There are two blog specifically covering Charles Taylor trial: The Trial of Charles Taylor-International Criminal Justice in the Making, which is made up of a team of monitors from the global litigation practice of Clifford Chance LLP and the Trial of Charles Taylor blog, a project of Open Society Justice Initiative.

The blogs provide regular posts, expert commentary, daily, weekly and monthly summaries, trial reports and links to relevant documents. Let's see some of the posts and comments on the two blogs.

Taylor Alleges US Govt Helped Him Escape From US Prison:

In a dramatic day of testimony, former Liberian president Charles Taylor told of his 1985 escape from an American maximum security jail with alleged United States government help, only days before a failed US-backed coup attempt to overthrow the then Liberian government.

With his prison cell unlocked by a US prison guard late one night in November 1985, Taylor walked out of the maximum security area of the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts, he told the Special Court for Sierra Leone today. Taylor said he was escorted by the same guard to the minimum security area. Tying a sheet to a window, Taylor climbed out the window and over the prison fence, where a car containing two men was waiting to whisk him to New York, he said.
Taylor told the court that he believed the guard who set him free “had to be operating with someone else.” Taylor also said he assumed that the car that took him to New York “had to be a [US] government car” because the men driving him feared he may be “picked up” if Taylor changed cars to be with his then wife, who had driven to meet the escape car with money to get Taylor out of the country.

Summary of the prosecution's case:

The Prosecutor alleges that Mr. Taylor bears individual criminal responsibility for the crimes on the basis that he allegedly participated in the commission of the crimes by planning, instigating, and ordering them; aiding and abetting them by providing military training and support to the RUF and AFRC; and participating in the execution of a plan to take control of Sierra Leone during which the crimes were committed. The Prosecutor further alleges that Mr. Taylor was a superior to perpetrators of the crimes and failed to take reasonable measures to prevent or punish the crimes while knowing or having reason to know about them.

Does Taylor's Point of View Matter?:

Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, will take the stand next Tuesday amid a blaze of media cameras and lights. As the first sitting African head of state to be indicted and prosecuted for his alleged responsibility for some of the worst crimes known to humanity, the laser beam of international attention will zero in as he tells his side of the story. He is pleading not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law for his alleged role in a war which ravaged Sierra Leone for 11 years.
The media spotlight can have a downside. For example, lawyers for Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a Congolese militia leader on trial at the International Criminal Court for allegedly recruiting child soldiers, lamented on the second day of his trial in January 2009 that Lubanga had already been declared guilty by the media. “In the press he is already convicted, convicted before being tried. And in the eyes of a vast majority, as soon as there is an arrest warrant and as soon as the charges are confirmed and the matter is committed to trial, the presumption of innocence disappears,” said Catherine Mabille, Lubanga’s head defense lawyer.
With Charles Taylor, prosecuted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, speculation abounds about his role in the Sierra Leonean war and his alleged link to the crimes committed there. The prosecution spent 13 months bringing Sierra Leonean survivors to the stand whose limbs had been amputated, or who had been raped or sexually enslaved by groups allegedly under Taylor’s control. They also sought testimony from insider witnesses in an effort to link Taylor to the crimes which were so vividly illustrated by the victims themselves. We have, though, only heard one side of the story.
On Tuesday, we’ll hear Taylor’s side. This matters for reasons beyond the narrative he will tell us in court.

Charles Taylor is a peacemaker:

Charles Taylor is not a war criminal but a peacemaker turned scapegoat by the international community. This was the message put forward by Taylor’s defense in its opening statement today.
Charles Taylor’s lawyer told a packed courtroom today that his client will declare his trial “political” and “set the historical record straight”

Trial Chamber holds status conference:

