International Alert group blamed for helping Sierre Leone rebels

June 11, 1997- Colombo

The British charity International Alert, a well known conflict-resolution group who tried an unsuccessful attempt to mediate between LTTE and Sri Lankan government, is now accused over its link with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the rebels who hijacked the recent coup in Sierra Leone. The general secretary of this organisation is Kumar Rupasinghe, Sri Lankan President's brother in law.

President Kabbah, overthrown by mutinous soldiers last month, wrote in April to the United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, making far-reaching charges against the alert group, role of which in certain countries continues to be a source of irritation at the UN.

"My Government is in possession of concrete evidence that International Alert have been engaged in malicious practices in order to prolong the conflict in my country, which they use for soliciting funds from donor agencies and governments' President said in his letter. President further accused the charity group for having illegal links with the rebels.

However, the International Alerts in a written response to UN denied any illegal activities and says that charges had no basis.

The charity's major donors, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands are now evaluating charity's activities around the world. The Overseas Development Institute in London has been asked to assess its role in Sierra Leone.

The charity organisation first involved in Sierra Leone in 1995 when it helped to negotiate the release of hostages held by RUF rebels. The charity facilitated the first contact between the government and the RUF leader and was named as one of the guarantors of the peace settlement struck last November because the rebels mistrusted the UN. The RUF apparently feared that the UN would favour President Kabbah, a former official at the UN Development Programme in New York, and a true democratic leader.

Killings, rapes and lootings are a nightly reality for the residents of Sierra Leone's capital city, still reeling from the military coup which was hijacked later by the RUF rebels. By day, residents in streets, markets and churches furtively exchange new reports of killings, ooting and rape. The guarantor of the peace settlement is now no more there, and officially "disengaged".

The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan has endorsed Nigerian military intervention to overturn last month's coup. But International Alert, while condemning the coup, has warned against intervention.

According to the Times report, Mr.Rupasinghe, who said to harbour ambitions to be the next head of the UN, admits there were policy differences with the UN, but says they were resolved".

There have been various concerns expressed about our role, none of this has been substantiated. These allegations are completely false, they are a total and absolute nonsense, every one of them, They want to reduce our credibility because they know we have a very powerful voice even though we are small" he said.

Meanwhile the diplomatic efforts are continuing in hopes of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Sierra Leone. Coup leaders have sent a delegation to talk with regional heads of state about the situation. but the new ruling armed forces revolutionary council faces mounting condemnation for the may 25th takeover. The west African troops massing at Sierra Leone's international airport threaten to oust the coup leaders, if they do not relinquish power peacefully.

Source: Lankaweb

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