November 12, 1999

Only a quarter of the money needed is available to disarm the rebels and implement the peace agreement. The UN depends on members to supply the finds and the donations have been slow in coming. Meanwhile, anger grows in the country against the rebels who hacked off the hands of thousands of people. This was done towards the end of the war when the government broadcast appeals for citizens to "lend a hand" to resist the rebels. This was an unfortunate turn of phrase, for the rebels then began cutting off the hands of suspected government sympathizers. This had the desired effect of terrorizing the population, and was a factor in a peace agreement being reached. But unless the rebels can be disarmed, the civil war is liable to start up again.