Sierra Leone / Ruling in Revolutionary United Front Trial
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, February 25, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The judgment by the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the case against leaders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) will be handed down today. The public proceedings will be at 10:30 a.m. at the Special Court in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine Gbao were charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including murder, extermination, rape, enslavement, child recruitment, and terrorizing the civilian population. Human Rights Watch extensively documented abuses by the RUF and other warring factions during the decade-long Sierra Leone conflict that ended in 2002. Human Rights Watch maintained a Freetown office from 1999 to 2002.
“The Sierra Leone conflict was marked by unspeakable brutality and attacks against civilians committed by the RUF,” said Corinne Dufka, Human Rights Watch’s senior researcher on West Africa. “The trial of RUF leaders for these crimes is vital for victims and for building respect for the rule of law in Sierra Leone.”
Human Rights Watch has closely followed and assessed the work of the Special Court since it was established, including on key areas such as respect for international fair-trial rights, adequate witness protection, and efforts to inform the local population about its work.
“With the RUF verdict, the Special Court has completed trials of senior persons associated with the three main warring factions during the conflict,” said Elise Keppler, senior counsel with Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Program. “This is a major contribution to bringing justice for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone.”
The Special Court also is an important new model of international justice, Human Rights Watch said. Robust outreach to communities affected by the crimes and mixed international and domestic judge panels are just two of its significant features. As the Special Court relies on voluntary funding, further contributions are a priority for the court to complete its work, including the trial of the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, on charges of providing support to Sierra Leonean rebels during the conflict.
SOURCE : Human Right Watch (HRW)
