Special court builds premises

The Special Court for Sierra Leone has started building its new premises and detention facility in the capital, Freetown, the court reported on Friday. Some prefabricated offices will be ready for occupation by November, a press statement from the court said. These include the offices for the prosecution and defence teams and the Registry. A permanent building to house the trial and appeals chambers would be completed by May 2003 at an estimated cost of US $3.2 million. The overall construction budget is US $6 million. "The high-security 11.5-acre site will not fall under the authority of the government of Sierra Leone," the court said. "Though created through an agreement in January 2002 between the government and the United Nations, the Court is an independent international organization." In March 2002, the UN Security Council authorised the establishment of the court to try individuals accused of serious violations of human rights during Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war. It has the power "to prosecute persons who bear the greatest responsibility". Many serious human rights abuses were committed during the war, which officially ended in January 2002. The abuses included deliberate amputation of limbs, rape and killings and were committed mainly by fighters of the Revolutionary United Front.