By Lansana Fofana
FREETOWN, Oct 14 1998 (IPS)

President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has been urged to commute the death sentences of 34 soldiers handed down this week by a court martial in the Sierra Leonean capital of Freetown.

The London-based human rights group, Amnesty International, in a statement made available to IPS on Wednesday, called on the authorities in Sierra Leone to exercise clemency and to ensure that no executions take place.

The 34 soldiers – whose executions could be imminent – were convicted of offences related to the military coup on 25 May 1997 in which the elected government of President Kabbah was overthrown and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) took power. Three other soldiers were acquitted.

The court martial, chaired by colonel Tom Carew, refused to accept arguments that the death penalty was discretionary rather than mandatory for these offences.

Those handed the death sentence include President Kabbah’s former chief of defence staff, Brigadier Hassan Karim Conteh and his deputy Colonel James Max Kanga, as well as the heads of the Navy, Commander Samuel Kandu-Boy Gilbert and the airforce, Victor King.

The list includes a female soldier, Major Kula Samba.

Trials before courts martial in Sierra Leone allow no right of appeal against conviction and sentence to a higher jurisdiction, in violation of international fair trial standards, according to Amnesty International. Those sentenced to death may, however, seek clemency from a special committee chaired by the President.

“We have repeatedly urged the government to establish a judicial appeal procedure against sentences passed by the court martial,” Amnesty International said, adding “we fear that these executions could be carried out before applications are submitted and considered by the United Nations Human Rights Committee.”

“The use of the death penalty will not contribute to the process of reconciliation in Sierra Leone,” the human rights organization added.

In his statement before the verdict Monday, Attorney-General and minister of Justice Solomon Berewa said the accused persons had “wrecked havoc” in Sierra Leone.

“They turned their guns on the people, killing, maiming and harassing innocent citizens,” he said. “Once found guilty, they will be punished accordingly”.

Sierra Leoneans, who claimed they suffered under the junta, have welcomed the sentence.

“I am glad the law has taken its course,” said Isatu Dumbuya, a house wife in Freetown, whose husband and three children were “murdered” by the junta.

Another victim, Morie Jah, said, “the trials are a testimony to the supremacy of the law. Therefore, the enemies of the state will think twice in future before subjecting the people to brutal torment”.

In addition to the 37 soldiers tried by court martial, 58 civilians have also been on trial for treason and other offences in connection with the military coup in three separate trials before the High Court in Freetown. On Aug 25, 16 defendants in one of the trials were convicted and sentenced to death. Foday Sankoh, leader of the armed opposition Revolutionary United Front (RUF), is also being tried before the High Court.

There are strong feelings within Sierra Leone against those being tried in connection with the military coup and the period of AFRC rule. Killings, torture, rape, arbitrary arrest and detention were systematic throughout this period.

“Also, since the AFRC and RUF were forced from power in February, they have unleashed a campaign of killing and mutilation against civilians in the east and north of the country,” Amnesty International said. “Thousands of civilians have been killed or suffered amputations of their hands, arms, legs, ears or lips and these atrocities are continuing”.

Amnesty International says it has repeatedly condemned these gross human rights abuses and called for effective action to be taken to stop them.

Public opinion in Sierra Leone has demanded swift and strong action to be taken against those responsible for the crimes committed by the AFRC.

The punishment for the convicted officers is death penalty by a firing squad. No date has been set for their execution yet.

Amnesty International says it acknowledges the government’s responsibility to bring to justice those responsible for these crimes, in accordance with international standards, and insists that there should be no impunity for human rights violations.

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