Uganda Rural Community Support USA

The whereabouts of the RUFP leader Cpl. Foe-day Satan-na
Sankoh until Monday was a great cause for concern to most people. On
realising that he was out of the country, some people requested that pa
Foday taste deportation wherever he was.

Reports say that Pa Foe-day had actually told President Kabbah and
Dr.S.S Banya that he was travelling out of the country for medical
attention.

Our own boss Kingsley Lington in a recent article argued that truly,
Sankoh is not well. According to chief Kingsley, Pa Foe-day’s head
badly needs re-examination . Chief Lington sir, I think every body
agrees with your diagnosis including even the United Nations.

All things being equal, why should Sankoh going to hospital create
panic? Is sankoh not liable to fall ill? Why then is it that when he
complains that he is not well, everybody cries foul? Look, human
beings; do you want to say that Pa Foe day is not one of you? Or do you
strongly believe that because he says he is a Lion, he has now become
an animal true and true? Pa Foe-day says he was not well, who knows
whether he did not go for medical attention in order to become a human
being? Or more realistically, I think most people do not believe
Sankoh. So whatever he says, they are sure to doubt it.

Going strictly by what he said and Kingsley’s diagnosis I hope
Sankoh has now been treated and may not be roaring a lot in future and
the entire row about disarmament will become a thing of the past.

Amen? Now Pa Foe-day satan-na Sankoh: where have you been? Of
course, I know you went to South Africa and you were expelled. That was
fair enough, not so? And where else did you go? At least, I understand
you were properly diagnosised of your illness before you were forced to
get a lift to Abidjan-how were you received in Ivory Coast? I am just
curious, you know.

By the way, did you sell some g—ms in South Africa? Gems and
germs? (smile).

The other day I was listening to FM 96.2 radio and one of your boys-
– Gibril Massaquoi speaking on the line from Abidjan said that he went
with you to South Africa and that you have been well treated but
refused to disclose your illness. On your return to Ivory Coast, he
said that you went on a tour of the sub-region. Where and where did you
actually go? Liberia, Burkina Faso and? To do what? To sell some
diamonds? Gibril’s [un] ‘official’ version was that you went on a tour
for your political party. Fine! But Pa Foe-day, do you seriously
imagine that elections would be conducted when your men are yet to hand
in their guns? Forget it.

In fact, in case you don’t know, most people say that you are not a
presidential material and that you are the most unqualified person to
be president of this country. Believe, that is just one dream of yours
that will never come true. And worse still, you are now sick-both
mentally and physically. I honestly believe it is time you took some
time to rest, forget about your untimely political moves and focus your
attention and time on ensuring that Sierra Leone enjoys lasting peace.
Remember that you are not well and any time anything can happen.

Who knows what God may be planning for you! May the Lord have pity
on your soul.

The hope to return home someday is almost always constant
as the Northern Star among refugees and perhaps even among exiles
wherever they may be. Not surprising therefore, when Sierra Leonean
refugees in Kaliah, Farmoriah, and Dakhagbe camps received the news of
Foday Sankoh’s unannounced trip to South Africa, they perceived the
event as a spanner in the spooks of the peace process.

Frustration and despair eclipsed the faces of refugees out there in
Guinea.

But if returning home is like a pendulum that swings between
certainty (continuing to live as a refugee) and uncertainty (coming to
live in the Sierra Leone peace-fear) then it is worth resigning life to
the fate of being a perpetual refugee whose survival is basically on
UNHCR bulgur, oil, beans and flour to keep bone and flesh together.

Those who have spent a year or so at refugee camps know that to
depend solely on UNCHR ration is a question of choice. Mr. George L.
Massaquoi a refugee at Kaliah camp chose to register his family with
the agricultural division of the Catholic NGO CARITAS-Makeni operating
in Guinea. Others register with Guinea NGO -ADRIP.

In my trip to the camp I saw huge quantum of hectares of land with
sweet potatoes, maize, rice and cassava.

