[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 127 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.127
                                          Agreed to May 10, 2005        

                       One Hundred Ninth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
            the fourth day of January, two thousand and five


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas on January 16, 2002, as requested by United Nations Security 
  Council Resolution 1315 (2000), an agreement was signed by the 
  Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the United Nations to 
  establish the Special Court for Sierra Leone;

Whereas the Special Court for Sierra Leone was given the power to 
  prosecute persons who have committed and ``bear the greatest 
  responsibility'' for war crimes, crimes against humanity, other 
  serious violations of international humanitarian law, and certain 
  crimes under Sierra Leonean law committed within the territory of 
  Sierra Leone during that country's brutal civil war during the period 
  after November 30, 1996;

Whereas on June 4, 2003, the Special Court for Sierra Leone unsealed an 
  indictment issued on March 3, 2003, against Charles Ghankay Taylor, 
  former President of the Republic of Liberia, charging him with 
  seventeen counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other 
  violations of international humanitarian law relating to his role in 
  directly supporting and materially, logistically, and politically 
  abetting the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and its actions, 
  including its notorious, widespread, and systematic attacks upon the 
  civilian population of Sierra Leone;

Whereas the indictment of Charles Taylor includes charges of 
  terrorizing civilians and subjecting civilians to collective 
  punishment, mass murder, sexual slavery and rape, abduction and 
  hostage taking, severe mutilation, including the cutting off of limbs 
  and other physical violence and inhumane acts, enslavement, forced 
  labor, forced military conscription, including forced conscription of 
  children, theft, arson, looting, and pillage, and widespread attacks 
  upon the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and 
  humanitarian workers by the Revolutionary United Front combatants;

Whereas the Revolutionary United Front was notorious for brutally 
  murdering and torturing civilians, including the amputation of limbs 
  with machetes, and by carving ``RUF'' onto the bodies of thousands of 
  victims, including women and children;

Whereas the Revolutionary United Front made widespread use of abducted 
  children as laborers and soldiers and forced many of the abducted 
  children to perform severe human rights abuses, constituting a 
  serious crime under the jurisdiction of the Special Court for Sierra 
  Leone;

Whereas on August 11, 2003, Charles Taylor departed Liberia for 
  Calabar, Nigeria, where he was granted asylum and, according to press 
  reports, agreed to end his involvement in Liberian politics;

Whereas in September 2003 the Government of the Federal Republic of 
  Nigeria warned Taylor that it would ``not tolerate any breach of this 
  condition and others which forbid him from engaging in active 
  communications with anyone engaged in political, illegal or 
  governmental activities in Liberia'';

Whereas the United States, Nigeria, and other concerned nations have 
  contributed extensive political, human, military, financial, and 
  material resources toward the building of peace and stability in 
  Liberia and Sierra Leone;

Whereas the Special Court for Sierra Leone has contributed to 
  developing the rule of law in Sierra Leone and is deserving of 
  support;

Whereas on March 17, 2005, the United Nations Secretary-General 
  reported to the United Nations Security Council that Charles Taylor's 
  ``former military commanders and business associates, as well as 
  members of his political party, maintain regular contact with him and 
  are planning to undermine the peace process'' in Liberia;

Whereas David Crane, Chief Prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra 
  Leone, stated: ``Unless and until Charles Taylor is brought to 
  justice, there will be no peace. Charles Taylor is a big cloud 
  hanging over Liberia. He is still ruling the country from his house 
  arrest in Calabar. His agents remain influential in the country.'';

Whereas on March 22, 2005, Jacques Klein, the United Nations Special 
  Representative of the Secretary-General to Liberia, stated: ``Charles 
  Taylor is a psychopath and a killer * * * He's still very much 
  involved [in and is * * * ] intrusive in Liberian politics.''; and

Whereas Charles Taylor remains a serious present and continuing threat 
  to Liberian and West African subregional political stability, 
  security, and peace, and to United States interests in the region: 
  Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress urges the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 
to expeditiously transfer Charles Ghankay Taylor, former President of 
the Republic of Liberia, to the jurisdiction of the Special Court for 
Sierra Leone to undergo a fair and open trial for war crimes, crimes 
against humanity, and other serious violations of international 
humanitarian law.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.