Final Over in Bloody Innings

It may not have been totally unexpected. But the judgment holding Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, guilty on 11 counts and “criminally responsible” for brutal war crimes by rebels in Sierra Leone, is a landmark one nevertheless, Diamond World stated in its Weekly E-Post. He is the first former head of state of any African nation to be found guilty by an international court of war crimes. With expectations that his sentencing in early May will lead to a long stint in prison, it should be a fair warning for other politicians involved in similar bloody activities.
The Sierra Leone Civil War in those years was amongst the most brutal on the African continent, with widespread atrocities being committed against women and children as well. The most vivid image of the civil war which will remain embedded in many minds is the brutal limb hackings by the rebel soldiers, immortalized in the Blood Diamonds movie.
Sierra Leone was, after Angola, one of the main triggers of the UN Resolutions of the time and the setting up of the KPCS, which has been coming under much flak recently from NGOs and some others. Maybe the Charles Taylor indictment will give both bodies a shot in the arm. KP does its work of ensuring that blood diamonds do not enter the diamond business. The UN polices the world, and brings bloody dictators like Taylor to justice. More than anything else the verdict has proved that the international bodies can have teeth.