From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: SIERRA LEONE: COMMITTEE FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 01:48:52 GMT

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: COMMITTEE FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY SET UP/REPEAT/


freetown, sep 23 (ips/rod mac-johnson) one of the key demands by
pro-democracy sierra leonean activisits abroad was met on
tuesday when the military government in sierra leone announced
the formation of a 15 member national advisory committee.

ironically the return to democracy has been a non-issue
in this west african nation as many see the war against
charles taylor's liberian rebels destabalising the south-east of
the country as the priority.

but sierra leonean exiles in london, berlin and washington
while supporting the government had argued that a time table
for a return to multi-party democracy should be announced.

head of state, captain valentine strasser, who led the
military coup which toppled the civilian government of president
joseph momoh on april 29 has consistently stressed that his
administration ''has not come to derail democracy''.

he recently told a press conference, ''the former government
promoted instability to keep it in office, making political
activities tribally and regionally based''.

constitutional experts say however that though the advisory
council is mandated to ''work out the modalities for the return
to multi-party democracy'', no announcement has been made about
those eligible for membership or when the first meeting of the
council will be held.

''these are urgent questions to be addressed'',
constitutional lawyer francis koroma told ips.

diplomatic observers say the government has moved ''quickly''
on the return to democracy barely five months in office but
doubt whether the move would satisfy the pressure by western
donors for a detailed timetable to be outlined.

but as things are, there is little evidence that the
government had bowed to international influence. one government
spokesman told ips, '' we've been committed to returning sierra
leone to multi-party democracy since day one''.

captain strasser's stand point is that his government wants
to ''relaunch the democratic process on a just, fair and
equitable basis.'' (more/ips)


sierra leone: committee (2)

he said at a ceremony to mark the military government's 100
days in office, '' we will discharge the duties we have set
ourselves for the long term benefit of the people of sierra
leone in order to create a healthy environment in which
democracy and freedom will flourish.

many sierra leoneans, warming up to the establishment of the
council wonder if it will not destract the government from
tackling the rebel war.

how long the military intends to stay in power remains
speculative although several civilian organisations have
recommended a time frame of between two and four years.

the government remains popular but there is the ever present
risk of losing some of its clout if the timing is delayed on a
return to barracks.

sierra leoneans too are wondering whether party politics will
work. twenty-five years of civilian rule has left a tradition of
corrupt officialdom in this resource-rich country whose
favourite hobby is to demand bribes.

elections were won by the wealthiest of candidates who were
returned unopposed. polling stations ran out of ballot papers
and voters frequently exceeded the number registered in the
various constituencies.

the military government ''will have a formidable task to
clean up the stable'', yahyah samura, a politician who lost
three consecutive elections said in an interview.
(end/ips/rm-j/oa/92)