The scheme known, as food security is an assured means through which
refugees complement their food kit from UNHCR. On February 24 and 25
refuges stoutly participated in the UNHCR sponsored agricultural show
held at Farmoraih camp. WFP, CARITAS and ADRIP were in attendance.

Refugees too have educational programmes. And so the over 80,000
UNHCR registered refugees in Forecariah region are engaged in some
learning activities pioneered by NGOs operating in the camps. The
international rescue committee NGO runs both primary and secondary
level schooling in all the camps. It has just introduced a computer and
business studies centre in Forecariah town.

The unlettered refugees, they too acquire skills training for now
provided only by CARITAS-Makeni pictured here is an exibition of
CARITAS pottery project at Kaliah camp.

Refugee life is nothing very extra-ordinary. Football and volleyball
matches, video, cultural and disco shows are common undertakings at the
camps. In fact, the frequency of marriages is recorded- one every two
months per camp. The proliferation of different Church denominations
has become characteristic in the three camps of Kaliah, Forecariah and
Dakhagebe.

They say every man is a political animal of some sort.

Even the refugees of committees are not apolitical.

But Kaliah is most politicised. Well the last committee there was
booted out in March by UNHCR.

One time deposed camp Chairman, Mr. A. Jalloh (alias “we all nar
wan”) has been re-appointed by UNHCR.

Reasons for his come back are inseparably tied to camp politics.

Notwithstanding camp politics, refugees in Guinea hold the view that
the game of politics should not be played on the Sierra Leone pitch at
least before complete disarmament. This is the paramount message given
to Pa Kabbah through the paramount chiefs during their visit to the
refugee camps in Guinea last week.

Perhaps it is a desperate appeal to the incumbent leadership of the
country not to risk the lives and limbs of Sierra Leoneans any more by
conducting elections in such a volatile country where armed combatants
still refuse to disarm but wait for elections to come. But if elections
do not come, some day, somehow the refugees will have to return home.

This is a hope that has to come to pass.

Yesterday the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA)
registered with National Electoral Commission. Last night, the
Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) gained official legal license
to operate as a political party. Early this morning, a group of Sierra
Leoneans came together to form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and
by mid-day some Sierra Leoneans out there in the Queen’s land hatched
what they called the Sierra Leone Socialist Party (SLSP).

When the LDP and SLSP formally and legally register with the
electoral commission, this country would “boast” of twenty-one
political parties. Tiny Sierra Leone. Small number of people - many
illiterates. Plenty, plenty, plenty political parties.

Haba! Resilient and beautiful children of the Lion Mountain, both
within and without, can’t we at this time pool our resources together
in an atmosphere of more concrete policies and less political parties
to get life to our economy again? As soon as the sun peeps through the
darkness of the night of each day, you hear of people having formed or
are meeting to form a new political party like rebels excavating for
the shinny stones in Kono.

Johnny Paul Koroma is battling with the idea, Hindolo Trye is
warming up, an obscure Julius Johnson is lacing his boots, Omrie Golley
is waiting for the next flight to fly in his party strategists from
Croatia, and did I hear that some of the losers of the recent Sorbeh
leadership election are contemplating on breaking away soon

Sierra Leonean refugees in the Forecariah prefecture of
Guinea responded sternly last Friday to the request made by some
northern paramount chiefs that they should be prepared for their return
in the immediate future.

Speaking on behalf of the refugee community in Forecariah, Elder
Musa Tholley said, “Our return to Sierra Leone is not going to take
place before complete disarmament.

We also ask that the government of President Kabbah should not
conduct any elections, be it Town Council, district, provincial or
national, before the complete disarmament of all the armed groups
involved in the crisis in our country”.

“We want to return tomorrow. But how can we when the free movement
of goods and persons is at the mercy of armed groups upcountry” one
Mohamed Kamara of Kaliah camp said in his contribution.

The refugees presented a lengthy letter they wanted the chiefs to
convey to the president concerning their repatriation. Among these were
the clearing of all roadblocks not recognized by government and the
provision of free medical and educational facilities as it is the case
in refugee camps now. The refugees also appealed that the weapons
collected should be publicly burnt to demonstrate genuine commitment to
the peace process.

