The leaderof the former Liberian Peace Council, one of the many factions in Liberia's 14-year-oldcivil war has sued the U.S.-based Advocates for Human Rights group fordefamation.
George Boley, who served as Minister of State for PresidentialAffairs under President Samuel Doe, was accused by a witness testifying beforethe Truth Commission earlier this year of looting unspecified amounts of cashand valuables from the private home of President William R. Tolbert followingthe April 12, 1980 coup. His LiberianPeace Council is also accused of committing various crimes during the Liberianconflict.
Boley told VOA the Advocates for HumanRights has defamed his character.
"I did file a complaint inthe federal court in Minneapolis, Minnesota against the human rights groupknown as the Advocates for Human Rights in Minnesota. If you recall, back in2006 in November, the deputy director of that organization was on MinnesotaPublic Radio, along with Jerome Verdier, chairman of the TRC (Truth andReconciliation Commission) in Liberia. And without reason, without regards forthe truth announced to the world that I George Boley am in custody in theUnited States, along with Chuckie Taylor (the convicted son of former LiberianPresident Charles Taylor) for crimes committed in Liberia, human rightsviolation, which is really baseless and untrue. So I just filed a lawsuit fordefamation," he said.
Boley said he sent a letterto the organization in December 2006 asking to correct what he called a hugemistake, but he said the group did not acknowledge his letter.
Asked if he is seekingmonetary damage in his lawsuit, Boley said that issue would be decided by thecourt.
"No amount of money canrepair the damage. To even classify me with the lights of Chuckie Taylor, Imean what are these people talking about? Do they really know what they aretalking about? These are the people we believe are working with our TRC inLiberia. I mean I want the damage repaired, in whatever way it has to berepaired. It has to be repaired. And I think talking to you and letting peopleknow that these people are not infallible, and that they do make mistakes. Andwhen they speak they don't speak authoritatively, I think it's very important,"he said.
Boley admitted he took partin the Liberian conflict but denied violating human rights or committing anycrimes against humanity.
"Every Liberian took part inthe conflict, whether it's through thought, through actions, through whatevercan be done to restore peace. Let's be very frank, I know there is a lot ofdisinformation about what I did, what role I played. In fact people say the LPCdid this, the LPC did that. The Liberia Peace Council was founded in 1990 as aninstrument of seeking political settlement for the Liberian crisis. I havenever been in any position; I've never given any instruction to do anything inviolation of human rights. I've not been in the field; I've not given anyinstruction to violate anybody's rights," Boley said.
Boley said he would bewilling to testify before the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commissionabout what he knows took place during the conflict if he is invited to appear.
"I don't have a problem withthat. Once invited I'll make myself available. If you read the transcript of mypress conference in January of 2008 in Monrovia, I have said I'm available. In factI endorsed the TRC. I welcomed it. I think it's a good thing, and once calledupon, I'm prepared to present myself and give my side of the story, what I knowfrom 1979 and 2003 and maybe more. But I haven't received any invitation,"Boley said.
Boley said he was not surewhether by suing the Advocates for Human Rights he was also suing the LiberianTruth and Reconciliation Commission, giving that the fact that the rights groupworks in partnership with the TRC.
"I don't know the legality.They (the Advocates for Human Rights) are the implementing partners for theTRC. I'm not sure the TRC authorized them to do that. We'll find that out whenthe trial begins," Boley said.