UPDATED PRESENTATION BY THE REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT
PARTY TO THE SECOND MEETING OF
THE JOINT IMPLEMENTATION
COMMITTEE OF
THE LOME PEACE AGREEMENT FREETOWN,
24th JANUARY, 2000
The Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (now transformed into a Political Party named the Revolutionary United Front Party) is thankful for this Meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee. Points raised in the RUFP Position Paper of 27th December, 1999 however, still remain to be implemented within the spirit of Lome and the letter of the Peace Agreement.
The earlier presentation sent to the ECOWAS Secretariat on Thursday 20th January, 2000 for this Meeting still stand, but further violations came to the attention of the RUFP from the 20th January to now and we now clearly spell them out in order to find a lasting solution to ensuring the smooth implementation of the Lome Peace Agreement.
The candid opinion of the RUFP is that cosmetic efforts are been made and no genuine committed moves have so far been implemented. These continued efforts to camouflage the real position of the peace process, reflect gross insincerity and disloyalty to the People of Sierra Leone and to the basic problems which are peculiar to Sierra Leone. Negative Propaganda and wrong information from various sectors, which in turn is a means of sensitising the International Community and the nation as a whole is causing wrong implementation of the Lome Peace Agreement.
This document, along with the RUFP Position Paper of 27th December, 1999 and the earlier Presentation should not be viewed as threats. The RUFP is simply requesting that the issues concerned in these documents be addressed immediately, as they are of deep concern to the combatants who do not wish to become victims of the peace process.
The RUFP also reinforces the fact that the Lome Peace Agreement, being an International Document supercedes the authority of the Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The Lome Peace Agreement was signed for ensuring that the ultimate aim of real and lasting peace for all Sierra Leoneans and the land as a whole is truly realised.
The Revolutionary United Front Party, mindful of the Lome Peace Agreement and its subsequent practical and positive implementation, therefore submits the following additional violations within the said Agreement to the Second Meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee:
1. PART ONE, ARTICLE II – CEASE-FIRE MONITORING
Since the last Presentation on 20th January, 2000 towards this Meeting, ten (10) of the Ceasefire Monitoring Representatives from the Revolutionary United Front Party have received their monthly remuneration for January, 2000 from the NCDDR Secretariat and UNAMSIL has taken up the responsibility of transporting them to their various areas of assignments.
In light of this, eight (8) RUFP/CMC Representatives remain to receive their remuneration and five (5) out of these eight (8) have yet to be stationed.
There are still ceasefire violations reported which are not monitored, verified and reported by the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Personnel. The RUFP still reaffirms that it will only receive ceasefire violations from a Ceasefire Monitoring Committee comprising of the United Nations, Representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, RUFP, CDF and ECOMOG established at provincial and district levels who monitor, verify and report all such violations of ceasefire.
The RUFP Representatives to this Committee would like to report that they have still been denied accommodation, means of transportation on permanent official basis to co-ordinate CMC/JMC daily activities, in order to travel and verify these reports and communication equipment which should enhance effective performance. On another front, the JMC are only accorded mobility assistance by UNAMSIL on JMC Meeting Days.
2. ARTICLE III - TRANSFORMATION OF THE RUF/SL INTO A POLITICAL PARTY
The Revolutionary United Front Party has duly registered and received its Provisional Certificate from the Interim National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the RUFP still draws attention to the fact that it has so far not received support with regards Article III, 4(i)-(ii) on both fronts. Also worthy of note under this Article is that the RUFP has not been granted freedom of Association in line with the spirit and letter of the Agreement. A case in point is the molestation and intense harassment of the Interim Chairman, Interim Secretary and other members of the Revolutionary United Front Party of Bo by the CDF in Bo. There are also several incidents of RUFP personnel facing real harassment from the CDF and other groups of persons in Freetown. These issues are burning ones and has given great cause for concern to all members of the RUFP. There are several other documented incidences of CDF personnel provoking and trying to inflame the tempers of RUFP personnel that are either undergoing the disarmament or are now ex-combatants. This situation is highly undesirable and we note it here for caution to be extended to these CDF personnel to co-operate in line with the spirit and letter of the Lome Peace Agreement.
3. ARTICLE IV – ENABLING MEMBERS OF THE RUF/SL TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE
The very transparent delaying tactics being employed by the Government of Sierra Leone to appoint RUFP nominees into "positions of parastatals, diplomacy and any other public sector" shows gross insincerity to those Sierra Leonean Citizens who are entitled to this benefit under the spirit and terms of the Lome Peace Agreement.
Legal impediments still exist in the form of the Travelling Ban placed on all RUF/SL/AFRC personnel for which the RUFP is now calling for a total and permanent lifting of
4. ARTICLE VI – COMMISSION FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF PEACE
This Commission remains in a stagnant position which does not at all augur well for the implementation of the Agreement. The non-functioning of the Commission for the Consolidation of Peace (CCP) still remains of great concern to the RUFP. The RUFP speedily awaits the immediate and effective operation of the CCP and its attendant Commissions and Committees in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Lome Peace Agreement. Appointments made to the various Commissions and Committees under the CCP are highly suspect and show no true sign of fair-play and commitment to the Lome Peace Agreement. Infact, the following Commissions and Committees are yet to be properly established:
- the Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development;
- the Provincial and District Cease-fire Monitoring Committees; which should comprise of all stakeholders’ representatives.
