Jan Dago's Proposal

Story background: On May 25, 1997, the democratically-elected government in Sierra Leone was overthrown by a coalition of Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). President Kabbah fled to exile in Guinea. The civil war turned so cruel that it is unimaginable. Most of the civilians of Sierra Leone are finding themselves hostage in this conflict. They are caught in a power struggle between the different factions involved in the fight for power and control of Sierra Leone's natural resources such as diamonds. The wealth from the resources in the country never reaches the civilians.

The battleground for the largest United Nations peacekeeping effort is in Sierra Leone. The brutal civil war between government and rebel forces seeks control of the country's immensely valuable diamond mines. A photo story on drugged and intoxicated children on the front lines, amputees, single teen-aged mothers, and a civilian population sick of the situation and focused on getting back to a decent life could evoke real empathy and maybe help end the insanity in Sierra Leone. It could also have a greater purpose to confront and educate anyone advocating civil war as a solution to any crisis. The pictures included with this proposal, which were taken in June 2000, tell part of this story. I need to return to Sierra Leone to complete the documentary.

Some aspects of the Sierra Leone story that are missing or need to be improved are:

  1. Diamond mining which is the catalyst for the conflict.
  2. The UN's involvement in the conflict.
  3. The rebels side of the story.
  4. Symbolic pictures of the country's culture. It could be, for example, voodoo which is still practiced among certain groups in Sierra Leone.
  5. The amputees suffering from their situation not only physically but also mentally. And they still fight for getting on with life.
  6. Daily life. Most civilians in Sierra Leone want to go on with life. They want to live in their villages and plant and harvest their crops. It is often small factions in wars like this that destroy the balance of a society.
  7. The schools. A lot of parents cannot afford to have their children at school in the current situation. I will visit schools as well as private homes.
  8. Child soldiers. Children who cannot stay at school might end up as child soldiers. Child soldiers are widespread on both sides of the conflict. They are often drugged and brain-washed and used as front-line soldiers.
The civilian population finds itself taken hostage in a conflict of no interest to them. Many civilians have told me that all they wish for is to go on with a normal life. They would rather Sierra Leone never had any diamond mines. A few rebel leaders find the war an opportune time to profit from illegal traffic of diamonds. In their efforts to obtain wealth they shy away from nothing. For example, they have captured and held hostage 300 UN soldiers. Whether the United Nations soldiers succeed or fail in this mission, they may well have a profound effect on the UN's future involvement in Africa.

There is a twist to this situation: Diamonds are smuggled out of the country and sold in the West. By supporting the diamond trade, and by hanging these gems on our ears and around our arms, we support rebels who maltreat innocent civilians by cutting their arms.

I maintain contact with well-informed local sources and feel in all aspects prepared to conclude this story. My aim is to raise awareness of how serious the situation still is in Sierra Leone.

View Jon Dago's Portfolio