MARGARET NOVICKI - CHIEF, PUBLIC INFORMATION
SECTION
AND MAJOR M. M. YERIMA - MILITARY SPOKESMAN
AFRICAN GROUP AT THE UN URGES SECOND
TERM FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
The African Group of countries at the United Nations has urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan to consider serving another term after the expiration of his first five-year mandate at the end of this year. In a letter that was made public yesterday at UN Headquarters in New York, Chairman of the African Group of States for the month of March, Ambassador Anand Priyay Neewoor of Mauritius, informed Mr. Annan that at a special meeting earlier this week the 53-member Group had decided "to strongly encourage you to make a decision to seek another term, and should you so decide, to fully support your candidature."
"The effective leadership and skills that you have consistently demonstrated in discharging your responsibilities are well known," said the letter, dated 13 March. "Your close relations with Member States and the International Community were recognized in the overwhelming endorsement you received from Heads of State and Government during the historic Millennium Summit."
The letter was made public yesterday morning during a joint news conference held by representatives of seven countries, members of the African Group. The permanent representative of Djibouti, Ambassador Roble Olhaye, told the press that the Group had created a task force to monitor developments relating to Mr. Annan's candidacy for another term once he made his position clear. He said the Group had surveyed the mood of Member States and had found an overwhelming interest in the incumbent continuing in office for another term. At the same time he noted that the African countries' move was not intended in any way to dash the hopes of any individual or group.
Among Mr. Annan's achievements, Ambassador Olhaye cited the far-reaching and comprehensive reform process the Secretary-General had put in place which already had visible impact on decision-making, coordination and accountability and which must be completed. He said the Secretary-General had raised critical issues, giving them much needed prominence on the screen of public awareness and had recognized the need to interact with the general public and reached out to the business community.
Ambassador Olhaye also drew attention to the Secretary-General's initiating an overhaul of peacekeeping operations, which was now under way. Through painstaking and patient diplomacy, Mr. Annan had been able to draw the international community's attention to pernicious conflicts, particularly in Africa, the Djibouti representative said. He added that the Secretary-General had been able to re-engage the UN in a number of situations, areas and issues that, over the years, had become off-limits to the Secretariat. For the first time in its existence, the UN, under his stewardship, accepted its failures in Bosnia and Rwanda, Ambassador Olhaye stressed.
UNHCR RESCUING REFUGEES IN GUINEA
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is rescuing hundreds of refugees who fled the southern Guinean town of Nongoa following rebel attacks in the area last Friday. UNHCR trucks picked up 200 refugees moving northwards away from Nongoa on Wednesday and transported them to a former camp at Katkama, on the northern edge of the conflict area, the agency said in a statement issued in Geneva. More UNHCR trucks went to the region yesterday to search for vulnerable refugees. Many of those rescued appeared exhausted after a nearly weeklong ordeal that began last Friday with a dawn attack on Nongoa, 27 kilometres west of Gueckedou.
"An estimated 9,000 refugees were scattered among several settlements around Nongoa at the time of the attack," the statement said. "Many fled into the bush and began heading northwards on foot, often without any of the 30-day rations they had received just a few days earlier."
To date, nearly 2,000 refugees have arrived in Mongo, north of Nongoa, while 1,500 others have reached Katkama, 30 kilometres north of Gueckedou. UNHCR is concerned for the safety of any refugees in Nyaedou, which is located in an insecure area 15 kilometres north of Gueckedou. UNHCR staff planned to travel to Nyaedou yesterday to register any new arrivals before their transfer to nearby Katkama. An assessment team that travelled to Mongo and Gueckedou earlier this week was told by refugees that the entire population of Nongoa and surrounding camps had fled.
Meanwhile, UNHCR hopes to resume aid deliveries in the Parrot's Beak region on Monday. The area had been cut off from nearly all assistance since a series of attacks began last September. Aid agencies were finally able to resume some operations in the region in late February, but sporadic security incidents continue to plague the operation. Since aid convoys restarted on 26 February, more than 35,000 refugees and displaced Guineans in the Parrot's Beak have received supplies, UNHCR said.
UNAMSIL BEGINS DEPLOYMENT TO LUNSAR
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) on Wednesday began its first deployment into Revolutionary United Front (RUF)-held territory since the crisis of May 2000. An advance party of peacekeepers arrived in Lunsar to initiate preparations for the full deployment of Nigerian Battalion 7 later in the week.
The RUF has agreed to remove its checkpoints on the Rogberi-Lunsar road and to ensure that Lunsar is a weapons-free zone. However, the Port Loko MILOB team reported having to pass through three armed RUF checkpoints on the road into Lunsar and that RUF military police were still conducting armed patrols in the town contrary to prior agreements.
