| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
ABIDJAN, 13 May (IRIN) - The Revolutionary United Front
(RUF) wants to play an "integral role in a new
transitional government which would be a partnership
of civil society and the people", RUF legal advisor
Omrie Golley told IRIN on Thursday.
Golley was referring to an RUF demand for the establishment
of a four-year transitional government. The demand
was made in a report the rebels presented on Tuesday
- following internal consultations they held in Togo
- to Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who is
currently leading regional mediation efforts to end
the conflict.
"A new political socio-economic landscape has to be grafted," Golley said, "we need to create a breathing space for democracy to work." He said the RUF "did not want to power share" in the proposed transitional government but did want a partnership with the people.
A key RUF demand in the report is the unconditional release of Foday Sankoh. Golley told IRIN this was "an essential ingredient for successful negotiations". "You can't negotiate with a person in chains," he said, adding that Sankoh, as leader of the RUF, had "an extremely important role to play in a transitional government."
It is not clear when peace talks between the government and the RUF will start. Golley said on Thursday that the RUF had asked mediators for a week's breathing space between its internal consultations and the meeting with Sierra Leone government representatives.
A reliable source close to Ambassador Francis Okelo, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, told IRIN that up to Thursday morning there had been no official notification as to who will be on the government delegation or when any dialogue will start between the two sides.
[ENDS]
Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 15:20:44 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.ocha.unon.org> Subject: SIERRA LEONE: RUF says it wants partnership with civil society [19990514]
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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