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IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 31-97 of Events in West Africa, 19 August 1997
[As a supplement to its weekly roundups of main events in West Africa, IRIN-WA will produce a daily synopsis of international media reports on the region. IRIN issues these reports for the benefit of the humanitarian community but accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy of the original source.]
SIERRA LEONE - Student killed in shootout
At least one student was killed during a clamp down by police in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown yesterday to prevent a planned anti-government march by the National Students Union. The students called off the march but each party accused the other of shooting incidents. State radio reported that altogether some 35 people were arrested during the day and taken to Freetown's maximum security jail. Two journalists were also reported to have been detained.
Students said that they had called off the march because of 'excessive police and army brutality', but police officials denied the charge and said that they had arrested only those students found with weapons, and 'vagrants'. The dead student, officials said, was amongst a group of seven who shot at a passing security vehicle. Yesterday the media reported that all students still on campus in Freetown had been ordered to leave immediately. Student leader Bahir Jalloh has called on Sierra Leoneans to intensify a civil disobedience campaign that has kept many people away from offices and businesses since the 25 May military coup. Today, students from the Njala University College distanced themselves from the protest and said that students should be cautious in resisting the military. Source: AFP.
SIERRA LEONE - Political group forms military wing
A newly formed political group established to fight for the restoration of ousted Sierra Leonean president, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, says it will form a military wing comprising all of the civil defence units in the country. The executive committee of the group - the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) - based in Conakry said that in future the MRD will pursue a military option, as well as support pressure groups and diplomatic moves to restore Kabbah. Source: Sierra Leone News Agency.
SIERRA LEONE - Bank considers US$ 17 million loan
The private sector arm of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) bank is considering a US$ 17.3 million loan for the US-based operators of the world's largest rutile (titanium dioxide) mine, situated in Sierra Leone. Sierra Rutile owes several banks about US$ 20 million in previous loans but has been unable to make repayments since the mine shut in 1992 after a military coup. In the ensuing five year civil war, the company's name has been linked with other business concerns that financed two African-led mercenary operations which helped return the country to civilian rule. Source: IPS.
LIBERIA - New peace-building team for Liberia?
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is to propose a UN peace-building office to replace UN observers in Liberia. In a report to the UN Security Council, the Secretary-General said that he was convinced such a presence could greatly assist the new government in its efforts for reconciliation and reconstruction, as well as contribute to promoting peace and stability in the region. By 30 September all of the 34 UN observers are scheduled to have departed. Their withdrawal is already underway.
Annan said that the UN Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) had achieved its principle objective with the holding of presidential and legislative elections on 19 July. But he cautioned that the situation in Sierra Leone remained a potential threat to the country's stability. A further report on the staffing, structure and function of the peace-building office is to be submitted following consultations with the government of Liberia and ECOWAS. Sources: UN, AFP and Star Radio.
LIBERIA - Government clamps down on crime
Government security forces and West African peacekeepers have joined forces to combat armed robberies in Monrovia following a spate of attacks. A defence military release yesterday said that arrangements for the joint exercise had begun and that 'everything would be done to contain the situation.' Among other incidents, armed men attacked and twice robbed the home and church of Lutheran Bishop Sumuwood Harris. Source: Star Radio.
LIBERIA - President urges Liberians to return
Newly elected president, Charles Taylor has urged Liberians living abroad to come back and help him rebuild the country. Taylor said in an open letter that every Liberian must consider it a challenge to contribute to national development. Source: Star Radio. LIBERIA - Party takes seats in National Legislature
The All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP) took its seats in the National Legislature yesterday seventeen days after the Legislature's first sitting. ALCOP's chairman said that the party had been engaged in 'sober reflection.' Although they accepted the results of the presidential elections they had not been satisfied with the allotment of seats. ALCOP won two seats in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives during the 19 July elections. Source: Star Radio.
NIGERIA - Death toll increases in communal clashes
Clashes between feuding communities in southwestern Nigeria's Osun state may have left as many as 50 people dead despite a a dusk to dawn curfew imposed by the government. Residents and media report that unrest continued yesterday in the two towns of Ile-Ife and Modakeke and some people were burned alive. Earlier reports said that at least ten people had been killed, scores of people were injured and houses burned in violence which erupted Thursday. The clashes follow a decision by the local government to relocate its headquarters from Modakeke to Oke-Ogbo, an Ife-controlled town. The headquarters had been relocated to Modakeke in March from Enuwa, another Ife stronghold. Residents said that although riot police had managed to calm the situation in the main towns, other attacks had occurred in nearby villages where the police were not deployed. An uneasy calm was said to reign in the towns earlier today, with shops remaining closed and police patrolling the streets. Source: AFP.
NIGERIA - Abacha visits Abidjan for talks on region
Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha paid a working visit to Abidjan yesterday (Monday) and met President Henri Konan Bedie to review the situation in Sierra Leone and the current economic and social issues of the subregion. The heads of states had private talks at the president's office in Abidjan followed by an exchange between Nigerian and Ivorian ministerial delegations. Abacha was accompanied by five members of his government including Chief Tom Ikimi, minister of foreign affairs. Source: Radio Cote d'Ivoire via BBC Monitoring.
NIGERIA - Oil protest
Over 10,000 people, mainly youth, attended the inauguration of a new movement for the protection of ethnic populations living in the delta area of the Niger River, where most of Nigeria's petrol production occurs. The movement, CHICOCO, called for the immediate cessation of all environmentally harmful activities by multinational oil firms. Spokesperson Douglas Oronto accused Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell of failing to clean up a pipeline spill dating from March and of not paying compensation for the damage. The conduct of American-owned Chevron and Italian-owned Agip were also discussed. The spokesperson for the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Patrick Naagbeaton, underlined the urgent need for the delta inhabitants to fight for their rights. MOSOP was started by Ogoni writer and political activist Ken Saro Wiwa, who was tried and executed by the military government in 1995 on charges of murder. His execution along with eight other activists provoked international outrage. Source: AFP.
GUINEA EGUATORIAL - Opposition leader receives 30 years
The leader of the opposition, Severo Moto, who is in exile in Spain, was tried and condemned in absentia to 30 years of prison for 'high treason' by a court in Malabo, the capital. Two exiled 'accomplices', an Equatorian and an Italian, also received 28 years each. Charges against five others, including two Russians, were dropped because of their denunciation of their 'co-conspirators'. The government accused Moto of plotting a coup. He was arrested in Angola at the end of May with four other accused, all of whom were then expelled to Spain, the former colonial power. This is the second time he has been accused of plotting to overthrow the government. He was pardoned in 1995 from serving a 28 year sentence. Moto has political refugee status in Spain. Source: Radio Malabo via AFP.
Abidjan, 19 August 1997
[ENDS]
[Via the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA) Reports mailing list. The material contained in this communication may not necessarily reflect the views of the UN or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts from this report should be attributed to the original sources where appropriate. For further information: e-mail irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci, Tel: +225 217367 Fax: +225 216335.]
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970819174023.006e52d4@pop.africaonline.co.ci> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 17:40:23 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 31-97, 19 August 1997 97.8.19
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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