DATE=9/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=GUINEA / REFUGEES (L-O) CQ
NUMBER=2-266321
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
//// FIXES SCHLEIN, TEXT GRAF 2 OF CR2-266321. ////
INTRO: The U-N refugee agency says the situation in
the West African country of Guinea has calmed down.
It says there is no substance to reports that refugees
from Sierra Leone and Liberia are being forcibly
deported. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The United Nations says refugees from Liberia
and Sierra Leone are in no danger of being sent home.
U-N-H-C-R spokeswoman Delphine Marie says the refugees
reacted with panic after the government accused some
of them of being involved in cross-border attacks on
three Guinean villages during the past two-weeks.
There were incursions from Liberia against two
villages and one attack from Sierra Leone.
Ms. Marie says the refugees have been reassured that
they can remain in Guinea.
/// MARIE ACT ///
There is no forced expulsion or repatriation of
refugees at the moment. There has been a
movement of panic among the refugee population
fearing for revenge action, and some people in
the population had understood the president's
intervention as saying that all refugees must go
home. In fact, it was a bit of a
misunderstanding. He did not call for the
population or the military to send all refugees
home immediately at all.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says eight-refugees reportedly took part in
an attack against the village of Massadou. She says
the refugees have been arrested and are being
interrogated. More than 75-villagers were killed
during the three attacks.
Ms. Marie acknowledges that a number of former
combatants from Liberia and Sierra Leone have sought
asylum in Guinea. But she says most of these are
considered to be bona-fide refugees. She says they
have laid down their arms and have been behaving well.
She says the U-N refugee agency has condemned the
attacks and has called upon the refugees and the
population to remain calm.
/// MARIE 2ND ACT ///
There is no such thing as a manhunt or anything
like that. It is true that the government has
opened a center for foreigners in Conakry who
may fear retaliation or some kind of operation
against them. And, apparently in those three
centers, some 600-people had gathered by Sunday.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Marie says aid workers will interview these people
next week to identify those who are registered as
refugees and to screen new claims for asylum.
She says a team of aid workers, including a protection
officer, is to visit the town of Forecariah to assess
the situation and restore calm. Guinea is hosting
nearly one-half-million refugees from Sierra Leone and
Liberia. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/ALW/RAE
10-Sep-2000 12:59 PM EDT (10-Sep-2000 1659 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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