RUF takes Indian soldiers hostage

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. Twentyone Indian soldiers, who were detained by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone, have been disarmed and taken hostage. Their captors have made five demands.

According to the Foreign Office spokesman, two officers, one Junior Commissioned Officer and 18 jawans, have been taken hostage at the RUF's brigade headquarters in Pendembu. Defence sources here said two Indian detainees escaped from captivity in a truck, which had brought in rations for the detained troops.

The RUF has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its leader, Foday Sankoh, in any country belonging to the West African grouping ECOWAS. Sources said Foday Sankoh had been close to Liberia. In fact, it was the U.S. influence over the Liberian President, Mr. Charles Taylor, that brought Foday Sankoh to negotiate the Lome accord on power-sharing. Internal strife was re-ignited after the RUF had expressed unhappiness with the deal. The RUF leader is now under the custody of the Sierra Leonian Government. The RUF has also demanded the release of all its personnel before any negotiations can begin.

Not surprisingly, the RUF wants the agreement reviewed in the presence of all signatories. Britain and the U.S. played a key role in forging the accord. The U.S. special envoy to Africa, Mr. Jesse Jackson, known to be close to Mr. Taylor, played an important role in ensuring the RUF presence for negotiating the deal.

The RUF, as one of its conditions, has accorded primacy to the ECOWAS for negotiating an end to the conflict. India, on its part, has rejected the RUF's demands as

``entirely unacceptable.'' The spokesman said the Government had conveyed its concern to the U.N. Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. The Secretary General, approached by Indian's permanent representative, Mr. Kamlesh Sharma, has described the hostage taking a ``challenge'' to the world body. The Secretary- General gave the assurance that the release of the Indian troops would be the UN's ``highest priority.'' Mr. Sharma also held talks with the U.N. Under secretary-General for peacekeeping operations.

The spokesman said the Indian forces had been positioned in Sierra Leone under a U.N. mandate, and New Delhi was expecting the UN to discharge its responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the India official team of personnel belonging to the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Defence and the service headquarters, met a cross-section of people at the Indian contingent's headquarters in eastern Sierra Leone. Besides, it held discussions with government officials and personnel at the UN Assistance Mission to Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) headquarters.

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