From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SIERRA LEONE: WOMEN, WAR AND BIRTH CONTROL
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 22:00:54 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
Reference: Women
Title: SIERRA LEONE: WOMEN, WAR AND BIRTH CONTROL


freetown dec 18 (ips/ruby ofori) -- for many sierra leonean
women living under what was one of the most corrupt one-party
systems on the continent until its overthrow earlier this year
was bad enough.

but the west african nation's involvement in the liberian war
across the border has caused a boom in illegitimate babies, an
increase in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids), and
greater domestic responsibilities for those leaving husbands
behind in rebel hit areas.

it is concern for the plight of the latter that preoccupies
thelma morgan, head of the sierra leone council of churches
women's desk. morgan's job is to help displaced women cope with
their new, hopefully temporary role as sole breadwinners.

''we try to find them income generating activities, find new
schools for their children'', said morgan.

at the council of churches headquarters ips met some of the
displaced. gladys sheku (33), had just arrived from koidu, 320km
east of the capital freetown and scene of some of the fiercest
fighting in the two year bush-war, with her seven children.

she had wanted to stay with her husband, ''but when the
government soldiers just sprayed people in the streets with
bullets that's when i left''. at the time of the interview sheku
was more concerned with securing her weekly ration of food than
the long-term difficulties of work and schooling for her
children.

for 19-year-old student abio sehkarboh things had already
been sorted out. she had made the 10km journey from koidu to
bumpeh then found her way to freetown.

her enduring memory of the war was bizarre and violent.  ''at
around 5am we heard gun shots so people began to run. for the
whole day war planes flew around. i saw one rebel with a live
cat tied around his waist another had a talisman. they said they
were freedom fighters and the local boys should join them''.

''my parents are here and i've already found a school in
freetown'', said sehkarboh.

sierra leone's support for the seven nation west african
peacekeeping force in liberia (ecomog) has earned the wrath of
liberian warlord charles taylor. he supports the rebels of the
revolutionary united front (ruf), a shadowy organisation that
nevertheless has succeeded in destabalising the south and east
districts of this potentially rich country.

freetown is a rear base for ecomog. with incomes above the
local average and time on their hands, these soldiers have
brought a new problem to the women of the area. (more/ips)


sierra leone: women (2)

nurse sarah jones of the sierra leone planned parenthood
association (ppa) is concerned by the rising aids statistics and
the numbers of illegitimate ''ecomog babies'' which she blames
on the presence of the troops.

recognising the problem posed by romantic liasons between
ecomog troops and sierra leonean women, millitary commanders
took a suitably militaristic course of action by banning women
from entering the ecomog base 32km outside freetown. the
contingent based at the international airport was, inexplicably,
left alone.

nurse jones is not worried about the morality of the affairs
rather her concern is with paternal responsibility.

''what's going to happen when this war is over? what's going
to happen to the women who left their husbands for these
soldiers?'', asked jones.

''we've been working with soldiers'' continued the nurse
refering to the ppa's attempts to teach the fighters about
family planning and condoms.  ''but compared with civilian men
they are a bit reckless because for all they know they might die
in fighting tomorrow'', she added.

a positive aspect of the situation according to another ppa
nurse, constance fillonoh was that ''because of the war many
women became more aware of family planning. they saw the
difficulties the liberian refugees faced. people with lots of
children couldn't bring them all and among those who did some of
their children died of malnutrition''.

the war has had a radically different effect on some women
who, rather than exploiting or becoming victims of their
sexuality, have chosen to play a more active role. enraged by
the consequences of the conflict, some sierra leonean women like
23-year-old issatou forna joined the army.

''i joined the army because rebels killed my dad at benduma a
village close to koidu about a year ago'' said forna who had
been moved from the front at daru in the south-east to koidu.

sierra leone's female soldiers are trained to fight. ''the
last time they attacked baima i killed about four rebels. i am
not afraid because the rebels are destroying the country and i
believe we must join the army and help push them out''.

there are around 250 women soldiers in the ranks and others
who work as volunteers said forna. asked if the demands of
soldiering were not difficult for a women especially during her
menstruation, forna said: ''when i get periods i excuse myself
and keep away from the fighters. when i become normal again i
join them on the frontline''. (end/ips/ro/oa/92)