SIERRA LEONE: BO: MAJOR DIAMOND CENTRE

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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English/Nat XFA Secretary-General Kofi Annan has hinted that the hostage-taking by Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (R-U-F) could cost leader Foday Sankoh his ministerial post. He said the rebels must not be allowed to exploit the country's diamonds. Bo, a town partially sieged by rebel forces, is one of Sierra Leone's major diamond centres. Meanwhile, a group of R-U-F rebels have been arrested for allegedly tying to steal one of the United Nation's vehicles. Bo, Sierra Leone's second biggest city is a government stronghold. It's also a major diamond centre. And it's these diamonds which have fueled a decade of brutal civil war, which has claimed 75-thousand lives. The Revolutionary United Front (R-U-F) controls most of the mines in western Sierra Leone. They've traded diamonds for weapons which they've used to maim and kill. Since the 19th century Lebanese businessmen have been heavily involved in the diamond trade. But these days it is a highly dangerous business. This Lebanese trader refused to speak on camera. Despite the dangerous work, a lucky find can set a person up for life, relieving them of their impoverished lives. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We fear them because we can still remember the past. Although we are still doing this we have no other option, or else we would not work here because those guys can do anything they want to satisfy themselves. They are not doing anything in the interests of us. They are only doing this for them." SUPER CAPTION: Mohammed Thomas, local diamond dealer Bo is partially surrounded by rebels. The irony here is that pro-government forces had already disarmed under the disarmament process. Now they don't have the weapons to defend the town if rebels attack. SOUNDBITE: (English) "UNOMSIL are finding themselves in a very funny position here in Bo because the C-D-F (civil defence force) in Bo were virtually disarmed by UNOMSIL and just overnight UNOMSIL were thinking they were doing a very good job but now they find themselves in a very difficult position. They have destroyed the arms but they have returned the ammunition but they can't give them arms now and the C-D-F want the arms to protect themselves and probably even to protect them (UNOMSIL)" SUPER CAPTION: Police officer, Tamba Sawyer Under last year's peace agreement, rebel leader Foday Sankoh was appointed chairman of the National Resources Commission, a post which gave him direct influence over Sierra Leone's lucrative diamond trade. It's now known that Sankoh abused the position to set up his own diamond deals, including illegal mining and smuggling of gems. Any future peace deals are not likely to be as accommodating to the R-U-F. Meanwhile rebels from Foday Sankoh's R-U-F were arrested late on Monday in the town of Bo, for allegedly tying to steal one of the United Nation's vehicles. No comment has yet been made regarding the arrest by U-N peacekeeping forces. 350 U-N peacekeepers remain as hostages in the hands of the R-U-F. Although 157 peacekeepers have been released, U-N Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has hinted that the hostage-taking by Sierra Leone's rebels could cost rebel leader Foday Sankoh his ministerial post and said the rebels must not be allowed to exploit the country's diamonds. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/571a682ae49f259d32c15059b536a039 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

SIERRA LEONE: BO: MAJOR DIAMOND CENTRE

• Report rights infringement
• published: 21 Jul 2015
• views: 640

English/Nat XFA Secretary-General Kofi Annan has hinted that the hostage-taking by Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (R-U-F) could cost leader Foday Sankoh his ministerial post. He said the rebels must not be allowed to exploit the country's diamonds. Bo, a town partially sieged by rebel forces, is one of Sierra Leone's major diamond centres. Meanwhile, a group of R-U-F rebels have been arrested for allegedly tying to steal one of the United Nation's vehicles. Bo, Sierra Leone's second biggest city is a government stronghold. It's also a major diamond centre. And it's these diamonds which have fueled a decade of brutal civil war, which has claimed 75-thousand lives. The Revolutionary United Front (R-U-F) controls most of the mines in western Sierra Leone. They've traded diamonds for weapons which they've used to maim and kill. Since the 19th century Lebanese businessmen have been heavily involved in the diamond trade. But these days it is a highly dangerous business. This Lebanese trader refused to speak on camera. Despite the dangerous work, a lucky find can set a person up for life, relieving them of their impoverished lives. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We fear them because we can still remember the past. Although we are still doing this we have no other option, or else we would not work here because those guys can do anything they want to satisfy themselves. They are not doing anything in the interests of us. They are only doing this for them." SUPER CAPTION: Mohammed Thomas, local diamond dealer Bo is partially surrounded by rebels. The irony here is that pro-government forces had already disarmed under the disarmament process. Now they don't have the weapons to defend the town if rebels attack. SOUNDBITE: (English) "UNOMSIL are finding themselves in a very funny position here in Bo because the C-D-F (civil defence force) in Bo were virtually disarmed by UNOMSIL and just overnight UNOMSIL were thinking they were doing a very good job but now they find themselves in a very difficult position. They have destroyed the arms but they have returned the ammunition but they can't give them arms now and the C-D-F want the arms to protect themselves and probably even to protect them (UNOMSIL)" SUPER CAPTION: Police officer, Tamba Sawyer Under last year's peace agreement, rebel leader Foday Sankoh was appointed chairman of the National Resources Commission, a post which gave him direct influence over Sierra Leone's lucrative diamond trade. It's now known that Sankoh abused the position to set up his own diamond deals, including illegal mining and smuggling of gems. Any future peace deals are not likely to be as accommodating to the R-U-F. Meanwhile rebels from Foday Sankoh's R-U-F were arrested late on Monday in the town of Bo, for allegedly tying to steal one of the United Nation's vehicles. No comment has yet been made regarding the arrest by U-N peacekeeping forces. 350 U-N peacekeepers remain as hostages in the hands of the R-U-F. Although 157 peacekeepers have been released, U-N Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has hinted that the hostage-taking by Sierra Leone's rebels could cost rebel leader Foday Sankoh his ministerial post and said the rebels must not be allowed to exploit the country's diamonds. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/571a682ae49f259d32c15059b536a039 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork