By Alpha Abu
The National Security Co-ordinator has asserted the resolve of the security sector to institute proactive measures against those propagating hate speeches that have the propensity to plunge the country into chaos.
Abdulai Caulker told a huge gathering of representatives of Political Parties, the Security Forces, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Entertainment Industry, and the Media that they in the security sector are also concerned about the diatribes and invectives being directed against ‘’very decent people who have done so much for the country’’.
He said the rhetoric and abusive language that have inundated social media are unbefitting of a nation and a recipe for chaos. He stressed the determination of the security sector to put an end to those actions by certain individuals that are not good for the peace and tranquillity of the country.
Caulker said CSOs and the Inter-Religious Council in particular are moral guarantors that ought to step up in ensuring that people play decent politics.
He said the security sector will be decisive this time around as ‘’enough is enough’’.
The Director-General of the state Intelligence apparatus, CISA, Ansumana Idris in his statement said findings of the threat assessment indicate that political intolerance continues unabated. He made reference to a certain voice message on social media that referred to people of a particular tribe as dogs, and that they’ve got credible remarks those people have made that they will react accordingly during the elections campaign by those on whose behalf they believe their ethnic group has been denigrated.
He said the Office of the President has been disrespected so much and prompt action was needed to put an end to the rather distasteful behaviour, and criticised people he referred to as dishonest politicians for not condemning such behaviour.
The Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), Abdulai Masiambay Bangura described as timely the meeting called by the National Security Co-ordinator as.
He spoke of how he drew the attention of the leadership of a political party after their supporters used vulgar language in a piece of music that targeted political opponents but that the party failed to take action as evidenced by the playing of the same song again in the presence of top officials of the party.
Bangura said with the new Political Parties Act and penalties clearly proscribed for such offences, he said the commission will not hesitate to ‘’bite judiciously and appropriately’’ since so far the engagement has yielded no result.
Inspector-General of Police Fayia Sellu also touched on some songs that are full of invectives and pointed out that people have abused the latitude given them to sing by insulting political opponents. He said they will now enforce the law as required.
Civil Society activists and the All Political Parties Association Chairman Prince Coker challenged the security sector to enforce its mandate as long as it is within the ambit of the law and with due regard for human rights. Some of them narrated how they and their families continue to face threats through text messages because of their ethnicity or perceived political orientation.
Musician Amara Dennis Turay and Comedian Desmond Benya in their statements also highlighted the need for decency in their acts and promised to ensure compliance amongst their colleagues.
Individuals from the Military, the Attorney General’s office and the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone all made similar statements condemning the use of obscene language, and the need to maintain an enabling environment for peace and tranquillity to prevail across the country.
A key highlight of the event was the playing of some songs which denoted vulgarity directed at President Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady, Fatima Bio, to demonstrate the level of indecent lyrics used.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (24/02/23)
