Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

120 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the special court for Sierra Leone; his views on the amnesties granted under the 1999 Lome Agreement; and if he will comment on the general protection of the rights of detainees. [23740/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

In July 1999 a peace agreement was signed in Lomé, aimed at bringing an end to the eight year civil war between the Government of Sierra Leone and the rebel forces of the Revolutionary United Front – RUF. The terms of the agreement called for a total cessation of hostilities, the laying down of rebel arms in exchange for places in the Government, and an amnesty for all crimes committed during the civil war. However, the Secretary General of the United Nations appended a statement to the agreement that the amnesty provisions do not apply to international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law. Ireland recognises that very difficult compromises were reached in the Lomé peace negotiations between the parties to the conflict but does not of course favour amnesties for such crimes.

In Resolution 1315 of 14 August 2000, the Security Council asked the Secretary-General to negotiate an agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone to create an independent special court to prosecute those who committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Ireland fully supports the establishment of the special court for Sierra Leone and has committed £500,000 to it over the next three years. I am anxious to see it up and running at an early date. Ireland is a member of a group of interested states working to achieve the early establishment of the court. The agreement for the court was due to be signed this month but has been delayed by a proposal from the Government of Sierra Leone that the temporal jurisdiction of the court be extended.

The Government has been monitoring closely the situation of members of the RUF, who have been detained for some time pending trial before the special court. I am particularly aware of the need to respect and protect the human rights of the detainees and am mindful of the fact that any further delay in the establishment of the court could impact significantly on their human rights, including their right to a fair trial.