UNAMSIL PEACEKEEPERS IN KAILAHUN
UNAMSIL peacekeepers successfully conducted a long-range patrol to Kailahun on Wednesday, the first patrol to the RUF-held town since the Mission conducted "Operation Khukri" last year to rescue UNAMSIL personnel held there by the RUF. The patrol team from Ghana Battalion 3 left Daru in the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone and passed through the RUF-held towns of Bombahun, Kuiva, Mobai and Pendembu. The UNAMSIL peacekeepers were warmly received along the route and especially in all the towns. Civilians lined the routes and waved and cheered the Ghanaian troops. At Kuiva, Mobai and Pendembu, the response was spontaneous and overwhelming, with the population singing and dancing and calling on UNAMSIL to bring genuine peace to Sierra Leone.
The Commanding Officer of Ghanbatt, Lt. Col. Samuel Odei, met with the leadership of the RUF in these towns and secured their firm commitment towards collaboration with UNAMSIL. At Kailahun as the convoy entered the town, the population rushed out of their homes to greet the peacekeepers, singing and dancing. At a well-attended town meeting to welcome the peacekeepers, the Adjutant General and Chief of Administration of the RUF, Col. Jonathan Kposowoh, pledged the Front's preparedness to comply with the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement. He called on all members of the RUF to embrace the peace process and warned that any cadres or civilians living in the territory who exhibited misconduct before the peacekeepers would be severely dealt with. The Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande, and his team are scheduled to visit Kailahun today, 16 March.
CONTACTS WITH THE RUF
The Port Loko MILOBs team met on Wednesday with low-level members of the RUF who are filling the craters at Mange Bridge. The southernmost crater has been covered and work has begun on the next crater, which has already taken eight truckloads of soil. However the bulldozer being used by the Sierra Leone Roads Authority suffered a hydraulic failure and could not be repaired on site. Work was suspended until a replacement part was brought from Freetown, but has resumed and is expected to be completed today.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ADENIJI MEETS WITH NEW BRITISH CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF
Yesterday, 15 March, the SRSG, accompanied by UNAMSIL military and civilian officials, met with the newly appointed British Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, who was visiting Sierra Leone as part of a tour of operational theatres. The SRSG informed Admiral Boyce of the ongoing activities of UNAMSIL, including its deployment to Lunsar on 14 March. They held wide-ranging discussions on all aspects of the peace process.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ADENIJI VISITS KENEMA AND DARU
Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, visited Kenema and Daru on 13 March to sensitize the local population on the activities of UNAMSIL and to inform them of future deployment plans into RUF-held areas. The visit also afforded the SRSG and his team from UNAMSIL Headquarters with an opportunity to gain first-hand information on the current situation in the Eastern Region of the country.
In Kenema, the SRSG met with the Mayor, the Paramount Chief and more than 50 chiefs and elders from the district and was briefed by UNAMSIL's Sector 3 Commander, MILOBs and the Civil Affairs and Administrative Officers. He was also interviewed in a special hour-long programme on the local radio station, SLBS 93.3 FM.
The SRSG was briefed in Daru by the Ghanaian Battalion and met with the Regent Chief and other chiefs and elders from the Kono and Kailahun districts. He also visited the DDR camp, where he held discussions with ex-combatants and their families, and met with Sierra Leonean refugees returning from Guinea and Liberia.
During their meetings with the SRSG, the traditional chiefs in both Kenema and Daru noted that they had excellent relations with the UNAMSIL troops deployed there and called on UNAMSIL to deploy to RUF-held areas to free the productive areas of the country and facilitate the return of the displaced to their towns and villages. The SRSG explained that forward deployment of UNAMSIL into RUF-held areas would commence this week and would progress gradually as UNAMSIL receives more troops. His explanation was received with gratitude and applause in both Daru and Kenema.
In his discussions with the refugees, of whom there are more than 200 in the Daru vicinity, the SRSG responded to their requests for urgent humanitarian assistance by informing them that the Government of Sierra Leone and the international community were examining ways to assist them.
UNAMSIL FUNDS RECONSTRUCTION OF POLICE STATIONS
UNAMSIL is funding a project for reconstruction of the police stations in Freetown, Kenema, Bo and Lungi. The project will contribute to the rebuilding of the judicial system in Sierra Leone. The construction work will be undertaken by ex-combatants as a way of reintegrating former soldiers into the civil society.
On Friday, 16 March, Civil Affairs announced that UNAMSIL was ready to start disbursing 98 000 US dollars for the reconstruction of police stations. The funds have been provided by the Government of Japan.
In a country that has been in turmoil for so long, it is very important to bring back a sense of trust in the legal institutions. People have to develop trust in the legal foundations of the nation. This is a fundamental basis for building a better society. The reconstruction of police stations by ex-combatants makes it possible to achieve two objectives at the same time, giving specific occupational skills to ex-combatants and rebuilding the law-and-order system of the country.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: My concern is that African Member States of the UN has shown solidarity in support of Mr. Kofi Annan's re-election for another term after his first five-year mandate at the end of the year, whereas any such support before it can be considered, must come from the US. How can we be sure that Mr. Kofi Annan can be considered for another term when the US has not yet shown such solidarity?
A: I think that it is very important and significant that the African Group should support the candidacy of the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General being an African himself must have the support of the Member States from Africa. If they didn't that would not have been a good sign for him. The re-election of the Secretary-General will take place in January next year. Generally, there is an informal process of consultations where member states indicate their support for a particular candidate. We would just have to wait and see what is the position of the United States, but it is not only the United States that decides who will be the next Secretary-General.
