APC SEC.GENERAL AND COCORIOKO EDITOR REALIZE IT IS A SMALL WORLD The APC Secretary General, Victor Foh, and the COCORIOKO Editor , Kabs Kanu, had cause to learn once again that we live in a small world. Foh came from downtown Somerset with aides and met  the Editor interviewing the APC Leader. He was busy enquiring from aides and joking, asking   who it was that had such very close proximity contact with the leader (Possibly for security reasons since they were in a different country). Before the interview, incidentally, somebody had told the Editor that Foh was married into a family the Editor grew up with in Bo. The Editor  took the opportunity to joke with Foe : “When you soon known who I am, you will be surprised ” .Foe was anxious naturally to know but waited patiently and  after the interview, the Editor asked him : “Where is my sister ( Your wife ) ? I The Editor surprised him obviously and after Foh heard that the Editor grew up with members of the family in which he had married, he was very excited and n they had an interesting conversation during which the Editor named all his inlaws. and recounted how his and the wife’s family lived virtually as one family .  . Yonta, who and her sisters and brother grew up with the Editor at Reservation , Bo , during the 1960s.  Her sisters Lydia and Evelyn attended the same primary school with the Editor. Their brother, Sammy , and the Editor were closer than brothers and  were not only classmates but played together and exchanged comics  as kids. Foh was moved to know  that the Editor knew his wife,  brother and sisters as well as her parents,  and  that they were virtually a family at  Bo  Reservation during childhood. Foh took the hand of the Editor and led  him around introducing him to other APC  stalwarts  as his “Komaneh” .He tried to introduce him to the leader ,  but Ernest told him  that the Editor and himself  were buddies at FBC  in the 1970s. . The lesson to be learnt from this is that we Sierra Leoneans may have our different political associations , affiliations and philosophies but we must never forget that we come from a very small country where we are all interrelated somehow by marriage, kinship, tribe , region or other considerations. Foh (Right) and the Editor  took  this friendly picture afterwards. Indeed, it is a small world.

The President of the New Jersey Chapter of the APC, Mr. Mohamed Azziz Nabe

Mr. Mohamed Sowe , the Internal Auditor of the APC North American Branch and Secretary General of the New Jersey Chapter

An Old Edwardian get-together at the hotel where the COCORIOKO Editor, Kabs Kanu , interviewed the APC Leader. The Editor ( Right ) , an Old Edwardian too, was excited to meet one of his boyhood  soccer heroes , Allieu Pat-Sowe (Second from right ) , who was one of the stars of the Old Edwardians soccer team of the mid to late 1960s .Pat-Sowe played alongside other Old Edwardian greats like the late Patrick Kemokai,the late goalkeeper Amadu Kargbo,  Obi Metzger, Wasiu Sunmonu, Prince Elba ,Allister Walton-Davies,  Daniel Kamara ( Fangay), Sylvanus Morado Kamara etc who captured the 1968 League Championship and the 1969 FA Cup. Obi and Wasiu joined Ports Authority after 1968 .

The Editor (Centre) seen here interviewing the APC Leader, Ernest Koroma  ( Left).  Sitting  next to them is the President of the North American Branch of the APC, Mr. Alimamy Kargbo.

Business man , Mr. Asmad Barrie, the Internal Auditor of the New Jersey Chapter of the APC.

The APC  people pose for this picture after the Editor finished interviewing the leader of the party, Ernest Koroma.

The APC Leader, Ernest Koroma , being interviewed by the Editor of COCORIOKO. .The leader is wearing a special party T-shirt with his name and position inscribed on it. Watch his right chest . Copyright. COCORIOKO.

J.J . SAFFA AND DELEGATION SCORE FIRST VICTORY IN DC

Thursday May 4, 2006

The star-studded SLPP  Delegation touring the various branches of the party abroad scored their first victory in the United States of America when they succeeded in restoring peace and sanity to the chaotic Washington DC Branch of the party, after a long, all-night meeting yesterday.

Our reporter was present and he sent us this preliminary report  :

VICTORY FOR 8 MEMBER SLPP DELEGATES IN AMERICA, AS THE LONG AND SOMETIMES EXPLOSIVE WASHINGTON, DC. BRANCH DISPUTE PEACEABLY RESOLVED

In a meeting that lasted for several hours at the residence of the SLPP Secretary General, Mr. Jacob Jusu Saffa, the long and sometimes explosive dispute that resulted into the formation of two factions in the Washington DC SLPP Branch has finally been peaceably resolved.

