By Nasratu Kargbo
The main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) and ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) have both accused each other of attacking their members in various parts of the country.
APC in a Press Release dated 1st June 2023 called on the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), the International Community and other stakeholders to intervene in what they alleged were the continuous attacks on their party members in the south by SLPP.
The APC release claimed some of their party candidates and supporters have been attacked, beaten and banished from their homes.
“We are asking the PPRC, ECSL and the international Community to promptly intervene, otherwise the APC will have no other option but to appropriately respond” a part reads.
The party stated that they cannot be seen unable to protect their supporters, noting that they expect the police to be impartial. “The All Peoples Congress (APC) party is drawing the attention of the public including the international community to the persistent attack of its members in the south-eastern region of this country: very recently, in the Pujehun district” a part reads.
The APC release stated that the 7th May 2023 was the date set aside for their candidate’s nomination, and that when their candidate and her supporters decided to celebrate, youths pelted them with stones, beat up and sprayed acid on their candidates and supporters.
It explained that APC members have been chased out of their constituency, threatened with arrest or arrested.
The release said they reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu , who according to the release has not given them any headway.
“Such palpable stereotypical fashion of harassment and intimidation of the Opposition APC party by the incumbent SLPP in their South-Eastern strongholds should be nipped in the bud if we are to dichotomize between rhetoric and reality. As it is now, the intimidation and harassment of our supporters in Pujehun continues unabated”, the release claimed.
The party called on their supporters to remain calm and be law abiding, noting that they expect the election to be conducted in a peaceful environment.
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) also issued a release explaining that their attention had been drawn to videos making rounds on social media where members of the APC have threatened to massacre SLPP members and destroy their properties in the Northern region.
“The SLPP Public Relations Committee views those comments as reckless and unfortunate and a deliberate attempt to suppress, harass, and intimidate its supporters in the North. This is not the first time supporters of the SLPP have come under unprovoked attacks from the APC in various parts of the country” a part reads.
Responding to accusation made in the APC release, SLPP claimed“APC thugs descended on an otherwise peaceful community in Foindu, Pujehun district”.
It explained that members of the APC attacked the villagers and the town chief for raising concerns about what they referred to as “rowdy and unruly crowd” that invaded the village. It further explained that the invaders became more lawless and threw acids everywhere and that four people including the town chief suffered burns and are presently at the hospital.
It explained that on the 23rd May 2023 acts of violence and intimidation was perpetrated on SLPP supporters in Mile 91, that led to them fleeing.
The party condemned the intimidation and suppression levied on their members by the APC, especially in the north.
They called on the police, PPRC and the ECSL to investigate the attacks and take actions to ensure that their supporters are allowed to carry out their political activities freely and peacefully.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (05/06/2023)
