Thanks Christiane for the info.
Christiane Kayser forwarded from Reuters World Report:
What is the bases for your belief Mr. Antonio and OAU? What then will be the belief of the OAU if (1) the RUF decides to talk peace in their own terms...! (2) OR use the results of those talks to regroup and wage more devastating attacks as they did few months ago in Bo after they have agreed to a cease fire and everybody went rejoicing..!
Christiane Kayser forwarded from Reuters World Report:
If they rebels continue to maintain this posture, does it not strike Strasser and the donor communities that pushing for elections now is perhaps the wrong thing to do and maybe should consider another strategy for the sake of the people of SL...! The popular view is that elections will lead to democracy and thus the containment of the rebel war. This view should be applauded under normal circumstance; SL’s case is not normal. This RUF thing has not demonstrated any clear picture of its goal and agenda for the people of SL. It has consistently maintained that it will not honor results of elections held under NPRC. The RUF fighters are going around cutting arms of innocent ones so that they cannot be able to hold the ballot paper to start with. Why then do the AOU and donor nations continue to believe that the RUF will lay down the killing machines after election in February? What is there in RUF’s behavior and style these people believe will compel it to stop killing the innocent ones after the elections? Are these people as bankrupt in ideas as the RUF itself to lead SL out of this dilemma? If the election under the NPRC is not going to end the war as the RUF continue to tell the world, why waste money on it?
There is a peace proposal out there that is more consistent with the aspirations of NPRC, the donor nations, the people of SL and the RUF itself compared to elections now. If the true intent is to create the condition for peace, stability, democracy, and freedom for the people of SL, it makes sense to deviate from conventional wisdom at this moment because it seems the RUF is not thinking conventionally. I think it also makes sense to put aside the ego and ideological resolves which clearly cloud the belief embodied in this election process as is the case with NPRC, OAU, UN, UK and others calling for elections now. I do not think we should continue this reckless approach until Freetown is attacked.
The peace proposal now in the hands of NPRC, donor nations, (the only reason the proposal is not forwarded to the RUF is because we have no way of contacting it) and individuals as well, has taken into consideration all parties involved this struggle for peace and particularly the people of SL who are at risk. A rational thing to do would be to bring it forward to the discussion table to determine it merits. I am sure to do this costs far less than the lives and money to be wasted on elections now.
Think about it ....
Saffa Kemokai @ Browns Mills, NJ