MARGARET NOVICKI - CHIEF, PUBLIC INFORMATION
SECTION AND MAJOR M. M. YERIMA - MILITARY SPOKESMAN
RUF TURNS OVER WEAPONS TO UNAMSIL
A high-level meeting between the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and UNAMSIL took place yesterday, 12 February, at Makeni. The UNAMSIL delegation was led by Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande, while that of the RUF was led by Brig.-Gen. Issa Sesay.
Among the main issues raised by the Force Commander were the return of weapons and equipment seized from UNAMSIL by the RUF during the May 2000 crisis. The RUF for its part called for the formation of an interim government and the simultaneous disarmament of all parties to the conflict. It also requested NGOs to provide humanitarian assistance to the people, promising to provide the necessary security.
After the meeting, the RUF handed over 56 weapons, communications equipment, and nine vehicles seized from UNAMSIL. The arms included rifles, sub-machine guns and other heavy weapons. Gen. Sesay also indicated that six additional UNAMSIL APCs are ready for collection at Kailahun and Lunsar.
The two delegations also visited Makeni Hospital, where they confirmed that Cpl. Robert Wanyama of KENBATT had died there of gunshot wounds on 9 May 2000. They then traveled to Magburaka where they were shown the graves of two KENBATT soldiers who died when their APC fell off the bridge during the May crisis.
In addition to Gen. Sesay, the RUF delegation included Col. Jibril Massaquoi, Brig. M. Kallon, Col. Augustine Gbao, Lt. Col. Sylvester Benda, and Major Abdul Razak. The UNAMSIL delegation, led by Gen. Opande, included the Chief Military Observer, Brig. Gen. Isa Chisuzi, and members of the civilian staff.
The meeting was described as cordial.
UNAMSIL RESPONSE TO STATEMENT BY THE EASTERN REGIONAL MINISTER
Remarks concerning UNAMSIL in a speech over the weekend by the Resident Minister of the Eastern Region to a local gathering celebrating the official opening of the "civil society movement consultative forum" are regarded as misleading and unhelpful to the peace process. As we are all aware, UNAMSIL is here to provide support to the peace process and in its impartial capacity, has contacts with all parties to the conflict. It has deployed in four sectors of the country and will deploy further once it has the requisite troop strength. In the meantime, it will continue to conduct robust patrolling. Statements intended to inflame public opinion against UNAMSIL are neither useful nor in keeping with the spirit of the search for peace.
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
The new UNHCR head, Mr. Ruud Lubbers, arrived in Sierra Leone this morning following his visit to Guinea. He was met this morning by the DSRSG and the Force Commander and held discussions with UNAMSIL leadership.
The Assistant Secretary-General Michael Sheehan, along with members of his team from New York and UNAMSIL civilian and military officials, visited areas of UNAMSIL deployment over the weekend, as well as the British military training camp at Benguema. On 10 February, he visited Port Loko where he toured the NIBATT-8 location, the Military Observers team site and the DDR and IDP camps. For his visit to the Port Loko DDR camp, the Assistant Secretary-General was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the NCDDR and members of his staff, as well as WFP representatives, in addition to UNAMSIL officials. On 11 February, Mr. Sheehan and his team traveled to Mile 91, Kenema and Daru, where they visited the various contingent locations, sites where UNAMSIL military units have assisted the local population in various projects, as well as the Daru DDR camp.
UN REVISITS PEACEKEEPING IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)
Recent developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have prompted the United Nations to revise its plans for a peacekeeping operation in the country in order to seize the moment and promote peace, a top UN official said yesterday. "This is an opportunity to advance the peace process in the DRC," the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. "In the field, we've seen that there have been no significant violations of the ceasefire for more than three weeks, and it's the longest period of calm since the signing of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement in the summer of 1999." "We have to exploit that window of opportunity," he said, adding that the UN had to be ready to "go for peace now -- the peace that the Congolese people have been waiting for."
Introducing the upcoming report of the Secretary-General, he explained that the concept of the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) had been modified in light of the experience gained in the 15 months since it had been developed. While still an observer mission to monitor and verify the movements of the parties in compliance with the Harare Disengagement and Deployment Plan, which was signed on 6 December, MONUC would have a reduced number of military personnel and would require less equipment, he said. "The objective of the plan is to concentrate the parties' forces away from the current confrontation line," he said. "We want to reduce the risk of clashes between them, and to position them for an eventual full withdrawal from the DRC."
If the concept is approved by the Security Council, a total of some 550 military observers would be deployed in the country in the near future. The armed forces would withdraw first to intermediate and then to new defensive positions further back in accordance with the time frame to be finalized with the parties.
UN SET UP BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA
United Nations peacekeepers yesterday began setting up a temporary security zone between Ethiopia and Eritrea, marking a key step forward in the peace process. Troops serving with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) were able to begin their deployment after the two countries reached agreement on the zone last week at a meeting in Nairobi which was chaired by the UNMEE Force Commander.
The meeting of the Military Coordination Commission, one of the main instruments for addressing the parties' concerns and for consultation with them on the Mission's activities also set a timetable for deployment. According to the agreed timetable, Ethiopia is to finish re-deploying its forces to the southern boundary by 26th February. Eritrea will begin to rearrange its forces to the northern boundary by 17 February, completing that task by 3rd March.
