Recommendations contained on page 1 2nd edition:This report now incorporates a study by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) of the part played by revenues generated from Liberia’s shipping register. Taylor-made The Pivotal Role of Liberia’s Forests and Flag of Convenience in Regional Conflict A Report by Global Witness in conjunction with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). September 2001 Taylor-made— The Pivotal Role of Liberia’s Forests and Flag of Convenience in Regional Conflict Recommendations Preface The UN Security Council should: Through the imposition of targeted sanctions, G Immediately impose a total embargo on the exportation and the international community has transportation of Liberian timber, and its importation into other demonstrated its concern over the threat countries. Such an embargo should remain in place until it can be Liberia poses to regional security. Despite demonstrated that the trade does not contribute to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone and armed militias in Liberia, and recent overtures, this threat is still real: that it is carried out in a transparent manner (as referred to in para of Liberia continues to support the rebels of the the Report of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to UN Security Council Revolutionary United Front, and continues to Resolution () paragraph in relation to Sierra Leone). import armaments in contravention of the G Conduct further investigations into the Liberian timber industry, particularly the Oriental Timber Company (OTC), to enable the United sanctions. Nations Security Council (UNSC) and other members of the Liberia’s timber and shipping register are international community to gain a comprehensive understanding of the two key sources of revenue for the Taylor role of this industry in Charles Taylor’s presidency and the conflict in Sierra Leone and, increasingly, Lofa County in Northern Liberia. regime, which is engaged in these activities. In , the timber trade alone generated G Conduct detailed investigations into any other Liberian industries that may contribute to violence and human rights violations in West Africa. minimum profits of US$ million which G Impose sanctions on the Liberian shipping register, as this revenue is used did not benefit the state. It is highly unlikely directly by the Executive Mansion (i.e. under Taylor’s personal control) that, without the lucrative revenues from these for extra-governmental purposes that do not benefit the state and sources, Taylor could sustain his programme prolongs regional insecurity. of regional destabilisation. The International Community should: Timber related jobs in Liberia are few, G Increase humanitarian aid to Liberia, channelled through UN agencies seasonal and insecure, other than those and NGOs. Due to aid restrictions, agencies such as the World Food provided to expatriates. Similarly, the Programme have to allocate lower rations to, for example, Internally maritime programme offers few jobs to Displaced Persons in Liberia than to their counterparts in Sierra Leone. The sanctions should target the government, not the ordinary citizens of Liberians who have very little contact with Liberia or the victims of regional conflict. what is effectively a device to give foreign G Put pressure on Guinea’s President Conté to bring an end to his support shipping companies a haven from taxes and for cross-border attacks into Liberia (see Chapter . Factors of destabilisation other responsibilities. in the region – page ) Economic sanctions focused on these two The Government of Liberia should ensure that: sources of income would seriously restrict the G The country’s timber industry is run according to best international regime’s capacity to sponsor war in the standards of sustainable forest management, and to ensure that all timber region. Furthermore, such sanctions would revenues due to the state are directed to the Central Bank of Liberia, and hurt the warlord elite and a greedy industry not to the Executive Mansion. far more than most Liberians, who live in G The timber industry benefits the lives of the Liberian population, rather than contributing to their poverty and oppression. abject poverty in a land with virtually no infrastructure. The continuation of current G Timber companies operating in Liberia do so according to the law, that they do not employ armed militias and do not engage in any activities logging practices would be severely which contribute to conflict and human rights abuses. detrimental for the Liberian people. Liberian newspaper documenting the logging company OTC’s militias alleged human rights abuses; May . Taylor-made—The Pivotal Role of Liberia’s Forests and Flag of Convenience in Regional Conflict This report, by