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UNAMSIL PRESS BRIEFING
19 JUNE 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MARGARET NOVICKI- SPOKESMAN AND
MAJOR MOHAMMED YERIMA- MILITARY SPOKESMAN
UN SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PEACEKEEPING HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING IN NEW YORK
The need to improve the UN's capacity to conduct peace operations in conflict areas around the world was the focus of discussions yesterday, 18 June, as the annual session of the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping opened in New York.
"We can do better," said Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, summarizing the spirit of Mr. Annan's report on the implementation of the recommendations by the Special Committee and the Panel on UN Peace Operations, known as the "Brahimi Panel" for its chairman, Lakhdar Brahimi.
Mr. Guéhenno said it was no longer possible to perpetuate the "gifted amateurism" that has characterized the UN's approach to peacekeeping so far. With the lives of staff members at stake, he pointed out, the issue could not be treated lightly.
The Under-Secretary-General expressed satisfaction with the solid proposals put forward for improvement, including suggestions on how to better structure the way the UN planned operations, enhance the rapid and effective deployment of forces, improve relations with field missions, furnish properly qualified personnel in sufficient numbers, and ensure the safety and security of personnel in the field.
Speakers in the debate that followed expressed appreciation for the comprehensive nature of the Secretary-General's report and the serious effort under way to tackle the problems facing UN peacekeeping. Several participants said the document provided a clear picture of the needs involved, both in terms of additional requirements and in terms of making better use of existing funds.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND FORCE COMMANDER MEET WITH GEN. ISSA SESAY
Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and UNAMSIL Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande met on Saturday, 16 June, in Makeni with Gen. Issa Sesay, interim leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and other members of the RUF leadership.
Discussions focused on progress made thus far in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process. The RUF indicated its ongoing commitment to the process, and expressed its concerns regarding the reintegration of ex-combatants after demobilization.
The SRSG, in response, noted that the RUF had demonstrated its commitment by adhering to the terms of the Abuja Agreements. He hoped the commitment would continue until the process is completed. He also noted that this was a necessary condition expected by participants at the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Sierra Leone meeting held on 11-12 June in Paris.
RUF Spokesman Gibril Massaquoi raised the issue of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Special Court. Ambassador Adeniji assured the RUF leadership that UNAMSIL would undertake workshops to educate them on the organization, functioning and composition of the TRC and the Court.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL DECORATES UNAMSIL HEADQUARTERS STAFF OFFICERS
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, on Saturday, 16 June, decorated 69 staff officers of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) at the Mission's Headquarters in Freetown. The recipients of UN medals included the Force Commander, Lieutenant General Daniel Opande.
The ceremony began with a colourful parade of UNAMSIL peacekeepers of the Guard and Administration Company of Kenya. After inspecting the guard of honour, Ambassador Adeniji, along with Mr. Behrooz Sadry, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Operations and Management; Mr. Alan Doss, the Deputy Special Representative for Governance and Stabilization; and Brig. Gen. Isaac Chisuzi, Chief Military Observer, presented the medals to the officers.
In his address after the medal presentation, the SRSG congratulated the officers for performing their duties with professionalism, discipline and commitment to duty. He noted that the officers merited their medals because peacekeeping is a hazardous job, where the life of the peacekeepers is placed at risk on behalf of the United Nations and world peace.
Ambassador Adeniji credited the officers and in particular, the Force Commander, for the progress that has been achieved in the peace process and for the cohesiveness and high morale of the Force, despite the hardships it had faced. He expressed the hope that sustainable peace will soon return to Sierra Leone.
The UN medals are awarded to military personnel who complete 90 days in the Mission without committing an offense.
UNAMSIL PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION BRINGS PLAY ON RECONCILIATION TO PORT LOKO AND LUNSAR
UNAMSIL's Public Information Section brought a dance drama about reconciliation and forgiveness to Port Loko and Lunsar over the weekend. The performance of "The Throne," by the Spence Productions theatre troupe, was also accompanied by performances by local comedians. In Port Loko DDR camp, where the show was performed on Saturday, 16 June, the troupe received an enthusiastic response from hundreds of CDF ex-combatants living in the camp. Later during the day, more than 2,000 town residents thronged the field outside the local town hall to catch a glimpse of the dance drama. On Sunday, 17 June, a similar performance was held at Lunsar Town Hall and attended by local residents as well as RUF and CDF ex-combatants from the Lunsar DDR Camp. "The Throne" will also be performed in Kenema and Bo on the weekend of 23-24 June.
DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD CELEBRATED
UNAMSIL's Public Information Section marked the Day of the African Child on Saturday, 16 June, by featuring school children on Radio UNAMSIL from the Talking Drums Studio and the Milton Margai School for the Blind. The children talked about their experiences and issues surrounding this year's theme, "Say Yes to Quality Basic Education for All."
The children also gave a brief history of the Day of the African Child and read news on the air in both English and Krio. Later during the day, Radio UNAMSIL aired a panel discussion that featured the President of Youth Alliance for Peace and Development, Mr. Victor Kaikombay; the Headmaster of the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Mr. Sam Campbell; the President of the Children's Forum Network, Chernor Abdulai Bah; and two Paramount chiefs from Kono District. Discussions centred the need for the Government to ensure the provision of basic education to every Sierra Leonean child.
UNAMSIL Civil Affairs officers participated in a children's march for peace rally in Makeni organized by Save the Children. Other participants included officials from UNICEF, NGOs, the RUF, youth groups, and school children, teachers, religious and traditional leaders and the local population. Speakers emphasized the need to help children as they had suffered most during the war. Artists sang songs of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation and Save the Children presented gifts, clothing and relief food items to the teachers for distribution to the children.
The Day of the African Child was established by the Organization of African Unity in memory of the hundreds of children massacred in Soweto, South Africa, on 16 June 1976.
HUMAN RIGHTS SECTION ADDRESSES NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHIEFS
The Chief of the UNAMSIL Human Rights Section and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Focal Point addressed the weekly meeting of the National Council of Paramount Chiefs on the TRC yesterday.
The UNAMSIL officials were introduced to more than 25 chiefs by the Director of Local Government, Mr. Lebbie. They emphasized the important role of traditional leaders in the truth and reconciliation process. The discussions explored how the chiefs might assist in the sensitization process for the Commission.
PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TO HOLD REGIONAL DIALOGUES
The Peace and Development Initiative (PDI), a collaborative effort of the Government of Sierra Leone and the UN Development Programme, in cooperation with UNAMSIL, will sponsor a series of regional dialogues on revitalizing local governance and preparing for future national and local elections in Sierra Leone. The dialogues will be held in Kenema on 22-23 June, in Bo on 25-26 June, and on 28-29 June in Makeni. Regional representatives will then be selected from the gatherings to participate in a Natioal PDI Forum from 3-5 July in Freetown.
The meetings, which will involve scholars, national and community leaders, citizens' groups, the media, business, religious organizations, UN agencies, paramount chiefs, the RUF and CDF, will address issues such as the devolution of power from Freetown to the provinces, districts and chiefdoms, as well as how to make the electoral process more inclusive and transparent. The PDI seeks to engage all citizens and civil society partners in building a national consensus on issues related to the consolidation of peace and the promotion of sustainable development in Sierra Leone. All media organizations are encouraged to participate.
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT MISSION TO BE CONDUCTED
The Local Administration Needs Assessment Mission will be carried out in all 12 districts of the country under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government and in collaboration with UNAMSIL and UNDP. The mission will evaluate the facilities, equipment, personnel and training requirements of district and chiefdom level administrators. Representatives of government ministries will be invited to participate in the two to four-day assessment missions.
The assessment missions should be led where possible by senior district officers and RUF and CDF representatives should be included on the teams to build confidence and trust in their communities and foster a desire to collaborate in future reconstruction efforts. Missions have already been held in Koinadugu, Kambia, Bombali and Tonkolili. The assessment mission will begin on 20-21 June in Kenema, followed by Moyamba, Bo, Bonthe and Pujehun, Port Loko, Bombali and Tonkalili, and Kono and Kailahun.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I would like you to comment on the relationship between UNAMSIL and the RUF, how UNAMSIL is keeping peace. I was in Port Loko last weekend, and I talked to lot of RUF or ex-combatants there. They said they were not informed about the visit of Spence Productions and they should have been informed about it. In fact another thing is that there is no established civil authority in Lunsar in particular. There is no police presence there. I talked with Col Moriba an ex-combatant in Lunsar, in fact he settles dispute between ex-combatants and the civil populace, the returnees. I wonder how this peace could be properly kept in the absence of civil authority.
