RESOLUTION BY “THE STANDING CONFERENCE ON SIERRA LEONE”

We, members of the Sierra Leonean community resident at home and abroad;

CONCERNED about the grave situation in Sierra Leone which started with the outbreak of civil war in March 1991, culminating in the coup d’etat of Sunday, 25 May 1997;

CONSIDERING the impending greater disaster it portends for our country’s future;

MINDFUL that international, regional and national efforts have not led to a resolution of the crisis, and that Sierra Leoneans are still far from enjoying peace and stability in their land;

ALARMED particularly at the escalation in violence throughout the country before and after the coup, and the flagrant breaches of the human rights and basic freedoms of Sierra Leoneans by all sides to the various conflicts;

ABHORRING the tragic loss of lives in such conflicts; the untold suffering, including from hunger and disease, now threatening to decimate especially the young, the old and the infirm; and the current state of paralysis due largely to the recent imposition of a blockade upon the country which hampers the delivery of humanitarian assistance such as food and medicine that is essential for maintaining a basic existence;

CONCERNED equally at the increasing ferocity of the armed confrontation between Nigerian forces and the Sierra Leone Military/RUF - now known as Peoples’ Army, and between the said Peoples’ Army and the local hunters’ militia - the Kamajohs; the fallout from such developments as evidenced by the tidal wave of refugees and displaced persons both internally and beyond our national borders;

ACKNOWLEDGING that even before the present crisis, our country had been embroiled in six and half years of civil war with devastating consequences for both our people, thousands of whom have lost their lives, and the economic and social infrastructure of our country;

RECOGNISING that the war between the RUF and the military has reportedly been declared at an end;

AWARE that prolongation of the present impasse will only lead to further destruction of whatever remains of our ravaged infrastructure;

COGNISANT of the above facts and REALISING the extent of polarisation that is gradually taking place between sections of our community;

HEREBY DECLARE THAT:

• No matter whatever interest others may have in the present crisis and its eventual resolution, it is fundamental that Sierra Leoneans themselves take full ownership and responsibility for it and seek a solution, among themselves, albeit with the help of others, that will command the support of all the parties concerned, and strengthen the foundation for reuniting the Nation;
• Grievances among the various groups contributed to the eruption of the RUF rebel war in 1991, the coup d’etats of April 1992 and, most recently, of 25 May 1997. The issues raised by these crises are so grave that they ought now to be properly addressed through meaningful dialogue within the framework of a national forum that should aim at consolidating peace and security, restoring the Constitution and constitutional rule, and reconciling the various sections of our society;
• Unless there is justice for all citizens, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, and the means for the proper redress of grievances is demonstrably accessible to all, it is inevitable that the social and political upheavals that have plagued our country in the past, which are prevalent at present, will continue in years to come.

In view of the foregoing and for the promotion of peace and stability in Sierra Leone, WE HAVE TODAY RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:

• To form ourselves into The Standing Conference on Sierra Leone.
• To seek genuine and lasting solutions to our country’s problems through dialogue and understanding.
• To pursue, and to encourage others to pursue, the path of peaceful negotiated settlement of the present crisis as the only sensible option, taking into consideration the legitimate concerns and grievances of all parties involved.
• To lobby, campaign and involve all the parties to the present crisis, friends of Sierra Leone and all who want peace and stability in our country.

ACCORDINGLY:

• We call for an immediate cease-fire between the Military and all local militias operating inside the country.
• We call on all foreign forces and the Military to scrupulously respect the cease-fire established at the 17-18 July meeting at Abidjan between the ECOWAS Committee of Four and the AFRC delegation.
• We strongly disapprove of any armed foreign intervention as opposed to impartial mediation.
• We call for the re-instatement of the Abidjan Peace Accord, signed on 30 November 1996, between the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF/SL; In this respect, we appeal especially to the UN, the OAU, the Commonwealth and the Government of the Cote d’Ivoire, all of whom, under Article 28 of the Accord, “stand as moral guarantors that the Peace Agreement is implemented with integrity and in good faith by both parties.”
• In line with the provisions of Article 13 of the said Accord, we call further for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces from Sierra Leone, and we strongly urge the International Community, as envisaged under Article 12, to send a neutral peace-keeping force in their place.
• We urge the immediate release of the RUF leader by Nigeria so that he can participate in the process for the resolution of the present crisis.
• We appeal to all parties concerned to refrain from malicious, divisive and inflammatory propaganda.
• By our expressed concern for the deteriorating conditions of live throughout the country, we call for the lifting of the air, land and sea blockade of the country so as to allow the entry of goods and services that are necessary for the sustenance of the civilian population and the maintenance of essential services.
• We urge all Sierra Leoneans who share our resolve for a negotiated settlement to join us in our call to the parties concerned, notably President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and the SLPP, Chairman Johnny Paul Koromah and the Military, and Corporal Foday Saybannah Sankoh and the RUF, to get together IMMEDIATELY with representatives of civil society and find a negotiated settlement of the crisis.
• We strongly urge consideration of the formation of a Government of National Unity to replace the Military.
• We invite ECOWAS to don the mantle of peace maker and play a positive role by helping us to bring all the parties concerned together around the negotiating table to resolve their differences.
• We pledge ourselves to work with all groups in the country that share our objectives and subscribe to the idea of dialogue and a peaceful, negotiated settlement.

THE STANDING CONFERENCE ON SIERRA LEONE
LONDON
Monday, 22 September 1997