Human Rights Body Urges Fair Trial For Sankoh
May 17, 2000


DAKAR, Senegal (PANA) - Human Rights Watch, a US-based human rights
organisation, Wednesday urged that the Sierra Leonean rebel leader Foday
Sankoh should receive a fair trial for his crimes.

Sankoh, whose Revolutionary United Front re-ignited the civil war by
abducting 500 UN peacekeeping soldiers two weeks ago, was arrested early
Wednesday morning after he disappeared following a gun battle when his
residence was attacked.

Reliable sources said Sankoh is being kept in a secure an undisclosed
prison in Freetown.

Human Rights Watch, however, said it and others had compiled enough
evidence of crimes against humanity committed by soldiers and officers of
the RUF.

"But that evidence should be carefully compiled and presented in a court
of law. Sankoh should be informed of the specific charges against him as
soon as possible, according to fair trial standards," it said.

"Foday Sankoh must not be subjected to mob rule," Peter Takirambudde,
executive director of the Africa division of the organisation, added.
"There is a good case against him, but it must be presented soberly and
carefully, before impartial judges. Otherwise, the cycle of violence in
Sierra Leone will only continue."

Takirambudde said that after years of civil war, the capacity of the
Sierra Leonean justice system was in question, and the possibility of an
international tribunal for Sankoh should be examined without delay.

The July 1999 Lome Accord included an amnesty for atrocities committed
during the eight-year civil war.

Takirambudde noted that the international community, including the United
Nations, never recognised the amnesty and is not bound by its terms.

Human Rights Watch has also documented many abuses committed by the RUF
since July 1999, which are not covered by the amnesty.

"At the core of the crisis in Sierra Leone is the question of impunity,"
Takirambudde said. "If the international community can send investigative
teams into Kosovo to document war crimes, it should be prepared to do the
same for Sierra Leone. The perpetrators of abuse must be held
accountable."

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