[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 20665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       UNITED STATES MUST DO MORE FOR JUST PEACE IN SIERRA LEONE

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, the war in Sierra Leone has been one of the 
most barbaric in the world. A rebel group, the RUF, supported by 
neighboring Liberia, has been conducting the most hideous of violence 
against civilians in this west African country. They are doing this to 
steal the Nation's diamond wealth.
  Last week, 4-year-old Memunatu Mansaray told us how her and her 
grandmother were among 300 people who sought refuge in a mosque when 
rebels attacked the capital. When she cried out, the hiding population 
was discovered, and all but her were shot dead. She survived because, 
when it was her turn, a rebel commander told a 12-year-old boy, a boy 
captured and drugged by the rebels, not to waste a bullet on her, but 
to cut off her hand. Her right hand was amputated that day when she was 
just 2 years old.
  Fortunately, private Americans have come forth to give her medical 
attention. But there are thousands of other child victims with nothing. 
As a matter of fact, there are 20,000 amputees. I believe that those 
who saw her left with an awareness of why the U.S. must do more to help 
bring a just peace, a just peace to Sierra Leone. This savagery has to 
stop.

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