Q: It is clear that UNAMSIL will not deploy side by side with any armed group. But UNAMSIL is planning to deploy in Lunsar even with the presence of armed RUF forces in that area. What are you going to do in such a situation?
A: We have made it very clear during our discussions with the RUF that Lunsar would be a weapons-free zone. They will have to dismantle all checkpoints along the road and they have agreed on that. Although some checkpoints were still in place on the arrival of our troops, this matter will be addressed with the RUF leadership by UNAMSIL, if they do not comply.
Q: Don't you feel threatened while deploying in RUF-held areas?
A: Since the beginning of the year, our discussions with the RUF have been to enable us to see to it that certain situations prevail on the ground for us to be able to deploy in these areas. The RUF has agreed to remove its checkpoints and to ensure that Lunsar is a weapons-free zone. We are going in with a sufficient number of troops to avoid any recurrence of what happened last year.
Q: We understand that the Special Security Division (SSD) of the Sierra Leone Police are considering to move into Lunsar, Makeni, Kambia and Port Loko alongside UNAMSIL to restore Government's authority in those areas. How can you declare Lunsar a weapons-free zone when armed RUF are still in that area?
A: I am not aware that the SSD are going into these areas. Our concern is UNAMSIL's deployment into these areas and as you know the ultimate intention is to assist and enable the Government restore authority. Therefore, we envisage that the police and civil authorities will be moving in at some point in time.
Q: You said that UNAMSIL would not deploy statutorily but relatively to allow Government restore authority throughout the country. Is the Government of Sierra Leone willing to deploy side by side with UNAMSIL to restore authority throughout the country?
A: What I said earlier was that the point of deployment is to allow certain things to take place, among which, is to allow the Government of Sierra Leone to eventually go into those areas and re-establish its authority. Those discussions are ongoing. There is a Task Force for the restoration of civil authority throughout Sierra Leone, which meets on a weekly basis and UNAMSIL is represented on the Task Force by the Civil Affairs Section.
Q: It is reported in one of the local newspapers that the Guinean troops were urging UNAMSIL to deploy in Kambia District. Inasmuch as the Government and people of Sierra Leone are also urging you to deploy throughout the country. Why are people urging you to deploy when that is within your mandate?
A: I do not know where the newspapers got their information but we have not received any demand from the Guinean Government that we should deploy. The urging for UNAMSIL's deployment is an indication that people are desirous of peace in this country. We are in the process of our deployment.
Q: Previously the SRSG said that UNAMSIL would only deploy when they have enough troops on the ground. But we understand that you have deployed in Lunsar yesterday. Why have you only now deployed in Lunsar? What is the present troops strength in Lunsar? Are you intending to deploy beyond Lunsar?
A: We are in the process of deploying our forces. The SRSG has said many times that we need additional troops to be able to deploy throughout the country. But he has also said that that would not stop us from forward deployment. As you can see, we have started our deployment in Lunsar this week. An advance company has been sent to prepare for a full battalion to arrive in Lunsar early next week
Q: What is the strength of a company?
A: Approximately 250.
Q: What are the prospects of UNAMSIL getting more troops?
A: The prospects are very good for UNAMSIL getting more troops. We are in the process of inducting the third Bangladeshi Battalion and we are expecting some substantial commitment of troops in the very near future.
Q: You highlighted that an advance party of Nigerian troops have gone to Lunsar. Are they currently based in Lunsar?
A: Yes.
Q: What happens when you do not have enough troops on the ground to further your deployment?
A: We have our deployment plans and all the details have been worked out carefully to meet our troops strength at any particular time.
Q: You have just highlighted that the MILOB team reported having to pass through three armed RUF checkpoints on the road into Lunsar and that the RUF military police were still conducting armed patrols. Were they stopped while trying to pass through the checkpoints on the road into Lunsar?
A: No, they were not stopped. They stopped and discussed with the RUF at the checkpoints, but they did not obstruct their movements.
Q: Has the Force Commander left for Kailahun today?
A: Yes.
Q: What is the purpose of his visit to Kailahun?
A: He is going to meet with the leadership of the RUF in Kailahun.
Q: How was the Ghana Battalion received by the RUF in Kailahun?
A: They were warmly received. The response was spontaneous and overwhelming with the population singing and dancing, including the RUF.
Q: Do you consider it safe for UNHCR to move the 200 refugees northwards away from Nongoa to a former camp at Katkama on the northern edge of the conflict area?
A: The UNHCR is trying to secure the safety of the refugees and is doing what they can within their means to move them out of the areas that are worst affected.
Q: Last Wednesday, there was a shooting incident at Pademba Road Prisons in which the situation was brought under control by UNAMSIL troops. Can you give us any information as regards the cause of the shooting incident?
A: The information we have is that there was some kind of fracas between prisoners and the prison authorities during a routine check for any weapons.
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
(c) United Nations 2001
For information purposes only; not an official document of the United Nations.
Prepared by the Peace and Security Section of the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations