Maada Bio never intended to hand over power

 

Interesting analysis of the coup situation by the VOA:

DATE=1/17/96
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-32198
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE COUP / REACT
BYLINE=WILLIAM EAGLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  OBSERVERS ARE DEBATING THE REASONS FOR THE COUP TUESDAY
IN SIERRA LEONE.  COUP LEADERS JUSTIFY THE TAKEOVER AS A MEANS OF
PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY.
CAPTAIN VALENTINE STRASSER WAS DEPOSED FROM THE PRESIDENCY.
WILLIAM EAGLE IN WASHINGTON SPOKE BY PHONE TO TWO SIERRA LEONEANS
WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE PLOT.

TEXT:  ALL IS  NOT  WHAT IT SEEMS, ACCORDING TO NEW YORK BASED
NEWSPAPER EDITOR FODE KANDE.  THE HEAD OF THE SIERRA LEONEAN
PROGRESS PAPER CALLS THE OVERTHROW A PALACE COUP — PROBABLY
AGREED UPON BY GENERAL STRASSER AND HIS DEPUTY, BRIGADIER JULIUS
MAADA BIO.  MR. KANDE SAYS HE BASES HIS CONCLUSIONS ON BOTH
FORMAL AND INFORMAL SOURCES:

// OPT KANDE ACT //

A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. — A TAXI
DRIVER —  SAID WHEN HE WAS DRIVING MAADA BIO AND
COLLEAGUES TO A CONFERENCE, HE OVERHEARD THEM SAYING
“NEVER MIND THESE PEOPLE HERE.  THEY ARE FORCING US TO
HAND OVER POWER [BUT] WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ON TO POWER
UNTIL WE ARE SATISIFED.”  IT WAS AFTER THEY HAD VISITED
THE STATE DEPARTMENT THEY MADE THAT REMARK.

// END ACT., END OPT //

FODE KANDE ALSO SAYS HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A HIGHLY
PLACED SOURCE IN THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY — A GROUP SAID TO BE
SUPPORTED BY THE MILITARY.

// KANDE ACT //

I GOT WIND OF THIS THING SUNDAY NIGHT.  I GOT A CALL
FROM FREETOWN SAYING SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.  THE
PERSON SAID, “WHAT YOU WROTE IN YOUR EDITORIAL ABOUT A
PALACE COUP MAY COME TO PASS.  JUST WATCH OVER THE NEXT
DAY OR TWO. SOMETHING WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN.”

// END ACT //

MR. KANDE’S SOURCE TOLD HIM TENSION WAS RIFE WITHIN THE NATIONAL
PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL, THE N-P-R-C.  ITS MEMBERS WERE
DIVIDED OVER CAPTAIN STRASSER’S EFFORTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
FEBRUARY’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.  ULTIMATELY, CAPTAIN STRASSER
STEPPED ASIDE IN FAVOR OF THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, JOHN KARIMO.

OBSERVERS SAY THE N-P-R-C MAY ALSO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THOSE WHO
WANT TO PURSUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REBEL REVOLUTIONARY UNITED
FRONT (RUF) — A POSITION SAID TO BE FAVORED BY CAPTAIN STRASSER
— AND THOSE WHO WANT TO PURSUE A MILITARY VICTORY OVER THE
R-U-F.  SOME OBSERVERS SAY THE NEW HEAD OF STATE, BRIGADIER
JULIUS MAADA BIO, IS AMONG THE HARDLINERS.

AMBROSE GANDA IS THE EDITOR OF FOCUS ON SIERRA LEONE — A MONTHLY
PUBLISHED IN LONDON.  HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PRESSURE GROUP,
THE SIERRA LEONE NETWORK FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT.  HE AGREES
THAT EVENTS IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE COUP BROUGHT TENSIONS
TO A HEAD WITHIN THE MILITARY.  MR. GANDA SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS
THE RECENT CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY, THE N-U-P.

// GANDA ACT //

CAPTAIN STRASSER LAST SATURDAY INDICATED HIS INTENTION
TO [COMPETE FOR] THE PRESIDENCY OF THIS PARTY.  HE WAS
CONFRONTED BY ONE OF THE (CIVILIAN) N-P-R-C MEMBERS —
MR. JOHN BENJAMIN.  HE PROTESTED THAT CAPTAIN STRASSER
HAS BEEN THE VERY FIRST PERSON GIVEN THE OPTION TO
CONTEST THE ELECTION, BUT HAD [ALREADY] TURNED IT DOWN.
[MR. BENJAMIN REPORTEDLY TOLD CAPTAIN STRASSER] IT WAS
UNFORTUNATE HE [WOULD] RE-OPEN THE MATTER AT THIS STAGE.
THERE WAS A STALEMATE THERE,  AND I KNOW MR. BENJAMIN
WAS SUPPORTED BY THE N-P-R-C  AND SOME TOP MILITARY
OFFICERS.

// END ACT //

AMBROSE GANDA SAYS THERE MAY ALSO BE REGIONAL INFLUENCES IN THE
COUP.  HE SAYS THE EFFORT OF THE MILITARY TO BACK THE NATIONAL
UNITY PARTY IS REMINISCENT OF THE SITUATION IN GHANA.  THERE,
FORMER MILITARY OFFICER JERRY RAWLINGS —  SUCCESSFULLY RAN FOR
PRESIDENT AS A CIVILIAN A FEW YEARS AGO.  MR. GANDA SAYS GHANA
MAY HAVE AN INFLUENCE IN THE POLITICS OF SIERRA LEONE.

// OPT GANDA ACT //

MY SOURCES HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A STRONG [LINK]
BETWEEN [THE NEW HEAD OF STATE] JULIUS MAADA BIO — AND
THE HEAD OF GHANAIAN SECURITY, KOJO SIKATA.  THE SAME
SOURCES TELL ME SOME OF MAADA BIO’S CHILDREN ARE STAYING
WITH KOJO SIKATA IN GHANA.  SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY
GHANA WAS TRANSFORMED [FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN RULE],
I THINK THE SAME THING IS ABOUT TO REPLICATED IN SIERRA
LEONE.
EAGLE:  ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF GHANA IS
BEHIND THIS?
GANDA:  MY SOURCES HAVE  NOT  NAMED THE PRESIDENT OF
GHANA.  BUT GHANA HAS BEEN MENTIONED — WITH EMISSARIES
SEEN AROUND FREETOWN CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF
OF N-P-R-C.  ONE OR TWO OF THE IDEOLOGUES OF JERRY
RAWLINGS ARE IN SIERRA LEONE, ADVISING THE N-P-R-C ON
HOW TO CIVILIANIZE THEIR ACTIVITIES.  IT’S JUST A WAY OF
FACILITATING THE ELECTION OF A SO-CALLED CIVILIAN
GOVERNMENT SYMPATHETIC TO THE SOLDIERS.

// END ACT., END OPT //

AMBROSE GANDA SAYS HE IS AGAINST ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY.  HE SAYS
HIS GROUP — THE SIERRA LEONE NETWORK FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT–
SUPPORTS ELECTIONS.  BUT  NOT  BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY AND A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE
COUNTRY’S CIVIL WAR.  (SIGNED)

AFR/WE/CF

17-Jan-96 12:31 PM EST (1731 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America


————————————————————————
Olufemi Anthony                                   “Without struggle…
femi…@ritz.mordor.com                           there is no progress…”
http://www.mordor.com/femibyte                     Frederick Douglas
————————————————————————

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting analysis of the coup situation by the VOA:

DATE=1/17/96
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-32198
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE COUP / REACT
BYLINE=WILLIAM EAGLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  OBSERVERS ARE DEBATING THE REASONS FOR THE COUP TUESDAY
IN SIERRA LEONE.  COUP LEADERS JUSTIFY THE TAKEOVER AS A MEANS OF
PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY.
CAPTAIN VALENTINE STRASSER WAS DEPOSED FROM THE PRESIDENCY.
WILLIAM EAGLE IN WASHINGTON SPOKE BY PHONE TO TWO SIERRA LEONEANS
WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE PLOT.

TEXT:  ALL IS  NOT  WHAT IT SEEMS, ACCORDING TO NEW YORK BASED
NEWSPAPER EDITOR FODE KANDE.  THE HEAD OF THE SIERRA LEONEAN
PROGRESS PAPER CALLS THE OVERTHROW A PALACE COUP — PROBABLY
AGREED UPON BY GENERAL STRASSER AND HIS DEPUTY, BRIGADIER JULIUS
MAADA BIO.  MR. KANDE SAYS HE BASES HIS CONCLUSIONS ON BOTH
FORMAL AND INFORMAL SOURCES:

// OPT KANDE ACT //

A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. — A TAXI
DRIVER —  SAID WHEN HE WAS DRIVING MAADA BIO AND
COLLEAGUES TO A CONFERENCE, HE OVERHEARD THEM SAYING
“NEVER MIND THESE PEOPLE HERE.  THEY ARE FORCING US TO
HAND OVER POWER [BUT] WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ON TO POWER
UNTIL WE ARE SATISIFED.”  IT WAS AFTER THEY HAD VISITED
THE STATE DEPARTMENT THEY MADE THAT REMARK.

// END ACT., END OPT //

FODE KANDE ALSO SAYS HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A HIGHLY
PLACED SOURCE IN THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY — A GROUP SAID TO BE
SUPPORTED BY THE MILITARY.

// KANDE ACT //

I GOT WIND OF THIS THING SUNDAY NIGHT.  I GOT A CALL
FROM FREETOWN SAYING SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.  THE
PERSON SAID, “WHAT YOU WROTE IN YOUR EDITORIAL ABOUT A
PALACE COUP MAY COME TO PASS.  JUST WATCH OVER THE NEXT
DAY OR TWO. SOMETHING WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN.”