A: On your first question, the RUF was informed. I personally informed them when I was in Lunsar. So if the message didn't get down, we did our best. We also had fliers that we distributed in the town. And on your second question, I believe the police is going to be deploying in Lunsar very soon.
Q: When UNAMSIL came into Sierra Leone, 90% was controlled by the RUF if I am not mistaken. With the excellent work done by UNAMSIL within the shortest time, you have expanded yourselves entirely into the country; though there are areas you have not yet covered. I would want to know from UNAMSIL to what extent the government has seized this opportunity to establish its authority in the country- percentage wise.
A: As to your second question I can't give you any percentage as to how much the government has been able to re-establish its authority throughout the country. But I do think that it's a process and it's taking time, of course. But if you were listening to what I just said, UNAMSIL has been working closely with the different government authorities to try to assist the government in getting back into those areas that were previously controlled by the RUF, and to try to get basic services going again.
Q: You made mention of a recommendation for the better use of peacekeeping funds. I don't know whether the issue of UNAMSIL has been considered as being extravagant in its expenditures.
A: No. The point is as I explained to you the last time we are looking at UN peacekeeping as a whole, looking at the history of UN peacekeeping and how improve it in the future. The committee looks at budgetary issues, how money allocated from Headquarters to the field that sort of thing. It's not looking at individual missions to try to find fault.
Q: We have to go back to Lunsar and other areas where the government has to establish its authority. I want to have something clear. Is UNAMSIL supposed to give the government clearance before the government establishes its authority.
A: No, it's not up to UNAMSIL to give government clearance. UNAMSIL goes into different parts of the country with the intention of providing security in those areas so that the government can re-establish its own authority. But it's up to the government to make an assessment as to when it's ready. It's not just a question of moving people in. There are resources involved. Structures have to be built. Perhaps government buildings have to be repaired or re-structured. As you know, in a lot of the towns in different parts of the country, the infrastructure is completely destroyed. So it is not a question of just sending people in, but actually the facilities on the ground have to be re-built and re-established so that they can function.
Q: I went to Kambia and the (inaudible)… Prefecture is supposed to have a prefect there and the (inaudible)… itself is massively destroyed like Kambia itself. Don't you think you are taking the strides to go ahead and the government been slow, progressively hampering your work by any means?
A: No, I am not going to make an assessment whether the government is being slow or not. They have the SLA in Kambia district. When they have determined that they are ready to go in I'm sure they will go in. When they have the necessary funds etc.. As I said it's our business to provide security, and make the town safe for government authority to be restored. It's up to the government to take the next step.
Q: You made mention of the RUF raising concerns about the Special Court. I just want you to explain a bit what are some of the plans you have in terms of sensitizing them with respect to that?
A: As I said, the Human Rights Section of UNAMSIL will be organizing different kinds of workshop to help the population to understand what are the purposes of the TRC and the Special Court, what are the differences between the TRC and the Special Court.That will go ahead sometime in the future. I don't know if they have specific plans as of yet as to when they will do that, but it will be soon.
Q: What your position about Sandaru because you had lengthy discussion on "Security Talk" about Sandaru that you disarmed the Kamajors at Sandaru and now Sandaru has been occupied by RUF. Is the RUF still in Sandaru and where is the CDF?
A: I want to make this very explicit to you that UNAMSIL did not force anybody to come and disarm. At the moment there are a lot of them coming to disarm from that direction. And the RUF also went there to disarm, not to occupy the place, as Mr. Moiwo mentioned in the Security Talk. And that what Mr. Moiwo refused to make the public understand was that the CDF there were not the conventional CDF that they deploy there. Those are the CDF in the diaspora.
Those are the ones that came from the Guinea area. So whatever allegations Mr. Moiwo said about the RUF occupation of that place was untrue and we have made it clear to them that we are still expecting more CDF and RUF to come from that direction.
