Ex-coup suspects appeal to Kufour

A number of aggrieved soldiers who were suspected of plotting against the then PNDC government and were tortured and chased out of the army have called on President J. A. Kufuor to speed up the formation of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

They also appealed to government to look into their case and arrange for the payment of their entitlements as they were removed from the army without any charges.

The soldiers, some of whom talked to the Chronicle in Tamale and don't want their names to be mentioned, said the government's delay in setting up the commission is grieving them to no end.

"Here is an opportunity for us to say the truth and expose all those who framed up people and committed various wicked human rights abuses to serve as a deterrent to others yet the government seems to have develop cold feet", one of them said.

Another said: "Indeed Rawlings and his cohorts must not be allowed to escape exposure. At least it is only through the reconciliation exercise that those of us who have pent-up anger could deflate it and assuage our pains".

Otherwise, they added, the government should not be surprised if a kind of vendetta is carried out against people who they deemed to have played a role in their torture and wrongful dismissal from the army.

They told the Chronicle that the government is being slow in bringing some corrupt PNDC/NDC personalities to justice despite the evidence against them. The government by its inaction is allowing the NDC time to put stumbling blocks in its way to cover up their atrocities. And that is what will let people lose confidence in the NPP.

"Delays are dangerous", said a former military intelligence operative in the erstwhile Liman government. "When we told Liman about moves to unseat him and advised him to take action, he kept on procrastinating. What happened? This government is towing the same line".

The ex-soldiers also said they were eased out of the army without any formal charges and added that although they have since not heard anything about it.

"We sent copies to the Ministry of Justice, the Defence Minister and Office of the President. Up till now we have not heard anything".

They said all what they need is their entitlements. "We appeal to the government to pay us what is due us because we were removed from the army without any charge. Up till today nobody has accused us formally of any wrongdoing".