Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Office of the Prosecutor

PRESS RELEASE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 7 November 2003

Chief Prosecutor David Crane Speaks To The Military

The Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone told soldiers in Freetown today that only those who bear the greatest responsibility will be tried for war crimes.

David Crane today met with both senior and junior personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone's Armed Forces to discuss latest developments relating to people indicted by his office for war crimes.

Today's event - organised by the Special Court's Outreach office - follows the conclusion of the first public hearings before the Appeals Chamber - which finished yesterday.

Nearly 100 people attended the seminar, including Colonel F.F Kamara, Colonel A.G.Y Mansaray, Major I.M. Koroma and Major M.O Mansaray.

Mr Crane told the gathering his team wasn't investigating the army as an institution.

"I'm not looking at organisations as organisations, I am looking at individuals who are individually responsible," Mr Crane told the meeting.

Mr Crane said his team of prosecutors based their ongoing investigations on the premise that truth and justice would bring lasting peace to Sierra Leone.

Mr Crane also told the meeting that the people of Sierra Leone were looking to their military for stability.

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The Special Court is an independent tribunal established jointly by the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. It is mandated to bring to justice those who bear the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 . To date, the Prosecutor has indicted thirteen persons on various charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Nine indictees are currently in the custody of the Court.

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