Sierra Leone Rebels Murder, Mutilate, Rape, Loot In MasiakaSierra Leone Rebels Murder, Mutilate, Rape, Loot In Masiaka
May 26, 2000
DAKAR, Senegal (PANA) - Human Rights Watch Friday charged that the rebel Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone is imposing a reign of terror on the Masiaka area.
Located about 80 km east of Freetown, Masiaka is near the front line of fighting between the rebels and the pro-government forces. It is also near the site where RUF rebels killed two Western journalists Wednesday.
"These fresh reports of RUF atrocities underscore the need for the international community to make protection of civilians its first priority in Sierra Leone," Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa division of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
"UN forces must aim to expand the circle of protection beyond Freetown as soon as possible," he added.
Soon after taking over 500 UN peacekeepers hostage at the beginning of May, the RUF began an offensive action in the Masiaka region.
Heavy reinforcements by the UN and British troops and a counter-offensive by government-allied militias repulsed the rebels from the Masiaka area around 14 May.
During its weeklong occupation of the area, the rebels committed acts of murder, mutilation, rape, looting, and abduction against the civilian population.
Kariatu (not her real name), a 45-year-old farmer, told Human Rights Watch that she fled Masiaka town with her four children 11 May, when RUF rebels first attacked the town.
On 12 May, four RUF rebels who asked her where she was going approached her. When she responded she was going to Freetown, one of the fighters responded: "We make sure we kill you before reaching Freetown."
The rebels also told her "since you civilians are not here for us, we are here to destroy you." The rebels took away her two sons, aged 12 and 17, and she heard her sons screaming before hearing gunshots.
After evidently killing the two sons, the rebels left with her two daughters aged eight and 10, and all of the family's possessions. When Kariatu tried to beg the fighters to leave her two daughters, they threatened to kill her.
Kariatu is currently living in a camp for internally displaced persons near Freetown.
Sixteen-year-old Ramatu (also not her real name) fled Masiaka 12 May with her two sisters aged two and five. On the same day, she was captured by a large group of RUF rebels and taken to a base in the jungle.
On the way there she saw five other abducted girls of about the same age. She was kept at the jungle base for five days, where she was gang raped by "many, many men."
Ramatu told Human Rights Watch that she was pinned down with a knife held to her throat, and was raped while her two young sisters were close by. After one rape, the rebels threatened to amputate her hands.
She said she witnessed the execution by shooting of one young man at the base.
Ramatu was allowed to leave the jungle camp 17 May, and while leaving she saw the bodies of the five young girls whom she had last seen alive in RUF captivity.
Due to the pain of the continuous sexual abuse she had suffered, Ramatu needed the physical support of her five-year-old sister while walking. She and her two young sisters had to walk for four days before arriving at a camp for the internally displaced near Freetown.
Mabinti, aged sixteen, left Masiaka 20 May, fearing the rebels. She walked through back roads far from Masiaka, attempting to flee to safety.
The next morning, as it was getting light, she saw a young girl and an older man lying by the road. The hands of the young girl had been cut off, and the older man's right foot had been cut off.
Both were still alive, but barely breathing. In great fear, she continued past the bodies without stopping.
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