Sierra Leone amputees mark "Amputation Day"

Several dozen people whose arms and limbs were hacked off in the aftermath of the January 6 1999 invasion of Freetown, on Sunday 6 January marched along the streets of western Freetown and converged around the Cotton Tree to draw attention to their plight. They held banners calling on government to pay more attention to them and pay their reparation and provide them with free medical care and transport as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. They had printed on their t-shirts a screamer saying there was no justice without redress for victims. They created a ring around the Cotton Tree where they were addressed by their president, Edward Conteh who lamented that they were being marginalized by government and society. He called on government to pay them their promised pension. The chairlady of the amputees, Mamusu Toronka, said that the day was “the day on which amputation started in this country. Most of us here had our arms and limbs hacked off on this day in 1999.” She said that while marching on that day many of them wept as they reflected what happened to them. “Our plight helped bring peace to this country but we have been abandoned” she said adding that they no longer wanted a return to war but warned that “that can only happen if they address our plight.” Mamusu urged government to tend to their children to have a future. “But if they continue to neglect us, our children will seek revenge when they grow up” she said adding that the perpetrators of the horrors of January 6 had jobs and are caring for their own children. Government has persistently said that donors have not met their promise to help care for the nearly 1,500 amputees, and that it has paid US$ 300 to each of them. Meanwhile a local civil society organization, Youth Arise has urged government to a day on which to commemorate the war. (C) Politico 10/01/13