angelwithabullet

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Friday, 3 July 2009 at 13:02

Ever watched the films "Blood Diamond" (Leonardo DiCaprio) or "Lord of War" (Nicholas Cage)? They're both based on fact. Here's some background story ...

The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991, by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under Foday Sankoh.

Control of Sierra Leone's diamond industry was a primary cause of the war. Although endowed with abundant natural resources, Sierra Leone was ranked as the poorest country in the world by 1998. With the breakdown of all state structures, wide corridors of Sierra Leonean society were opened up to the trafficking of arms and ammunition. Recreational drugs also eroded national and regional security as well as facilitated crime within the country, precipitating illegal trade with both Liberia and Guinea.

Tens of thousands died and more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) were displaced because of the 11-year conflict. Neighbouring countries became host to significant numbers of refugees attempting to escape the civil war.

In May 2000, the situation in the country deteriorated to such an extent that British troops were deployed in Operation Palliser to evacuate foreign nationals and establish order.

The British troops stabilized the situation and were the catalyst for a ceasefire and ending of the civil war.

It was officially declared over on 18 January 2002.

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And here's just one story to come out of that tragedy ...

I met a soldier today who had been a resident of Sierra Leone during the conflict. After suffering many times at the hands of the Rebels, his mother and father told him and his sister to 'Go!'

So they went.

Together, they walked for 30 miles without food, not knowing where they were heading.

Eventually they came across a group of people who appeared very rich, but they soon knew why. The group were part of the Rebel army and looking out for possible recruits.

The brother and sister were exposed to the horrific scenes of the Rebels crimes. "Do you want a short sleeve or a long sleeve?" the men would ask a child held in their clutches. If the child replied "I want a long sleeve" they would chop off his hand. If the child replied "I want a short sleeve" they would chop of his arm at the elbow.

Both he and his sister were lucky to escape - after stealing enough money to buy food and clothing, they managed to cross the border to Gambia and start a new life. His sister began her studies, and flew to the USA, while the soldier had a nagging feeling to return - to save his parents.

He did return, only to find that his parents had been separated and lost amongst a million others who had become refugees in their own country.

Then our British troops arrived to restore order.

The British were able to find his parents and bring them back together. The soldier was so impressed by their professionalism and attitude towards the people of his country that he wanted to become part of the Army that had brought them peace.

I think it was a miracle he survived that turmoil, that trauma and the horrors that were happening all around him. Not only a miracle that he escaped the first time, but that he even thought about returning to save his parents.

He is a very quiet and thoughtfilled man. Not just because of the traumas and turmoil he has already faced in his young life, but because he thinks about things. He doesn't think that anyone owes him anything and he accepts the challenges that are given to him as though he has something to learn from each of them.

I think him a brave and couragous individual. Perhaps it's my romanticised idea of him, but I'm positive he will have much to tell his grandchildren as he grows to be an old man. His knowledge will grow deep and his wisdom will, I am sure, help others.

Because of those British troops, they have given this one young man - and many others like him - the chance of a new life. A chance to create something special, not just for himself, but for others too.

Are you proud to be British?

Here's one young man who's glad you are.

Tags: British