DATE=6/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / SIERRA LEONE (L)
NUMBER=2-263228
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Clinton administration is toughening its
stand toward the rebels in Sierra Leone and is
offering to arm and train soldiers to push them out of
the country's diamond mines. The shift in policy has
persuaded a key U-S senator to release 50-million
dollars for U-N peacekeeping in Sierra Leone. V-O-A's
David Swan reports.
TEXT: The policy is spelled out in a letter from U-N
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to Republican Senator
Judd Gregg. Mr. Gregg has been blocking the U-N funds
in anger over last year's Lome peace accord, which
brought the Revolutionary United Front (R-U-F) into
Sierra Leone's government.
While the United States previously backed the plan,
Mr. Holbrooke now says rebel leader Foday Sankoh
should play no role in the country's political future.
The letter adds that government, regional and
international forces should try to break the rebels'
hold on the diamond mines, which are their main source
of income. The ambassador says U-S soldiers would not
take part in such an operation, but could train and
equip troops from other countries.
State Department spokesman Philip Reeker declines to
call the Lome accord invalid, but does say Mr. Sankoh
has squandered his chances.
/// Reeker Act ///
The Lome peace agreement had offered Sankoh a
window of opportunity to participate politically
in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of his
country and to bring peace to all the people of
Sierra Leone. He completely wasted that
opportunity.
/// End Act ///
The rebels reneged on the accord, refused to disarm
and took hundreds of U-N troops hostage. After
receiving Ambassador Holbrooke's letter, Senator Gregg
announced he will release the 50-million dollars. He
praised what he calls a very positive step by the
administration.
/// Gregg Act ///
Lome is hopefully dead. The United States will
not turn a blind eye to the rape of the people
and of the land of Sierra Leone. We will demand
that brutal thugs are held accountable for their
atrocities and regional troublemakers must look
with fear to their own future.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Gregg, the chairman of a key Senate subcommittee,
is still holding up funds for Congo and East Timor.
The State Department hopes to clear the way for that
money in the coming weeks. (Signed)
NEB/DS/JP
06-Jun-2000 15:49 PM EDT (06-Jun-2000 1949 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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