9:30am: On Monday July 6, 2009, the Trial Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone held a Status Conference in anticipation of the opening of the defence case in the Taylor trial. Both Prosecution and Defence counsel raised several issues bordering on the commencement of the defence case on July 13, 2009. Defence Counsel for Mr. Taylor, Courtaney Griffiths requested the court’s permission to have the defence opening statement delivered on Monday July 13 while Mr. Taylor would commence his testimony on Tuesday July 14, 2009. The prosecution had no objection to this.  Presiding Judge Richard Lussick informed Taylor’s defence counsel Mr. Griffiths that the defence opening statement should be confined only to the evidence that will be adduced in Mr. Taylor’s defence.
Prosecution Counsel Ms. Brenda Hollis informed the Court that there were a few issues that still remain unaddressed by the defence. These, she said, include;
No. of Witnesses to be called by the Defence: Ms. Hollis said that the defence has now filed updated witness summaries and the time esitmate for witnesses’ testimonies. She said that according to the updated witness list, the defence intends to call 256 witnesses, which is 3 times more than those called by the prosecution. She said that an estimate of the time for the testomonies of these witnesses will amount to 94 weeks or a period of 4 years. This, she said, is a diaproportionate number of witnesses and time for their testimonies.
Ms. Hollis also said that the prosecution would want a list of core and back up defence witnesses. She said that she was aware that the defence will give a more refined witness list by the conclusion of Mr. Taylor’s testimony but she wanted the Trial Chamber to order this in case it did not happen. She further said that the summaries of some defence witnesses remain inadequate.

Pre-trial conference:

9:30am: On Monday June 8, 2009, the Trial Chamber II of the Special Court for Sierra Leone hearing the Charles Taylor case held a Pre-Trial Conference to discuss matters relating to the commencement of Mr. Taylor’s defence which is set for June 29, 2009.
After parties for Prosecution and Defence announced their respective representations, Presiding Judge Richard Lissick asked whether anybody wanted to mention any new matter before dealing with items on the anenda for the pre-trial conference. Defence Counsel for Mr. Taylor Courtaney Griffiths informed the court that the Rule 73 motion that was earlier filed by the Defence was incomplete and that his team intended to file a complete version with exhibits as soon as possible.  He said that the exhibits pertinent to the commencement of the Defence Case will be filed.
Justice Lussick then went through the following as list of agenda items for the conference and asked for defence response to each item.
1. Length of Defence Opening Statement
Defence Cousel Griffiths responded that the defence opening statement will not last longer than the Prosecution’s opening statement that was delivered by the Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp at the start of the trial.
2. Defence Access to the Accused during his Testimony.
To this, Prosecution Counsel Ms. Brenda Hollis stated that as a general rule, once a witness commences his testimony in court, he should have no access to either party (prosecution or defence) but that this should be related with accused person’s right to have access to his counsel during the trial. She informed the court that she was in possession of an ICTY rulling which laid guidelines for such a scenario and was willing to share it with the court.
In response, Mr. Griffiths said that in most domestic jurisdictions, there should be no access to the accused once he becomes a witness in his own trial but that this case should be treated differently taking into account the circumstances in this case. He said there was need to take note that the  defence investigations are still ongoing and that counsel will need advice from the accused on some witnesses. Mr Griffiths said that there was need for:
a. Mr. Taylor to have access to all defence staff in order to make progress with his case. These, he said will relate to matters outside his testimony, and
b. He should have access to defence staff in relation to his testimony as far as content and length are concerned. He said that Taylor should be given all necessary assitance and that the accused will need to be in touch with some witnesses.
Ms. Hollis replied that she if the accused had access to counsel and witnesses during his testimony, that should be a suitable area of cross-examination in order to determine what his conversations with those witnesses are.

Here are some of readers' comments on the two blogs:

David says:

IT is not ony mr. tayors who has commated this crime’s there are other people that need to be arested
too let me ask u people why it is ony him that had been arested what about thos people whos brought war in ur country liberia and kill so maney innocent people.

Liberia still loves Taylor:

Mr taylors need to be free and come black to his lovin country mama Liberia we stail love him please leave him along.

Noko4 writes:

Let the fireworks begins……
I pray and hope JUSTICE…..TRUE JUSTICE based on the MANDATE of this court and the MERITS of the testimonies and evidences are the FINAL verdict.

Aki responds to Noko's comment:

Noko4,

I agree with your thoughts. However I must say unless the Prosecution can really discredit Mr. Taylor’s testimony on cross examination the Defense seems to be in the drivers seat.

