From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SIERRA LEONE: HOPELESSNESS OF A BUSH WAR, A SOLDIERS TALE
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 03:11:16 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Opecna Morning Transmission
Title: SIERRA LEONE: HOPELESSNESS OF A BUSH WAR, A SOLDIERS TALE


/attn editors: the following is an acount of koidu town in
eastern sierra leone visited by ips a few days before its
capture by rebels of the revolutionary united front (ruf)/

freetown dec 9 (ips/ruby ofori) -- last weekend dec. 6, sierra
leone's sixth battalion was routed by rebels in the latest of a
series of attacks on the diamond mining town of koidu.

the capture of this vital income earning territory could
spell disaster for the impoverished west african nation which
has been a serious casualty of the anarchy in neigbouring
liberia over the past two years.

in a visit to the area by ips days before the attack,
government forces were certain they would soon deliver a death
blow to the revolutionary united front (ruf) rebels who,
supported by liberian warlord charles taylor, have destabalised
the region in a brutal bush campaign.

but even then indications of their vulnerability were clearly
evident. the government of capt. valentine strasser, himself a
veteran of the eastern front, has had few success against the
rebels. his army is demoralised and poorly equipped, and is
being punished for its support of the west african peacekeeping
force in liberia.

the journey to koidu, 320 km east of the capital freetown,
really begins at the last check point at the village of bumpeh,
six miles away from the town.

when lt. victor isleeker's car screeched to a halt in front
of the checkpoint, it drew the attention of the long crowd of
evacuees that had been waiting for his signiture on permits to
return to their once prosperous town to pack their belongings.

all along the road from freetown to bumpeh, trucks packed sky
high with fridges, freezers, bedding televisions and other
worldly belongings had been lurching westwards away from the
troubles.

but the anxious crowd, a mixture of genuine residents and
opportunistic looters, would have to wait another couple of
hours in the hot sun.

''i am not signing any permits without the major's permission
you must understand that he's the boss and i am only following
orders'', muttered the tough looking 28-year old isleeker to
those brave enough to approach his vehicle.

his khaki clad overweight 10-year old bodygaurd, shaven
headed like all the 500 volunteers the army had recruited,
emphasised the point with his ak-47 rifle at the ready.
(more/ips)


sierra leone: hopelessness (2)

most of the big time diamond barons: lebanese, gambians, and
nigerians had left koidu following the first oct. 23 surprise
rebel attack where they held town for 48-hours. those now
waiting were the small time illegal miners, teachers, nurses,
technicians, the people who had kept the system going.

now, anyone caught mining anywhere in the area would be shot
immeadiately, the authorites warned.

isleeker and his commanding officer major p. foday stick to
the official military line which blames the civilian population
for conspiring with the rebels in the loss of koidu.

''the civilians were the cause of the first attack. the only
way i feel this place will be secured is by not allowing many
people to come into the township. these people are unreliable,
they conive with the rebels so that when there is an attack we
even hear shots behind us.

''so as long as we are here without many people around us i
think we can secure this place forever. we cannot afford to lose
this ground beceause the fall of kono is the fall of
government'', said foday.

after their humiliation in koidu, the army was forced to
retreat several miles out. later, with the arrival of a tank and
heavy weapons they managed to recapture it. a complete
evacuation of the regional capital's 100,000 inhabitants was
organised, turning it into a garrison in what was obviously a
final showdown with the rebels.

moutains and thick forests surround koidu -- the perfect
terrain for guerilla warfare. isleeker, a native of kono, drove
ips into the town.

it was only a month since his promotion from corporal to
second lt. and with it came the daunting task of mobilising the
local people -- those seeking revenge, those with a will to
fight and those with tracking skills.

an even more difficult task for isleeker was to instill
discipline into the poorly paid, demoralised troops. he was
clearly overstretched as he toured the town learning for the
first time of fresh attacks to the east, givng on the spot
tactical advise. the garrison of 1,000 men had no
communications.

his round included admonishing civilians he found wondering
off the beaten track, taking note of soldier's demands for new
boots, ammunition, or petrol. (more/ips)


sierra leone: hopelessness (3)

then back to the military hq. someone patted him on the back
for the rebel head he had brought back the other day -- a moment
of light relief as it were.

neither side takes prisoners of war. those unfortunate enough to
be caught alive are invariably executed after interrogation.
this would no doubt be the fate of the rebel that was brought
before isleeker during ips's visit -- bare chested and bleeding
from recently inflicted beatings.

foday said the front line was a vast and difficult area to
guard. but, ''the vigilantes know the ground and they help us to
operate in various areas''.

isleeker noted the army had scraped conventional military
tactics. ''if we continue bombarding it will be a waste of
ammunition instead we have to pursue them in the bush since they
are fighitng us using guerilla tactics then we also have to use
guerilla tactics.

''i believe that this fight is not to easy or too difficult
it all depends on the determination of we soldiers and with the
help of the vigilantes i believe we will try our best.

six day later the rebels made a surprise attack once again
pushing the army out of koidu and looting on a massive scale
according to first reports.

observers say a battalion of 1,000 men was inadequate for the
task of defending the area, secondly the army was still
demoralised and poorly equipped, thirdly that the evacuation had
been a tactical error. (end/ips/ro/oa/92)
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