- the Committee for Humanitarian Assistance
- the National Commission for Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction;
- the Human Rights Commission; (in this instance, the National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights – NCDHR).
5. ARTICLE VII – COMMISSION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF STRATEGIC RESOURCES, NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Office space has now been identified at No.43 Liverpool Street for the Office of the Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development and ever since January 4th, 2000 when Chairman Foday Sankoh gave his approval to the address above, the Commission is yet to be operational in accordance with the terms of the Lome Peace Agreement. There are also several instances within the CMRRD Act passed by Parliament, which are contrary to the terms of the Lome Peace Agreement on this Article.
6. ARTICLE VIII - COUNCIL OF ELDERS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The RUFP representative to this Council is awaiting its formation according to the spirit and letter of the Lome Peace Agreement, in order to actively participate in its operations.
7. ARTICLE XII - NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
The RUFP notes the apology by the Government of Sierra Leone that it has already appointed regional Commissioners to the National Electoral Commission and has already lined up a Candidate for the Chairmanship without consulting the RUFP and the other sixteen (16) Registered Political Parties. The RUFP further wishes to raise the issue of training for RUFP nominees as Elections Officers.
8. ARTICLE XIV – NEW MANDATE OF UNOMSIL
The RUFP still sincerely believes and knows that the change of Mandate from UNOMSIL to UNAMSIL is threatening. The change of Mandate from UNOMSIL to UNAMSIL is also seen as neutralising the role and efforts of ECOMOG made towards the peace process in Sierra Leone. The RUFP also notes with concern that decisions made at the United Nations Security Council relating to Sierra Leone are not communicated to the RUFP, either through UNAMSIL or ECOWAS, thus causing marginalisation of the role of the RUFP in the Sierra Leone peace process.
The RUFP would like to point out that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1270 is, to a large extent, not in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone.
9. ARTICLE XVI – ENCAMPMENT, DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILISATION AND REINTEGRATION
The RUFP is gravely concerned over the recent recruitment and training of six thousand and fifty nine (6,059) SLA soldiers and officers. According to the Lome Peace Agreement, it was stipulated that the composition and size of the new Sierra Leone Army should be determined by both parties, thereby making inputs according to the geo-political structure of Sierra Leone.
The RUFP notes with serious concern the emphatic thrust being made towards only RUFP personnel disarming which is totally against this Article under review. Attention is drawn in this instance to ARTICLE XVI, No.2 which states that "The present SLA shall be restricted to the barracks and their arms in the armoury and their ammunitions in the magazines and placed under constant surveillance by the neutral peacekeeping force during the process of disarmament and demobilisation." The RUFP is calling for an immediate invocation of this Article NOW.
It is also noted that Freetown has not yet been disarmed. The reason for this notation is the fact that ECOMOG, Ex-SLA and the new SLA, the CDF at Brookfields Hotel are all fully armed and roaming the streets of Freetown. The RUFP is calling for an immediate disarmament of all factions all over the country. The disarmament should be simultaneously conducted with all fighting factions actively engaged. Further note is also made of the presence of fully armed SLA (old and new) personnel along Mile 91 and Yele. Also along Yele to Matotoka, there are fully armed Kamajors manning checkpoints. With relation to freedom of movement, no vehicles or persons are allowed to pass through the road from Magburaka to Mile 91. This road is closed. The RUFP would like to know why.
The DDR Camps are very poorly catered for socially, physically and psychologically. The structures which should encourage proper disarmament are not in place and a clarion call is now being made from the RUFP for these structures to be put in place at once. In light of the way and manner in which the DDR issue is being cosmetically treated, gives preference to the belief that there is a potential threat to the stability of the peace process. Also worthy of note is the hidden undertones which the RUFP remains sensitive towards with regards the emphatical pressure laid on just the RUFP to disarm. Reliable intelligence reports also have us aware that the CDF are presently being given full ECOMOG combat gear to fight against the RUFP. In 1996/1997, after the signing of the Abidjan Peace Accord, civilians were used to go and sign for and collect the DDR Programme money from the United Nations. This practice has started again in Port Loko and Lungi with civilians being used to go and sign for receive the DDR Programme money, as if they are ex-combatants. The RUFP demands an immediate investigation into this report. Despite directions against the manning of checkpoints, in order to leave the security of Sierra Leone to ECOMOG and UNAMSIL, note is made of the ninety-nine (99) checkpoints from Kenema to Freetown. The RUFP is demanding a simultaneous removal of these checkpoints in order to allow civilians free passage by all parties concerned
10. ARTICLE XVIII - WITHDRAWAL OF MERCENARIES
The RUFP is still insisting that "All mercenaries, in any guise, ….." be withdrawn with immediate effect from Sierra Leone.
