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PRESS BRIEFING
8th May 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MARGARET NOVICKI- SPOKESMAN
SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBERIA TAKE EFFECT
New sanctions against Liberia, set out in a Security Council resolution adopted two months ago, automatically took effect yesterday in the absence of evidence that Monrovia has stopped supporting armed groups in the region. The development was confirmed by the Council President through a UN spokesman, who noted that the sanctions -- involving travel restrictions and a diamond ban -- "came into force at one minute past midnight" on 7 May.
On Friday, the Council President, Ambassador James Cunningham of the United States, said that Monrovia had not demonstrated compliance with the Council's demands as set out in resolution 1343, adopted in March. That resolution demanded that Liberia immediately stop supporting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) of Sierra Leone and other armed groups in the region by expelling RUF members from Liberia and ending financial and military aid to the rebel army
The text also stipulated that in the absence of compliance with the resolution's demands, new sanctions would take effect, including a ban on the direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Liberia, and measures to prevent travel by senior members of the country's Government or their spouses.
On Friday, Ambassador Cunningham stressed that the Council "will continue its dialogue with all States of the region -- all the Governments and leaders -- including Liberia, and will keep this item under close consideration."
INTEGRATED SUBREGIONAL APPROACH RECOMMENDED
A mission to West Africa by United Nations agencies has recommended that the international community adopt an integrated subregional approach to prevent the further emergence of conflicts, restore peace and stability and promote economic and social development in the area, according to a report released yesterday in New York.
The 32-page report, which Secretary-General Kofi Annan had submitted to the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, is based on the results of an assessment mission to 11 West African countries carried out by representatives from the UN Secretariat and several UN agencies and offices specializing in the issues of development, refugees, children, human rights and food security. Staff from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also took part in the mission, which visited the region from 6 to 27 March.
The inter-agency mission reports a widely shared view in the region that the situations in the Mano River Union countries, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and the Casamance region of Senegal, were expected to deteriorate, with serious implications for the entire subregion, if steps were not taken to address the problems in a regional, rather than a national, perspective.
On the conflict along the borders between Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the mission underscores the importance of efforts by ECOWAS and the UN to promote reconciliation between the leaders of the three countries.
"Concern was expressed at the alleged involvement of State and non-State actors in providing support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone," the report states. "Several interlocutors were of the view that such support was being provided by Governments, both within and outside the subregion, and actors such as dealers in conflict diamonds, mercenaries and international arms dealers."
The 11 countries visited by the inter-agency mission are: Senegal, Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the Gambia and Mali.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING TO VISIT SIERRA LEONE
Mr. Hedi Annabi, UN Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, will arrive in Freetown tomorrow, 9 May, for a six-day visit. During his stay, Mr. Annabi will meet with Government officials, the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, the National Commission for Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, the Commission for the Consolidation of Peace, NGOs, UN Agencies and UNAMSIL senior staff, as well as visit UNAMSIL deployments in Makeni, Magburaka, Lunsar, Port Loko, Kenema and Daru.
RUF SAYS CHILD COMBATANTS TO BE RELEASED
In a meeting with a MILOB patrol in Lunsar, RUF Col. Kallon said that he has been given responsibility by Gen. Issa Sesay to collect all child combatants in RUF-held areas in preparation for their release. He requested UNAMSIL's assistance with transportation and food when the children are assembled in various areas. The NIBATT 7 Commander held a meeting with RUF representatives in Makeni who confirmed that the RUF was willing and making arrangements to release up to 400 child combatants.
CIVIL AFFAIRS ASSISTS IN RESTORATION OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY
Civil Affairs officers held a meeting with the Ministry of Education in Freetown to coordinate arrangements for the Primary School Examinations in Makeni, Magburaka and Kabala. UNAMSIL has been requested to assist with transport and security. The Resident Minister for the North reported that he intends to redeploy the Chairman of the Makeni Town Council to the town as the first step in the restoration of Government authority.
He also reported that government medical doctors were now working in five health centers in the Makeni area. Civil Affairs officers also visited the Lunsar Health Centre and confirmed that a team of four Ministry of Health officials consisting of one community health officer and three nurses has been deployed to Lunsar.
On Thursday, 3 May, Civil Affairs officers held discussions with the RUF's Col. Badara and the Regent Paramount chief, whose residence is in Makeni, on the need to organize a confidence-building meeting between displaced Paramount Chiefs of the Northern Province presently residing in Freetown and the RUF leadership. Badara agreed to write a request to Civil Affairs to coordinate and facilitate a meeting of these chiefs in Makeni as soon as possible.
UNAMSIL PATROLS TO KOIDU
The Mile 91 MILOB team and Bangladeshi Battalion 3 conducted a joint patrol to Koidu yesterday and spent the night there. Today it will begin investigating reports of incidents of fighting between the RUF and CDF during the past week. A patrol from Ghanaian Battalion 3 has also left Daru this morning for Koidu.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: You said the primary school exam is to take place at Makeni. Are you going to give the same assistance to villages surrounding Makeni wherein you have primary schools there, but most of those schools have been displaced and are now in the city?
A: I think that it is up to the Ministry of Education as to how it organizes the examinations in the villages, but if our assistance is requested, of course, we will provide it.
