By Bampia James Bundu
Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Community Affairs has warned students across the country who he said are planning to
protest for the reopening of schools and colleges. Learning institutions have been shut since mid last year as a result of the
Ebola outbreak.
"We have gathered intelligence from reliable sources that students are going around rallying behind others to undertake peaceful
demonstrations, which will violate the public emergency regulations set out by the president," Chris Charley told Politico.
He warned that any public gathering and demonstration would be against the Public Emergency Regulations, 2014 and "defaulters will face the
full force of the law." He urged students to desist from engaging in any form of demonstration, but to support government in the fight
against the epidemic.
On a telephone interview, the president of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students (NUSS) Mohamed Sheridan Kamara warned his
fellows to be patient and to help government eradicate Ebola. But Kamara also urged the authorities to engage students in a dialogue.
"Students are disgruntled, they are tired of sitting at home, but that will not force us to take to the streets during such crisis," he said,
adding that protests would only put students at risk and worsen the situation in the country.
Kamara also urged the police not to act on rumours in a hasty manner but they should engage student leaders in dialogue. "We are not
planning any strike, we only call on government to redouble its effort to end Ebola," he stated.
© Politico 15/01/15
