Former Liberian president sues government over pension

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor has filed a lawsuit against his government for allegedly refusing to pay his pension and retirement benefits.

The regional court for the West African bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said in a statement Tuesday that Taylor said in his lawsuit that the action of the Liberian government constitutes a violation of his human rights, particularly the right to freedom from discrimination and equal protection of the law.

Taylor, 73, was found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced in May 2012 for aiding rebels who committed atrocities in neighboring Sierra Leone during its civil war.

The UN-backed special court found that he had supplied weapons to rebels in Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds. He is currently serving his sentence in a British prison.

The former warlord turned statesman also said his property rights had been violated because of the government’s failure to pay his pension.

Taylor said that as the 22nd president of the Republic of Liberia, he is entitled to a pension and other benefits as specified in its laws promulgated in 2003.

According to the lawsuit, a former president who honorably retired to private life and who is not in any way gainfully employed by the government is entitled to receive a pension equal to 50% of the salary of the incumbent president.

Taylor served as president between 1997 and 2003.