Global Policy Forum

Japan decided Wednesday to give $500,000 (about 62 million yen) to the United Nations to help set up a special international court to try those suspected of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sierra Leone, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Japanese contribution is in response to calls by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to member countries of the world body to contribute to help bring peace and good governance to the western African country, the ministry said.

The special court will be established under the terms of a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted in August 2000, which requests that the United Nations secretary general negotiate with the Sierra Leone government to create an independent court.

It is envisioned that it would have jurisdiction over serious violations of international humanitarian law as well as crimes under relevant domestic legislation in Sierra Leone, where fighting between the government's military and antigovernment forces broke out in 1991.

The U.N. has been coordinating the peace process in the country since the government of Sierra Leone and opposition forces agreed on a ceasefire in November 2000.

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