*The Sierra Leone Police Force, The Judiciary and Sierra Leone’s Human Rights Record.*
*22/03/2023@09:50*
*By Saikujohn Barrie*
Both Amnesty International and the US states department have released their 2022 Sierra Leone’s human rights reports respectively.
In a damning report on the Sierra Leone Police Force and Judiciary, Amnesty International stated that Sierra Leonean security forces used excessive force to crack down on protests which turned violent in Freetown, Makeni and Kamakwie in August 2022, in which six police officers and more than 20 protesters and bystanders were killed, including at least two women.
Also, Amnesty International highlighted the killing and wounding of civilians who were not part of the protests during the August 10 protest.
Amnesty International further that, “the Inspector General of Police said, arrests have been made over the killing of a police officers.
However, no official police investigation has been launched into the killings of protesters and bystanders.”
For instance, one of the civilians recounted, “I was arrested by [military] and handed over to the police. They used the butts of their guns, belts and protective helmets and started hitting me all over my body.”
The Amnesty International report indicted the country’s judiciary where it states, “people were convicted solely on the testimony of the arresting officer without any further corroborating evidence.”
I believe this is a very serious legal issue which the CJ needs to look into as such report sends massage about the country’s justice system.
“Amnesty International calls on the Sierra Leonean authorities and the Special Committee to carry out an independent, impartial and thorough investigation not only into the killings of police officers but also into the use of force by law enforcement, during and after the protests, that resulted in injury and death, and to ensure those responsible for unlawful killing, torture and other forms of ill-treatment face justice. Crucially, the findings of the Special Committee investigation must be made public for all to see,” said Samira Daoud.
Samira Daoud added, “Detainees should have access to counsel from the outset of their detention, including during questioning. Individuals must be given adequate time and facilities to communicate with their lawyer, in confidence,”
The US States Department Report.
The US states department report on Sierra Leone also stated, “… police committed cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of prisoners or detainees.”
The report further highlighted how LAJ was mistreated by the Police, “In one reported instance, on June 12, the SLP arrested, detained, and shaved the dreadlocked hair of a controversial rapper, Alhaji Amadu Bah (more commonly known by his stage name LAJ), for an alleged offense.”
Regarding LAJ, I believe LAJ’s family has suffered the worst injustice under this government. Imagine the Police fabricated charges against his brothers, and they were subsequently locked up and now LAJ is being jailed for nine years in addition to that to his brothers. Imagine these guys are the bread winner of the family.
There is travesty of justice in the case of the two brothers who are now languishing in prison for merely going to Benghazi to check on their detained brother.
The state department’s report stated, “Impunity remained a significant problem in the security forces, notably in the SLP.
I also believe that just like the London Police, there should be an independent body to check the excess of the police and bring to book lawless police officers.
However, I strongly believe the Sierra Leone Police will only function and work in the interest of Sierra Leoneans when the SLP’s operations are not influenced by our gluttonous and ravenous Politicians.
Like the First Lady’s calling on boys and men to hands off our girls, this is how I will call on our Politicians especially ruling party politicians, because they are the ones pulling the trigger, to hands off our Sierra Leone Police Force and some of our Military personnel.
Most of our Police officers and military personnel have been politicised.
It is only in Sierra Leone you will see either Police or military officers brazenly threaten to beat or deal with opposition members. This is not good for our democracy and the image of our country.
To the Judiciary, how can a magistrate or judge convict someone solely on the testimony of the arresting officer without any further corroborating evidence, especially when most of our Police officers are disguised Politicians.
This is sad news for our justice system. I think the Chief Justice should investigate this allegation further and make the corrections needed.
The international donors have poured lot of their taxpayers’ monies in judicial system in the name of reforms.
Just like the Sierra Leone Police, the tradition of wicked politicians dictating to Magistrates or Judges on cases that have to do with politics or interest to politicians has to terminate.
This order from above virus has succeeded in destroying our country’s institutions.
However, these two international reports on the abysmal manner in which the Sierra Leone Police and other related security sector handled the August 10th Protest is not surprising to me.
When I wrote against the excessive use of force by the security forces and the subsequent insensitive manner in which the Sierra Leone government reacted to the protest, I was called all sort of names but today I have been proven right.
I also think that the operations of the security forces in addressing protest, issues that have to do with politics or other security matters should be guided by professionalism, principles, and values, not by loyalty and love for politicians or the political party in government.
Further, these actions of the Sierra Leone Police and the Judiciary will continue to darken Sierra Leone human rights record.
It is on this note, I highlight the relationships between the Sierra Leone Police, the Judiciary and Sierra Leone’s human rights record.
I rest my case.
