Field notes “The victims’ stories drive me to keep going” “When you go to the field, you realize that for years and years, people have kept their stories to themselves. This is especially true for sexual violence, which carries a lot of stigma. In a case in Liberia, a woman we had just interviewed felt so empowered to testify that she decided to tell her son he was born of rape. By doing so, she was able to reconnect with her everyday life: speaking about her past enabled her to deal with the present. Collecting testimonies can be very emotional for the victims and witnesses. I carry these emotions back to The Hague and they become my fuel. I remember for whom I worked, I remember their testimonies. And it drives me to keep going, and to give my best for the victims.” Emmanuelle Marchand, Senior Legal Counsel for the NGO Civitas Maxima LONG-TERM RESIDENT CONVICTED OVER MASS MASSACRES Jucontee Thomas Smith Woewiyu Context Ongoing trial in Philadelphia (USA) for immigration fraud and perjury. The accused lied to the immigration authorities regarding his involvement in the first Liberian civil war (1989– 1996). Suspect Co-founders and leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) Country of residence of suspect United States of America Charges Immigration fraud, perjury Developments in 2018 The trial began on 11 June 2018. On 3 July 2018, he was found guilty of immigration frauds, false statement in relation to naturalization, and perjury. The sentencing judgment was scheduled to take place on 26 November 2018, but it was postponed. Current status Convicted; awaiting sentence one of the co-founders and leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). The NPFL was a military organization led by Charles Taylor, aiming to overthrow the Doe government. On 24 December 1989, the NPFL entered Liberia through the Côte d’Ivoire. By April 1990, the NPFL controlled 90% of the country. The NPFL is accused of many international crimes, including sexual slavery, mass murders, and conscription of child soldiers. Jucontee Thomas Smith Woewiyu was allegedly involved in the planning of attacks on civilians, including Operation Octopus in 1992. The operation led to the violent, attempted seizure of Monrovia, and resulted in the murder of thousands of combatants and civilians; including the executions of five American nuns. Since January 1972, Jucontee Thomas Smith Woewiyu has legal permanent residence in the United States. He applied for United States citizenship in January 2006. Procedure On 30 January 2014, Jucontee Thomas Smith Woewiyu was indicted on seven counts of perjury, six counts of immigration fraud and three counts of false statement related to his naturalization. Akin to Mohammed Jabbateh, Jucontee Thomas Smith Woewiyu is accused of having lied on his citizenship application; failing to disclose his association with the NPFL, and that he was connected to crimes committed by the NPFL. On 12 May 2014, he was arrested in Newark Airport as he was returning from Liberia. In October 2014, bail was paid, and a Federal Judge from Philadelphia granted him temporary release before his trial, under the condition that he stayed under house arrest. Read more about the case Facts Jucontee Thomas Smith Woewiyu is 77