A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

methods condoned, encouraged, or even directed by the faction leaders. Taylor reportedly told one
statement giver’s brother, “this was a war, and that the boys are trained to kill, even if they killed his
mother.” 5 A former combatant stated that Taylor would use media broadcasts to instruct the rebels,
“everybody loot, take anything you see.” 6 Coupled with the poor training and lack of discipline among
fighters, 7 such direction encouraged a culture of unchecked violence.
Human Rights and Humanitarian Abuses in Greater Liberia
In the few months following the 1989 invasion, the NPFL fought its way from Nimba County to
the Port of Buchanan, thus bisecting the country. 8 With the Doe government-controlled northwest
and southeast unable to coordinate, Charles Taylor was quickly able to take over the majority of the
“Persons taking no active part in
the hostilities, including members
of armed forces who have laid down
their arms and those placed hors
de combat by sickness, wounds,
detention, or any other cause, shall
in all circumstances be treated
humanely, without any adverse
distinction founded on race, colour,
religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth,
or any other similar criteria.” Art.
3(1), Convention (IV) relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
of War.
Forced Displacement
country, 9 with the exception of Monrovia. By April 1990, 90
percent of Liberia was under NPFL control. 10 This territory,
known as Greater Liberia, remained primarily under NPFL
rule for most of the first civil war. Taylor governed Greater
Liberia from the town of Gbarnga. 11
The period from the initial invasion in December 1989, until
a peacekeeping force was deployed in August 1990 marked
an intense episode of fighting, killings, and other human
rights violations. 12 During this time, both rebel factions
and government forces were responsible for the deaths of
thousands of civilians. 13 As Taylor’s NPFL sought to gain
control over territory and the Doe government sought to
repress it, civilians became both the collateral damage and
intended targets of opposing forces.
Those living within Greater Liberia, particularly Nimba County, experienced particularly intense
fighting and hardship as the NPFL pushed forward its offensive. The insurgency resulted in massive
displacement, and it is estimated that approximately half of Liberia’s population was displaced in
1990. 14 While in many cases Liberians fled to escape the fighting, in other cases they fled after their
family members had been killed and homes destroyed. 15 A statement giver living in Grand Gedeh
described how she and her brother’s family fled after rebels attacked them in 1990:
My sister-in-law was pregnant at the time and the rebels cut her open to see
the sex of the baby…At the time of the fighting after my sister-in-law was
killed, I was beat and hit on the back of the head – knocked unconscious.
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