Osman says George Bush should be next after Charles Taylor:

after the charles trial the next trial should be George bush senoir and junior for crime committed in iraq and other parts of the world directly or indirectly
my question is what UN is waiting for thier arrest,they should be arrected immediatly before they do more harms

Kpakoja wonders whether George Bush and Tony Blair will be put on trial for crimes they committed in Iraq:

As you rightly put it, Taylor’s trial is a “milestones in international efforts to create a norm of accountabilty for mass crimes”. This a good precedence. My concern is that will leaders of and powerful nations be tried for mass crimes against humanity. Will George Bush, Tony Blair etc, be put on trial for their unjustified war in Iraq that led to killing of thousands of Iraqis? I have not heard any of the International human right group call for the establishment of a war crime court to tried leaders who bear the greater responsibility for the henoius crimes that is be committed against the Iraqis. This is why I had no qualms with the African Union’s decision against the arrest of Bashir from Sudan. Don’t only create war crimes for African leaders, create for Europeans, Asians and Americans also who commit crimes against humanity.

Clarence thinks the trial was politically motivated:

It appears to me that for all I see, this trial was politically motivated, a conspiracy against one of the few Pan-Africanist, who the west wants to silenced. It is apparent that a global media campaign has been staged to demonize and condemn the accused even before he is heard. As a powerful global tool, the international media seems to stress the claims of tragic crimes committed during the Sierra Leone war, but fail to blame the hands of those that directly committed those crimes, who themselves are Sierra Leoneans. As one who lived and experienced the worse of the Liberian civil crisis for 14 years, and a victim of violence I suffered and saw others suffered, with reasons to be infuriated with former President Taylor, am instead baffled at the shameless display of so-called justice. Sierra Leoneans must be made to take responsibility for the gruesome crimes they committed against their own people, whether out of frustration over internal politicking or ethnic dispirited or for gain of what is now referred to as the ‘infamous blood diamond’. Therefore, if the west have other reasons to apprehend former President Taylor, let them raise the charges and forget about the fiasco of “Taylor bears greater responsibility for the atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone civil war.” If they have no charge at all against personally, let to come and appeal to Liberians to raise an issue against former President Taylor on the basis of the Liberia civil war to which former president is directly connected.

Goyah says:

President Ghankay Taylor, Bravo to you. It is time for you to show Uncle Sam and others that you are a great leader and that their campaign to condem you to death or life time in prison is a failure. We are watching you day and night and please be yourself and defend yourself beyond all reasonable doubts. Freedom awaits you soon so that you can come back to complete your dream for Liberia. God bless you and your family.

Let the trial be free and fair:

Please let this trial be free and fair, Liberians did not sent their former president to the hague. Serria Leoneons sent the former president of Liberia to the hague, leaving their leaders out of the trial completely but Liberians are watching.

After emerging from civil war, Liberians are now adding their voices to the growing African blogosphere.

I should also point out that Liberia is the home of the blackboard blogger:

Alfred Sirleaf is an analog blogger. He take runs the “Daily News”, a news hut by the side of a major road in the middle of Monrovia. He started it a number of years ago, stating that he wanted to get news into the hands of those who couldn’t afford newspapers, in the language that they could understand.

Meet the Bloggers

Mainlehwon Ebenezer Vonhm blogs for peace at Peaceful Liberia. After living in the United States for 10 years, Mainlehwon decided to return to Liberia to help with post-conflict reconstruction. He introduces himself:

My name is Mainlehwon Ebenezer Vonhm and I was born and raised in Liberia. I fled Liberia during the height of the civil war, lived as a refugee in several West African countries, and eventually, with the help of some American educators, was granted an opportunity to pursue my education in the USA. For the past 10 years, I have lived in the US, studying and learning about how peace education can serve as a pathway to peaceful civility and coexistence. Now I have decided to return home to help in the post-conflict reconstruction efforts. My goal is to build a comprehensive peace education program for Liberia and teach mediation as a means of achieving harmony and a better life for future generations. Quite simply, I'd rather plant seeds of peace.

In his latest post, he writes about his orientation to his new office, the Center for Peace Education:

I went to office on Monday dress up and ready to hit the ground running (picture is attached). Currently, the Center for Peace Education is functioning as a division under Aid for the Needy Development Program (ANDP) – a local non-governmental organization with its head office located at VOA Camp (1), Brewerville, on the outskirts of Monrovia. ANDP provides nutritional supplement for malnourish children and their parents.

Natyln writes about a mini ship wreck in Buchanan, Liberia:

A mini-fishing ship in the port city of Buchanan accidently appeared on-shore that left one person dead, one missing and another tragic motor accident occurring subsequently as the corpse was being taken to the hospital which left a commercial motorcyclist dead instantly upon collision of the ambulance and a motorcycle. DETAILS TO FOLLOW

D Kaihenneh Sengbeh analyses electoral politics:

Though the country’s second post war elections linger 30 months away with already a dark cloud hanging over the prospect, political parties and politicians have begun active preparations and are dreaming big of winning the looming challenging democratic duel.

