Rawlings: Stop supporting rebels in Sierra Leone

Accra (Greater Accra), 13 Jan. '99 - President Jerry John Rawlings said today that Liberia's support for rebels in Sierra Leone is a stab in the back of West African countries, who sacrificed to bring democracy to that country, which went through seven years of civil war. President Rawlings said Liberia has been identified as one of the countries supporting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Also identified were a North African country and a another West African country. President Rawlings said this when Mr Enoch Dogolea, Liberia's Vice-President, delivered a special message from President Charles Taylor to him. Other members of Mr Dogolea's delegation were Mr Monie Captan, Foreign Minister, Mr Philip Kamah, Minister for National Security and Mr Tambaki Jankgabah, Adviser to the President on National Security. ''You are being accused of supporting the RUF. You have a hard task on your hands to prove that you are not playing any role in Sierra Leone. It is a stab in the back,'' a visibly angry President Rawlings said. He said West African countries are in Sierra Leone to support a democratically elected government and not to wage war adding, "this is exactly what we did in Liberia". The President said the North African country supporting the rebels has been enjoying a lot of support from countries in the West African sub- region. ''This creates a dilemma for us''. President Rawlings said he finds it difficult to understand people, who support someone who has been responsible for the torture and decapitation of his own people. ''Supporters of this man will have to examine their conscience''. ''I sit here receiving you. It creates a lot of difficulty for me'', he said, adding that sophisticated weapons in the hands of the rebels had wrecked havoc in Sierra Leone. President Rawlings said neighbouring countries supporting the rebels should not delude themselves into thinking that they have any gains to achieve. ''Is there any gains to be made in this conflict? Frankly speaking, there are no gains. The political and economic stability of West Africa is being jeopardised''. Looking at the Liberian Vice-President straight in the face, President Rawlings told him that it was time the Liberian government took steps to evacuate the rest of Liberian refugees still in Ghana back to their home country. Mr Victor Gbeho, Foreign Minister, said ''Sierra Leone is a disappointment to us all in the sub-region, especially countries involved in peacekeeping. The risk our troops face in Sierra Leone and what our people are saying''. ''You have a lot of clarification to make'', he said. Mr Captan repeated that his country is not involved in the conflict in Sierra Leone but said former Liberian rebels are known to be fighting on the side of the RUF. ''We are not involved at the government level,'' he said. Among those present were Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State Security and Lt-Col. E. K. T. Donkor (rtd), Deputy Minister of Defence.