By Saio Marrah
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has in its initial pre-election period Report expressed concern about the magnitude of election violence cases in the country in the campaign period.
The report published on Thursday 8th June 2023, indicated that while the election campaigns have been largely peaceful, there were violent incidents that include an alleged killing of one APC supporter at Mile 91 on 25 May this year. It however indicated that another APC supporter killed the deceased following a dispute after their party’s campaign on the same day.
Also at Mile 91, banners of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) were destroyed at night which resulted in alleged SLPP supporters destroying APC campaign banners on 23rd May this year.
The report noted that it led to violent clashes between supporters of the two political parties in the town.
The commission also reported that on 29th May, at Koidu town in Kono District, unknown persons burnt down the house of Diana Konomanyi allegedly for political reasons. It could be recalled that the victim of the arson is an APC politician and had faced threats on social media from supporters of her party for failing to show up at their campaign meeting.
In the Bonthe municipality, alleged SLPP supporters on the 2nd June, which was said to be their campaign day, pelted stones at the residence of an APC supporter. Later, on the same day, a place called “Tally Centre” belonging to the SLPP was also reportedly burnt down by alleged supporters of the APC.
“In Moriba town, Rutile, Bonthe District, APC supporters reported to the Sierra Leone Police that some of their supporters were attacked and wounded by SLPP supporters.”
Also, the report said a video on social media showed one APC supporter in the Bonthe municipality being beaten and taken to the police for wearing an APC T-shirt and moving in front of SLPP supporters while they (SLPP) were campaigning.
“On 7th June in Kenema city, the APC campaign day was disrupted by some SLPP supporters who came out to rally in breach of the campaign calendar” and that “On 27th May, the PMDC Presidential candidate was prevented from campaigning at Moyamba Junction in Moyamba District by SLPP supporters,” the report indicated.
On issues of hate and inciting messages trending on social media, HRCSL listed a series of cases it deemed could undermine the peace and security of the state.
The report mentioned “audios and videos being circulated on social media in which individuals are threatening to shut down the country on 12th and 13th June 2023 and burn down the ECSL office.”
Among them, the report cited video of a newly elected Paramount Chief Member of Parliament of Neya Chiefdom, Falaba District, threatening the local authorities in his chiefdom not to vote for the APC.
Also it said a video posted on social media in which an APC supporter who is alleged to be a former Member of Parliament, during a campaign at Lungi in Port Loko district, threatened that they will “massacre" all SLPP supporters in “Temne Line” if SLPP touch any APC person in the “Mende Line.”
The report also indicated “a video on social media in which the APC Presidential candidate during a campaign at Tombo, Western Area Rural District, openly pronounced in our local dialect that, “are announcing the result now, APC don win! En nar so we dae announce am everyday now’’ which when translated in English means that he has announced the result and that APC has won the elections; and that he will continue to make such announcement throughout.”
Copyright (2023) Politico (12/06/23)
