Mia Farrow will testify at Hague about Naomi Campbell's diamond

[Enrique]

Source: AFP

THE HAGUE — Actress Mia Farrow and models' agent Carole White will testify next month about a "blood diamond" Naomi Campbell is said to have been given by Liberia's Charles Taylor, court papers showed Thursday.

The two women's names are on a witness list for Monday, August 9, that the prosecution in Taylor's war crimes trial filed with the court in The Hague and which have been obtained by AFP.

The filing specifies that White's evidence would take about two hours, and that of Farrow one hour.

The prosecution says both women have agreed to testify about the late-night gift allegedly presented to supermodel Campbell after a celebrity dinner hosted by then South African president Nelson Mandela in September 1997.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hbpAHmwjD1fc8AEHv0jzShNXF-pQ

[ixion]

1. seems like there are more pressing matters

Just sayin... if I were able to use the Large Hadron Collider I would not be able to find my interest in this subject.

[Enrique]

2. well the trial is extremely important

hopefully the celebrity angle will attract some attention to it. :shrug:

[SkyDaddy7]

3. I think the diamond is

either directly related to or indirectly related to other very important facts in the case against him. They are just building their case against him in court.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. It's not about celebs. It's about prosecuting a tyrant.

--d!

[TheWatcher]

8. Oh come on now, don't be so cynical. You have to admit it's better than the distractions they have

had lately.

Prodigal Basketball Stars and Jailed Actresses just weren't cutting the mustard.

:)

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. I guess it is good to be Naomi Campbell

This story has it all! Hollywood, global politics, blood drenched dictators, diamonds, "late-night" gifts at swank parties, hangin' out with Nelson Mandela. I wonder if ol' Chuckles was tring to get frisky with Naomi by giving her a diamond and if Naomi thought he was giving her a huge diamond simply because he was a "nice" man.

[Enrique]

6. maybe the story will include Pat Robertson as well

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/29911

As reported by Foreign Policy, former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor has implicated U.S. con man Pat Robertson as being complicit in war crimes carried out by Taylor.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, testifying in his own war crimes trial today, said that the American conservative evangelist Pat Robertson was awarded a Liberian gold-mining concession in 1999 and subsequently offered to lobby the Bush administration to support his government.

The revelations came in the midst of a U.N.-backed trial of Taylor at The Hague on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone’s 1990s civil war. Taylor is accused of directing a Sierra Leone rebel group, the United Revolutionary Front (RUF), in a campaign aimed at securing access to the country’s diamond mines. The rebel movement stands accused of committing mass atrocities in the late 1990s in the West African country, including the mutilation of thousands of civilians.

The international prosecutors contend that Taylor offered concessions to Western individuals in exchange for lobbying work aimed at enhancing his image in the United States. The prosecution maintains that Taylor also spent $2.6 million on lobbying firms and public relations outfits in the hopes of influencing the policies of former President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Under cross-examination, Taylor said that Robertson had volunteered to make Liberia’s case before U.S. administration officials, and had spoken directly to President Bush about Taylor. He also confirmed that Robertson’s company, Freedom Gold Limited, signed an agreement to exploit gold in southeastern Liberia, but that it never generated any profit.

"Mr. Taylor, indeed at one point you said that you can count on Pat Robertson to get Washington on your side," he was asked by the lead prosecution counsel, Col. Brenda Hollis, a former U.S. Air Force officer. Taylor replied: "I don’t recall the exact words, but something to that effect."

A spokesman for Robertson, Chris Roslan, confirmed that Robertson was awarded a gold exploration concession by the Liberian government during the 1990s. But he said that there was "no quid pro quo" to provide the government with anything in return. Roslan said the company, Freedom Gold, is no longer in operation and has never found any gold.

"This concession was granted by the Liberian government to promote economic activity and alleviate the suffering of the people of Liberia following a terrible civil war," said Roslan, adding that Robertson had never met Taylor or paid him any money. "Freedom Gold accomplished this by employing some 200 Liberians in addition to providing humanitarian efforts including free medical care and installation of clean water wells for area residents."

Why is Pat Robertson not in prison? He should be a co-defendant in Taylor’s war crimes trial.

[24601]

7. Advocating unpopular positions, even for payment, isn't a crime

or else most defense attorneys would be in prison with their "clients." The way to stay legal is to follow the lobbyist registration laws and not hide income from the IRS.

The exception is when it provides support to those on the government "terrorist" list. I don't believe Taylor ever made that list.