Secret meetings and phone calls, active negotiations and crossing of carpets have intensified in recent months with the ruling Unity Party (UP), Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) – all old political allies 30 years ago - signing the first meager.

The UP-LAP-LUP has now cut down the number of political parties in the country from 18 to 15 after the National Election Commission had earlier on March 6, 2009 deregistered 10 other political parties for constitutional violations.

With a further expected reduction in the number of political parties, the Secretary General of LUP (one of the recent merging parties), Cletus Sieh, has hinted that the 2011 elections will be competitive, but may not have a second round as witnessed in the 2005’s.

Denna Gibson appeals to fellow bloggers to assist her with a laptop so she can blog continously:

IT IS NICE TO BLOG CONTINOUSLY BUT U CAN NOT DO SO IF U DO NOT HAVE A LAPTOP TO YOURSELF. I AM APPEALING TO MY FELLOW BLOGGERS TO PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH A MINI LAPTOP.THIS IS MY CONTACT NUMBER 06514919

Learn about the the Liberian “Queen of Bassa Gospel Music” from Nat Nyuan-Bayja:

Since Liberian Gospel music began to be deeply rooted in the nation, there has been a representation of the major Liberian vernaculars (dialects) which has firmly established itself among Liberians both at home and abroad. Given this, each of these vernaculars has its own ‘king’ or ‘queen’ as far as the level of talents possessed by said musician is concerned. That is why they are usually referred to “King/Queen of Gola, Mano, Kru (or whatever tribe) Gospel Music”.

Well, Mrs. Choko Wlehyou Barchue is one unique species hailing from one of the most popular (and probably most talented & social-able) Liberian vernaculars that takes center-stage in the ‘world of Liberian entertainment’; whether Gospel or secular. Choko’s incredible singing talent is coupled with her splendid dances that go along with her sharp nightingale voice to compliment it. That is why she is called “THE QUEEN OF BASSA GOSPEL MUSIC”.

What is life in Liberia without blogs?, wonders Titus Christ:

In Liberia, life is a link that calls for adquate perfection. One is incomplete until he or she is linked with others. If and only if life should exist, there must be existance of BLOG in Liberia…where every body will live in the village of information, message,image and picture.

Blogger Emmanuel Tobey is a photojournalist for the United Nations in Liberia. He blogs about the 5th person in Liberia to take home US$10,000:

Like many Liberians, making ends meet daily is like moon walking with out the popper equipment, but for some, the GSM Company (cellcom) has made moon walking look like drinking coco-cola, and now the 5th person Williams Blamo had taken the us$10.000 dollar walk, all you have to do is just call and talk and use two dollars and you will received an electronic ticket for the draw at each week end…………

Konti Amon writes about bitter tribal differences in legislative politics in the country:

Monrovia, Liberia- For long time now the political life of the country has been tied to tribal,sectional, and religious divide.

The recent leadership crises at the liberia senate is bring the bitter tribal differecies to the flood again.

“If those who put you in power don’t want you any more, you have to leave. I am resigning as president pro-tempore of the Liberian senate,” Sen. Nyanibo announced during a senate session.

Learn about photographers in Liberia from Sayon Emerson:

In Liberia there ara lots of photographers. Some of these photographers are selfemployed, while some work with different news media.

For those that are selfemployed, and only do photographing on commercial level, are mostly found on the street, or moving around in the community.

Out of the total number of photographers in Liberia about about 10%(ten) are owners of photo studio,while 5% work with news media.

Most of these Commercialphotographers are not members of the Press Union

Hello world, I am Ammens from Liberian,” writes Ammens Sarplah:

I am Ammens from Liberia, I am highly interested in entertainment and sports.I spend my leisure time listening to good music.The fine arts is more of a culture for me.

Celebrating World Consumer Day in Liberia, writes Keith on his blog Keith4Liberia:

Liberians joined many around the world to celebrate world consumer day for the first time in Liberia since this day was decleared in 1983 to be celebrated world wild.

During the program which took place at the Monrovia City Hall, an association of journalist for the promotion of consumer rights was organized and its leadership was inducted into office.