Let me just also clarify that the reason that those CDF came down to Sandaru originally was because they were hungry.
Q: Margaret Novicki, you have said time and time again that in fact disarmament is one phase of the process reintegration is the key towards success of the peace process. What I want to know is how far UNAMSIL on its part is able to lay hands on funds so as to reintegrate combatants, because as you're just said in your press statement that RUF have concerns about how to reintegrate their combatants. How best can we get the funding on this and how far have you reached on that?
A: It is not up to UNAMSIL to lay its hand on funding for DDR. That's the government's responsibility. And again you would remember that a meeting was just held in Paris to replenish the Multi-Donor Trust Fund on DDR. So we hope that the donor community will be generous in its support for the DDR process. The RUF I think and also the CDF of course would be concerned about what kinds of packages would available to them to assist them to reintegrate into normal life. We really hope again that the money will be forthcoming to do this. But it not up to us to secure the money; that's not our business.
Q: I had report that the RUF are still executing people in Kono. Even though UNAMSIL is patrolling in the town. One is a former Kamajor and an SLA military police; they go there in search of their families. I want you to comment on that?
A: No, it is untrue. The last time we heard about a fracas in that area was last month. And the UNAMSIL spokesperson made mention that there was a harmonious relationship between the RUF and the CDF there. We were surprised when we went to Yengema; I was with the Force Commander, and we came almost at the same time they were discussing, before we had a successful meeting with them. And I want to assure you that whoever tells you that is not promoting peace. The relationship between the CDF and the RUF is very, very cordial.
Q: I want to know from UNAMSIL's assessment whether the CDF are co-operating with the disarmament programme. And I would like to know whether all of your weapons have been surrendered.
A: We still believe they have some of our weapons. Regarding the issue of the co-operation of the CDF, they are co-operating and they are disarming.
Q: When will disarmament commence in Kono as the RUF and CDF has now given UNAMSIL the green light?
A: Very soon. We are waiting for the completion of the disarmament camp that is in progress now. The work is in progress in Yengema. By the time they complete the one in Yengema and the one in Bonthe, then disarmament in those two districts will commence.
Q: How soon will that be?
A: Hopefully the first week of July.
Q: I just want to know details about the conduct of elections. People are saying, and in fact UNAMSIL is saying that they are going to determine the conduct of elections if the atmosphere is same for now. And now as far as I am concerned I don't see that it would be right to conduct the election in December because a lot of refugees are out and now disarmament is on and displaced people are in different places?
A: We don't have anything to do with determining when elections will be held. That is a national issue for the government and the people of Sierra Leone to decide.
Q: Recently one senior adviser from the Nigerian Government made a pronunciation that Nigeria would not comply with the sanctions against Liberia. I want to know whether this would affect the peace process in Sierra Leone?
A: I think that much palaver has been made over Ralph Uwechae's comments, which I personally never heard, so I can't comment exactly on what he said.
But as I said on Security Talk, first of all he may have been speaking on his own, and not on behalf of the president of Nigeria. And again if the government of Sierra Leone believes that he was speaking on behalf of the government, I am sure that the government will take it up with the government of Nigeria.
Q: Do you have enough troops to deploy in all the areas that you are presently disarming, or you are just deploying in piecemeal?
A: At the moment if you are talking about deploying throughout the country, we don't have the troops. But with the arrival of Pakistanis, they are coming in batches; the last batch will arrive on the 22nd of August and after that the leadership of UNAMSIL will determine when and where to deploy.
Q: This morning there was a newspaper I think For di People the people front-page headline Kamajor something to leave Freetown. What I want to know as a military man, how do you determine an area to be arms-free if the paper is saying Kamajors are in town moving with weapons? So I just want to know how do you determine an area arms free when in fact quite recently they also found weapons in the hands of somebody's residence. And there might be some arms in some people's residence we don't know about.
A: Let me just approach that question in two perspectives. Kamajor is an umbrella of CDF and CDF is the pro-government militia group. So it is not surprising if they are in Freetown with arms. That is one aspect of it. And the second aspect of it is--give necessary information to JCC and those who are concerned with the security of this country. Give information if you have any valuable information. Certainly UNAMSIL will comb the place in conjunction with the police and the military (SLA).
*********** 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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