By Alpha Abu
Representatives of Political Parties and the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) are to tour all the districts of Sierra Leone to help diffuse the political tension, which they all agreed is prevalent in the country.
A well-attended meeting called by the commission that had also key representatives from the Office of National Security (ONS), the Military, and the Police, discussed the violence of August 10 and its ramifications, and how a recurrence could be avoided.
Some speakers at the meeting which was held at the ONS’s Tower Hill Freetown headquarters, on Wednesday, blamed the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party for supporting the August violent protests that left 31 people dead, including six police officers.
It was acknowledged that the responsibility of keeping the country peaceful and stable lies on the shoulders of the APC and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the two main parties that have dominated governance since independence in 1961.
The Chairman of the ALL Political Parties Association (APPA), Prince Coker who is also Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the APC fomented the violence of that day and accused the main opposition of not wanting to accept that the SLPP is in governance.
He said as an association of parties, they were fully supportive of the 11-year rule of the APC but said since SLPP gained power, they have been accused of being in league with the government, with splinter groups emerging.
He said the peace commission’s engagement with parties and the security sector was well overdue but welcomed the commission’s plans to take them across the country so they as political leaders who have great influence over their followers, can talk to them.
The Chairman of APC’s Interim Transitional Committee, Alfred Peter Conteh in his reaction, reiterated his interview on the BBC in which he admitted that elements within the party were to be blamed for sponsoring the violence.
He disclosed that they had gotten signals back in July that elements within his party were planning the protests and said they completely dissociate themselves from those people.
“Politics is a fight but not one that people have to die’’, he pointed out.
He said they want to dissociate themselves from those inciters and that they toe the line of ECOWAS and the government that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
Conteh further explained how members of the transition committee have written to the Police informing them that they have identified certain individuals as Interim District Chairpersons who are the legitimate representatives of their party and that the Police have the right to stop anyone else who decides to hold any meeting in the name of the APC.
The Organising Secretary for the ruling SLPP Musa Moigua said some political party leaders are insincere and do things differently when they are with their supporters.
Speakers of other political parties said the government should periodically engage them to ease the tension which they all agreed is very real in the country.
The National Security Coordinator and Head of ONS, Abdulai Caulker in his address spoke of how social media has negatively saturated society because of its wrong use.
He also frowned at those he called Moral Guarantors in society whom he said have now remained silent because they have taken sides and refused to call things by their name.
He said it was President Julius Maada Bio that finally ensured the setting up of the peace commission ever since its establishment was recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), following the end of the country’s civil war in 2002.
Caulker said they as security sector will fully ensure the stability of the country and they remain fully supportive of the efforts by the peace commission and the political parties to create harmony in the country.
He also used the meeting to assure of the security sector’s preparedness to provide a conducive environment for people to participate in the Voter Registration exercise which starts this Saturday.
Executive Secretary of ICPNC, Hawa Samai told the gathering that what happened in August should not be repeated and believed the meeting would help shape ideas, which they will collate and build upon, to help de-escalate the tension in the country.
Samai earlier gave a PowerPoint presentation on the composition and mission of the commission.
ICPNC was praised by attendees for organising the dialogue and hoped such an engagement will be maintained
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