As Situation Worsening In Guinea former Liberian Rebels Accused of Trading Arms

Report coming from the West African State of Guinea speak of serious business is taken place between high ups in the Guinean Army and former rebels of the defunct LURD on the trading of arms in that country.
According to reports dozens of former Liberian fighters are seen daily moving into Guinea through the Liberian Guinean border by way of Ganta, Nimba County to either secretly put on sale their concealed arms for little cash.
Speaking to our Correspondent in Ganta, a Guinean soldier who preferred not to be named said it was too rampant at the border, “stay for thirty minutes you will see some of your people come across with bundles, under the pretext that they are going to buy goods,” the soldier in confident told the GNN.
Several others who were interviewed said the were concerned about the situation in neighboring Guinea, “when you neighbor house is on fire help to put that fire off…or else yours will shortly be affected. UN must do some about the Guinea crisis,” a Liberian petty trader, Fatu Jalloh told our reporter.
Before departing the Liberian Guinean border, a warning was being given to all Guinean border Commanders to thoroughly search people entering the country.
Quoting sources from the Guinean Capital, Abul Kamara said it was reported on the international wires that the country’s Prime Minister has warned that unnamed groups are bringing into the country arms and ammunition.
Meanwhile, Guinean Military authority warned that any civilian caught wearing military uniform must be arrested and dealt with militarily. The US has condemned the imposition of martial law and the civilian deaths. Some 100 people have died this year, with witnesses accusing the security forces of firing on protesters. Unions have called a general strike, saying the president should resign.
According to the BBC, in a strongly worded statement, the US embassy in the capital, Conakry, criticized "the suspension - even partial - of civilian rule, the use of lethal force against the civilian population, the abrogation of basic freedoms, and the roll-back of the democratic process. "The disorder that plagues Guinea reflects widespread popular discontent caused by decades of poor governance," it said.
On Thursday, the International Crisis Group think-tank said the violence in Guinea could worsen and spill over into a bloody civil war. African Union (AU) also called for an end to the "ominous situation involving the killing of citizens".

Union leaders and government officials are due to resume talks aimed at ending the crisis on Saturday. In his first public statement since being named a week ago, Prime Minister Eugene Camara said:

"We must not rise up against peaceful citizens, we must not rise up against political parties, nor trade unions. We must rise up against those who have infiltrated arms and ammunition into the country." The military is still deployed on the streets of the capital, to enforce an 18-hour-a-day curfew, while air force planes fly overhead.

Harassment

ICG warned of "a possible civil war comparable to those that have torn apart its neighbors in the past decade with uncontrollable consequences". Guinea borders Sierra Leone and Liberia, which are both emerging from a decade of conflict.

Correspondents say the violence has reduced since the introduction of martial law, but there is a great deal of uncertainty. Residents in different Conakry suburbs say that they often hear shooting. Human rights groups complain that soldiers have been given widespread powers and many civilians had been subjected to harassment by soldiers.

"Under the guise of re-establishing law and order, they're acting like common criminals, beating, robbing and brutalizing the population they're supposed to protect," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director for Human Rights Watch.

Last month, the unions called off their 18-day strike after Mr Conte promised to hand over powers to a prime minister. But they renewed the strike action call after saying the man Mr Camara, was too close to Mr Conte. The unions want Mr Conte to step down, saying he has mismanaged the economy.

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Special Court In Sierra Leone Gets $787,000 From EU For "Legacy Project"

The European Commission has made a donation o 6,00,000 ($787,000) to the Special Court for Sierra Leone to continue the Court’s Victims Justice and Legacy Project.
According to a dispatch from the Court Public Affairs in Freetown, the EC grant is part of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. Since the Project was started in January 2004, the EC has given more than 1.9 million to the project.
The Victims Justice and Legacy Project aims to provide a broader understanding of justice to the victims of Sierra Leone’s decade-long civil conflict. Through various sub-projects, the Special Court seeks to leave a legacy to Sierra Leone and to international criminal justice.
The main activities of the Project are conducted through the Witness and Victim Support Programme, the Grass Roots Awareness Campaign (Outreach), the Audio Visual Programme, the Intern and Pro-bono Support Programme, the Court Interpreters Professionalising and Training Programme, and the Library and Archives Development Programme.
The Project targets all areas of the Sierra Leone public and civil society, in particular victims and witnesses, ex-combatants, national grassroots organizations and community leaders. In the coming months it will begin programmes to inform the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia about the upcoming Special Court trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague.
The Victims Justice and Legacy Project is part of the Court’s overall legacy programme, which seeks to promote the rule of law, human rights, and international humanitarian law.

The Special Court is an independent tribunal established jointly by the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. It is mandated to bring to justice those who bear the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996. To date, the Prosecutor has indicted eleven persons on various charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Ten indictees are currently in the custody of the Court.