PRESS BRIEFING
FRIDAY, 30 MARCH 2001
MR. PATRICK COKER - ACTING SPOKESMAN
AND MAJOR M. M. YERIMA - MILITARY SPOKESMAN

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON MEMBER STATES TO ENSURE UN STAFF SECURITY

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on 26 March, paid tribute to the United Nations Staff Union for keeping alive the memory of Alec Collett, who was kidnapped 16 years ago last Sunday. In a message on the day of solidarity with detained staff members, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the Organization's determination to obtain a definitive answer on Alec Collett's fate. He also appealed, yet again, to Member States to meet their obligations to improve the security of United Nations staff everywhere by ensuring a secure environment for United Nations staff as they go about their work in the service of humankind.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS DISCUSSIONS ON SIERRA LEONE

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday, 29 March held consultations on Sierra Leone. Dmitry Titov, Director of the Africa Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, briefed the Council and introduced the report of the Secretary- General. The United Kingdom introduced a draft resolution, which Council members are yet to discuss. The draft calls for an increase in the size of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to 17,500 troops and an extension of the Mission's mandate for six months. The current mandate of the Mission expires on Saturday, 31 March.

UNAMSIL AND GOSL MOVE TO EXTEND CIVIL AUTHORITY IN SIERRA LEONE

The Technical Committee of the Task Force on the Restoration of Civil Authority on 27 March visited Lunsar on a fact-finding mission to inspect the infrastructure on the ground and to hold informal discussions with the local population, including members of the RUF. The committee, which was headed by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for Governance and Stabilization, Alan Doss, included UNAMSIL senior officials, representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UNDP. The Resident Minister for Northern Province led the Government delegation. The visit marked the first time that representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone had traveled to a RUF-controlled area and held informal discussions on the restoration of civil authority. Speaking during informal discussions held between the RUF and members of the Technical Committee, the RUF reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process and pledged to remove illegal roadblocks in the area.

DSRSG - G&S VISITS KENEMA AND DARU

The DSRSG for Governance and Stabilization, Alan Doss, visited Kenema and Daru yesterday, 29 March at the beginning of his countrywide familiarization visits. UNDP, OCHA and UNAMSIL Senior Officers accompanied him. In Kenema, the delegation, accompanied by the Mayor and the Sector Commander, visited the Kenema City Hall under construction, the general hospital, the Eastern Polytechnic and the (Lebanese) IDP camp. The discussions focused on the restoration of Government authority in Kenema District. In Daru, the delegation visited the DDR camp and held discussions with ex-combatants. Later on an assembly of the local Paramount Chiefs, the Police and the District Officer briefed the DSRSG. UNAMSIL Civpol assisted Sierra Leoneans Police to deploy 15 police officers in Daru, and will further assist them in providing motorcycles, bicycles and handheld radio communication sets provided with the assistance of the Commonwealth. During the discussions, the DSRSG urged his hosts to fully embrace peace to enable the country to move forward. Although the visit was short, it rekindled hope in the minds of the local residents and contributed to confidence building in the areas visited.

DSRSG - O& M AND FC DEPART FOR SINGAPORE

The Deputy SRSG, Behrooz Sadry, and the Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande, depart for Singapore today, 30 March to attend a conference on the Reform process of United Nations Peace Operations. Among other issues, the conference will focus on debriefing and lessons learnt from peace operations. Mr. Sadry and General Opande are due back on the 5 April.

NIGERIAN DELEGATION VISITS UNAMSIL

A Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of State for the Army, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Batagarawa, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi, and the Director of Training, Maj Gen Asemota, visited Nigerian troops in UNAMSIL on Wednesday, 28 March. The delegation later held discussions with President Tejan Kabbah on a wide range of issues. Further discussions were held with Acting SRSG, Behrooz Sadry, the Force Commander, Lt. Gen. D. Opande, the Chief Military Observer and other UNAMSIL staff officers. The SRSG briefed the delegation on the general security situation in the country and expressed UNAMSIL's satisfaction with the performance of the Nigerian Contingent, which is currently the largest in the Mission. In his response, Minister Batagarawa said he was glad that the Nigerian contingent was discharging its duties assiduously and expressed his Government's commitment in eradicating misery, poverty and diseases by promoting peace in the sub-region, and Africa in general. The delegation also visited the Nigerian Battalion 5 and 6 at Goderich where the minister conveyed President Obasanjo's message of goodwill and his confidence in the discharge of their duties. The team departed for Nigerian yesterday, 29 March.

UNAMSIL DEPLOYS AT MANGE

In line with UNAMSILs progressive planned deployment throughout Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL Peacekeepers of NIBATT 8 deployed on Wednesday, 28 March 01 at Mange in the Kambia district. This deployment marks the second forward movement of UNAMSIL peacekeepers since deployment at Lunsar on 14 Mar 01.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: You stated that the Nigerian delegation a wide range of issues with President Kabbah. Can you expound on some of those issues?

A: They had a closed-door meeting and they discussed a lot and it was not available to the press and I am not in a position to explain to you what they discussed.

Q: You have described Lunsar as a RUF-controlled area given your deployment there. Can you explain?

