ANNEX 1
Statements at the Symposium
1. Lt. Col. J.A.P. Oladipo - Commanding Officer NIBATT7, Makeni
- Sierra Leone's best option now is to embrace peace
- Sierra Leoneans should now be thinking of what they can do to achieve peace.
2. Philip John Kanu - President, National Union of Sierra Leone Students (NUSS)
- The symposium has been able to bring young people, former adversaries into contact.
- Without peace there can be no education or development
- Main victims of this conflict have been women, children and civilians
- The hospitality extended to us by the RUF has been a very pleasant surprise
- Our coming to Makeni has changed our negative views and increased our resolve for peace.
3. VICTOR NELSON WILLIAMS: - Hope-Sierra Leone representative
- Although the war had many negative consequences, it has raised the youths' level of awareness about the negative forces in our country.
- It will be necessary to remove all jingles on the radio that denigrate any party to the conflict.
- A youth policy is needed that should provide for a National Youth Council
- This symposium should be repeated in CDF areas for confidence building
4. Mrs Isatu Kallon: RUF Women's Leader
- Not everyone can afford to live in Freetown
- Peace begins in our hearts
- In this war women are the most vulnerable
- The women in the RUF can convince their husbands to disarm if there is sincerity on all sides.
- NGOs should be working with women for peace and equal attention should be paid to RUF and CDF
- If there were no RUF there would be no Kamajor
- UN must put pressure on the Sierra Leone Government to stop ceasefire violations.
- The war is killing young people while old men live to their ripe old ages. This must stop.
- Humanitarian assistance should be given to women and children in Makeni and other RUF areas.
5. Mr. George Adetuberu - Special Assistant to the SRSG
- As long as there is war there can be no development
- Sierra Leoneans must start working towards peace as from today
6. Dr. Muctarr Kabba, Commissioner NCDHR
- The warm reception in Makeni is a sign that peace is returning to Sierra Leone
- From now on youths will be the forerunners of the peace message
- There is no need to go to Lome, Abuja, Conakry to agree on peace
7. Dr. Dennis Bright, Commissioner, CCP
- Membership of the CCP includes all factions and this is a great advantage
- The reception in Makeni has renewed our resolve to work for peace
- In every human situation there will always be conflict but we must learn to Manage our conflicts
- After the youths, women should now be brought in to create linkages with the women in Makeni
8. Ahmed Muckson Sesay: Director (OPARD)
- The symposium can make people change their views on the RUF
- The RUF must disarm and take part in the democratic process
- Youths from all sides have been instruments and victims of the war
- Youths must be conscious now and stand for peace and reconciliation
9. Patrick A. Kanu: Chairman, Makeni Union of Youth Groups
- The ice has been broken
10. Issa Kolleh Dumbuya - Coordinator (NFFR)
- NFFR, like the CCP, comprises members from all the warring factions and youth groups
- The resolutions will be addressed properly and disseminated
- We must make a fresh start.
11. Col. Abdul Razack Kamara: Chairman RUF Core Contact Group representing Gen. Issa Sesay
- General Issa is ready to work with youths from all the factions
- The governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone are violating the ceasefire just to put the blame on the RUF
- The RUF will never again pull a trigger against Sierra Leoneans
- Government through the CDF is mobilizing to attack the RUF in Makeni and Magburaka
- Government officials and NGOs are encouraged to operate in Makeni and all other RUF areas. Their security is guaranteed.
- UNAMSIL soldiers are not here to die for us, only to help us.
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