JURIST - Paper Chase: Liberia man removed from US for human rights abuses

[JURIST] George Boley, former leader of the Liberian Peace Council (LPC), was removed from the US on Saturday for his role in human rights abuses in the 1990s during the Liberian Civil War [Global Security backgrounder]. An immigration judge ordered his removal [press release] from the US in February for recruiting child soldiers and other human rights violations. His removal order was the first to be obtained under the Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 [text]. Boley had been living in New York State until his arrest two years ago, which was prompted by the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) [official website; JURIST backgrounder] recommending his prosecution in July 2009. No charges have been filed in Liberia against Boley yet.

The TRC led to the prosecution of former Liberian president Charles Taylor [JURIST backgrounder], whose trial ended [JURIST report] more than a year ago, but no verdict has been given yet. In February, Taylor's lawyers asked to reopen the case [JURIST report] in light of new evidence, but the court did not respond. The TRC submitted a report [JURIST report] to the Liberian government in 2010 that detailed crimes committed during the civil war, which the government used to contemplate possible prosecutions. The TRC also urged the government [JURIST report] in 2009 to prosecute many former political and military leaders for crimes against humanity.