I had a good 8 hours on the plane to read an awful lot about Sierra Leone, and in particular about its civil war.
There were several times I had to put down the book. The accounts of the extreme violence used by both sides in the civil war are so gruesome, so brutal and so random that even picturing such things was too uncomfortable.
On today's programme we've people who fought on both sides, some when they were children. We'll also be joined by others who were attacked and in some cases maimed during the war.
We're going to listen to their stories, and try and understand how humans can become so cruel and violent, and then learn to live alongside each other in peace, all in a relatively short period of time.
Background on Sierra Leone's civil war - by Ben James
The fighting began in 1991 between Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and the government. Control of Sierra Leone's diamond mines fuelled the conflict.
The rebel forces were notorious for mutilation and thousands of people who survived the war live today with missing limbs (you can read some of their stories here).
The RUF was allegedly backed by Charles Taylor who went on to be President of neighbouring Liberia.
He's been on trial at a UN backed court in the Netherlands on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone; the verdict is due mid-2011.
The war officially ended in January 2002, after a peace process which saw a UN force and British troops enter the country.
Since then, a Truth & Reconciliation Commission has attempted to repair some of the damage done by the conflict.
Organisations like Fambul Tok are continuing to work in communities where former enemies live side-by-side.
It's not the only country to have to work out how their society moves on from war, atrocities and division - South Africa, Rwanda and Bosnia have all emerged from dark periods of their history in different ways.
Your comments
Comment sent via Twitter
18:31
114726147
I know I'm biased but #nowlistening to an incredible edition of @麻豆官网首页入口_WHYS from Sierra Leone about the civil war
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:43
113631290
Shannon in Ravenna, Ohio USA emailed -
My heart goes out to the men and women struggling to rebuild their beautiful country - I have followed this story for many years. Past the very valuable reconciliation sessions, what are the top priorities for those in charge? In other words, what sort of country do the people of Sierra Leone want to create for themselves?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:43
113631290
Njeri in Limuru, Kenya on Facebook - These stories are heartwrenching, especially Jabu's amputation story... I would like to hear a woman's story too. What inspires them to go on? And for Philemon and Prince,if another war started and they were forced to fight again, would they do it?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:29
113631290
Chuck, Netherlands, called us
What was the objective of the fighters? What was the motivation for such horrific crimes? No one else in Africa knows what the aim was. Tony Blair deserves credit for trying to help.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:28
113631290
Adam in Cleveland, Ohio replied to the daily email -
Here in the US and in other first world nations our troops suffer from post traumamatic stress syndrome. Does that equivicate to our guest in some manner? It's unfortunate that they have had to live this life of theirs and I wonder if their stoicisim is masking more problems.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Issa in Freetown on Facebook
The reconciliation from the rebel war is intact as all the opposition forces are now living side by side. Now we need to reconcile between SLPP and APC supporters.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:15
113631290
Alhaji on Facebook:
Peace means the silence of guns, calm, quietness, harmony, tranquility etc. Reconciliation on the other hand means forgiveness,compromise,reunion etc. The difficulties to peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone are numerous
Comment sent via Facebook
18:13
113631290
Thomas In Sierra Leone on Facebook,
There was a Truth & Reconciliation Commission set up to actually investigate what lead to the war and the way forward. At the end, they came up with recommedations that will prevent such conflict, i think if these recommedations are implemented they'll help. But my fear is weather these recommendations are implemented by the government.
Comment sent via Twitter
17:57
114931808
The boys & I are gathering to listen to our friends at @麻豆官网首页入口_WHYS who are broadcasting from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone, 9 years on. Reconciliation?
| Tuesday, 11 Nov. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
I had a good 8 hours on the plane to read an awful lot about Sierra Leone, and in particular about its civil war.
There were several times I had to put down the book. The accounts of the extreme violence used by both sides in the civil war are so gruesome, so brutal and so random that even picturing such things was too uncomfortable.
On today's programme we've people who fought on both sides, some when they were children. We'll also be joined by others who were attacked and in some cases maimed during the war.
We're going to listen to their stories, and try and understand how humans can become so cruel and violent, and then learn to live alongside each other in peace, all in a relatively short period of time.
Background on Sierra Leone's civil war - by Ben James
The fighting began in 1991 between Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and the government. Control of Sierra Leone's diamond mines fuelled the conflict.
The rebel forces were notorious for mutilation and thousands of people who survived the war live today with missing limbs (you can read some of their stories here).
The RUF was allegedly backed by Charles Taylor who went on to be President of neighbouring Liberia.
He's been on trial at a UN backed court in the Netherlands on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone; the verdict is due mid-2011.
The war officially ended in January 2002, after a peace process which saw a UN force and British troops enter the country.
Since then, a Truth & Reconciliation Commission has attempted to repair some of the damage done by the conflict.
Organisations like Fambul Tok are continuing to work in communities where former enemies live side-by-side.
It's not the only country to have to work out how their society moves on from war, atrocities and division - South Africa, Rwanda and Bosnia have all emerged from dark periods of their history in different ways.
Your comments
Comment sent via Twitter
I know I'm biased but #nowlistening to an incredible edition of @麻豆官网首页入口_WHYS from Sierra Leone about the civil war
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Shannon in Ravenna, Ohio USA emailed - My heart goes out to the men and women struggling to rebuild their beautiful country - I have followed this story for many years. Past the very valuable reconciliation sessions, what are the top priorities for those in charge? In other words, what sort of country do the people of Sierra Leone want to create for themselves?
Comment sent via Facebook
Njeri in Limuru, Kenya on Facebook - These stories are heartwrenching, especially Jabu's amputation story... I would like to hear a woman's story too. What inspires them to go on? And for Philemon and Prince,if another war started and they were forced to fight again, would they do it?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Chuck, Netherlands, called us What was the objective of the fighters? What was the motivation for such horrific crimes? No one else in Africa knows what the aim was. Tony Blair deserves credit for trying to help.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Adam in Cleveland, Ohio replied to the daily email - Here in the US and in other first world nations our troops suffer from post traumamatic stress syndrome. Does that equivicate to our guest in some manner? It's unfortunate that they have had to live this life of theirs and I wonder if their stoicisim is masking more problems.
Comment sent via Facebook
Issa in Freetown on Facebook The reconciliation from the rebel war is intact as all the opposition forces are now living side by side. Now we need to reconcile between SLPP and APC supporters.
Comment sent via Facebook
Alhaji on Facebook: Peace means the silence of guns, calm, quietness, harmony, tranquility etc. Reconciliation on the other hand means forgiveness,compromise,reunion etc. The difficulties to peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone are numerous
Comment sent via Facebook
Thomas In Sierra Leone on Facebook, There was a Truth & Reconciliation Commission set up to actually investigate what lead to the war and the way forward. At the end, they came up with recommedations that will prevent such conflict, i think if these recommedations are implemented they'll help. But my fear is weather these recommendations are implemented by the government.
Comment sent via Twitter
The boys & I are gathering to listen to our friends at @麻豆官网首页入口_WHYS who are broadcasting from Sierra Leone