Demobilisation begins in RUF stronghold

Rival militia began disarming in the diamond-rich eastern town of Koidu on Monday in a 26-day effort which, observers said, will mark a decisive phase in ending Sierra Leone’s 10-year civil war if it is sustained. “RUF expects the peace process to succeed,” Morris Kallon, the second-ranking figure in the anti-government Revolutionary United Front said. “If the government accepts , we can expect the disarmament to finish quickly,” he told IRIN at one of two disarmament reception centres in Koidu. Eight militiamen from the pro-government Civil Defence Forces and 30 RUF moved in single file to hand in an assortment of automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons. Each fighter used a hammer to destroy his rifle, in a sometimes emotional gesture repudiating war forever. The rival groups disarmed at different sites in Koidu, the main town in Kono District. They were moved to the nearby Yengema Secondary School and two other locations where they are being fed, housed and prepared for discharge. Each ex-fighter will receive ID cards, non-food items and 30,000 leones (US $ 15) on discharge. Initially, UNAMSIL expects 1,200 ex-fighters to lay down their arms in Kono, where the process is expected to last until 27 July. Disarmament in this district is of strategic importance because it is Sierra Leone’s diamond heartland, controlled for years by the RUF. Military officers and diplomats in Freetown said the district was the last the RUF was expected to give up. Success in disarmament here, they said, would effectively end the war. In addition, the demobilisation of combatants would enable the government to regain control of an important source of revenue to refill its depleted coffers. Since the nationwide disarmament process started on 18 May, at least 6,495 ex-fighters have laid down their arms. This followed a ceasefire the RUF and the CDF signed on 15 May. RUF had appeared reluctant to end the war, but showed willingness to do so after a series of military defeats in the Port Loko Kambia area by Guinean forces.