The delegation of paramount chiefs was introduced by Hon. P.C Alhaji
Alimamy Lahai of Koinadugu district as head with P.C Alhaji Kade Kolleh
of Fintonia Chief, P.C Kande Sadu of Bramaia Chief, and P.C. Bai
Shebora Kansangha II of Bombali as members.

Hon. P.C Lahai said in his remarks that the purpose of their trip to
the refugee camps was to give refugees an update on the peace process
and arrangement for their repatriation.

The chiefs visited Kaliah, Farmoriah, Dakhagbe, Layah, Mousaya,
Dameyah and Sikhourou camps in their four-day trip, which was funded by
the British based Department for International Development, DFID. The
chiefs returned to Freetown on Monday February 28.

One of the most insecure areas in the country at the
moment is Kambia district which is firmly under rebel occupation.

In the past, civilians have had to contend with rebel harassments
but now it seems some of them are calling it ‘enough is enough’.

A large number of Civilians have arrived in Freetown from towns and
villages in the district and have vowed not to return until
disarmaments were over.

Reports say that in Kambia, rebels are like gods and can do anything
and everything with impurity.

“They can beat you for your food, rape your wife in your full view,
take your money and so on” said a Kambia Youth,Samuel Sesay.

In the town of Kasserie, a young man was reportedly beaten by the
rebels and then thrown into the sea.

“If the youth did not know how to swim, he would have drown” said
Joseph Kamara just from the town adding “let Sankoh go and collect
those guns from his men.

We want peace and lasting peace”.

It is not unusual for the RUFP leader Cpl. Foday Saybana
Sankoh to annoy individuals or groups of people. And in recent times
the RUFP leader has done just that.

Journalists, doctors and lawyers are extremely angry with Foday
Sankoh for his double standards in the implementation of the Lome Peace
Accord.

According to a press release jointly issued by the Sierra Leone
Association of Journalists, the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental
Association and the Sierra Leone Bar Association, it was stated that it
appears that the country is divided into two bits between the
Government and the RUF.

The trio association, said that the people of this country have
watched patiently as their Lome Peace Agreement is ignored while the
perpetrators of violence over the past nine years continue to show no
remorse.

The professionals say that what has bothered the people is that
neither Government nor UNAMSIL has been handling the situation with the
seriousness it deserves.

The journalists, lawyers and doctors noted that the future of this
country is being toyed with while the lives and prosperity of the
citizens are at stake.

“Our attention has been drawn to the recent events of Chairman Foday
Sankoh leaveing the country for an undisclosed destination”, the
release stated. This demonstrates lack of seriousness in the entire
process” the professionals stated. Concluding they said “we shall seek
to put forward our suggestions to the appropriate authorities soon”.

Regina Thomas The leadership tussle in the PDP hierarchy
ended last Sunday at the Atlantic Hall of the National Stadium Hostel
with Osman Kamara emerging as winner.

There was singing and dancing by over a thousand supporters who
converged to the Hostel, in support of their candidates.

The two contestants were Hon. Ibrahim Sourie and Hon.

Osman Kamara.

Before the voting parliamentary leader Hon. Dr. Sheku Magona said
rumours were going around that the PDP was falling apart.

He advised voters to choose a leader who will be in the interest of
the people.

Dr. Magona also said, democracy is the will of the people.

He further wished the contestants good luck and prayed that the
party forgeed ahead.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. J C O Hadson-Taylor who is also Acting
Chairman, said that in conducting an election of this type was not
easy.

This is a moment of decision, as we have travelled a long way to get
a leader” he said.

“Do not trust an election until the lust vote is cast.” We have now
come to the end of the road, he said.

The election was conducted at 4.pm and ended at 5:05pm with Hon.
Osman Kamara polling 20 votes while Hon.

Ibrahim Sorie 19 bagged votes.

