Special Court for Sierra Leone
Press and Public Affairs Office

PRESS RELEASE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 21 November 2002    

Prosecutor of Special Court Goes to Daru

The Prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone David Crane met with an enthusiastic crowd in the town of Daru, in Kailahun district on the Liberian border, one of the worst affected areas during the country's decade-long civil war. The gathering took place at the 'court barray', a hall where local chiefs meet with the population to settle disputes. Those in the group included leaders of civil society, former combatants, and residents. Many were victims.

Crane told them, "No one should suffer as much as you have." His mandate is to prosecute individuals bearing greatest responsibility for war crimes committed in the county. The crowd applauded when he said, "This is your time for justice and the rule of law; this is your time to rise up to make sure that these crimes never happen again in Sierra Leone."

Later that afternoon the Prosecutor visited a local secondary school to speak with hundreds of students. Thousands of children were victims of atrocities during the war; many were also perpetrators. According to the statute of the Court, Crane could prosecute children over the age of fifteen, however he reaffirmed that he would not do so because they do not bear "greatest responsibility."

The Prosecutor and his staff have travelled to most of the districts of Sierra Leone to hold community meetings and solicit people's views.

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