>From Nat'l Post
>>>Your tax $$$ at work <<<
""
"The UN peacekeeping mission cannot force people to stop fighting," says
spokesman Philip Winslow. "It is there to keep a peace that has already been
agreed. Peacekeeping relies on neutrality, diplomacy, persuasion."
""
>>> Unless you're Wild Bill Jeff ... lay down some cruise missile cover and mow
anything that moves ... kill 'em all and let G*D sort 'em out!!! And
have a ceegar ... A<>E<>R <<<
{{>Begin>}}
Page URL: http://www.nationalpost.com/story.asp?f=000508/282710
Monday, May 08, 2000
UN force crumbles before child army
Sierra Leone 'mission is a disaster, absolute disgrace'
Corinna Schuler
National Post
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - The United Nations' biggest peacekeeping mission slid
into panic and chaos on the weekend with foreigners fleeing in evacuation
helicopters and the international body's blue-helmeted troops barricading
themselves into the seaside capital against a rebel onslaught that never came.
At the same time, the UN admitted that it has more than 500 of its troops
either missing or captured by the rebel Revolutionary United Front forces. In
addition to the 318 soldiers who have been seized, 226 Zambian blue-berets are
unaccounted for and believed either to have been capture or to have fled.
The UN triggered fear in hundreds of its staff members and untold numbers of
locals when it warned that the RUF had advanced to within 20 kilometres of
Freetown, the scene of a rebel occupation last year in which more than 5,000
people were killed.
Panic ensued late Saturday as hundreds of UN staff were ordered to pack their
bags, flee their homes and amass for a sleepless night in the lobby of a
heavily guarded hotel. Peacekeepers raced to defend city roadblocks. Generals
arrived in UN vehicles with flashing lights. Helicopters airlifted UN personnel
to Conakry, the capital of neighbouring Equatorial Guinea
But yesterday morning the United Nations admitted it had goofed.
"It was a grievous mistake," conceded General Mohammed Garbo, the second-in-
command of the UN force. "It caused panic to the whole world ... Nobody is
above a mistake." The rebels had marched to within 80 kilometres of Freetown,
but had not even come close to invading the city.
Nevertheless, it is widely agreed that the United Nations' mistakes in Sierra
Leone are making a mockery of the peacekeeping force that was supposed to
restore its pride in the wake of deadly bungling in Somalia and Rwanda. Over
and above their hostage taking, the RUF forces have been able to rob the
peacekeepers of their tanks, uniforms and even their hallmark sky blue
headgear.
"This mission is a disaster, an absolute disgrace," said one senior UN staffer
who refused to be named for fear of losing his job. "Our force is crumbling in
the face of a bunch of child soldiers. We deceived the people of Sierra Leone
by giving them a sense of security and then failing to defend them."
Confusion is so acute that it is hard to determine the number of dead. Reports
last week indicated seven Kenyans were killed in a gun battle with rebels, but
some have since walked out of the bush and now officials say only one man is
confirmed dead.
The first British paratroops were due later today in neighbouring Senegal after
Britain's decision yesterday to send five warships and about 1,600 soldiers to
West Africa to help any of its citizens who may need to be airlifted out.
The UN special representative for Sierra Leone, Oluyemi Adeniji, told reporters
in Freetown last night that a joint rebel-UN mission would go today to areas
where the peacekeepers were believed to be held to try to negotiate their
release.
The United Nations has so far dispatched 8,699 troops to enforce a peace deal
between Sierra Leone's democratically elected government and the most feared
rebel force in Africa. The UN force, which is under the command of General
Vijay Jetley of India, has an authorized strength of 11,100 and, if fully
deployed, will be the largest current peacekeeping operation.
Peacekeepers are dealing with a force that has terrorized the people of this
country for eight years. They burned families alive in their homes, gang-raped
little girls and hacked the hands off an estimated 10,000 civilians. And the
rebels are experts in bush warfare.
