Annan welcomes peace talks, deplores atrocities

He welcomed progress at the talks between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) saying: “It is the first time in three years that a political settlement might be within reach to break the cycle of violence that has held the country in its grip since 1991.” However, Annan described killings, mutilations and other human rights abuses the rebels committed against civilians as well as the widespread destruction of property as “deeply deplorable”. He called on the RUF “to prove its sincere commitment to peace and ensure the compliance of all its fighters with international human rights standards and humanitarian law, including the release of all abductees”. He noted the intention of the RUF leadership to investigate alleged abuses committed by its troops and to invite international partners to take part in this process and called upon the RUF leaders “to demonstrate without delay their will and capacity to do so”. He commended the initiative of the ECOMOG force commander in establishing a Civil-Military Relations Committee to investigate allegations of human rights violations by pro-government forces. He described as an important step, Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s proposal, on 27 April, to establish a national Human Rights Commission and a truth and reconciliation mechanism as part of a peace agreement. The forthcoming trip by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to examine the situation on the ground and obtain “tangible commitments regarding the prevention of abuses and accountability of perpetrators” was a welcome development, Annan said.