-U.S. Embassy condemns violence against the state
-UNHRC demands thorough investigations
-ECOWAS wants perpetrators to face justice
-CSOs call for speedy investigation
Insurrection is an as attempt to overthrow democratically elected government
-Pres. Bio
By: Mohamed M. Sesay
After several international condemnations and an urgent call on the government to speedily investigate and bring August 10th terror attack perpetrators to justice, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio in his nationwide address, acknowledged that before August 10th, those protesters had severally identified themselves on social media as APC Warriors, PPP, and persons who are determined to capture political power even at the cost of losing hundreds of lives.
“On that day, the peace, security, and stability of this nation were shattered by persons whose insurrection was pre-meditated, well-planned, financed, and executed with shocking brutality. Before August 10th, they had severally identified themselves on social media as APC Warriors, PPP, and persons who are determined to capture political power even at the cost of hundreds of lives,” he said.
President Bio therefore, noted that the August 10th Civil Unrest was not a protest against the high cost of living occasioned by the ongoing global economic crisis. But, he rather viewed the action of the insurrectionists as a desperate means of violent overthrow of the democratically-elected Government.
He maintained that this was done with the killings and destruction targeted at Police officers and public and private property associated with the Government. He reiterated that such was not a protest about measures undertaken by the Government to handle the challenges brought on by the global economic crisis.
President Bio also intimated that for some time now, some politicians have been raising tensions with divisive language and threats to make the country ungovernable.
He added that there are known surrogates and associates who promised to continue to illegally use violence to unseat the democratically elected Government. President Bio therefore, considered the events of August 10th as a clear statement of their collective intent.
He furthered that the unrest occurred only in parts of Makeni, Binkolo, Magburaka, Kamakwie, Lungi, Western Rural, Eastern Freetown, and towards PZ in Freetown adding that, there were no protests in all the other parts of the country including large parts of Freetown.
Addressing the aspect of Free Speech, President Bio reminded that the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Sierra Leone did not only guarantee the right to free speech and peaceful protest, but also provide applicable restrictions.
As in all democracies, he said the right to peaceful protest should be exercised by identifiable persons, and it should not threaten public safety and peace.
He added that the right to protest should not be expressed as a right to violently murder police officers, burn down Police Stations, and disturb the peace of the country of which he considered the August 10th as a coup that was been unfolding.
As part of government’s effort to address the global economic challenge, President Bio also reminded that since COVID-19 struck, his government has undertaken specific economic mitigation, recovery, and resilience measures that have kept essential food items and fuel on the market, kept businesses running, and maintained public services and regularly paiy salaries. He revealed that government has reduced fuel and transportation prices twice in the last month alone.
He added that the government undertook other social safety payments and cash transfers to poor and vulnerable populations and microfinance loans to women and youth.
President Bio also assured that his Government is expanding skills development and vocational educational opportunities and creating jobs in various sectors of the economy, especially in mining in the Northern Province, and small-scale manufacturing in other parts of the country.
He said his government has also undertaken large-scale efforts towards food security and kept its free quality school education and healthcare priorities on course.
President Bio reiterated that the insurrection, which was executed by clearly identified partisans using the cover of follow-on crowds including children, was characterized by targeted killings, wanton looting, and destruction of property. He maintained that it was simply an attack on the peace and security, an attack on the rule of law, and an attack on democracy.
President Bio allayed the fears of citizens that his government will not sit by for such persons to disturb the peace of the nation and derail the gains they are making in the nation.
He sent a strong worded warning and also assured that the full force of the law will be brought to bear on all those persons who attacked and killed police officers. “They, their sponsors, and their collaborators will not go unpunished. There will also be a full investigation into the deaths of ordinary citizens who lost their lives in this senseless violence incited by these known persons”, he stated.
“Fellow citizens, let me close by expressing deep condolences to bereaved families. We will fully investigate all deaths as a result of this violent insurrection. As a Government, we will honor the Police officers who were murdered with a civic funeral in respect of their service to this nation. Their deaths shall not be in vain and we will bring their killers and those responsible for their deaths to justice”, he concluded.
