By Mustapha Kamara Jnr
Human Rights Defenders Network- Sierra Leone (HRDN-SL), a local human rights advocacy group, has called on government to lift the State of Public Health Emergency, citing its negative effects on the masses.
The organization, among others, accused state authorities of using the emergency regulations to stifle liberty rather than for its expressed purpose.
In July last year, President Ernest Bai Koroma proclaimed the State of Public Health Emergency with the aim of containing the spreading Ebola epidemic. That saw the suppression of certain rights.
In a press statement, HRDN-SL accused the government of undermining its commitment to human rights protection by some of the acts of its over the last several months.
It said as a signatory to international treaties and declarations that seek to promote democracy, good governance and human rights, this meant Sierra Leone was treading on the wrong path.
“During the current state of emergency, any person seeking to publish or disseminate information of state interest or to promote freedom of assembly and association is forced to do so covertly or face arbitrary arrest and detention,” a portion of the statement reads. It cites the detention of Journalist David Tam Bayoh, some members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and supporters of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party as typical example of the alleged excesses of the government.
These people were arbitrarily arrested by police officers under the public emergency regulations for expressing their views and opinions on issues affecting the state, HRDN-SL says.
There have been several calls for the emergency regulations to be lifted or relaxed, including most recently from the Inter Religious Council and the civil society group Health for All Coalition.
President Koroma, in a nationwide address last week, referenced such appeals as he announced a relaxation of some of the emergency measures introduced in the course of the state of emergency. Notably, restrictions on trading hours have been relaxed and the popular Okada [commercial motor bike transport system] have been allowed to run two hours more into the night, from the 7pm deadlines earlier.
But Alphonsus Gbanie, Executive Secretary of HRDN-SL, says much more was expected from the President and his government.
Gbanie told Politico on Monday that his organization wanted to see the emergency rule totally lifted so that the people could enjoy their fundamental rights. He said the Sierra Leone government had some things to learn from its neighbors Liberia and Guinea in terms of the “best practice” of emergency laws.
He reiterated that the emergency laws had hindered the operations of media institutions in the country, making it hard for the media to effectively perform their role, adding that on several occasions, journalists had been warned by government authorities to refrain from discussions that are viewed as derailing its effort in the fight against the Ebola epidemic.
“Democracy, good governance and human rights demand acceptance of diversity of opinions, the right of association and assembly. And when these rights are realised in society, it ensures equality before the law,” he said.
But Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Theo Nicol, insisted that government had no intention to lift the state of emergency.
Mr Nicol said Parliament had recently extended the State of Emergency for another 90 days so that the Ebola virus could be eradicated before the end of the extended date.
“Government will only lift the emergency law when the country completes the stipulated 42 days without recording any case of the virus,” he told Politico.
(C) Politico 16/06/15
