The first accused in the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Special Court trial Issa Sesay has said that because he implemented the Lome Peace Accord he is being prosecuted.
Issa Sesay who was addressing Trial Chamber 1 yesterday, thanked the Judges Pierre Boutet, Bankole Thompson and Benjamin Itoe for their time to see the end of the trial and for the role they have played to ensure peace and justice in the country.
To the victims who suffered during the course of the war he said “I extend my sincere sympathy to you for the pains you went through during the war. I must also say thanks to the 260 civilians who came forward to aid in my case.”
Issa Sesay also told the Chamber that before the disarmament process he was told by Foday Sankoh that President Tejan Kabbah has said that the RUF will be regarded as a victim of the war. “But that notwithstanding I cooperated with the United Nations to see that they accomplish their mission. Even though I had the statement of Sankoh at the back of my mind.”
Before his arrest he went on “those RUF who were disgruntled about the disarmament went and told the UNAMSIL that I was hiding some ammunition.”
Sesay stated that the role he was given by the ECOWAS to do was what he did without any problem and that was to disarm the RUF “I played a role in implementing the peace accord and was never told that the Lome Peace Accord was not valid. And now I have been prosecuted and those who had not wanted the disarmament are enjoying in the hands of the United Nations while I who laid down my life on the table is being prosecuted. Even the prosecution had pointed fingers at me, that I was the one who disarmed the RUF when Sankoh was in jail.”
He went on “I was not the one who put a cloth in the well for Sierra Leoneans to drink but I decided to remove it, should that be a problem?” he asked. “I am pleading to the people of Sierra Leone to forgive for the crimes committed by the RUF.”
Morris Kallon second accused in addressing the Chamber also expressed sympathy to the nation “from the bottom of my heart” saying “I was kidnapped and was given the RUF ideology. I acknowledge my role I therefore regret the suffering of those affected by the war.”
Morris Kallon also paid tribute “to all victims of this tragic incident. To those who lost their lives and those who lost their relatives and relations during the war. I therefore call on all the family of the victims in particular and Sierra Leoneans in general to forgive me. The conflict has left a deep wound in my heart and I don’t want to take the pains of those who suffered in the war with me.”
He also called on the UN, ECOWAS, and all other organizations that were here to bring peace in the country but have suffered to forgive him “I am also calling on all warring faction to respect UN.”
He stated further that his six (6) years in detention has given him the opportunity to reflect on his role in war. He also recommended the role of the Special Court in bringing peace to the country and also to the judges for their role and urged them [judges] to give him the opportunity to play in the peace process of the country.
The third convict Augustine Gbao who spoke through his lawyer John Cammaign said his regret is genuine and heartfelt. He also urged the court to exercise sentence with mercy and compassion. Earlier in their sentencing argument the prosecution submitted reasons for the 60, 60 40 years jail term they recommended. In his submission Vincent Wagona on behalf of the prosecution said that the number of crimes of which the accused stands convicted for is higher and this involves the use of conscripting child solider and others which are particularly more grave in terms of its scale and duration.
He concluded that based on the aggravating factor and gravity of the offence especially Issa Sesay and Morris Kallon deserve higher sentences. On behalf of Issa Sesay, Wayne Jordash submitted to the Chamber that most of the crimes for which Sesay was convicted on were Joint Criminal Enterprises (JCE) and was not convicted personally on some major crimes. He said that 60 years sentence will not send a good message to other fighting forces but a lenient sentence as the one they recommend of 12-15 or 15 -20 will enable him return to his community and a lenient sentence will be accepted by Sierra Leoneans as just and fair The defence lawyer for Morris Kallon Kennedy Ogeto in his submission urged the court to see the role of their client and his good character as a mitigating factor in handing down their sentences and that he was never present during the commission of most of the crimes. John Cammigen in his submission on behalf of Augustine Gbao said that he never played a superior role in the conflict and that he did not even fire a shot or ordered the firing of any shot. He also stated that Gbao never played any superior role in the conflict as there were no findings on that. It is expected that sentencing by the judges of the Trial Chamber will take place in April.