223 Indian peacekeepers, 11 observers freed in Sierra Leone

The Para commandoes slithered down near the detention location at Kailahun and advanced through the thick foliage towards the location where the 233 UN peacekeepers including 11 international military observers were being held hostage.

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) sent a 2,000-soldiers-strong force after it became necessary to carry out a military operation to liberate the UNAMSIL peacekeepers and military observers illegally detained by the RUF in Kailahun since May 1. In view of the imminent danger posed to the very survival of the trapped peacekeepers, UNAMSIL swung into action. Major General Vijay Kumar Jetley who has shifted his tactical headquarters to Daru said that all actions were proceeding as per plan.

A joint operation was launched immediately by the contingents from India, Nigeria and Ghana. The commandoes moved in to extricate the trapped peacekeepers and observers. The British, keen to extricate their military observer provided their Chinook-attack helicopters and C-130 transport aircraft to carry the UN forces to Daru, Kenema and beyond near Kailahun. Two companies of the 5/8 Gorkha Rifles were tasked to secure the Pendembu area where the 21 Indian peacekeepers were held hostage for almost two months. Pendembu also happens to be the Brigade headquarters of the RUF.

18 Grenadiers battalion which won laurels in the Kargil conflict last year were deployed to secure the area around Kenema. The rebels, who have in the past attacked areas in and around Daru using mortars, were being kept at bay by the Ghanian and Nigerian battalions here. Soldiers from the 11 Mechanised Infantry have been tasked to secure the road stretch from Kailahun so that the extricated soldiers could swiftly be transported to safer locations. For the past two days supplies and stocks had been reaching Kenema, the battle sector headquarters.

“This operation is called Cassava because Cassava is a local plant which iseaten by the locals here,” an officer at the sector headquarters told The Indian Express. The urgency in extricating the 233 peacekeepers and military observers arose after the RUF repeatedly tuned down UN’s request to send food convoys to Kailahun. “Food and medicine stocks are really low anddespite all diplomatic and humanitarian pressures, the RUF was unrelenting. There was no alternative,” said an official.

The encircled peacekeepers and observers in Kailahun had sent distress signals to Freetown that they had food supply left only for two-three days.The RUF rebels had prevented food convoys to make deliveries for the past fortnight.

Torrential rain in the area has also been a problem since large stretches of road have been washed away and convoy movement has become restricted. UNAMSIL had urged the rebels to permit UN helicopter to land at Kailahun but the request was turned down.

Tension was palpable at the headquarters with everybody waiting wth baited breath for information of operations. “The RUF are on the brink. Drugged anddazed. We are trying to get them to give up arms but rebel armies on drugs seldom see logic. We would hate any casualty in dealing with these people. The risk is double,” he added.

The encircled UNAMSIL personnel are from Bangaladesh, England, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Tanzania and Zambia.