perpetrators on civil charges?

I had been thinking about this idea before it was raised at that meeting; even though I was more focused at the time on wholesale criminal prosecutions for war crimes and crimes against humanity and was insisting at that meeting, that the international community helps us with setting up a war crimes process inside Liberia.

However, the idea of civil actions would be good for several reasons:

1) if suits are successful, individuals and families that file the suits could get some reparations for the damages they suffered.

2) even where a particular suit/case is not successful, it would still raise awareness about war crimes in Liberia.

3) the process will make war criminals uncomfortable

4)the process would test the Liberian justice system vis a vis its willingness and ability to dispense Justice.

Mrs. Agnes Reeves- Taylor, Charles Taylor’s gun-toting war-time wife, may have just revived this idea; and may not even know it.

Mrs. Taylor sued, and a Liberian court ruled a few days ago that Massa Washington, a former member of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), is guilty of defaming Agnes Reeves- Taylor and must pay Mrs. Taylor $1.5 million dollars.

The case: Massa Washington accused Mrs. Taylor of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Mrs. Taylor sued Ms. Washington civilly, claiming that Ms. Washington’s comments about her role in the war were not true and thus injurious.

The court ruled in favor of Taylor’s wife because, according to the judge , neither Ms. Washington nor a lawyer of hers showed up for the case. 

I have no interest in Mrs. Taylor’s lawsuit because I think it’s frivolous and will thus not dwell on its details or merits. Imagine somebody kills your mother and father and then sues you for saying that they committed the crime.

It is a dare and downright insult that perpetrators of heinous war crimes would be the ones suing the victims of their murder, mayhem and torture campaign for defamation.

The tables need to be turned. What if a victim, say of Gen. Prince Johnson’s  many summary executions, were to sue him (Gen. Johnson) in civil court for monetary reward? What if, for example, a member of the Dokie family were to sue Benjamin Yeaten or Charles Taylor for monetary damages, or a victim of the Duport Road or the Lutheran Church or Carter Camp, massacres sue perpetrators of those crimes?

For instance, if Benjamin Yeaten or Charles Taylor was found liable and had monetary penalties imposed upon them, the actions could be attached to their estates in which case, some of their properties could be seized and auctioned to pay the penalty (ies).

This could represent an important windfall for children and families whose lives were turned upside down by the murder of their parents and sole breadwinners.

Mrs. Taylor herself could get sued civilly for monetary or other such damages.

This civil suit process would take the power of decision on accountability for war crimes in Liberia from the hands of our government which clearly prefers impunity. It will place the power of holding war criminals accountable in the hands of the victims.

I urge all victims of human rights abuses in Liberia as well as Liberian human rights activists and organizations to pursue this path.

Author: Alphonso W. Nyenuh is a Liberian human rights activist who previously worked for seven years as Information Officer for the Liberian Catholic Justice and Peace Commision. His job included investigating, documenting and reporting human rights abuses during the country’s civil wars through the era of Taylor’s presidency. A campaigner for accountability for war and economic crimes, Nyenuh has worked with local and international rights groups including the U.S. Justice Department, pressing for accountability for war and economic crimes in his native Liberia.    

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the above article are solely those of the author and may not necessarily represent those of Global Ekklesia News Magazine. 

GOD IS IN HUMAN RIGHTS BUSINESS; SEND US YOUR ARTICLES ON SUSPECTED WAR CRIMES PLUS THE GOSPELS FOR PUBLICATION. Banner photograph-never before published-of former warlord-president Charles M. Taylor.

The above article has been updated.