// END ACT //

MR. KANDE’S SOURCE TOLD HIM TENSION WAS RIFE WITHIN THE NATIONAL
PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL, THE N-P-R-C.  ITS MEMBERS WERE
DIVIDED OVER CAPTAIN STRASSER’S EFFORTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
FEBRUARY’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.  ULTIMATELY, CAPTAIN STRASSER
STEPPED ASIDE IN FAVOR OF THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, JOHN KARIMO.

OBSERVERS SAY THE N-P-R-C MAY ALSO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THOSE WHO
WANT TO PURSUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REBEL REVOLUTIONARY UNITED
FRONT (RUF) — A POSITION SAID TO BE FAVORED BY CAPTAIN STRASSER
— AND THOSE WHO WANT TO PURSUE A MILITARY VICTORY OVER THE
R-U-F.  SOME OBSERVERS SAY THE NEW HEAD OF STATE, BRIGADIER
JULIUS MAADA BIO, IS AMONG THE HARDLINERS.

AMBROSE GANDA IS THE EDITOR OF FOCUS ON SIERRA LEONE — A MONTHLY
PUBLISHED IN LONDON.  HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PRESSURE GROUP,
THE SIERRA LEONE NETWORK FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT.  HE AGREES
THAT EVENTS IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE COUP BROUGHT TENSIONS
TO A HEAD WITHIN THE MILITARY.  MR. GANDA SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS
THE RECENT CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY, THE N-U-P.

// GANDA ACT //

CAPTAIN STRASSER LAST SATURDAY INDICATED HIS INTENTION
TO [COMPETE FOR] THE PRESIDENCY OF THIS PARTY.  HE WAS
CONFRONTED BY ONE OF THE (CIVILIAN) N-P-R-C MEMBERS —
MR. JOHN BENJAMIN.  HE PROTESTED THAT CAPTAIN STRASSER
HAS BEEN THE VERY FIRST PERSON GIVEN THE OPTION TO
CONTEST THE ELECTION, BUT HAD [ALREADY] TURNED IT DOWN.
[MR. BENJAMIN REPORTEDLY TOLD CAPTAIN STRASSER] IT WAS
UNFORTUNATE HE [WOULD] RE-OPEN THE MATTER AT THIS STAGE.
THERE WAS A STALEMATE THERE,  AND I KNOW MR. BENJAMIN
WAS SUPPORTED BY THE N-P-R-C  AND SOME TOP MILITARY
OFFICERS.

// END ACT //

AMBROSE GANDA SAYS THERE MAY ALSO BE REGIONAL INFLUENCES IN THE
COUP.  HE SAYS THE EFFORT OF THE MILITARY TO BACK THE NATIONAL
UNITY PARTY IS REMINISCENT OF THE SITUATION IN GHANA.  THERE,
FORMER MILITARY OFFICER JERRY RAWLINGS —  SUCCESSFULLY RAN FOR
PRESIDENT AS A CIVILIAN A FEW YEARS AGO.  MR. GANDA SAYS GHANA
MAY HAVE AN INFLUENCE IN THE POLITICS OF SIERRA LEONE.

// OPT GANDA ACT //

MY SOURCES HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A STRONG [LINK]
BETWEEN [THE NEW HEAD OF STATE] JULIUS MAADA BIO — AND
THE HEAD OF GHANAIAN SECURITY, KOJO SIKATA.  THE SAME
SOURCES TELL ME SOME OF MAADA BIO’S CHILDREN ARE STAYING
WITH KOJO SIKATA IN GHANA.  SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY
GHANA WAS TRANSFORMED [FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN RULE],
I THINK THE SAME THING IS ABOUT TO REPLICATED IN SIERRA
LEONE.
EAGLE:  ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF GHANA IS
BEHIND THIS?
GANDA:  MY SOURCES HAVE  NOT  NAMED THE PRESIDENT OF
GHANA.  BUT GHANA HAS BEEN MENTIONED — WITH EMISSARIES
SEEN AROUND FREETOWN CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF
OF N-P-R-C.  ONE OR TWO OF THE IDEOLOGUES OF JERRY
RAWLINGS ARE IN SIERRA LEONE, ADVISING THE N-P-R-C ON
HOW TO CIVILIANIZE THEIR ACTIVITIES.  IT’S JUST A WAY OF
FACILITATING THE ELECTION OF A SO-CALLED CIVILIAN
GOVERNMENT SYMPATHETIC TO THE SOLDIERS.

// END ACT., END OPT //

AMBROSE GANDA SAYS HE IS AGAINST ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY.  HE SAYS
HIS GROUP — THE SIERRA LEONE NETWORK FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT–
SUPPORTS ELECTIONS.  BUT  NOT  BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY AND A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE
COUNTRY’S CIVIL WAR.  (SIGNED)

AFR/WE/CF

17-Jan-96 12:31 PM EST (1731 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America


————————————————————————
Olufemi Anthony                                   “Without struggle…
femi…@ritz.mordor.com                           there is no progress…”
http://www.mordor.com/femibyte                     Frederick Douglas
————————————————————————

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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