Hon. Osman Kamara said that Hon.. Ibrahim Sorie was his brother and
that they would work hand in hand if he was prepared.

“We should now work hand in hand in bringing the party together”.

The newly elected Party leader, Hon. Kamara said his concern, as
party leader was the disarmament process.

If no disarmament then we are not prepared for elections.

One of the voters Hon. JS Massaquoi said the voting was done
according to their conscience.

This election will decide the success of this party, Hon. Massaquoi
said.

SLAs at Okra Hills have vowed to storm all FM stations if
they don’t stop calling them rebels. According to Mohamed Kanu, a taxi
driver with Toyota Corolla DX WU 41603 who plies the Waterloo- Masiaka
high way, the SLAs stopped him at Ropath village, two miles to Mile 38
where they requested him to take them to Okra Hills.

Arriving at the hill, along the main road, one of the SLAs who
refused to show his name, but was in uniform, told the driver Mohamed
Kanu that he wanted to send him to Freetown to advise all FM radio
stations to stop referring to them as rebels.

The driver disclosed that the soldiers angrily confessed to him that
they were no more rebels since according to them, they were now out of
the bush.The SLAs revealed that if they continue calling them rebels
they will attack the city also.

Sierra Leonean refugees in the Forecariah prefecture of
Guinea responded sternly last Friday to the request made by some
northern paramount chiefs that they should be prepared for their return
in the immediate future.

Speaking on behalf of the refugee community in Forecariah, Elder
Musa Tholley said, “Our return to Sierra Leone is not going to take
place before complete disarmament.

We also ask that the government of President Kabbah should not
conduct any elections, be it Town Council, district, provincial or
national, before the complete disarmament of all the armed groups
involved in the crisis in our country”.

“We want to return tomorrow. But how can we when the free movement
of goods and persons is at the mercy of armed groups upcountry,” one
Mohamed Kamara of Kaliah camp said in his contribution.

The refugees presented a lengthy letter they wanted the chiefs to
convey to the president concerning their repatriation. Among these were
the clearing of all roadblocks not recognized by government and the
provision of free medical and educational facilities as it is the case
in refugee camps now.

The refugees also appealed that the weapons collected should be
publicly burnt to demonstrate genuine commitment to the peace process.

The delegation of Paramount Chiefs was introduced by Hon. P.C Alhaji
Alimamy Lahai of Koinadugu district as head with P.C Alhaji Kade Kolleh
of Fintonia, P.C Kande Sadu of Bramaia and P.C. Bai Shebora Kansangha
II of Bombali as members.

Hon. P.C Lahai said that the purpose of their trip to the refugee
camps was to give refugees an update on the peace process and
arrangement for their repatriation.

The chiefs visited Kaliah, Farmoriah, Dakhagbe, Layah, Mousaya,
Dameyah and Sikhourou camps in their four-day trip, which was funded by
the British based Department for International Development, DFID.

They returned to Freetown on Monday February 28.

RUF combatants detained in Guinea RUF combatants detained
in Guinea. Guinean security personnel detained three RUF child-
combatants last weekend at Forecariah.

Mary Sesay 14, the eldest among the three said they surfaced at
Masiaka from where ECOMOG personnel escorted them to Port Loko. “We
eventually found our way to the Guinean border crossing town of Pamelap
and requested to be re-unified with our families in refugee camps in
Guinea” Mary said.

However, Concord Times gathered that the rebels were actually
rounded up at Pamelap on a tip-off.

When approached by Forecariah police personnel, UNHCR officials in
Forecariah declined to register the unarmed rebels as genuine refugees.
UNHCR however contacted CARITAS - Makeni operating in Guinea whose head
of Mission, Mr. Joseph A. Turay maintained that his office’s mandate
only covers unaccompanied and separated children in refugee camps.

“We can only step in and ensure that the child combatants go through
the correct DDR procedure when we shall have received that order from
our parent office and the Government of Sierra Leone in Freetown”.

Meanwhile the children have been released and are currently seeking
refugee status at the compound of CARITAS-Makeni in Forecariah, Guinea.