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Department of Humanitarian Affairs
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IRIN-WA Update 63-97 of Events in West Africa, 14 October 1997
[As a supplement to its weekly round-ups 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.]
Death toll mounts as fighting continues
Fierce artillery exchanges between ECOMOG and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) continued near Jui, the ECOMOG base near Freetown, yesterday (Monday), with five civilians killed in the nearby village of Wellington. Contrary to reports yesterday, well-informed sources told IRIN that no Nigerian ECOMOG soldiers had been taken hostage. ECOMOG has also taken control of Hastings airport, which was previously under AFRC control. The situation in Freetown is very tense, though fighting has subsided in Jui today. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) denied an AFP report that it had brokered an unsuccessful ceasefire in Jui on Sunday. The fighting follows Wednesday's bombing of Sierra Leone's Cockerill's army base by ECOMOG fighter jets, which partially destroyed the base.
The NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told IRIN that 10 civilians were killed in Wellington and Calaba, in the vicinity of Jui. 24 others had undergone surgery in the Connaught hospital. Other sources said that to avoid heavy casualties, ECOMOG had asked civilians to evacuate Wellington and Calaba town. Stray shells have also landed in Kissy, eastern Freetown, injuring about 10 people, mainly children suffering from burns. AFP reported that "droves of people" were continuing to flee from eastern Freetown yesterday.
ECOWAS to facilitate emergency aid delivery
The ECOWAS ministerial committee of five on Sierra Leone met over the weekend to discuss the UN Security Council sanctions and their implications. An ECOWAS communique received today said it recommended the establishment of a technical committee to work out appropriate modalities for the delivery of emergency aid, including the creation of safe havens, humanitarian corridors for delivery of relief aid and NGO registration.
AFRC leader writes to British premier on ECOMOG "atrocities"
AFRC leader Johnny Paul Koroma has written to the British Premier to complain about atrocities committed by the Nigerian-led ECOMOG. Sierra Leonean state radio reported that Koroma sent a four-page letter to Tony Blair, saying that 517 civilians had been killed sinceECOMOG's military intervention in June, AFP reported. Koroma criticised Nigeria's "disregard" for human rights and other social conditions. He called for protection against "Nigerian aggression" and "a peaceful negotiation of the current political problem in Sierra Leone."
Press and others arrested
The Sierra Leonean security services said that eight people had been detained for involvement in "subversive activities". AFP reported that in separate police operations, journalist Prince Akpu, former deputy of marine resources Mamoud Sesay, Temne tribal chief Alhaji King Niambana as well as four women were in detention. Three other journalists were said to have gone underground. BBC reported this morning (Tuesday) that its Sierra Leone correspondent, Victor Sylla, had gone underground for fear of AFRC reprisal for his reporting. Sylla is now in Conakry.
CAMEROON: Electoral process flawed
Two human rights organisations have criticised the way the presidential elections were conducted. The Ligue Camerounaise des Droits de la Personne (LCDP) denounced the takeover of state facilities by the ruling party, le Rassemblement Democratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC), in the election process. It regretted that Cameroon was regressing to a "reactionary" one-party state. L'Observatoire Conscience Africaine (OCA) claimed it had fielded 307 observers in nine of the ten provinces, who had noted serious flaws in the electoral process. It called on the government to set up an independent electoral commission. The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedom in Cameroon, mandated to monitor the elections, told IRIN that it would be submitting a report shortly on its observations. It declined to make any comments on the elections.
Cameroonian Information Minister Augustus Kontchou Kouomegni said today the ruling party was satisfied with the conduct of Sunday's presidential elections. In a Radio France Internationale interview, he dismissed the notion that there had been a low voter turnout.
NIGER: Teachers and doctors end strike
Teachers and doctors have suspended their strike after signing separate agreements with the government. On Sunday, the 14,000-strong Teachers Trade Union called on its members to resume work after the government promised to make back payments and provide them with transport. The medical association called off its strike when the government said it would meet its demands, including payment of insurance premiums.
Denmark gives development aid
The Danish government has made a grant of US $ 38 million to the Nigerien government over a five-year period. These funds have beenallocated to rural development projects and to facilitating the democratisation process. Denmark resumed cooperation with the Nigerien government in June 1997 after a suspension following the January 1996 coup d'etat.
LIBERIA: Parliament passes budget
Liberia's parliament passed the nation's first post-war budget yesterday. House Speaker Nyunduah Monkohma told Reuters that the Senate had approved the US $13.4 million budget for the last quarter in 1997. The budget will focus on education, health, security and agriculture. The lower house passed the budget last Thursday. Government officials said that Liberia received a US $ 25 million grant from Taiwan last month. This grant will help pay civil servants' wages, rebuild roads and run public hospitals. MAURITANIA: Mobile voting stations no more
Mobile voting booths will not be used at the forthcoming presidential elections scheduled for December. These stations were used to facilitate voter participation in remote areas. A Ministry of Interior communique yesterday invited foreign election monitors to observe the polls, as demanded by the opposition. The opposition is calling for an independent electoral commission, an electoral code and an accurate registry. The opposition said the measures were "a beginning" to a dialogue with the government but still maintained its decision to boycott the polls.
Abidjan, 14 October 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: <3.0.1.32.19971014190123.00739ae8@pop.africaonline.co.ci> Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 19:01:23 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Update 63-97, 14 Oct 1997 10.14.97
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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