The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it has no information on claims former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor made on Monday at the Special Court for Sierra Leone that Taipei gave Liberia US$1 million in 1997, but added that ministry protocol dictated all foreign aid projects must be approved by the ministry before funds can be transferred to recipient countries.
“Our government has a very strict policy on foreign aid. All foreign aid projects must pertain to the public welfare of the recipient country based on plans it proposes. The plans for any collaborative projects must be approved by the ministry before the sum is dispatched,” ministry Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said.
Chen made the comments in response to a story on the Web site of United Press International that said the former dictator claimed during his hearing that Taiwan donated US$1 million to his 1996-1997 presidential campaign.
The money, Taylor was quoted in the report as saying, was delivered through the Taiwanese embassy in Ivory Coast and was received by then-chief of protocol Musa Sessay.
The Republic of China has never had an embassy in the Ivory Coast, Chen said, adding that the ministry was looking into the claims.
As of press time, the Special Court has not posted the transcript of the hearing on its Web site.
Known as one of the most oppressive warlords in Africa, the exiled former leader is now facing a war crimes tribunal for the atrocities he allegedly committed against the people of Sierra Leone. Taylor is blamed for arming and leading the rebels in the country’s civil war between 1996 and 2002.
The indictment against Taylor says he either oversaw or failed to prevent Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Force rebel forces from committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges he faces range from conscripting minors under age 15 into the armed forces, rape, murder, mental and physical abuse, enslavement and pillage.
According to report, Taylor said the US$1 million was Taiwan’s contribution to his campaign and that the “Taiwanese government probably did so for public relations reasons.”
“They developed an interest in me,” Taylor was quoted as saying, adding, “at that particular time, it was clear that elections were coming up. There was this concern that after the elections, they were concerned that China will block their interest in Liberia.”
“It was like a form of PR for them because they were concerned that diplomatic support will continue after I became president. It was part of a policy to try to court foreign countries or prospective leaders,” the report quoted Taylor as saying.
Taylor reportedly said that the Taiwanese government provided him with two ambulances, which he donated to the Liberian government.
Part of the money received from Taiwan was also used to establish the Charles Ghankay Taylor Educational and Humanitarian Foundation.
Sources familiar with Taiwan’s relations in Africa said the money could have been given to Taylor under the pretext of humanitarian aid, but later ended up in his pocket.
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