Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 03:37:41 +0000 (GMT)
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Subject: SIERRA LEONE: UN concerned over rights abuses  [2000527]
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SIERRA LEONE: UN concerned over rights abuses

FREETOWN, 26 May (IRIN) - The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) said on Friday it was "concerned" over human rights abuses
committed by both sides in the renewed conflict and the continuing use of
child soldiers.

In a statement released in Freetown, UNAMSIL said the "human rights
situation is extremely precarious and may deteriorate if the fighting
continues".

It added that fear of "gross human rights violations" by the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) had led to an exodus of people fleeing the rebel
forces, creating a humanitarian crisis. Displaced people on the move have
also been "particular victims" of rights abuse, UNAMSIL said, while those
trapped in rebel-held areas "are not accessible for food and medical aid".

"There are reports of cases of abduction, rape and physical harassment
accompanying the fighting," the UN mission said. "UNAMSIL is concerned
about the treatment of any combatants and peacekeepers detained by the RUF
as well as about the thousands of abductees, mainly women and children,
taken in previous years, who include children now being used in the
fighting."

UNAMSIL said it had also received reports "indicating that
government-allied forces have been responsible for extrajudicial
executions, arbitary detention and beatings". It added that UNAMSIL human
rights officers were investigating accounts of abuses committed against
RUF prisoners.

The mission said it was "concerned" at the continuing use of child
soldiers "by the various combatant groups". UNAMSIL noted that children
were "prominent in the RUF" but that some, possibly as young as 10 years
old, were also fighting in "paramilitary forces operating under SLA
(Sierra Leone Army) command".

The statement, based on field trips over the past three weeks around the
Freetown area, including Lungi, Port Loko to the north, Masiaka to the
east and Bo in the south, called on all sides to respect human rights and
international law.

[ENDS]

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