§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) powers and (b) resources made available to the Chairman of the Board of the Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development under the Lomé Agreement; and what assessment he has made of the relationship between that appointment and the funding of the Revolutionary United Front. [126889]
§ Mr. HainThe Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development was created to help the Government of Sierra Leone exercise full control of the exploitation of gold, diamonds and other resources for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone.
Under the Lomé Peace Agreement, the Chairmanship of the Commission was offered to the leader of the Revolutionary United Front, Foday Sankoh. The Board of the Commission was to comprise two representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, two from the Revolutionary United Front party, three representatives from civil society, and two representatives from other political parties appointed by Parliament.
Under its bilateral aid programme, the Department for International Development provided the Commission with three Land Rover vehicles, a computer, some office equipment, a satellite telephone and some items of furniture.
We have seen no evidence that any funds which may have been provided to the Commission were used by the Revolutionary United Front party, or that Sankoh's position as Chair of the Commission gave him access to new sources of funding for the Revolutionary United Front.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training of Revolutionary United Front officials took place as a result of Article III of the Lomé Peace Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [126885]
§ Mr. HainArticle III of the Lomé Peace Agreement provides for the transformation of the Revolutionary United Front into a political party, and for training for the RUF in party organisation and functions, in order for it to enter the democratic process in Sierra Leone. No training of officials of the Revolutionary United Front has yet taken place. The holding of free and fair democratic elections remains an essential part of Sierra Leone's efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made(a) to and (b) via the Commonwealth Secretariat 318W regarding the release of prisoners and award of amnesty during the period of negotiations of the Lomé Peace Agreement on Sierra Leone. [126891]
§ Mr. HainWe remained in regular touch with the Commonwealth Secretariat throughout the Lomé peace negotiations.
The Commonwealth is one of several international moral guarantors of the Lomé Peace Agreement.