PRESS BRIEFING
FRIDAY, 9 MARCH 2001
MARGARET NOVICKI - CHIEF, PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION
AND MAJOR M. M. YERIMA - MILITARY SPOKESMAN

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBERIA

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday 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 Front.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1344, the Council replaced the previous arms embargo against Liberia with a new one prohibiting the sale or supply to Liberia of arms and related material of all types, as well as of any military training or technical assistance.

The resolution stated that, unless Liberia has complied with the Security Council's demands within two months, additional sanctions would go into 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 Government of Liberia or their spouses.

The Council demanded that Liberia cease all direct or indirect import of Sierra Leone rough diamonds not controlled through that Government's Certificate of Origin regime, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1306 (2000), and decided that all States should prevent the import of all rough diamonds from Liberia, whether or not they originated in that country.

In terms of security, the Council demanded that all States in the region take action to prevent armed individuals and groups from using their territory to attack neighbouring countries, and refrain from actions that might further destabilize the situation on the borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The Council decided that all States should prevent the entry into or transit through their territories by senior members of the Government of Liberia and its armed forces, their spouses and any other individuals providing financial and military support to armed rebel groups in countries neighbouring Liberia, in particular the RUF.

Stressing that its demands were intended to further advance the Sierra Leone peace process, the Council called on the President of Liberia to help ensure that the RUF allowed the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) free access throughout the country; released all abductees; entered its fighters in the disarmament process; and returned all weapons and other equipment seized from the UN mission.

UNHCR HEADS URGES COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR REFUGEES IN GUINEA

The head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) yesterday urged the Security Council to support a comprehensive solution for refugees within Guinea, and to explore the possibility of safe passage from Guinea to Sierra Leone, should the refugees wish to repatriate.

High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers, who was in New York to brief the Council on his recent mission to West Africa, urged the Council to boost the capacity of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), stressing that a strong UN presence was "key for the stability and future" of the country, and for refugees in the region.

Relations between UNAMSIL and the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone had improved recently thanks to the RUF's adherence to an Action Plan regarding refugees, which was presented to the group at Contact Group meetings with the UN peace operation over the past few weeks, the High Commissioner said.

In the Plan, the refugee agency had invited the RUF to relate to the agreement that had already been endorsed by the Presidents of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia on the safe access to - and safe passage for - refugees, and the condemnation of any act that would obstruct or hinder these principles, the High Commissioner said.

"As soon as UNHCR has received a public statement of confirmation by the RUF, it will use its good offices to invite the Government of Guinea to refrain from all military actions in the area of Kambia, so that road from Forecariah to Kambia could become a 'safe passage' for the return of refugees from Guinea to Sierra Leone," Mr. Lubbers told the Council.

The next step is strengthening UNAMSIL's capacity to enable it to provide security in the Kambia region, the High Commissioner said. "I have indications that the Government of Guinea, with its Army, is prepared to ensure security along that road up to the border, while at the same time refraining from all military activity," he said. "I have also received indications that the RUF is prepared to leave Kambia in order that it becomes territory under the control of UNAMSIL."

However, Mr. Lubbers said, the UN operation is "still too weak" to take control of the Kambia region. "It has to be strengthened," he said, urging the Council to assist the countries of the region in fostering peace and protecting refugees in West Africa.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED

International Women's Day was marked at UNAMSIL Headquarters with a roundtable conference on the theme, "Women and Peace," organized by the Focal Point for Women in the Field and the Gender Specialist from the Human Rights Section. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, presented the message of the UN Secretary-General on International Women's Day. Presentations on the theme were also made by Ms. Alice Schacht, the UNAMSIL Focal Point for Women in the Field; Ms. Marie Bangura, the Secretary-General of the Market Women's Association; Ms. Zainab Bangura, National Coordinator of the Campaign for Good Governance; Hon. Justice Patricia Macauley, Judge in the Court of Appeal of Sierra Leone; Ms. Agnes Parker, Secretary-General of SOWELS, FGM; and Ms. Christine Kuna-Tita, Human Rights Officer and Gender Specialist. In attendance were traditional chiefs, parliamentarians, representatives of women's groups, and staff of UNAMSIL.

Radio UNAMSIL carried an entire day of special programming on women. Market women, women amputees, women's organizations and other civil society groupings, as well as the UN agencies in Sierra Leone, were featured in the day-long celebration.

The United Nations family of agencies and organizations also marked International Women's Day with a series of special events around the world, highlighting the vital role of women in preventing conflicts and building peace.

