AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
AI Index: IOR 30/021/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 201
African
As Liberians observe the first anniversary of
Charles Taylor's flight into exile, Amnesty International expresses its dismay
at a recent decision of the African Union's (AU) Executive Council
congratulating
"The AU's decision is a betrayal of the tens of
thousands of African victims of the worst possible crimes imaginable, committed
during the conflict in
Charles Taylor has been indicted by the Special
Court for Sierra Leone for "bearing the greatest responsibility" for crimes
against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law
falling within the Special Court’s jurisdiction and committed against African
men, women and children. The crimes with which he is charged include killings,
mutilations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, sexual slavery,
conscription of children, abduction and forced labour perpetrated by
"The action by the Nigerian government in allowing
Charles Taylor to enter Nigerian territory without threat of arrest and
prosecution goes against the wish of the international community that impunity
for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other grave crimes must come to an
end," Amnesty International said. "It denies justice to tens of thousands of
African victims of the worst possible crimes in the world and undermines the
contribution of the
"The decision not only shows contempt for African victims, it goes against the very values that led Africa to take the initiative to establish the Special Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, as well as to play a decisive role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court."
By condoning and endorsing the action of the Government of Nigeria, the AU's Executive Council has acted contrary to the Constitutive Act of the AU which commits all member states to cooperate in promoting and ensuring respect for human rights, democratic culture, good governance and the rule of law.
Furthermore, the AU's decision violates international law which requires that those responsible for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other breaches of international law be brought to justice.
In its decision on
"All member states of the AU should repudiate
publicly the AU's decision on
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