By: Ilyasa Baa
The Coalition of Civil Societies in Sierra Leone has vehemently condemned the action of youths who took to the streets attacking police officers during the September 11 uprising by youths believed to have been weaponized by faceless politicians.
According to Charles Mambu, Chairman of the Coalition said there is no need for youths to allow politicians to misuse them by sending them to the streets to perpetuate violence like burning down of state properties and attacking police officers in the course of their duty to the state and her citizens. He said the Coalition is not opposed to demonstrations but emphasized that the due process must be followed accordingly so that ill motivated people do not use demonstrations to their advantage against the peaceful citizens who goes are about their normal business. He called on the youths to be conscious and not allow the only country they have to go down the drain for the benefit of few selfish politicians.
Charles Mambu made this clarion call on Monday morning in the ‘Good Morning Salone show’ on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM which was followed by hosts of demonstrations against the government especially in the Western Areas.
In the Western Rural, gun shots were released by officers to disperse chunks of crowds which lessened the situation as people who had converged at junctions were left with no option but to run helter skelter avoiding arrest. In the outskirts of Waterloo precisely Deep Yay Water a police officer was rescued by military personnel shortly after he was swept to the ground for grappling a woman with a placard. The intervention of the soldier saved the police officer from the mobs.
However, government officials were conspicuously noticed talking to the youths in the east end of Freetown to refrain from violence.