DATE=10/11/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / SIERRA LEONE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-267785
BYLINE=JANICE BERLINER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A top U-S State Department official is appealing for more U-S financial aid to support the U-N peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone and restore the rule of law. V-O-A's Janice Berliner was at a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday and has this report.
TEXT: Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Susan Rice told the Senate's African Affairs subcommittee that the United States must support the efforts of Sierra Leone's elected democratic government to restore authority.
Ms. Rice says the rebel Revolutionary United Front, known as RUF, continues to launch numerous small-scale attacks. She says the Clinton administration supports increasing the U-N peacekeeping force, UNAMSIL, from the current level of about 13-thousand troops to at least 20-thousand-500. But she says the rule of law must also be restored to the region.
/// RICE ACT ///
We are also seeking your support for the necessary resources to build accountability through the creation of the independent special court for Sierra Leone, which we have championed to bring justice to those most responsible for the atrocities.
/// END ACT ///
The Clinton administration's request for funding for UNAMSIL in the new fiscal year totals 118-million dollars, up from an estimated 73-million dollars last year.
The subcommittee also heard from Amnesty's International's Director for Africa Advocacy, Adotei Akwei. He echoed Ms. Rice's remarks that the U-N peacekeeping force must remain in Sierra Leone. However, he admitted there are allegations that some Nigerian members of UNAMSIL are colluding with RUF forces in illegal diamond dealing.
/// AKWEI ACT ///
The allegations are extremely disturbing. In some cases some people said there was actually fighting in between the forces. Unfortunately, this was not the first time that we had heard of peacekeeping troops, certainly while not the United Nations, the Nigerian troops in Liberia were certainly hit with a lot of allegations of looting the country and looting resources.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Akwei says that is why it is so important the Nigerian forces in Sierra Leone are constantly scrutinized, so that nothing goes wrong.
The chairman of the African Affairs sub-committee, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, says the United States is committed to supporting the peacekeeping operation despite its troubles.
/// FRIST ACT ///
We will play an important role in restoring peace to that part of the world. In doing that we need to make sure that our alliances are appropriately strong and they're aligned with the appropriate people. There's been some question in the past as to whether or not we are both negotiating with and developing alliances with the appropriate people.
/// END ACT ///
Senator Frist says the committee has requested further information to look at historically what the United States policy has been and develop a comprehensive policy to restore peace to Sierra Leone. (Signed)
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