§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have received from the British High Commission in Freetown about the number of people detained, or charged with offences, arising out of their alleged complicity with the paramilitary regime in Sierra Leone. [HL1655]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIn view of the difficulties within Sierra Leone it is impossible for our High Commission staff to compile a full list of detainees. We understand that some 2,000 are being detained, of whom 59 (listed below) have been charged with treason, murder or arson.
We have taken every opportunity to raise human rights issues with the Government of Sierra Leone since President Kabbah's return to Freetown on 10 March. Our High Commissioner has emphasised to him the need to restore full respect for human rights, and the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Lloyd, raised this very subject with President Kabbah when he took part in a Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group mission to Freetown on 31 March.
59 People Accused of Treason, Murder and Arson
82WA
First Set—Adjourned to 6 May 1998 Victor Foh MP and 21 others Steven Cathy Bio Brother to ex-Head of State, businessman, arms dealer Gipu Felix George Ex-Director General SLBS John Ajina Sesay Former Footballer Denneis Ayodele Smith Ex-Producer SLBS Oliver Mensah Ex-Presenter SLBS Mohamed Alikali Bangura Under SOS Trade
First Set—Adjourned to 6 May 1998 Darlinda Lebbie Hassan Barrie Under SOS Energy & Power Victor Brandon SOS Dev. & Econ. Planning Dennis K. Kamara Under SOS Mines Sheik Abu Bakarr Nabie Muslim Priest Ahmad Charid Durnbuya Appointed General Manager N.P.A. by AFRC Winston Crowther Sorie Alieu Fofana Claude V. M. Campbell Barrister Samuel Sampha Sesay Umaru Deen Sesay SOS Youths & Sports Bai Hinga Kuraray Bangura Gibril Massaquoi Ex RUF Colonel Tommy Anthony Patrick Sheku A. T. Bayo Sec. to President Kabbah
Second Set-Adjourned to 7 May 1998 Ajibola Manley Spaine AFRC Attorney-General Dr. Bailar Leigh SOS Health David Bangura Under SOS Foreign Affairs Dr. Maltida King Under SOS Health Alhaji Ibrahim Kargbo Ex-Imam, Temne Mosque, Oldfield Street Saidu Daniel Bangura Hamid Abdul Kamara Ex-Secretary to the Chairman AFRC Hilton Fyle Ex-BBC Presenter, FM WBIG + AFRC Propagandist Alieu Badara Kamara AFRC Spokesman Joseph Saidu Momoh Ex-President of Sierra Leone Ibrahim Ben Kargbo Journalist. Appointed Chairman NCDHR by AFRC Pastor Victor Ajisafie Nigerian so-called Clergyman John Tommy Eric Kwaku Dixon
Third Set-Adjourned to 8 May 1998 Brigadier (RTD) Lymon SOS Internal Affairs Abdul Salaam Williams Under Secretary for Labour Dr. Christian Kargbo Bank Governor (AFRC) Kaifen Kallay Bank Secretary, Bank of Sierra Leone Harry Benjamin Alpha William Bangura Ex-Foreign Affairs Officer Ms Winnifred Cummings Ms Nancy Steel City Councillor (AFRC) Dr. Willie Taylor Dir. of Bank of SL Mr. Edward Akar (Barrister) and Bank Dir., Bank of SL Ms Mabinti Scott Abdul K. Sankoh Ms Mayilla Yansaneh AFRC Propagandist and State House Official Alim Jalloh Jamboria Chairman, Roads Authority (AFRC) Samuel Sannie Sesay Managing Director Lotto (AFRC) Lawrence Lamin Major (Rtd.) Eben Victor Coker Bishop Alpha Omega Bundu Mohamed Basiru Savage Mohamed Daramy Ibrahim Foday Sesay Philipson Sankoh Ms Kainde Bangura