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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SIERRA LEONE: Two plead not guilty at Special Court

ABIDJAN, 2 July 2003 (IRIN) - Two officials of Sierra Leone's former pro-government militia group the Civil Defence Forces (CDF), whose fighters were known as the Kamajors, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to eight counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the country's Special Court in the Sierra Leonean island of Bonthe.

The Kamajors fought against the anti-government Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war of 1991-2001. But they are believed to have committed serious crimes including shooting suspects, hacking or burning people to death, cannibalism and human sacrifice.

One of the accused, former 'chief initiator' Alieu Kondewa caused a mild stir in the courtroom when he told the Judge Pierre Boutet that he does know his age because his "parents did not put it down on paper".

Speaking in the local Mende dialect which he said is the only language he understands, chief Kondewa - as he was fondly referred to - said in his response to the eight counts: "I am not guilty, I have never killed anyone, and I am not a thief." "I am only somebody who cured and saved people," he added.

Kondewa is a highly respected traditional healer in his local community. During the war he formulated a mystical concoction which when used by the Kamajor militia, was believed to render them immune to bullets.

The militia therefore had to go through an initiation process where they were prepared and anointed with this mystical concoction before going into battle with the rebels. This was done by Kondewa, hence his title 'chief initiator'.

The other accused, Moinina Fofanah, on Tuesday initially refused to take his plea saying that he would not, unless two people whom he did not name were brought before him to answer questions. However after a brief standoff he pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.

Charges brought against Kondewa and Fofanah include unlawful killing, terrorizing civilians, looting and recruiting child soldiers. They had been indicted a few days before, after having been held for almost a month as suspects at the Court's detention centre.

The Court has so far indicted twelve individuals, including Charles Taylor, the president of neighbouring Liberia. The Prosecutor accuses them of bearing the greatest responsibility for the violence that occurred in Sierra Leone. They include leading members of all three of Sierra Leone’s armed groups. Nine of them are currently in the custody of the Court.

The UN-backed court was set up to try those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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