IVORY COAST: SIERRA LEONEAN REBELS SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS IMMINENT HANDOVER OF 10 WESTERN CAPTIVES

Record ID: 183454

  • Title: IVORY COAST: SIERRA LEONEAN REBELS SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS IMMINENT HANDOVER OF 10 WESTERN CAPTIVES
  • Date: 28th March 1995
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST/ UNDISCLSOED LOCATION, SIERRA LEONE (MARCH 28, 1995/RECENT) ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (MARCH 28, 1995) 1. CU IBRAHIM JALLOH, REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT (RUF) PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, SAYING RUF IS RELUCTANT TO MARCH ON FREETOWN TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND IF PREPARED TO TALK TO GOVERNMENT IS FOREIGN TROOPS LEAVE (ENGLISH) 2.49 2. GV RUF MEMBERS LOOKING ON 2.57 3. CU JOLLAH SAYING RUF IS A PEOPLE'S UPRISING (ENGLISH) 3.36 4. SCU ALIMAMY SANKOH, RUF POLITICAL AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COORDINATOR SHOWING PHOTOGRAPHS TO REUTERS ABIDJAN BUREAU CHIEF NICK PHYTHIAN 3.42 5. CU SANKOH 3.47 UNDISCLOSED LOCATIONS, SIERRA LEONE (RECENT) 6. CUS COLOUR PHOTOGRAPH OF REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT LEADER FODAY SANKOH, IN COMBAT GEAR AND HOLDING A RIFLE (3 SHOTS) 4.15 7. CU BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF FODAY SANKOH SITTING IN CHAIR (2 SHOTS) 4.31 8. CUS BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF FODAY SANKOH SITTING AT BASE OF TREE (2 SHOTS) 4.50 9. CUS BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF FODAY SANKOH WITH HIS FAMILY, HOLDING TWO CHILDREN (2 SHOTS) 5.08 TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 1: JALLOH (RESPONDING TO QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER RUF INTENDS TO MARCH ON FREETOWN): "YES WE COULD HAVE DONE SO BUT WE ARE VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE CIVILIAN POPULATION BECAUSE FROM A POPULATION OF ABOUT MAYBE 60 OR 80,000 NOW IT HAS GONE TO ONE AND A HALF MILLION AND IF YOU GOING TO ATTACK MANY PEOPLE WILL DIE AND WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. SO WE ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT, TO SEE HOW FAR WE COULD REDUCE CIVILIAN CASUALITIES." REPORTER: "SO WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY?" JALOH: "WELL, MAYBE FOR SECURITY REASONS I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO DETAILS BUT WE TRY TO PURSUADE THE GOVERNMENT, OR THE JUNTA, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND, THE UNO IS AROUND, THE OAU IS AROUND, THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY IS AROUND; IF THEY CAN PURSUADE THE JUNTA FOR US TO HAVE A DIALOGUE THEN THE MARCH INTO FREETOWN WILL NOT TAKE PLACE. BUT IF THEY REMAIN INTRANSIGENT WE WILL HAVE TO TELL THE PEOPLE MAYBE TO MOVE IN FROM THE CITY OR FOR THEM TO INVITE US TO GO, AND I'M SURE IF THEY DO THAT THE JUNTA WILL BE INCAPABLE OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION." REPORTER ASKING IF RUF IS READY TO TALK TO THE GOVERNMENT. JALLOH: "YES, WE STARTED OVER TWO MONTHS AGO NOW. WE GAVE THEM PRECONDITIONS AND THERE IS ONLY ONE THAT WE ARE FUSSY ABOUT AND THAT IS THE FOREIGN TROOPS MUST LEAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNT FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE PRESENCE OF SUCH TROOPS IN THE COUNTRY WILL NOT LEAD TO THE INTERESTS OF OUR OWN SECURITY. WE HAVE SEEN IN LIBERIA WHERE (INDISTINCT) ONLY TO BE SLAUGHTERED. SO WE ARE VERY VERY APPREHENSIVE OF SUCH A MOVE. IF THEY MOVE THE FOREIGN TROOPS FINE, IT IS AN INTERNAL CONFLICT ..... I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PLEASURE IN FIGHTING, FIGHTING, DESTROYING LIVES AND PROPERTY, OR THEY DON'T SEEM TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 3, JALLOH: "IT IS A PEOPLE'S UPRISING AND THEREFORE THE PEOPLE HAVE A MAJOR ROLE TO PLAY IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. WE ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A NATIONAL SOVEREIGN CONFERENCE THAT WILL WALK OUT OFFICIAL FOR THE COUNTRY. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED, WE ARE INTERESTED IN POWER OF COURSE, BUT WE WANT TO DO THAT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE. WE DON'T WANT TO COME, ARGUE, FORM A GOVERNMENT (INDISTINCT) NO THAT WOULD BE WRONG." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 12th April 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST/ UNIDISCLOSED LOCATION, SIERRA LEONE
  • City:
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Reuters ID: LVACUUKC44NY1QGI3J8R9WMDVNC5
  • Story Text: Sierra Leonean rebels say they will meet representatives of an international aid organisation on Wednesday (March 28) to discuss the imminent handover of 10 Western captives.

    "The 10 of them will all soon join their familites," Alimamy Sankoh, the political and foreign affairs coordinator of the Revolutionary United Front told Reuters in Ivory Coast.

    The RUF's public relations officer, Ibrahim Jalloh, said two members of the RUF War Council would meet the aid organisation representatives on Wednesday to discuss how the six Britons, three Swiss and a German could be handed over safely.

    "It is only to get the way for them to come out," he said.

    "Before we move we have to make sure that it's safe." The rebels attacked a village 60 km (38 miles) from the capital Freetown on Sunday, sending a flood of frightened refugees into the city.

    Jalloh said the rebels wanted to avoid an attack on Freetown because of the civilian casualties it would cause. They were keen to talk to the government but were sticking to their demand that foreign troops must leave the country first.

    "If we can have a dialogue, the march into Freetown need not take place," he said. "If you launch an attack, many people will die, and we are trying to avoid that." Foday Sankoh's RUF rebels launched their campaign in March 1991 but have stepped up attacks since last year. Jalloh said they controlled main roads in the interior, where they carry out frequent ambushes, but stayed in the bush rather than hold towns to reduce civilian casualties in case of attack.

    They handed over a Russian and a Sierra Leonean to the International Committee of the Red Cross on January 24, and released six Italian nuns and a Brazilian nun to church authorities a week ago.

    The RUF issued a statement on Monday addressed to the heads of the Organisation of African Unity and the Economic Community of West African States, repeating its call for the withdrawal of Nigerian, Guinean, and other foreign troops.

    The rebels say they want an interim government to replace Sierra Leone's military rulers and a national conference to discuss the future of the country.


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