ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report was written by consultant Rena Marie Strand following a four-week mission to Guinea in April 2001, and by Binaifer Nowrojee, counsel in Human Rights Watch's Africa Division. The interviews in Sierra Leone with refugee returnees were conducted in February 2001 by Ellen Vermeulen and Corinne Dufka of Human Rights Watch's Sierra Leone office. The report was edited by Bronwen Manby, deputy director of the Africa Division and Rachael Reilly, refugee program director. It was also reviewed by Corinne Dufka, consultant with the Sierra Leone office; Camille Bonnant, consultant; Carina Tertsakian, consultant; Janet Fleischman, Washington director of the Africa Division; Jim Ross, senior legal advisor; and Michael McClintock, deputy program director. Production assistance was provided by Maria Burnett-Gaudiani, intern in the Africa Division, and Patrick Minges, Publications Director, and Fitzroy Hepkins, Mail Manager. We would like to express our gratitude to the organizations and individuals who assisted us in Guinea and Sierra Leone. We would also like to thank the Ford Foundation and the Jesuit Refugee Service for their support of our refugee work.Human Rights Watch is deeply indebted to Allen & Frances Adler Charitable Trust for its generous support for our work on the refugee crisis in Guinea.

MISSION STATEMENT

Human Rights Watch
Africa Division

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.

We stand with victims and activists to bring offenders to justice, to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom and to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime.

We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.

We challenge governments and those holding power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.

We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.

The staff includes Kenneth Roth, executive director; Michele Alexander, development director; Reed Brody, advocacy director; Carroll Bogert, communications director; Barbara Guglielmo, finance director; Jeri Laber special advisor; Lotte Leicht, Brussels office director; Michael McClintock, deputy program director; Patrick Minges, publications director; Maria Pignataro Nielsen, human resources director; Jemera Rone, counsel; Malcolm Smart, program director; Wilder Tayler, general counsel; and Joanna Weschler, United Nations representative. Jonathan Fanton is the chair of the board. Robert L. Bernstein is the founding chair.

Its Africa division was established in 1988 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in sub-Saharan Africa. Peter Takirambudde is the executive director; Janet Fleischman is the Washington director; Suliman Ali Baldo is the senior researcher; Alex Vines is a researcher; Bronwen Manby and Binaifer Nowrojee are counsels; Jeff Scott is an associate and Alison DesForges, Tony Tate, Sara Rakita and Corinne Dufka are consultants. Juliane Kippenberg is the NGO Liason. William Carmichael is the chair of the advisory committee.

Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org