Q: In Abuja 2, the agreement reached between the government and the RUF, the RUF allows the government of Sierra Leone's army (SLA) to deploy in the border area with Guinea to ensure that there is a halt to any future armed incursion from either Guinea or Sierra Leone. Has SLA deployed in that part of the country?
A: Not as of yet, that I am aware of.
Q: On the question of integrated sub-regional approach recommendation, I want to know whether they indicated countries that have been supporting the RUF, that such support was being provided by governments both within and outside the sub region, and actors such as dealers in conflict diamonds, mercenaries and international armed dealers. Did they give out names of countries and some of these mercenaries they mentioned in this press release?
A: I haven't seen the Report myself yet. But as soon as I see it I will check it and get back to you on that.
Q: It is in connection to one of the speeches made by the RUF commander in Lunsar Lt. Col. Kojo. He said that UNAMSIL (Civilian Police) CIVPOL would get free access to do policing in Lunsar. He is not against that but for the Sierra Leone Police he would want instructions from the hierarchy. Did UNAMSIL before making that assessment and request yesterday in the Lunsar area contact the hierarchy of the RUF?
Tell us about the Armoured Personnel Carriers that were handed over by the RUF. When were they handed over by RUF to the SLA who drove them straight to Makeni and they are still there?
A: On the second point, I will have to check on that for you. As to your question about the CIVPOL, as you stated that there was a meeting that was held yesterday and the sense of the discussion that I got was that the RUF was prepared to allow the return of Sierra Leone Police in addition to CIVPOL in Lunsar. I believe further discussions will take place too.
Q: Provided they get go ahead by their hierarchy - have you contacted the hierarchy of the RUF?
A: It is not UNAMSIL who would contact the hierarchy. It is they would contact their own hierarchy, I believe, and when they have, we will hear about it.
Q: It is not unreasonable to think that UNAMSIL will not be able to achieve its goal of peace-building in Sierra Leone until the year something-something, considering the fact that until now neither the government nor the RUF seem willing to push the peace process further by disarming simultaneously and then of course trying to put aside the various doubts and suspicions.
A: Are you not aware of the outcome of the Abuja ceasefire review meeting that was just held?
Q: Yes, I'm very much aware, but what I am saying is the implementation.
A: The meeting was held about five days ago. I think you have to look at the big picture here and see that that review meeting was very significant, in which concrete agreements were reached and specifically on the disarmament issue.
There is to be a meeting to be held in Freetown on the 15th of May to work out the timetable and modalities for simultaneous disarmament. I think that is a rather significant step forward.
Q: Let us go back to the Abuja peace talks. There is a request being made by the RUF in connection with the present detainees at the Pademba Road prison--Foday Sankoh and his allies--to release them. Now I would like to know from you if the government decides not to release these people and it happens that the RUF is going to fight again if these people are not going to be released, what is going to be the role that UNAMSIL as peacekeepers will play to bring these two parties to solve this conflict in bringing everlasting peace to this country?
A: We are doing quite a bit to bring the two parties together. And again I would refer you to the Abuja ceasefire review meeting. As to the release of prisoners, you are aware if you read the document that I distributed that the RUF "requested" and the government "agreed to consider." If you go to the government press conference the next time it is held, you can pose your question there.
Q: Children in this country will have the privilege to take the National Primary School Examination (NPSE) in place like Makeni and Lunsar, because these are the basic centers for that exam where children would come from other areas to take the exams. Now the question is how sure is UNAMSIL to give that guarantee, and how sure are you that RUF is prepared for that exam to be conducted in that area?
A: We are quite sure. They have given assurances and planning moving ahead. I don't think there have been any obstacles identified to the examinations being held.
Q: Just last week ago the United Nations Secretary-General did made a report to the Security Council in which he said ECOWAS was suggesting that UN deploy observers along the Liberia-Sierra Leone border. Is that issue still for a debate in the Security Council?
A: I think the Secretary-General suggested it should be discussed. Based on his recommendation, it's something that may be taken up at some point.
Q: I have confirmed reports of forceful conscription and continued training by the RUF in Kono. And again the fighting on the border - that is the northern eastern flank of Kono towards Guinea is still continuing. And now you are reporting to us that you have some MILOBS and Bangladeshi Battalions that have gone on a patrol. I want to know whether this patrol teams are on an investigation mission to ascertain whether there is this continued fighting or whether you as peacekeepers are treating this issue coolly from the point of this hot pursuit policy the Guineans are undertaking.
A: What I said was the patrol today would begin investigating reports of incidents of fighting between the RUF and CDF. So I think that would indicate to you that we are taking it very seriously.
Q: Now that the Guineans are on the offensive, is this responsible for the forceful conscription now going on?
A: I think it's all part of the same issue and the issue was dealt with quite extensively at the Abuja cease-fire review meeting. The parties to the conflict each have certain obligations under that agreement that must be met. And we will be doing all we can to see to it that the agreement to which they appended their signatures will be respected.
Q: We want to confirm whether the RUF fighters have actually left Kambia District.
A: No, they haven't as of yet.
Q: Don't you think that the United Nation's position of coming into Kambia is a means of letting the heat off the RUF?
A: This was agreed not between the United Nations and the RUF, it was agreed between the RUF and the Government of Sierra Leone. And I think it in the interests of the civilians who are living in that area because they are the ones who have been victims.
*********** 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
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