HRW documents new evidence of atrocities

Human Rights Watch released new evidence this week that atrocities against civilians continue unabated in Sierra Leone’s civil war. The rights watchdog provided details of ongoing atrocities by the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in both Sierra Leone and Guinea, and of attacks against civilians in recent months by armed factions fighting on behalf of the government. Human Rights Watch called on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is to visit Sierra Leone on Saturday, to ensure that the UN Mission in Sierra Leone does more to protect civilians. In a letter to Annan, Human Rights Watch urged that the Special Court for trying war crimes in Sierra Leone should be created without further delay and be empowered to enforce cooperation. The court will be mandated to try crimes committed since 30 November 1996. Human Rights Watch said it should have jurisdiction over crimes committed from the beginning of the war in March 1991. Human Rights Watch also warned that the United Nations should enforce an existing international arms embargo against the RUF, which has been making incursions into and committing abuses against civilians in neighbouring Guinea. [Details of the atrocities and the letter can be found on the HRW website at http://www.hrw.org/press/2000/11/atroc1130.htm]