A: You will agree with me that Lunsar was held by the RUF since last year. Until UNAMSIL deployed at Lunsar, Lunsar remained under the control of the RUF. Indeed UNAMSIL is fully deployed in Lunsar and the relationship between UNAMSIL and RUF continues to be cordial while during this press briefing I did inform you that the Government of Sierra Leone and UNAMSIL are making all efforts to restore civil authority.

Q: You said the Resident Minister was here and you had a talk with him. What was the discussion? Can you briefly explain to us what some of the things you discussed with the rebels? For Major: UNAMSIL is now deployed at Mange. Does it mean your deployment there stretched into Kambia town?

A: We have deployed the company from NIBATT 8 - Delta Company to Mange and they will keep on extensive patrolling to Kambia from time to time. But we don't have a deployment at Kambia yet. Concerning the issues discussed at Lunsar. First and foremost, the Technical Committee went with a purpose, a fact-finding mission, that is restoration of civil authority. During the discussions, they dwelled basically on these issues. The Committee visited hospitals, schools, markets, police stations, police posts and other civil infrastructures. At the town hall they held informal discussions with the RUF and they centred on these issues. Of course, the peace process, which the RUF committed itself to, was also discussed. They indicated that they were ready to give Sierra Leoneans peace.

Q: It sounds as if there are still roadblocks in Lunsar and some crazy gun totting rebels still roaming around with rifles. Could you just tell us why that is still happening two weeks after UNAMSIL peacekeepers have deployed to Lunsar?

A: Firstly, this visit was on the 27th of March. Secondly, these are roadblocks, which the RUF made commitments that they were going to remove. Lastly, sometime ago, the military spokesman did mention here that he considers these roadblocks as tollgates. So the implication is that these "tollgates" serve the purposes, which the combatants use them for. We do not have visible arms-carrying combatants at Lunsar - that I can say because I visited Lunsar sometime ago.

Q: Who is in control of LUNSAR?

A: UNAMSIL is firmly in control of LUNSAR.

Q: So it is no longer an RUF-controlled area?

A: UNAMSIL is firmly in control of LUNSAR and that of course allowed a Government of Sierra Leone delegation and UNAMSIL to visit LUNSAR on a fact-finding mission.

Q: Another question on Lunsar and the tollgates. How long do you think you're going to encourage rebels maintain checkpoints that will harass civilians in some form and restrain entry of civilians into the Lunar area? Another question: Has there been any feedback from these boys from that end -- -- from he himself since he entered RUF territory. Any good news or development since his visit to the RUF?

A: To quickly correct an impression. We did not escort. UNAMSIL has its mandate. The mandate says we should assist the Government of Sierra Leone and other parties to the conflict. Mr. Omrie Golley happens to be a RUF member and came to this country and was visiting Makeni. UNAMSIL facilitated his movement from Freetown to Mile 91 where we have our deployment -- that much we did. Concerning the roadblocks or "tollgates" that we have in Lunsar. The Commanding Officer on the ground is making

all efforts and through dialogue and other means to make sure we do not have such roadblocks and particularly such that these roadblocks will hamper the free passage and movement of civilians.

Q: I want to you to explain about the deployment of UNAMSIL troops. I gather that UNAMSIL troops will deploy this coming Monday at Kambia. Is this true?

A: I just told you about our deployment in Mangi, and I am sure you are now aware of that, and when we deploy at Kambia also we will acquaint you with our development of the deployment there. At the moment we don't have any deployment in Kambia and we don't intend to deploy at the moment in Kambia. We have deployed in Mange -- -- we have stretched the battalion in Port Loko and moved one of its companies to Mangui and they will patrol between Kambia and Mange at the moment. For the moment, our deployment stops at Mange.

Q: I was reading President Charles Taylor's letter to the Security Council when I bumped into this short paragraph, which says "that the Security Council saw its feet to expand the mandate of UNAMSIL to cover Liberia in providing information on Liberia's compliance with Security Council resolutions. Is that true that your mandate has expanded to cover vital information on Liberia?

A: My comment is that the mandate of UNAMSIL is still meant to cover Sierra Leone. I do not have this information concerning such extension.

Q: Can you tell us what is the UNAMSIL presently in Sierra Leone? And since you mentioned about the strength, what is the exact figure?

A: At the moment the strength is slightly above 12,000 and this strength includes military observers.

Q: There is supposed to be a Ukrainian contingent within the mission. Could you explain to us where they're deployed and exactly what they are doing? Secondly, are you in a position to tell us what is happening about the Guinean bombing?

A: Ukrainians are deployed in Hastings. They provide UNAMSIL with air support and equipment. They brought some helicopters and service and maintain the APCs (armoured personnel carriers). They brought over 200 armoured personnel carriers and they are situation at Hastings. To answer the second question: we have been acquainted you with the developments in Mangai and Kambia even before we deployed in Mange. We will continue to do that as long as we have the information. People welcomed the troops because the deployment, there have been some discussions at the regional contact level in Port Loko and the people of Mange, Kambia district, including the RUFP delegations from that area. It was after the official opening of the Mange Bridge that gave UNAMSIL the impetus to deploy there.

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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