"The UN peacekeeping mission cannot force people to stop fighting," says
spokesman Philip Winslow. "It is there to keep a peace that has already been
agreed. Peacekeeping relies on neutrality, diplomacy, persuasion."
But rebels still control much of the north and the country's diamond-rich east.
The Nigerians who liberated Freetown from rebels last year had proven to be
tough fighters but the moment they pulled the last troops out last week,
violence erupted again.
"It's like the rebels were testing the UN, saying: 'Let's see what you are made
of'," said one Western diplomat.
The fight broke out last Monday after 10 young bush fighters handed over their
firearms at a UN camp in the rebel-controlled town of Makeni.
"An RUF commander came in and told us to hand these men over because they were
deserters. They had not been given permission to disarm," explained a worker
from the UN-run demobilization centre who was too scared to give his name. "He
told us: Get out or we will open fire"
The unarmed workers raced away while Kenyan peacekeepers moved to defend the
camp. Shots rang out. The rebels won the gun battle and looted the camp.
When about 200 Zambians were dispatched to reinforce the peacekeeping troops in
Makeni on Wednesday, they were ambushed by rebels on the road. The worker who
talked to the National Post yesterday said he later saw rebels driving a UN
personnel carrier in Makeni. Other white UN tanks were along the road.
"There were RUF rebels wearing the blue UN caps and Zambian uniforms. They had
brand new rifles. It's disgusting. ... If this UN force is not going to fight
back, RUF is going to run this country. I am very afraid," he said.
Zambia's President, Frederick Chiluba, defended his soldiers' poor performance
on Saturday, saying they had "been taken into that area a little prematurely" --
without proper equipment or updated maps.
But it was the false alarm issued on Saturday night that frightened the people
of Freetown most.
The last time rebels invaded the city, on Jan. 11, 1999, they executed hundreds
of people and attacked so many others with machetes that hospitals were forced
to throw severed limbs into waste baskets.
In the early hours of the morning yesterday, the BBC World Service was
broadcasting reports that the rebels were closing in on Freetown -- again.
"I'm so scared," said Susan Williams, a Sierra Leonian worker who watched in
dismay as UN staff lined up for refuge in the lobby of the Mamy Yoko Hotel.
"Before, we thought: my God, the UN is coming to Sierra Leone. All our problems
are solved. But I don't think they have it in them to protect us. We really
feel betrayed."
UN security officials anxiously pored over lists of their civilian staff
members and unarmed observers, dispatching cars to "bring them in!" Close to
300 people slept on couches and floors while commanders conducted meetings in
UN offices three floors above.
But, hours after a spokesman went on CNN to say that rebels were advancing, top
officials called for a retraction.
"It happened purely from human error, taking reports without proper
verification," Mr. Adeniji told foreign journalists last night.
Earlier, in efforts calm the country, the UN's Gen. Garbo boarded a helicopter
with two rebel representatives and foreign reporters to fly into rebel-held
territory.
The highly touted "joint mission" did reveal that the rebels had advanced to
within 80 kilometres of Freetown early yesterday. Burned out huts could be seen
from the air above a town called Rogburi and the road beyond was crowded with
people.
"They are fleeing the rebels," one UN staffer explained.
"They are going to the market," countered Lawrence Wormandia, a senior rebel
officer clad in a T-shirt that said: Shed Love, Not Blood.
RELATED SITES
(Each link opens a new window)
One World: Africa Viewpoint
Articles, many of which are from African newspapers, on the conflict in Sierra
Leone. Look for one by the Inter Press Service on the recent clash between the
rebels and UN peacekeepers.
The United Nations
Home page for the United Nations.
The Changing United Nations
Meet the leaders of the United Nations, and read about how the UN has evolved
over the years.
UN action in a disorderly world
The United Nations has discussed its changing role over the years. This essay
outlines their fears back in 1994. | News | Financial Post | Arts & Life |
Sports | Commentary | Diversions | Forums | Home | Site Map | Feedback | Info |
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3.0 and higher.
"National Post Online is a production of Southam Inc., Canada's largest
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