1. Posted on Wednesday 12 March 2008 - 13:52

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   Redactie AfrikaNieuws

   

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   Peter Vlam - AfricaNews

   A Dutch Court of Appeal cleared entrepreneur Guus van Kouwenhoven of selling arms to the Taylor regime. The Court argued that there had been insufficient evidence for a conviction, annulling an earlier eight-year sentence. What do you think?

   

   The court argued that there had been insufficient evidence for a conviction, annulling Dutch timber trader Guus Kouwenhoven's eight-year sentence. The prosecution witnesses who linked Mr van Kouwenhoven to arms dealing were unreliable.
   
   Global Witness is extremely disappointed by the appeal court's decision. "The barbaric regime of Charles Taylor was financed and maintained by the revenues generated from the timber trade, in which Guus Van Kouwenhoven was the biggest player. This decision is a sad day for peace and justice in Liberia and for the ending of impunity," said Alex Yearsley of Global Witness.
   
   Have your say! How do you feel about this ruling of the Court.
   
   
   See previous discussions

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Reactions

1. Posted on Thursday 13 March 2008 12:33

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   Bright

   

   Bright Jacob
   3 berichten
   Lid sinds January 2008
   Monrovia

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   What do you think, you think judging the man in his home town with forign perceved attrocities will work. Gus should have been brought to Liberia or Sierra Loen where he committed the act. Listen I am a Liberian and I have been living in Liberia since the hit of the war and until now.I know Gus and we all know Gus.
   
   Gus is A criminal and every Liberian could testify on it, not to talk of Sierra Loennians.Ok I do understand too Charles Taylor will soon be free too, IF his president is crime free.
   
   Every Liberian Knows that Gus was the President of Liberia[Economically] and all his rich and classic estates and hotels were all looted by his own created devils.
   
   Well he is free,so they said, but he better not return to Liberia, if he does he will be skinned alive he and his daughter. Oh am sorry he shoould he is implicated on the ongoing TRC hearings in Liberia, Yes we need the Crime free man, to come and stand TRC hearings.Could you believe that? their own created devils are implicating them.
   
   People... I suggets you come to Liberia and found out if he is innocent or not. here you can feel the bitterness of the people about Gus life and deeds.

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2. Posted on Thursday 08 May 2008 11:31

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   Dutch_Journalist

   

   
   1 berichten
   Lid sinds May 2008

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   As a journalist in the Netherlands I have been following this trail quite closely. The Court has appealed the release of Kouwenhoven, so he might be sentenced in the second term. To be honest, the research into Kouwenhoven was rather faulty. Perhaps they will do better the second time round.
   
   I have never been to Liberia and I cannot say Kouwenhoven is quilty of these alleged crimes or not. I would like to know more about this man's history in Liberia and Sierra Leone, so if anyone might help out with - factual - information, please do so:
   
   nico.van.wijk@quotenet.nl

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