After reading the blog of my group mate (Emily Nuthall) I began to wonder about whether the people of Sierra Leone were truly satisfied and whether justice was really served. As Emily discussed in her blog post (A Long Wait for Satisfaction), even though the civil war in Sierra Leone officially ended in January of 2002 peace did not entirely take over all of Sierra Leone. It amazes me that the leader of RUF (Revolutionary United Front) Foday Sankoh died in 2003 before he could truly be punished for the war crimes he committed against the people of Sierra Leone. Over 75,000 people died during the ten year war and nearly 20,000 became amputees as a result of the atrocious mutilations performed by the RUF. I find it very inconvenient for the people of Sierra Leone that the leader of a group that has caused so much grief for Sierra Leone died before justice could truly be exercised. In the article that Emily referenced, it always describes how throughout the year of 2004 war crime trials began and by June of 2007 there were only three militia leaders that were found guilty. Although I believe it to be great news that three militia leaders would formally be punished for their crimes, it still shocks me that just three were found guilty. Although I do not know the exact numbers of militia leaders, I can guarantee that there were many more militia leaders as well as soldiers who are as guilty and accountable of the war crimes that were committed in Sierra Leone.
All of these facts then lead me to the question, are the people of Sierra Leone truly satisfied with the results of the civil war. Although peace seems to be spreading throughout the country, it almost seems like the satisfaction that the people of Sierra Leone isn’t entirely there. It is as if after the war, the people of Sierra Leone were given a “momentary meal”; a meal that will satisfy them for a moment until once again they realize their hunger for true justice. The war may be over, but its long lasting effects may never go away. One thing that particularly strikes and concerns me is the effects the war had and continues to have on the child soldiers. "For child soldiers, the crisis in Sierra Leone is far from over”, Peter Takirambudde says. I think that his words ring very true. I wonder whether there are any rehabilitation centers for former child soldiers. What happens to the child soldiers who became to engulfed in the war and continue to have violent behavior? What are other countries doing to support Sierra Leone’s efforts in recuperating former children of war? These are all questions that I hope to further explore once I’ve conducted enough research. Stay posted for any new material or information.
Foday Sankoh beside a child amputee.
Works Referenced:http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-1&docId=EJ2309004022&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=sand07018&version=1.0
(INFORTRAC source)
http://www.hrw.org/press/2000/05/sl0531.htm
Picture Source: http://apscuhuru.org/analysis/sierra-leone-statement_2007-08-01/index.xhtml
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