By Mabinty M. Kamara
A rights-based nongovernmental organization, Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) has called on the government and other relevant institutions to speedily investigate and give justice to families of protesters who were shot dead in last weekend’s protests in Makeni.
“We are deeply disappointed by the alleged use of live bullets by the Sierra Leone Police to disperse unarmed civilian protesters” the organisation says in a press release, adding: “This action was uncalled for and could have been avoided. We, therefore, call on the Government of Sierra Leone to set up an impartial independent investigation immediately to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the recent protest in Makeni that resulted in the death of at least five people and left nine others seriously injured.”
The violence was sparked off on Friday after a group of EDSA officials went to Makeni to relocate a 1.65 megawatts thermal standby generator to Lungi.
An agreement to relocate the generator, according to the Minister of Energy, Kanja Sesay was reached more than a month ago after a team from his ministry held a meeting with other local government officials in Makeni including the Mayor of Makeni.
However, the campaign group says while they condemn the riotous conduct of the youths who took to the street, the consultation with the political stakeholders was not enough because it didn’t filter down to the communities, which NMJD believes could have prevented the deaths.
The organization also notes that the recurring use of excessive force to disperse unarmed civilians in times of protest is in contravention of human rights laws. It goes on to note that peaceful protests are an integral part of a democratic process.
“It will be recalled that Sierra Leone has witnessed several incidents of alleged shooting to death of defenceless and unarmed civilians at the hands of the Sierra Leone Police in places like Mile 91, Bumbuna, Tombo, and most recently, at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre in Freetown” it says. It adds: “While we disapprove of the conduct of many youth considered to be riotous in character, we equally believe that peaceful protests are not only a fundamental right and an integral part of democracy, but they are also a means through which citizens communicate their feelings and positions to their leaders.”
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