By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
Consortium on Peace Building in Sierra Leone (COPB-SL), which comprises Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) is perturbed by the recent killing of people including security forces and also the destruction of property, which include police stations in the western Area and other parts of the country.
COPB-SL has called for continuation of the Implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations to avoid the country relapsing into another brutal war.
This was contained in prelease release of the consortium dated 19 August 2022.
According to the press release, “Consortium on Peace Building Sierra Leone is committed to achieving its vision to bringing diverse voices together to make a positive and desirable change that as we connect the views of people on the ground with political and non-political processes, and share experience and expertise to find creative responses to conflict’’.
It could be recalled that Sierra Leone went through a vicious civil conflict between 1991 and 2002, which led to the brutal killings of thousands of innocent Sierra Leoneans. The conflict was characterized by some of the most heinous crimes against humanity recorded in Africa.
COPB-SL release added that “Political landscape of Sierra Leone is characterized by hate messages and ethnic/tribal instigation by politicians and their supporters. The central argument is that the trend of ethnic instigations and hate messages has the potential to undermine state stability and likely lead to genocidal war if it is not managed properly ahead of the 2023 general elections.’’
The Press release further states that “The emergence of the social media has compounded the problem of spreading hate messages leading to violence in Sierra Leone. The recent demonstration in Freetown by youths leading to violence, claiming the lives of Sierra Leoneans including security forces, was aided and abetted by the social media’’.
It pointed out that “Consortium on Peace Building Sierra Leone does not want the repeat of the August 10, 2022 incident and however, commended the government and the people of Sierra Leone, particularly security forces for putting the situation under control’’.
The release went on to state that “COPB-SL wants to state emphatically that investigation should be robustly mounted into the violent protest that degenerated into what has been described as an attempted coup by the ruling government. There should be a fair trial as those that bear the greatest responsibility during the ten years’ civil war were tried at the Special Court of Sierra Leone”.
The release noted that “every conflict is uniquely complex, so we always work with our partners on the ground to analyses and understand the dynamics, and tailor our responses. Consortium on Peace Building in Sierra Leone will be working with likeminded international and local and organizations/institutions including the Independent Peace Commission, Human Rights Commission Sierra Leone, Security Forces, MDA’s, Election Management Bodies and the Interreligious Council to preach the culture of peace in the communities ahead of the critical 2023 general elections.’’
“Consortium on Peace Building in Sierra Leone wants to see continuation of the implementation of the recommendation of Truth and Recommendation Commission(TRC) so that Sierra Leone will not revert to the darks days of the brutal civil war that brought untold suffering on Sierra Leoneans,’’ the release concluded.
Speaking to A-Z Newspaper in a telephone interview after the release of this press statement, Sierra Leoneans who experienced the rebel war said that some of the triggers of the rebel war is still raising their ugly heads and that it will be good for the government to ensure that it ensures the full implementation of the TRC.
According to Domaina George, who is the residing in Freetown said that what happened in Freetown has been roundly condemned but the government has a role to play in ensuring that it goes back to the TRC recommendation.
Mr. George said that “I have to however commend Government for the establishment of the Independent Peace Commission but more needs to be done, adding that we expect the civil society organizations to put the government on its toes for the implementation of the TRC”.
Jatu Fomba, who is residing in Kailahun, said that “the TRC made a profound statement on the empowerment of women with specific reference to the 30% quotation of women representation in governance”.
She noted that the government has however done its best to have women in governance but more needs to be done to have women in governance position.
Daniel Tucker who is a youth in Bo, who resides in Bo said that the action of my fellow youths to perpetuate violence in Freetown and other part of the country is distasteful and perpetuators should be brought to book but the government needs to address the issues affecting the youths including youth unemployment and youth representation in governance.
He said that the youth should also be serious about being productive and have the requisite skills and knowledge to be easily absorbed in the job market.