Global Witness in conjunction with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), is divided into two parts. Part One, focusing on the role of the Liberian logging industry, is by Global Witness and Part Two, focusing on the role of Liberia’s shipping register, is by the ITF. Contents Recommendations The logging companies Preface Oriental Timber Company (OTC) OTC’s background and links Executive summary The extent and impact of OTC logging operations An argument for sanctions on Liberian timber – the Liberian OTC providing employment? perspective Royal Timber Company (RTC) Inland Logging Company (ILC) Introduction Salami Molawi Incorporated (SMI) Infringements against UNSC Resolution () Bureaux Ivoirian Ngorian (BIN) Part One: The role of the Liberian timber industry Factors of destabilisation in the region Links between logging, the arms trade and regional conflict Part Two: The role of the Liberian shipping register by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Logging industry individuals subject to the UN travel ban The Russian Mafia and the links between timber and arms – Blood on the flag a case study What is a ‘Flag of Convenience’ (FoC) ? Logging company militias & military control of concession areas Conflict Diamonds and the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry The case for sanctions Unprotected crews Liberia and the RUF – past and present links Conclusion Infringements on the travel-ban Appendices Violations against non-combatants Liberia’s international links Logging companies in Liberia & timber production by company, January-June The real value of Liberia’s forestry sector Importers of Liberian timber by value (cif), - Exports compared with imports (m) Some buyers of Liberian timber in Importers of Liberian timber by volume, - United Nations Security Council Resolution () The roles of France and China Ships plying the Liberian log trade in References The plunder of Liberia’s rainforest – a Liberian’s perspective Acknowledgements 12° 11° 10° 9° 8° 7° Guéckédou List of acronyms Mendekoma GUINEA Voinjama SIERRA LEONE Kolahun Irié Kailahun AFL Armed Forces of Liberia Pendembu Vahun 8° LIBERIA 8° ATU Anti-Terrorist Unit (Liberia) Kenema Gelahun Nzérékoré BIVAC Bureau of Inspection for Verification LOFA Yekepa Assessment and Certification CDF Civil Defense Forces (Sierra Leone) Pujehun Saniquellie GRAND Danané DDR Disarmament, Demobilisation and CAPE Sulima MOUNT Reintegration Programme (Sierra Leone) rg 7° u Gbarnga 7° Bo nb Tubma NIMBA FDA Forest Development Authority (Liberia) Bong Town BONG Robertsport BOMI GOL Government of Liberia MARGIBI Toulépleu K Guiglo LURD Liberians United for Reconciliation and ak Brewerville ata Democracy Monrovia Harbel GRAND Kola (Kola Town) Towabli MONTSERRADO Marshall BASSA (Towai Town) ULIMO-K United Liberation Movement for Tchien 6° (Zwedru) 6° Democracy in Liberia (under Alhaji Edina RIVER Taï LIBERIA Buchanan CÔTE Kromah) CESS International boundary GRAND D’IVOIRE ULIMO-J United Liberation Movement for County boundary Timbo GEDEH National capital River Cess Democracy in Liberia (under Roosevelt County capital SINOE Town, village Johnson) Sehnkwehn Airport Greenville RUF Revolutionary United Front (Sierra Leone) 5° Atlantic GRAND 5° SOD Special Operations Division (of the MARYLAND Ocean Nana Kru KRU Nyaake 020 40 60 80 km Barclayville Liberian Police) Sasstown 0 1020 30 40 50 mi Grand Cess Nemeke SSS Special Security Services (Liberia) Tabou NPFL National Patriotic Front of Liberia Harper 12° 11° 10° 9° 8° 7° UNAMSIL United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone Taylor-made—The Pivotal Role of Liberia’s Forests and Flag of Convenience in Regional Conflict Executive summary How sanctions – or no sanctions – would affect the Liberian people HIS REPORT documents the increasingly Little revenue derived from the Liberian logging industry and from important role played by the Liberian timber the Liberian shipping register benefit the Liberian people.Were industry and shipping register in fuelling sanctions to be placed on the shipping register – very few Liberian regional insecurity. The timber industry is used, jobs would be affected, while jobs held within the logging industry, by the Liberian government, to traffic arms an estimated 8,000, are seasonal, insecure, and in large percentage whileT also being Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front’s held by non-Liberians. In 5-10 years, at current logging practices, (RUF) main source of income. Revenues derived from the timber Liberia is likely to be completely commercially logged out. At this industry and shipping register also fund President Charles time there will be no jobs and no possibility of timber revenue for Taylor’s
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