By Crispina Cummings

Amnesty International catalogues Sierra Leone Police
The international human rights group, Amnesty International has released a catalogue of abuses by members of the Sierra Leone Police. In its annual report, it gives a case-by-case account of police heavy-handedness against civilians including the killings of unarmed civilians, peaceful demonstrators and another innocent motorcyclist. The full report released today follows:
Feature: Amnesty International catalogues Sierra Leone

ENCISS assures civil society
By Jenneh Braima
With support fromENCISS, astate and non-state actor interface organization, civil society organisations have concluded a one-day validation forum on the outcome of their previous engagement with Western Area civil society groups.
Representative of Christian Aid, Kadie Jumu noted that it was a challenge for all CSOs to make good use of the validation forum so that they could come up with formidable resolutions and vote for ten Western Area representatives on the ENCISS Board.

Water minister calls SALWACO liars
By Crispina Cummings
Minister of Water Resources, Momodu Maligi last week in Parliament told the administrators of the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) to “stop lying” to the committee on energy and water resources as they were under oath.
He made this statement when the administrators were asked about the Mile 91 water project which they said was 50% complete and that pipe-borne water was now in Mile 91. At this point the minister stood up and blasted them.

Standard Chartered Bank flops in 2012
By Bampia James Bundu
Shareholders of Standard Chartered Bank Sierra Leone have told this year’s Annual General Meeting at the National Stadium Hostel in Freetown that they are disappointed over the poor performance of the bank in 2012.
He was specifically addressing the Board when Captain Spencer, a shareholder, explained that they were not impressed with the bank’s performance for last year and that that was already affecting other investors with the bank. He revealed that operational profit declined by 26% while cost increased by 13%.