In January 1999, rebels from
the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) attacked and captured Freetown from
the government troops and Economic Community of West Africa States Monitoring
Group (ECOMOG) peacekeeping troops. Occupying the capital for three
weeks, the RUF sparked a battle and reign of terror that, according to Human
Rights Watch (1999), "marked the most intensive and concentrated period of
human rights violations in Sierra Leone's eight year war" (Sierra Leone).
After withdrawal from the capital, the RUF moved eastward, leaving
a trail of human rights abuses along the way (Human Rights Watch [HRW], "Sierra
Leone," 1999).
By May of 1999, the government and RUF began a talk that
resulted in a ceasefire, and on July 7, a peace accord was signed. By
the accord, the RUF was to lay down its weapons in exchange for representation
in the new government, and an amnesty was granted for all crimes committed
during the civil war, though the U.N. and several countries in the international
scene disagree with this provision. Unfortunately, the peace accord
has not proved successful, as ceasefires have been violated, deadlines missed,
and human rights abuses continued, including children violations (over 30%
of the RUF troops are under age 18 (HRW, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
All parties involved in the
Sierra Leone civil war were guilty of extrajudicial executions, though the
RUF and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) were much worse than the
pro-government forces. In the January offensive on the capital, the
RUF murdered at least 2,000 civilians, particularly Nigerian nationals, unarmed
police officers, journalists, and church employees (HRW, "Sierra Leone,"
1999). Police forces were also targeted in executions. When the
ECOMOG recaptured Lunsar in February of 1999, 130 of the city's 170 police
officers had been executed, primarily in the football field (U.S. Department
of State [DOS], "Sierra Leone," 1999).
At least 180 executions were performed on RUF prisoners
taken by the ECOMOG, some of whom had surrendered or were previously wounded.
More than one group of Kamajors, the largest and most powerful of the
Civil Defense Force (CDF), were reported to have participated in looting
raids, many times dressed as rebels, during which time many civilians were
killed and boats attacked.
Disappearances and Abductions
Following the January offensive
in Freetown, more than 3,500 people were reported missing, 3,000 of which
were children. As the RUF advanced, hundreds more were abducted, and
forced into labor, the military, and sexual slavery to male combatants (HRW,
"Sierra Leone," 1999).
Abductions were commonly performed by the RUF and AFRC
for ransoms, but religious workers and foreigners were also commonly abducted
to be used as "bargaining chips" in attempts to extort money. The rebel
forces abducted 13 businessmen from India on January 25, including the honorary
consul of Japan; after killing 3 and seriously wounding one, the RUF released
the captives (DOS, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
Torture and Other Cruel Punishment
Mutilation and amputation were
common on both sides participating in the war. Arms, legs, lips, ears,
and hands were amputated in particular, and in January during the Freetown
attack, the RUF are reported for having cut off the limbs of 100 civilians,
including twenty-six double arm amputations (HRW, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
Prison conditions are harsh, with overcrowding, inadequate food and
medical care, and limited number of toilets (DOS, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
In April at a village near Masiaka, fifty-seven civilians were
burned alive (HRW, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
One survivor of a raid by the RUF described the attack:
"Civilians were rounded up, in groups or in lines, and then taken individually
toa pounding block in the village where their hands, arms or legs were
cut with a machete. In some villages, after the civilians were rounded
up, they were stripped naked. Men were then ordered to rape members
of their own family. If they refused, their arms were cut off and the
women were raped by rebel forces, often in front of their husbands...Victims
of these atrocities also reported women and children being rounded up [and]
locked into houses which were then set alight" (Amnesty International [AI], "Sierra Leone," 2000)
Women's Rights
The RUF perpetrated systematic,
organized, and widespread sexual violence against women and young girls.
Rebels would plan operations in which they would round up females,
particularly targeting virgins and girls under 17, bring them to command
centers, and individually or gang rape them. Those few who were not
"married" to rebel combatants and turned into sex slaves were eventually
released, but numerous children died as a result of rape (HRW, "Sierra Leone,"
1997). Domestic violence against women was also common in the country,
though not acknowledged as a societal problem, therefore not invoking police
intervention (DOS, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
While the constitution calls for equal rights between
men and women, women are still socially and legally discriminated against.
Only two of the 18 cabinet members are women. Women are denied
equal access to education -- only 6% are literate-- as well as economic
opportunities, health care, and various social freedoms.
Forced Displacement
Over a year since the Lome
peace accord, Sierra Leonians still make up the largest refugee and internally
displaced population within Africa (AI, "Toward Justice,"
2000). Refugees are now facing new problems in Guinea and Liberia.
The 480,000 refugees in Guinea now face harassment, detainment, and
even deportment by Guinean authorities since rebel forces from Sierra Leone
launched several cross border attacks in March, April, and May of 1999. In
Liberia, the 35,000 refugees living in northern Lofa county became vulnerable
to attack by Liberian insurgents and security forces when fighting erupted
between the two in August of 1999 (HRW, "Sierra Leone," 1999).
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