11. ARTICLE XXIII – GUARANTEE OF THE SECURITY OF DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES
The violations as described in the RUFP Position Paper of 27th December, 1999 also still stand. The RUFP further wishes to quote from a letter sent to the Leader on 31st December, 1999 from the Bailor Barrie Displaced Persons Camp:
"Dear Sir,
LETTER OF APPRECIATIONI wish to convey our sincere thanks for your unforgetable assistance rendered to us during the time of urgent need. May God Bless you …..I wish to educate you that we have been relocated to Grafton Displaced Camp. The problem we are now encountering are: 1, No non-food items supplied to us. 2, Poor medical treatment. 3, Many internally displaced persons in the Camp haven’t got ration supply although they have their ration cards or slips. All these issues are very important and would like you to prevail on NCRRR who promise to supply non-food items on the 15th December, 1999. We haven’t seen any green light to supply us these items. So please assist us. I hereby crave your candid indulgence and co-operation to give this letter’s request the consideration it deserves. We anticipate a favourable response. Masallam.Yours faithfully,
ALUSINE BANGURA
CHAIRMAN"
12. ARTICLE XXIV – GUARANTEE AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Highlighted under this Article is a reinforcement of violations of Article IV, which is the stifling of the Human Rights of RUFP personnel "….. the right to take part in the governance of one’s country."
13. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
The Lome Peace Agreement calls for the creation of a Human Rights Commission. So far as we can practically see, taking current constraints into consideration, there is already a National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights (NCDHR). The RUFP is demanding that the NCDHR be urgently restructured to include the terms of the Lome Peace Agreement and that the immediate inclusion of the RUFP representative to this Commission be effected.
14. ARTICLE XXVII - HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
The RUFP in this instance will like to assure all Humanitarian Organisations that their security and welfare whilst providing Humanitarian Relief to the RUFP is of paramount interest. Attention is drawn here to the Committee for Humanitarian Assistance stated in ARTICLE VI, No.2(v) of the Lome Peace Agreement. The RUFP demands through this medium the immediate setting up of this and all other Committees and Commissions according to the stated terms.
It has also come to the attention of the RUFP that Non Governmental Organisations, especially the indigenous ones (much to our disappointment), are not neutral to the extent that they sit in Freetown and dream of figures and incidents which are not the true picture of the area where they base their predictions. In the interest of trying to milk the International Community to assist the plight of Sierra Leoneans, these monies end up going into the pockets of a handful of already rich and greedy individuals. These NGOs inflate figures of those of our already suffering people. Changing of six (6) to nine (9) in terms of billions in figurative terms is short-changing the people and totally against the progress of the nation. The RUFP demands an immediate cessation and an investigation into some of the activities of these NGOs, especially those that claim to go to the Provincial areas and never cross Waterloo. The true story of Sierra Leone must be told and the RUFP demands that monies do not end up in the wrong hands anymore. Let the people of Sierra Leone, especially those in the rural provincial areas tell their stories to the Funding Agencies direct and due comparison be conducted accordingly.
Also worthy of note is the fact that there is yet no RUFP representation on the Triple-R Commission which is still to be created according to the terms of the Lome Peace Agreement. The RUFP is again in this instance, demanding that this Commission be created according to the letter and spirit of the Agreement.
15. ARTICLE XXIX – SPECIAL FUND FOR WAR VICTIMS
The RUFP is again requesting to be represented on this Committee which would be managing these funds for War Victims, as well as calling for a Census to be conducted in RUFP areas as well as District and Provincial Headquarter levels, not excluding the Western Area.
16. ARTICLE XXXI – EDUCATION AND HEALTH
A clear violation is still noted as per our reference on the RUFP Position Paper regarding the violation of this Article of the Lome Peace Agreement.
17. ARTICLE XXXII – JOINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
We are thankful that the Joint Implementation Committee has now decided to meet. However, the Lome Peace Agreement clearly states that this Committee must meet once every three (3) months. This Committee is the vehicle which has to negotiate the rocky roads in order to gain everlasting peace in Sierra Leone. The RUFP would like to encourage the JIC to really do an committed, in-depth analysis and ensure that practical and realistic changes for the better is the result of their efforts which would forever remain written in the archives of the history of Sierra Leone, West Africa and the world that the JIC meant business for PEACE and ensured Peace was achieved in the best way possible for the people of Sierra Leone.
The Revolutionary United Front Party would like to reiterate that it remains committed on all fronts in accordance with the laying down of adequate and practical structures in order to ensure that the Lome Peace Agreement is implemented. The RUFP therefore continues to call for the committed, practical and positive participation of all the parties to the Lome Peace Agreement, along with the realistic encouragement of the Moral Guarantors coupled with practical, financial support from the International Supporters. This in the end analysis, would reflect a clear manifestation of implementation of the Lome Peace Agreement.
Peace is the key and the Joint Implementation Committee is welcomed in the name of Peace for ALL Sierra Leoneans.
Chairman Foday Saybana Sankoh
LEADER
24th January, 2000