LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands – Convicted war criminal and former Liberian President CharlesTaylor told judges at his sentencing hearing Wednesday that hesympathizes with victims of the civil war in Sierra Leone he helpedfoment, and judges should render their sentence against him in aspirit of "reconciliation, not retribution." However, he stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing, apologizingfor his actions, or expressing remorse.In a landmark ruling inApril, judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone found Taylorguilty of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity,including murder, rape, and conscripting child soldiers. Judges atthe U.N.-backed court said his aid was essential in in helpingrebels across the border in Sierra Leone continue their bloodyrampage during the West African nation's decade-long civil war,which ended in 2002 with more than 50,000 dead. It was the first time a former head of state had been convicted ofwar crimes since the aftermath of World War II. Taylor is due to be sentenced on May 30, with prosecutors demandingan 80-year prison term, and defense lawyers planning an appeal --and arguing he should at least be given a sentence that leaves himsome hope for life after release. "I express my sadness and sympathy for crimes suffered byindividuals and families in Sierra Leone," Taylor said. He insistedhis actions had actually been done to help stabilize the region andclaimed he never knowingly assisted in the commission of crimes. "What I did...was done with honor," he said. "I was convinced thatunless there was peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia would not be ableto move forward." Judges found Taylor helped the rebels obtain weapons, knowing theywould likely be used to commit terrible crimes, in exchange forpayments of "blood diamonds" often obtained by slave labor. Prosecutors said there was no reason for leniency, given theextreme nature of the crimes and Taylor's position of power. "The purposely cruel and savage crimes committed included publicexecutions and amputations of civilians, the display of decapitatedheads at checkpoints, the killing and public disembowelment of acivilian whose intestines were then stretched across the road tomake a check point, public rapes of women and girls, and peopleburned alive in their homes," said prosecutor Brenda Hollis in apre-hearing brief. Defense attorney Courtenay Griffiths argued for a sentencereflecting Taylor's indirect role: he was found guilty only ofaiding the rebels, not leading them as prosecutors originallycharged. He said Taylor's conviction has been "trumpeted...as sending anunequivocal message to world leaders that holding office confers noimmunity" from war crimes prosecution. But the reality is thatwhile many Western countries have funded militias that havecommitted atrocities, no Western leader has ever been indicted by awar crimes tribunal, he said. The lesson is "if you are a small, weak nation, you may be subjectto the full force of international law, whereas if you run apowerful nation you have nothing to fear," Griffiths said. Griffiths also said the 80 year sentencing demand is "manifestlydisproportionate and excessive" for Taylor, who is 64. In court, Hollis scoffed at that. She said Taylor's involvement in the crimes was "more pervasivethan that of the most senior leaders" of the Sierra Leone rebelswho have already been sentenced. The longest sentence so far, 52years, was handed down to rebel leader Issa Sesay, who testified onTaylor's behalf in 2010. Taylor fled into exile in Nigeria after being indicted by the courtin 2003 and wasn't arrested for three years. While the Sierra Leonecourt is formally based in that country's capital, Taylor's trialis being staged in Leidschendam, a suburb of The Hague,Netherlands, for fear holding it in West Africa could destabilizethe region. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Led Rechargeable Searchlight , Cob Led Lighting for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Cob Led Lighting.
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