Woiworgoepogui writes about homicide cases in Liberia:

on the 26 of march 2009 an alleged homicide case reported at my officer which took place at congo town monrovia liberia.victim sumo ,age 24, sex male,add sinkor monrovia liberia.during the observetion we observet that the victim was lying on the side of the road at congo town….

Kpannah blogs about gender-based violence in Liberia:

There are many cases of gender base violance in liberia The last week there was a girl that was rape by her borther and die from the effect The borther is 21 years of age and she was 11 years when it happend. The boy is now in monrovia leatral prison compound . The mother of the girl is crying every day.

Prince Tokpah thinks that the introduction of death penalty in Liberia has not reduced the number of armed robberies:

The government of Liberia last year enacted into law a bill that enforced the death panelty which the said would protect the citize of crime like arm robbery amoung others. This seem to be a myth as the level of arm robbery had in fact increase to a higher level. talking to some citizen yesterday sa they said that the government is not looking to the cause of the problem but rather finding political aternative to real and difficult crime prevension and the protection of citizens and other that are residing in around monrovia.

Blogger Daniel Kokoi works for Amnesty International in Liberia:

I started working for amnesty international liberia in november 2008 as a voluntary worker. in january of this year i received tranining in human right advocay.

Varney Karneh writes about communication devices donated to the University of Liberia:

A team from the Universities of Massachusetts and Syracuse have donated an assortment of communication devices to the Mass Communication Department of the University of Liberia (UL). The items include four digital cameras, seven lenses, two dell laptop computers and accessories.

Liberia's former council chairman finally laid to rest, writes Moses Btogbah:

Liberia’s former state council chairman Professor Wilton Sakanwolo remains have finally been laid to rest. prof Sakanwolo appointed as head of the council in 1995 to lead one of Liberia’s many agreements during the the just ended civil conflict in the country.

the late Prof, wrote many books in Liberia including the famous “WHY NOWBODY KNOW WHEN HE WILL DIE? and thougth english and literature at many unversities in Liberia famous among them the Unversity of Liberia . he received state funiral.

Zoe identifies causes of underdevelopment in Liberia:

Liberia which is the oldest country in Africa,is the youngest on the line of Development based on some causes below:

Illiteracy:Because of the high illiteracy in Liberia,the minds of people are not developed as to how get involved into issues that will move Liberia forward.

Laurina blogs at Supreme Lady. She works at Sky FM radio in Monrovia. She writes about the joy of learning about blogging and photo-journalism:

THIS IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME 2DAY, TO BE A PART OF THIS ALL IMPORTANT WORKSHOP HERE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. I HAVE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO LEARN A LIL BIT MORE ABOUT PHOTO JOUNALISM AND NOW I HAVE JOINED A BLOG. I WISH MY LIL DAUGTHER GORETTI WAS HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE’S IN SCHOOL. ANYWAY MY SIL GRACE IS HERE WITH ME, AND IT’S KOOL TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH GRACE.

Liberian stories is one of the oldest Liberian blogs. However, the blog has not been updated since November last year. Elma Shaw is the owner of Liberian stories:

Elma Shaw writes about the ups and downs of living in post-war Liberia, and of being a Liberian in the diaspora. Writing with a sense of history, a bit of humor, and a sprinkle of irreverence, Shaw presents profiles & photos of people, places and current events. She is the author of Redemption Road: The Quest for Peace and Justice in Liberia (A Novel)

The Liberian Times is a blog dedicated to Liberian and world news:

TheLiberianTimes.com provides the latest Liberian, African, and World News from the most trusted name in Liberian news, now ranked as the #1 most read Liberian news website by Ranking.com. TheLiberianTimes.com features news on a wide variety of topics from staff based out of Liberia and the United States.

Saturdayhseke attended a literacy workshop for teachers:

A One-Day Adults Literacy Teachers TRAINING WorkShop ended on Thursday, March 12, with about fifty teachers participating.

The workshop which was organized by a local NGO ALFALIT INTERN

TIONAL, LIBERIA INCORPORATED based in Monrovia, was intended to train teachers who will teach illiterate people how to read and write.

Below is a list of other blogs by Liberian journalists compiled by David Sasaki in his post, Liberian Journalists Become Bloggers:

* First News Liberia
* Moussomag

* Bens Liberia

* JS Kpenneh

* Sengbeh

* Judicial Reporter Network

* The Forum News

* Azango Liberia

* Gudsdjaeploe