A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

his bare hand and because of that, my three teeth came out from my mouth.
He said he committed the act because he worked for my late father, G.A.,
and that my father did not pay him. He alerted me under Bong Mine Bridge
and asked me for my name. I told him my name and he later said, “I work
for your dirty father and he did not pay me.” He told me to give him six feet,
but I refused to go back so he slapped me on my mouth. 166
Families became separated and displaced as civilians were taken away or fled. 167 Both males and
females were susceptible to being abducted as statements indicate they were taken away to become
bush wives, laborers, or combatants. One statement giver summarized the abduction of his sister and
aunt by NPFL rebels:
The next day, as we were making our way to the Soul Clinic, we were
approached by a group of Charles Taylor’s rebels in trucks, who were looking
for “wives.” They proceeded to abduct my sister (15 years old) and my aunt
(17 years old). I was horrified and devastated to see them taking my sister and
aunt away while I and my parents stood by watching helplessly. I had heard
by word of mouth what happened to women and girls that were abducted. 168
The statement giver himself ended up being abducted by rebels and forced into manual labor, along
with other children, at the Old Soda Factory. 169 Another statement giver described how rebels came to
their home and killed his father, a government employee. 170 His mother, sisters, and brothers fled in
different directions, and the statement giver has not seen any family members since that day. 171
During their flight from the battle, Liberians were
subject to additional abuses. 172 One statement giver
described his experience during the siege:
During the first week in July 1990, when Taylor attacked Monrovia, my
mother, six brothers and I sought to flee to Kakata by way of the Fendell
campus. As we were walking, we were detained by Taylor’s militia…[The
leaders] directed militia members to beat my older brother. My brother was
also subjected to tabay and was killed in front of my eyes. The following day
my mother instructed me to proceed without her and to flee with my five
younger brothers. As my brothers and I resumed walking, we were again
detained by Taylor’s militia. The militia cut one of my young brothers then
shot all of them dead -- only I was spared. 173
Later, the statement giver learned that his mother had also been killed. 174
148
“No one shall be required to perform forced or
compulsory labour.” Art. 8(3)(a), International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.