Nkonyas Send SoS to Government

A group, calling itself concerned citizens and mouthpiece of the people of Nkonya in the Jasikan district of the Volta region, stated last week that the on-going conflict between them and their Alavanyo neighbours has all the features of a planned war.

At the same time it is accusing majority of the members of a peacekeeping team sent to the conflict area to enforce and maintain peace of deliberately taking sides in the war to satisfy the keepers' ethnic whims.

They have therefore appealed to government to act swiftly and, as a matter of urgency, take steps to find a permanent solution to the 80-year conflict in the national interest.

These and other claims were made here last Friday at a press conference organized by the concerned group to tell the world their side of the mater.

According to a 20-page press release, the contents of which centered mainly on the history of the conflict and the way forward, peace would only return to the area if government follows to the letter the demarcation of the Grunner Map of 1913 which marks the boundaries for the six adjoining nation - states in the area. These are Nkonya, Alavanyo, Gbi, Santrokofi, Akpafu and Bowiri, which they claim is enshrined in the "Sechsherrens Tockes".

Led by its co-ordinator, Mr. S. J. Abokyi, the concerned Nkonyas stated among other things that "No conflict can be quickly and easily resolved if the majority of the peacekeepers themselves become emotionally involved in the conflict, and fail to demonstrate neutrality in the handling of the situation".

The charge continues thus; "unfortunately, most of the Ewes among the peace keepers show bias in favour of their brethren, thus defeating the entire exercise"

Insisting that private armies are being formed in the area in the name of hunters' associations and being supplied with arms, ammunition and uniforms; the group does not understand why peacekeepers limit themselves to selected settlements and roads without going to the real conflict zone in the Kpeyitor forests.

They have therefore indicated their readiness to resort to what they called "the universal human survival instinct" if they must do so to survive. The release catalogued the dead, missing and maimed while at the same time conceding that it cannot tell exactly how many citizens and residents have lost their lives during the period; an indication that the figures could be higher than known.

It went further to confirm earlier reports that for fear of being attacked, several students have been kept away from school. Futhermore, tutors have, on accounts of threats on their lives, voluntarily vacated their posts.

The rampant cultivation of marijuana ("wee") in the hills, brutalisation of lunatics and the virtual absence of security at the Kpeyitor forests as published in previous stories but denied by certain official sources are interestingly being made bare by the accounts of the locals.

The Hohoe divisional police commander, Chief Superintendent Godwin Holly Hlorlewu, who is the "field commander" at the front, denied any taking of sides by troops. He finds the accusation disturbing because according to him it stands the chance of whipping up tribal sentiments among some peacekeepers and demoralizing the others.

Chief Supt. Hlorlewu said it is sad that peace officers who do not come from the area and risk their lives in the national interest could be so maliciously accused.

He however admitted that there are no "men" in the hills because the matter is a civil case and the police have no jurisdiction because the area has no known demarcation; and called on those with pieces of evidence of crimes committal to report to the security agencies instead of holding press conferences.

In another response the Volta Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Mr. K. D. Arthur deplored the making of what he called "blanket accusations" in such delicate matters. He said he would have been happier if the allegations had mentioned names or given instances of compromising so that the matter could be appropriately handled.

The Regional Commander appealed to both factions to co-operate with the police instead of making allegations here and there.

Observers find it interesting that the conflict had been pushed into another gear and said they would not be surprised if the Alavanyos also organize another press conference.