Security Council members renewed their call to Member States to ensure increased representation of women in decision making for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. This call was echoed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who stressed in a message that women possessed particular skills and experiences that enabled them to contribute to all stages of a peace process. "In times of conflict, it is often women who take over the running of homes, farms and villages," he said. "Women understand the root causes of tension and know which power groups within communities and countries are most likely to support peace initiatives. We must make greater use of that potential."

The Secretary-General said that the international community must build partnerships among all actors -- governments, non-governmental organizations, community groups and the private sector -- to bring more women to the negotiating table and into decision-making positions. The UN has been observing International Women's Day since 1975 -- the International Women's Year.

SRSG VISITS BO AND MOYAMBA

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, visited Bo and Moyamba on the 7th of March and held meetings with the Resident Minister, the Bo Town Council and UNAMSIL contingents. The Resident Minister informed the SRSG of his concern over tensions between two CDF factions in the south, to which the SRSG provided assurances that he could be called upon if UNAMSIL's assistance was required. The SRSG stressed to the Resident Minister that both the Lome Peace Agreement and the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement provided for simultaneous disarmament of all armed factions. He also addressed the issue of misconceptions about UNAMSIL's mandate and explained that the Mission had a peacekeeping, not peace enforcement, mandate. The SRSG was also interviewed in a special programme on KISS-FM at Bo.

NEW CHIEF OF UNAMSIL HUMAN RIGHTS SECTION

Mr. Rodolfo Mattarollo has joined UNAMSIL as its new Chief of Human Rights. Mr. Mattarollo is an Argentinian jurist and human rights defender. He was for five years Deputy Executive Director and Chief of Human Rights and Institution Building at MICIVIH, the joint OAS/UN Civilian Mission in Haiti. Mr. Mattarollo was Human Rights Adviser in ONUSAL (UN Mission in El Salvador). He worked for two years in Ethiopia as International Legal Consultant at the Chief Special Prosecutor's Office in Addis Ababa. He has been a professor at several universities in Argentina and France and the author of numerous essays and articles on human rights and international humanitarian law.

UNAMSIL WELCOMES RATIFICATION OF TORTURE CONVENTION

UNAMSIL welcomes the ratification by Sierra Leone's House of Representatives of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Chief of Human Rights at UNAMSIL, Mr. Rodolfo Mattarollo, said that the Convention against Torture is one of the most important human rights instruments in the UN system and the decision by Sierra Leone to ratify it is a very significant step towards better protecting and promoting human rights in the nation.

Under the Convention, the Government is required, among other things, to take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture and to ensure that all acts of torture, as defined in the Convention, are offences under criminal law. In one of its most important provisions, the Convention establishes that prosecutions related to acts of torture will be subject to universal jurisdiction. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, including a state or war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

It is important to note that torture as defined in the Convention means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted by or with the consent of a public official, or any other person acting in an official capacity.

Mr. Mattarollo says that the Government of Sierra Leone will now be required to uphold the rights set forth in the Convention and to submit to the UN Committee against Torture an initial report within one year and periodic reports every four years thereafter.

UNAMSIL PROVIDES SELF-HELP SKILLS TRAINING FOR ABDUCTED YOUNG GIRLS

UNAMSIL's Trust Fund will fund self-help skills training for formerly abducted young girls. The project will provide vocational training in gara dyeing, tailoring, hairdressing and soap making. The project has been allotted US$9,953 and will provide self-help skills training in the Western Area for 390 young girls. Pamronko Women's Development Organization (PAWDA) is in charge of the skills training, while the Organization for Research and Extension of Intermediate Technology (OREINT) will manage a micro-credit project.

By providing training and education in various skills and vocations, the girls will build their self-esteem, self-confidence and self-reliance. This project will also create self-employment opportunities for these disadvantaged young girls through a micro-credit project. The Government of Japan has provided the funding for the project.

MEETING WITH RUF AT TENDOKOM

The Mile 91 MILOBs team conducted a joint patrol with BANBATT-2 to the village of Tendokom, to attend a meeting with the RUF. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the CDF, SLA, SLP and local community leaders. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and the following key points were discussed: possible deployment of UNAMSIL into RUF areas in the northern sector, establishment of local authority within the sector, humanitarian assistance needs, and the establishment of a Northern Sector Contact Group.

RUF REPAIRS ROAD AT MANGE

In line with the agreement reached on the 28th of February meeting between UNAMSIL and the RUF, a joint Port Loko MILOBs and NIBATT 8 patrol established on the 6th of March that repair work is under way by about 50 civilians under RUF supervision on the two craters at Mange Bridge. The repair of the crater north of the bridge has been completed and work was continuing on the crater at the south.