RUF FROM SEGBWEMA VISITED GHANBATT-2 COMMANDING OFFICER
Six (6) RUF cadres led by Col Amara, RUF Commander at Segbwema, visited the GHANBATT Commanding Officer (CO) on 08 February. The aim of the visit was to confirm information that UNAMSIL was about to attack the RUF positions and to that end UNAMSIL helicopter gunships had been mobilized at Kenema. The CO of GHANBATT - 2 denied those allegations and confirmed UNAMSIL's position in favour of a peaceful solution of the crisis in Sierra Leone.
MEETING AT DAMBU
A joint Daru MILOBS/GHANBATT patrol to Dambu on 11th February held a meeting with local RUF, CDF, NGOs and chiefs of the nearby villages. The RUF delegation was composed of Capt Mohammed Sheriff, Capt Fodei Saidu, Capt Michael Musa and Lt James Kpania. The discussions focused on promoting the peace process in the country, rehabilitation of Segbwema and the situation on the Daru - Kenema road. The RUF stated that they had no intention to fight. The meeting was held in a cooperative atmosphere.
Questions and answers
Q: What was the statement made by the Resident Minister of the Eastern Region which was regarded as misleading and unhelpful to the peace process?
A: I think you can infer by my statement that the type of comments made by the Resident Minister of the Eastern Region were not complimentary to the role UNAMSIL is undertaking in this country, and we feel that such statements are misleading to the public.
Q: Don't you think by being so cautious in deploying in RUF-held areas based on UNAMSIL troop strength can cause a delay in the deployment of ECOWAS troops along the Sierra Leone-Guinea-Liberia borders and that people may try to misconstrue UNAMSIL's role in the peace process?
A: People may try to misconstrue our deployment policy, but as I have explained it on repeated occasions, and as I have just explained it again this morning, we are in the process of getting troop reinforcements. Once our reinforcements are up to the strength that we feel is necessary, and we are able to deploy, we will be deploying further. We are conducting robust patrols, and we are continuing holding discussions with the RUF as I explained about our meeting yesterday, so people can interprete it as they will, but we have our plans and we will proceed on that basis.
Q: How do you assess the RUF's commitment to the peace process after UNAMSIL's meeting with them yesterday? Are they willing to enter the DDR process?
A: I think if you have listened to the statement I made, the RUF expressed concerns over the formation of an interim government and wish for a simultaneous disarmament of all parties to the conflict. They have made certain promises to us and indeed they have returned some of the weapons and equipment seized, which we see as a positive sign towards the peace process.
Q: Do you regard the opening of the roads by the RUF as a positive sign towards the peace process? Do you now think that the statement made by the Resident Minister of the Eastern Region disallowing civilians/vehicular traffic to RUF areas, will reverse the peace process?
A: Obviously we want to see the roads open and I think discussions will be held between the Eastern Region Minister and UNAMSIL officials on this particular aspect.
Q: Is it true that Ukrainian troops are based in Sierra Leone training other UNAMSIL contingents?
A: We do not have any Ukrainian troops training any UN personnel to fight. When the Ukrainians arrived here we gave you their figures and explained what they are here for. They came with 200 APCs and are assisting in the maintenance and training operations on the APCs.
Q: Can you confirm whether the road linking Lunsar-Makeni-Magburaka has been cut off by the RUF?
A: No it has not been cut off. It is accessible.
Q: Can you give us the total figure of weapons and equipment seized from UNAMSIL by the RUF? How many have been returned?
A: We do not have the total figure at the moment. But some weapons were handed over a few months ago and some RUF took their weapons with them for disarmament. We have also recovered 56 weapons, which included 14 SMG, 21 K47, 10 BAR, 2 G3, 1 LMG, 1 GPMG, 6 BZT and 1 BMG and nine vehicles.
Q: Can you tell us whether the six additional UNAMSIL APCs are in good condition?
A: We do not know because we have not yet collected them.
Q: You promised to give us a deployment plan when it is ready. Can it be made available to us now?
A: I did not say that we are going to give you a deployment plan. I said that you would be the first to be informed of our deployment when it takes place.
Q: What is UNAMSIL's reaction to the six-month extension by the Government of Sierra Leone?
A: The RUF expressed its concern about the six-month extension of the Government and their wish for an interim government. UNAMSIL is here to provide support to the peace process and in our impartial capacity, we are trying to inform both sides as to what the other side is thinking.
Q: Can you confirm whether there have been persistent attacks by RUF on the people of Kambia district?
A: No. Kambia has been disturbed by the attack by Guinean gunships. The RUF are requesting UNAMSIL to deploy not because they want to use them as a shield, but they would like UNAMSIL to see for themselves that they (RUF) are not training people on the ground as was alleged.
Q: Why did the UN Security Council decide to delay the proposed sanctions on the Liberian government?
A: We have not delayed the proposed sanctions. It is going to come up for discussion before the Security Council.
Q: What strategies will the UN implement to urge the RUF to disarm within the six-month period?
A: We are encouraging all sides to join the DDR process, even though the RUF feels that other parties are not disarming.
Q: Was the RUF visit to GHANBATT-2 a confrontation or was it just to get a confirmation of UNAMSIL's attack on their position?
A: It was just a normal caution they want to bring to the notice of UNAMSIL military observers. I don't think it is that serious.
Q: Did the RUF express their wish to visit Freetown during your discussions with them yesterday?
A: No.
Q: Is it true that the recommendation for an interim government for Sierra Leone was channeled through the President of Nigeria to the UN Security Council? Has the UN Security Council responded?
A: I am not aware of this recommendation or any response from the Security Council.
Q: Are you aware that the road to Tongo Field is closed by RUF as a result of the statement made by the Resident Minister of the Eastern Region?
A: No.
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.