Abril 1, 2003
A truth panel has finished collecting thousands of statements on atrocities committed during Sierra Leone's vicious civil war, officials announced Tuesday. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has amassed 6,000 reports of human rights abuses during the 1990s, panel official Daniel Adekera told reporters.
The next stage of the panel's work will be holding hearings to allow victims, witnesses and even perpetrators to discuss their experiences. Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front rebels, internationally reviled for hacking off civilians' limbs with machetes -- launched their first attacks in 1991.
A decade of military coups, shattered peace deals and massive human-rights abuses followed before Sierra Leone finally declared its war over early last year and held elections.
The truth commission -- modeled on that of South Africa -- is aimed at helping the West African nation construct a lasting peace.
The commission won't offer amnesty from prosecution, however, and a separate war-crimes tribunal is currently gearing up to try its first batch of accused.
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