NIBATT 5 MAKES DONATIONS TO SCHOOL

The NIBATT 5 Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. IG Bauka, made a donation of foodstuffs, books and medicine to Thresson Preparatory School at Goderich Barracks on the 7th of March. The foodstuffs included rice, gari, corn and salt. In a speech before the presentation, the Commanding Officer said this was not the first time the battalion had made donations to the people of Goderich, as it had previously donated football kits as well as items of clothing.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: During the visit of the SRSG visits to Bo and Moyamba the Resident Minister informed him of his concern over tensions between two CDF factions in the south. Who were these two CDF factions?

A: As far as I know there is a split between the CDF in the south. There was a question of allegiance to different leadership within the CDF. I cannot give the composition of each faction at this time.

Q: Can you state in a nutshell UNAMSIL's deployment in the Kambia District?

A: All of our deployment plans are moving forward. I cannot give details as to when and how we wish to deploy, but our deployment plans are under way, hopefully within the next few weeks. As you know, we have been having discussions with the RUF about moving into RUF-held territories.

Q: What is your reaction in relation to the request made by UNHCR in the international media - BBC, for UNAMSIL's deployment so as to allow a safe corridor for refugees?

A: Since Mr. Lubbers was here, we have been discussing with UNHCR the different options UNHCR might look at in collaboration with UNAMSIL in terms of assisting the refugees. I have just highlighted a statement made by Mr. Lubbers while he was in New York to brief the Council on his recent mission to West Africa. He urged the Council to boost the capacity of UNAMSIL, stressing that a strong UN presence was "key for the stability and future" of the country and for refugees in the region.

Q: Don't you think that the RUF should be handing over their weapons instead of moving out of the areas previously held by them for deployment of UNAMSIL?

A: People are viewing this issue from two perspectives. On the one hand, the RUF has been saying that people are alleging that they have been training in the Kambia District and they are requesting UNAMSIL to verify that allegation, whilst on the other hand people felt the RUF wanted UNAMSIL to deploy in that area because of the heavy bombardment from the Guinean troops. It was reported some time ago that there have been attacks from the Guinea side on Kambia District. However, UNAMSIL will continue its robust patrol along the Mange-Kambia area.

Q: You have just highlighted that the SRSG provided assurances that he could be called upon if UNAMSIL's assistance was required. What type of assistance will UNAMSIL give, if called upon?

A: UNAMSIL has its military observers and peacekeepers all over the country. The Guinean battalion is based in Bo. Obviously one of UNAMSIL's roles is to assist in maintaining peace and stability in the area. We don't know what kind of assistance the Resident Minister might call on us for, but we are here as a peaceful presence in trying to keep the situation calm on the ground.

Q: How will you assist the Government of Sierra Leone in establishing its authority when you deploy in the RUF-held areas?

A: We are assisting in various ways. The reason for our deployment into RUF-held areas is to re-establish Government's authority and structures. UNAMSIL Civil Affairs section is actually meeting with the government and providing advice to the Task Force for the restoration of civil authority throughout Sierra Leone.

Q: Some countries are reluctant to contribute troops to UNAMSIL on the condition that this is a peacekeeping mission and not a peace enforcement mission. How far have you been able to persuade member states to contribute troops under the current mandate of a peacekeeping role?

A: It is not a question of the fact that because this is not a peace enforcement mission, countries will not send troops. On the contrary, if it was a peace enforcement mission, you would probably get even fewer countries to send troops. The UN has not in its history had Chapter 7 peace enforcement; what we have all over the world are peacekeeping missions. Countries are very reluctant to commit troops to a peace enforcement operation because they are not prepared to send their nationals to wage a war on somebody else's territory. What the Secretary-General does is he issues appeals for countries to assist the peacekeeping mission by offering troops, which he cannot force them to do because it has to be done voluntarily. Countries have to be willing and prepared and ready to commit their troops to peacekeeping missions. We have seen over recent times that those countries that have the military means have been rather reluctant to do so and I think that that has been an unfortunate aspect of the fact that in several peacekeeping missions in Africa there hasn't been a peace to keep in the end. For example, that is what we have seen here when some of our peacekeepers were taken hostage.

Q: The security situation in Kambia is of very much concern because we are all aware of the heavy bombardment on the Kambia District by Guinean gunships. Also yesterday, it was reported in one of the local newspapers that an area in the Kambia District has been occupied by the Guinean troops. Can you give us the present security situation in that area?

A: We do not have any information that that area has been occupied by the Guinean troops but some IDPs from the Kambia area reported that bombardment has taken place around Kambia area by the Guinean troops.

Q: When was the last handing over of weapons and equipment to UNAMSIL by the RUF and what was the total number?

A: The last time we received weapons from the RUF was on the 12th of February.

Q: What is the present situation as regards the blockade of the Kenema-Daru road?

A: The road was reopened to vehicular and civilian traffic on the same day, Friday, 2nd March.

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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