By: Precious Miracle Kargbo
The National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED) on 9th December 2023 held meaningful dialogue with ex-combatants and ex-service men in order to maintain peace, stability and national cohesion in the nation at the waterloo Community Centre in Freetown.
Speaking at the round table discussion, the The Superintendent of Police Samuel Saio Conteh urged all to maintain mutual respect for one another, ethnic tolerance and peace as an umbrella is the bedrock for national development in any community, society, the entire sub region and beyond.
ASP Conteh went on to say that the rule of law is the most supreme authority in the state and not any man, institution or political party and commend the initiative of NaCCED as being in the right direction for the peace in the country.
He said that every ex-combat or service men is to be accepted as a Sierra Leonean with full respect as peace ambassadors in the lands.
Superintendent Conteh sheds more light on the matter of Tribal tolerance which according to him is the main cause for all the unfortunate and violence act in the country as people use the media to share inter- tribal content to cause violence and pain in the country.
He said ex-service men should note that they are Sierra Leoneans and should always put their nation first above anything else. He reiterated that the Police is a friend to everyone in the society and they should also help in tracking down the assailants of the November 26th turmoil.
Meanwhile, Thomas Johnny the Director of programs and Research at NaCCED examines that even though this is the first engagement they have organized for these ex- service men but the main purpose for gathering them together is to provide civic education, patriotism and National unity, stating that the respect for the rule of law is paramount and the need for them to do away with malice, hate speech and rumor mongers that often leads to destruction.
In another note, the Director of communications at the Office of National Security (ONS) Abdul Karim Will made his statement by observing a minute of silence for all the fallen heroes that lost their lives in the unfortunate November 26th attack.
He stated that Peace has the tendency to impact the present and future of society and commended the calmness of the ex-combatant and service men since the 11 year’s civil war, narrating that the main reason for this dangerous attack on the land is as a result of the misuse of social media especially WhatsApp.
Will appeals to servicemen to always scrutinize information before acting on them because every actions goes with responsibility as the constitution makes it categorically clear that men in uniform and the security sector should protect the country and not participate in any form of politics, levying that leaders should be responsible and not to lie to the masses. He ended that a toll-free line has been created to report on any suspected illegal activities by calling the numbers 119/900.
Musa Aziz Yokie, the nationwide coordinator For the Network of ex-combatants for peace and development (2019) advocated for the recognition of ex-combatants and exhumes that if all ex-servicemen deny violence then the country will be peaceful and stable.
Aziz states that Ex- men deserve accolades so the government should always try to give it to those who deserve it as NaCCED should ensure that government support the livelihood of ex-service men as many western counties have succeeded because of this even Russsia that is not a democratic country practice this idea as at present the peacefulness of Waterloo is as a result of these ex-service men and ex combatant actions.
While Issa Kolleh Dumbuya ex-serviceman amplified their needs such as the increment of their pension which currently sits at NLE 250.00, regaining or property that belong to ex-service men and the provision of Free medical services because most of them are suffering from terrible health conditions and even disable as a result of the war. Dumbuya informs that the President should try and meet with the ex-servicemen not just with certain groups terminally but often and with all of them.