Taylor’s condition appalling

-Chief Allen 

The national chairman emeritus of the former ruling National Patriotic Party or NPP has described the plight of detained ex-President Charles Ghankay Taylor as “appalling and unbecoming.”

Speaking to The NewDawn Wednesday in Monrovia via mobile phone hours after the Residual Court for Sierra Leone denied Mr. Taylor’s motion, seeking a transfer from Britain to Rwanda, Chief Cyril Allen said the living condition of the ex-standard bearer is terrible.

“The living condition of the former President Taylor is appalling and unbecoming; his eating, health, and all conditions that were adhere to by the International Tribunal have all been played low all because the Government (Liberia) has neglected one of its senior citizens,” Chief  Allen lamented.

He stressed that the Government of Liberia is a part of the international conspiracy, denying Mr. Taylor his just benefits as required statutorily.

He added that all family members of Mr. Taylor are being denied visas by the British authorities so that they will not have access to their father and husband.

Allen indicated that it is unfortunate and regrettable that the Liberian government, which supposed to protect the interest of its former President, has abandoned Mr. Taylor in such critical time.

The NPP chairman emeritus noted that all convicted leaders of the disbanded RUF have access to their families in detention except Taylor, who is being neglected by his people and government.

The ex-Liberian President’s hope to spend the remaining term of his 50 years sentence in Africa has been dashed as the Residual Court for Sierra Leone denied a motion from Mr. Taylor, seeking a transfer from Britain to Rwanda.

The Residual Court, which is responsible for the ongoing legal obligations of the Special Court for Sierra Leone ordered Wednesday that Mr. Taylor serves the rest of his sentence in the UK.

The former Liberian leader had argued that he was being denied his rights to a family life, because his wife and children had not been granted UK visas.

But judges rejected this argument, saying they had not properly applied.

A UN-backed court convicted him of war crimes over his support for rebels who committed atrocities in Sierra Leone.

Taylor was sentenced in 2012 and arrived in the UK last October, having unsuccessfully challenged the decision to be detained there.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor