UNAMSIL Press Briefing - Wednesday, 17 January 2001

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of a briefing with
UNAMSIL Spokesman Hirut Befecadu and
Military Spokesman Major M. M. Yerima

May I take this opportunity to welcome Ms Margaret A. Novicki to Sierra Leone. She will be taking-over as interim Chief, Public Information Section.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, wrote a letter last week concerning the establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone in his reaction to the Council's report last month to the Secretary-General on the same issue. He noted that the Security Council's preference that the Court jurisdiction should be extended to persons who bare the greatest responsibility, meaning those who played the leading role in human rights violation. He added that such determination would have to be reconciled with an eventual prosecution of juveniles and members of a peacekeeping operation even if such prosecutions are unlikely. He also cautioned that the Security Council should be careful about establishing such a Court before allocating sufficient funds for the programme.

Today, 17th January, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG), Mr. Behrooz Sadry acting for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), met with an assessment team visiting UNAMSIL from Pakistan. As indicated, Pakistan is one of the countries considering contributing troops to UNAMSIL. Mr. Sadry briefed the team on the overall situation in the country and all efforts that UNAMSIL is putting in towards reaching sustainable peace, and the cooperation and coordination of efforts of all concerned parties. He indicated that UNAMSIL was following a two-track approach; that of pursuing the peace process whilst strengthening its military capacity. He impressed upon the team that the contribution of troops for UNAMSIL would be most welcome.

Today, 17th January, we are scheduled to have the first meeting of the contact group between UNAMSIL and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) officers. This contact group meeting will be held at Mile-91.

On 16 January 2001, UNAMSIL Civil Affairs Section in close collaboration with the UNAMSIL Claims Unit finalized the handing-over of building materials to the Baptist School authorities in the Bumbuna community. The building materials that have been sent to Bumbuna would be used for the rehabilitation of the first Baptist Primary School in Bumbuna. This school was destroyed in May 2000 by a UNAMSIL helicopter during the evacuation of the Kenyan troops. The representative of the Bumbuna community, Rev. Daniel Samura thanked UNAMSIL for their help in rehabilitating the school.

On the same day (16th), UNAMSIL Civil Affairs Officers held a meeting with the Tonkolili District authorities. During the meeting, it was agreed that a Symposium should be organized and geared towards sensitising the Government of Sierra Leone, Civil Defence Force (CDF), RUF, traditional and religious rulers on the role and contribution of each towards achieving lasting peace. The Catholic mission in Bumbuna in collaboration with UNAMSIL Civil Affairs Section will organize the Symposium. The dates have not yet been fixed.

In the Bumbuna-Magburaka axis and Bumbuna-Binkolo road, we have been informed by Sierra Leonean Army (SLA) Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion that these roads have been repaired by the RUF but since they have not been verified, the instructions are not there to declare them officially open.

Twenty-two new military observers have come in and have been briefed by UNAMSIL Human Rights Officers on the state of overall human rights in Sierra Leone. The briefing highlighted principals emancipating the Declaration of Human and People's Rights, Women and Children's Rights, their role as peacekeepers which features prominently during their discussions with the community and their responsibility to uphold the rule of law and human rights principles in the country.

UNAMSIL Force Commander, Lt. General Daniel Opande has visited Bo, Moyamba and Masiaka on 16 January 2001. He held discussions with local officials and UNAMSIL peacekeepers deployed in the area.

On 14 January 2001, 3 RUF combatants with 2 AK47 and 1 AK58, two hand grenades and 45 rounds of ammunition have reported to UNAMSIL military observers at Barbara. They have been handed over to the Port Loko Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) camp on 15 January 2001.

On 16 January 2001, 18 ex-combatants comprising of 14 Armed Forces of the Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and 4 CDF were disarmed and demobilized at UNAMSIL military observers areas at Wilberforce Barracks.

Questions and answers

Q: In the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement there was a provision for a joint meeting between representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone/RUF/ECOWAS after the 30 days expiration of the agreement? What is the status of that meeting?

A: We are in the process of implementing the conditions that were set in the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement. It would be prudent on all sides if we can get as many of the commitments implemented before ECOWAS calls for another meeting. As far as we know, there has been no ceasefire violation and we at UNAMSIL continue appreciating that. At the same time, we will try and meet with the RUF to get further implementation of the other factors of the ceasefire agreement

Q: Can you give us the name of the head of the UNAMSIL contact group going to Mile-91?

A: This group will be led by the Chief, Policy and Planning Section, Mr. Hagoss.

Q: You mentioned that you have been informed by the SLA that the Bumbuna-Magburaka axis and Bumbuna-Binkolo road have been repaired by the RUF. Can you confirm whether the SLA has moved from Kabala area to Binkolo in the Bombali District or Bumbuna, which is in the Tonkolili District?

A: There was a meeting held at the Tonkolili District. The Government of Sierra Leone officials, the Sierra Leone Police, SLA, CDF, RUF, traditional and religious leaders were present at this meeting. The meeting was organized by UNAMSIL Civil Affairs Section. This information about the roads being repaired was passed on to us by the SLA during that meeting.

Q: Can you give us a clarification on the two-track approach? Is that an indication of the use of force?

A: No. It is not an indication of the use of force. We are "peacekeepers." The two-track approach is firstly, by talking to all concerned parties on the possibility of peace without having to resort to any type of military activity. The second approach is that we would need to strengthen our troops to cover deployment in other parts of the country.

Q: You spoke about a meeting in Bumbuna to organize a Symposium. What will be the effect of that Symposium?

A: The Symposium will be organized and geared towards sensitising the Government of Sierra Leone, Civil Defence Force, RUF, traditional and religious rulers on the role and contribution of each one towards achieving lasting peace in that area.

Q: What was the circumstance that led to the damage of the school by UNAMSIL helicopter?

A: Taking you back to the May 2000 crisis, our troops were held hostage in Kabala and this school was destroyed during the evacuation of the Kenyan troops.

Q: For most Sierra Leoneans the Special Court is a "white elephant" because there is a controversy as to who is to be prosecuted. The Secretary-General has now come up with a proposal that for the prosecution of even peacekeepers. What is the present status of this Special Court?

A: It is not correct to say that the Special Court is a white elephant because the establishment of such a Court is the decision of the Security Council. As you are aware, an assessment team was here to do preliminary studies of the establishment of this court. The reason why the Secretary-General has come up with a proposal at this time is because two weeks ago, he was asked whether children who have been involved in the atrocities should be tried. It was his opinion that, "first of all the courts jurisdiction will be extended to persons who bare the greatest responsibility and any such determination will have to be reconciled with an eventual prosecution of juveniles and members of a peacekeeping operations even if such prosecutions are unlikely." This means that if need be, there will be times when juveniles will be asked to come in to either be tried or be a witness.

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For additional information, contact UNAMSIL Public Information Office: UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, P. O. Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone Tel: 232-22-273-183/4/5 Fax: 232-22-273-189