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08 June 2000

Legislative Fundraiser Increases Awareness for Sierra Leone

(Capitol Hill friends and Canadian Embassy hold function) (590)
By Corrie A. White
Washington File Staff Writer
WASHINGTON - The conflict in Sierra Leone has personal as well as
policy implications and deserves a "higher profile" in America, say a
group of legislative staffers who hosted a June 7 fundraiser for the
non-governmental organization (NGO) Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
The bi-partisan Capitol Hill Friends of Sierra Leone (CHFSL) hosted
the gathering of 100 persons, who are dedicated to bringing an end to
the ongoing violence in the West African nation, at the Canadian
Embassy. CHFSL is composed of congressional staffers from the House
International Relations Committee, the House Africa Subcommittee and
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Asked about the humanitarian focus of the evening, Tom Sheehy, staff
director for the House Africa Subcommittee commented that, "We wanted
to avoid any policy discussions. We have those during the day during
our working hours.
"Our contribution will be modest in terms of what needs to be done,
but we thought it was important to try to do something on our own and
also give a higher profile to the problem in Sierra Leone," Sheehy
said. He added that thus far the group had raised $7,000 to donate to
CRS.
Asked how Catholic Relief Services was selected to be the beneficiary
of the fundraiser, Sheehy recalled that a spokesman at the Embassy in
Sierra Leone had lauded the "very positive efforts" of the
organization in the country. "Also, the Canadian Embassy was very
comfortable with working with CRS," Sheehy continued.
A number of Congressman attended the session, including Chairman of
the Africa Subcommittee Ed Royce; Congressman Sam Gejdenson of
Connecticut; and Congressman Vern Ehlers from Michigan.
Congressman Royce told guests that democracy is what is on trial in
Sierra Leone. He also criticized the agreement that brought
Revolutionary United Front Leader Foday Sankoh into the government,
thereby turning his "rag-tag force into a formidable one."
"We no longer want to see Sankoh do anything except stand for trial
and we want the U.S. to provide funds for humane resolutions,"
declared Royce. Sankoh was arrested recently by Sierra Leonean police
after his troops took hostage more than 500 U.N. peacekeepers.
Sierra Leone Ambassador to the U.S. John Leigh thanked Royce and the
Africa Subcommittee for bringing the atrocities occurring in Sierra
Leone to the attention of the American people. He also commended the
selection of CRS as the recipients of CHFSL fundraising efforts,
stating that a more uplifting organization could not have been
selected to carry out the intentions of Sierra Leone's government.
In a letter to CHFSL dated June 5, Ambassador Leigh wrote that
"Catholic Relief Services is doing a great job in Sierra Leone,
consistently bringing comfort, healing and hope to countless numbers
of violated people who have been violently uprooted from their homes
and victimized by drug-crazed rebels."
CRS is the official international relief and development agency of the
U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. While under the purview of the
Catholic Church, CRS often works inter-faith with any organization
sharing its desire to promote active solidarity on behalf of one human
family.
According to Kenneth Hackett, executive director of CRS, the
organization has been operating in Sierra Leone since 1963, and has
been involved in the rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of
homes there since January 1999.
"More importantly, we give hope to people," said Hackett.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)