DATE=1/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRE LEONE / DIAMONDS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258363
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Sierra Leone, former rebel leader Foday
Sankoh has announced a halt to all mining operations
in the country. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports
the move is part of an effort to stop the illegal
trade of diamonds that helped finance the country's
civil war.
TEXT: The former rebel leader told a news conference
in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, that all mining
has been suspended, effective immediately.
Foday Sankoh was named a Sierra Leone vice president
in last July's peace accord. He was put in charge of
a national minerals resource commission that
supervises reconstruction and development, using
revenues from diamond, gold, and other mineral sales.
Mr. Sankoh also promises to curb diamond smuggling in
areas still under the control of his rebel group, the
Revolutionary United Front.
Amnesty International's West Africa researcher Tessa
Kordescka says Sierra Leone's civil war depended in
large part on the black market in diamonds. She spoke
by phone from Amnesty International's London
headquarters.
/// KORDESCKA ACT ONE ///
There is a major concern that arms and
ammunition being provided to rebel forces and
obviously income generated by illegal export and
smuggling of diamonds has helped to provide the
support to rebel forces responsible for some of
the worst atrocities that have been known in
internal armed conflicts.
/// END ACT ///
Humanitarian agencies blame rebel forces for the
murder, rape, and brutal mutilation of more than 30-
thousand men, women, and children.
/// KORDESCKA ACT TWO ///
Any means of preventing arms and munitions being
provided to former rebel forces in Sierra Leone
should be explored.
/// END ACT ///
Last November, Amnesty International complained that
arbitrary killings, rapes, and kidnappings were on the
increase, despite the July peace agreement.
A human rights group in Canada (Partnership Canada-
Africa) earlier this month charged that Mr. Sankoh's
rebel forces are still smuggling diamonds across the
border with Liberia to finance their operations. Mr.
Sankoh has denied any links to illegal diamond
trafficking. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/RAE
24-Jan-2000 08:17 AM EDT (24-Jan-2000 1317 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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