The News Review:
- SIERRA LEONE: UN troops hand over security in Freetown to government…
- Youth summit delegate has faith in G8 talks
- News Room – Full Article
SIERRA LEONE: UN troops hand over security in Freetown to government…
IRINnews.org – Jun 30, 2005
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) began handing over control of security in the interior of the country to the government police and army last April. It completed the process on Thursday by handing over control of the country’s Western Area, which includes the capital Freetown. Major General Sajjad Akram, the UNAMSIL force commander, said Sierra Leone government forces would take over primary responsibility for security for a trial period of two months and if all went well, they would take full control on 26 November. “We areâgiving the security services the lead so that when UNAMSIL leaves those charged with responsibility for Sierra Leone’s security will have proven that they are up to the task,” Akram said in a speech at the handover ceremony.
Youth summit delegate has faith in G8 talks
BBC News – Jun 30, 2005
But just three days before this event, youngsters from the poorest countries will join children from the richest nations at a forum in Dunblane, Stirlingshire. They will draw up a manifesto and present it to world leaders at the summit in nearby Gleneagles. Eleven-year-old Aminata Palmer, from Sierra Leone, will be among the delegates at the event, which will be the first of its kind. Meeting Gordon BrownThe youngster, who will be affected by any agreements reached by her adult counterparts, has expressed faith in their ability to alleviate problems in the world’s poorest countries. “I want the G8 leaders to help stop suffering among children in the world. People are suffering – especially in my country,” said the child, who presents a radio programme in her home country and has become something of a celebrity among young people. “They have the power and money to change things – they have everything…
“I was excited to meet him and I would like to meet him again – I even invited him to the C8. However, she stressed that she realised the chancellor had a heavy workload and said she would understood if he would not be able to attend the three-day C8 event, which is being held from 3 – 5 July. Aminata, who will represent Sierra Leone, is set to join young people representing Bhutan, Moldova, Yemen, Guinea, Cambodia, Lesotho and Bolivia, in addition to children from the UK, France, Italy and Germany. And, despite her youth, the child has very clear views on the problems that plague her country and what is needed to improve people’s quality of life.
News Room – Full Article
IDEX Online – Jun 30, 2005
The movie, entitled The Blood Diamond, is a thriller in which a boy is kidnapped by the RUF rebel movement. The Oscar-nominated actor is reportedly in negotiations with Warner to star in the thriller that will be directed by Ed Zwick. The story takes place in 1999 in Sierra Leone, at the height of the civil war in the country. DiCaprios character is a smuggler who sells conflict diamonds. He meets a farmer whose son has been kidnapped and forced into the rebels' army of child soldiers. Filming is planned to begin early next year.