From the Court Chamber to the Court of Public Opinion – facilitating local media coverage of the trial of Charles Taylor
The BBC World Service Trust (BBCWST) is implementing a two-pronged project. It is developing, deploying and supporting a team of Liberian and Sierra Leonean reporters to cover the court proceedings from The Hague, as it works with media outlets across Liberia and Sierra Leone to develop and produce their own locally-appropriate programming.
Since the trial’s debut in June 2007, each team has filed daily correspondence-style reports from the court chambers to partner radio stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Off the back of these reports, project staff in country have worked to produce a weekly 30-minute radio programme for broadcast throughout the two countries. Team members have also provided sustained on-the-job training and mentoring (backed up by equipment donations) to more than 30 radio stations. Furthermore, these stations, and others in the project’s distribution network, produce their own programming around key transitional justice and development issues arising from the case, primarily in the area of civic education.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (February 1 - 5, 2010)
Mr. Taylor has been accused of harassment and imprisonment of several Journalists and closing down several media institutions during his presidency. Liberian journalist Joseph Cheeseman reports from The Hague
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (January 25 - 29, 2010)
Charles Taylor has denied allegations that his NPFL fighters targeted certain ethnic groups during the Liberian conflict as well as using women as sex slaves. He is also accused of using child soldiers as young as the age of six to fight for his cause.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (January 18 - 22, 2010)
Mr. Taylor strongly denies allegations of joining the ECOWAS committee of 5 to promote the interest of the RUF rebels in Sierra Leone. He is also accused of planning to destabilise West Africa during his time in power and supporting a rebel attack in Ivory Coast.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (January 11 - 15, 2010)
The prosecution has accused Mr. Taylor of passing an immunity bill that will protect RUF fighters in Liberia during his days as president. Also Mr. Taylor is also accused of lying about his role in a failed coup in 1985
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (November 23 - 27, 2009)
Mr. Taylor has been questioned by Breda Hollis on alleged killings by the National Patriotic Front child soldiers and the murder of 13 officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia who led fellow soldiers on the streets for pay in 1998.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (November 16 - 20, 2009)
Charles Taylor’s cross examination resumed on Monday where he denied the responsibility of killing six American catholic nuns in the Monrovia suburb of Gardnerville. He is also questioned on the misuse of telephone lines to communicate with his defense lawyers.