According to our reliable source in Maryland, the two bitter opponents, Mr. Ben Silla and Mr. Matthew Margao apologized to each other and shook hands to the applause of members present. Mr. Silla and Mr. Margao will not be candidates for either the Washington Metropolitan Chapter elections or the National SLPP Chairmanship elections. Mr. Jonathan Lebbie states that new candidates will now contest for those positions. (More to Follow )

ARD Creditors urged to pay loans on time

BY Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Tuesday April 11 , 2006

The Executive Director of the Association for Rural Development (ARD), Alie Fornah has urged creditors of the ARD micro-credit to pay up their loans for continuity of the programme.

“

If you don’t pay your loans on time, the micro-credit will collapse”, he told the mammoth meeting at the NGO’s No. 21 Liverpool Street headquarters in Freetown.

Mr. Fornah noted that the ARD is one of the biggest NGO that gives out micro – credit in the country with about 3000 (Three thousand) clients in Freetown alone and other clients  in Makeni,  B0 and very soon in Kenema. “Our greatest problem at the ARD is in the area of repayment. Not that clients are refusing to pay but the problem is about the late payment”, he emphasised.

Mr. Fornah disclosed that in the next couple of months, the ARD will put in place a robust mechanism “to collect our monies without interfering with the dignity of our clients as our clients’ dignity and prestige is paramount”.

He admonished staff of ARD to treat and talk to clients politely and observe the maximum ethics in the execution of their duties. He also spoke about ARD’s robust programme on HIV/AIDS.

The head of ARD’s MF News Francis Kamara, disclosed that between January and March this year, ARD has disbursed a total of Le 968,549,000 (Nine Hundred and sixty eight million five hundred and forty nine thousand leones) on loans to clients in the

International Investors Conference begins in Freetown

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Monday March 29, 2006

The International Investors Conference organised by the Commonwealth Business Council in collaboration with the government of Sierra Leone begins today at the Bintumani hotel in Freetown.

The essence of the conference according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Kadi Sesay is to convince both local and international business persons to invest their hard-earned cash in Sierra Leone.

The conference is graced by eminent persons from the local and international business sector from Austria, Belgium, Cameroon, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, alauxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, UK and US. The objective is to cajole the invitees to do business in Sierra Leone beginning now.

The stakes are high, because,  Sierra Leone’s war is now a bygone issue; taking into account that the country is blessed with several minerals, agricultural produce, marine and other resources- but cannot enjoy the full benefits of these resources, simply because, we do not have the political will power, training, finance, technology and other inputs that would enable us  benefit from our God-given riches in every sense of the word.

Personalities at today’s International Investment Forum include  the Irish Minister of State, the Rt. Hon. Lord Caims, Dr. Kaun Mohan, Director Commonwealth Business Council; President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah; Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Kadi Sesay and her counterpart Ministers; among dozens of other international and national dignitaries. .

Speaking seriously about the next couple of days’ International Investors’ Forum, Sierra Leoneans are very hopeful that the outcome of the conference would see dozens of genuine investors flooding this country. There are so many areas which need a boost in order to ensure that Sierra Leoneans live lives equal to that of their counterparts in not only the sub-region; but also to that of their counterparts  in the wider world. As a matter, it is not every year that genuine international investors converge in Freetown to hang heads with their local counterparts on how they can together move this country’s socio-economic status to reflect positively on the annual UN Human Development Index (HDI).

As stated above, we would expect that this time round, these discussions would not only stay as mere discussions or concepts on bare paper, but that such discussions would be transformed into positive and immediate actions to impact on the lives of the general populace, especially our women and youth. We have reached the point were mere rhetorics or vain promises would no longer be tolerated from international investors, our own local investors in the Private Sector and the government. This point must be taken very seriously into consideration by every investor at the conference, before attempting to make any committment. Because, there have been too many promises made in the past that are yet to turn into reality. We therefore hope that this time round, this would not be the case.

It is about time we see the realistic implementation of projects like the construction of industrial complexes which would make way for the employment of our youthful populace; thus removing them out of the poverty bracket they have found themselves for several years. Would not such a development give real meaning to the famous PRSP project; and would such a development not be the catalyst for lasting peace in the country? We would want to say yes. Our Energy, Health, Education, Media, Agriculture and other industrial sectors can definately do with massive asisstance in the form of private investment. Because, only through meaningful and sustainable investment, could the public afford and have easy access to goods and services. We want to think that this dream is just around the corner?

It is no secret that the Minister of Trade, Dr. Kadi Sesay in her wisdom, ever since she took up the mantle of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has, with the help of a dedicated staff, opened new avenues in the Trade and Industry sector to the extent that the Private Sector are now more proactive in the running of their respective businesses than they have ever been before. Some of the noble achievements made so far by the MTI, include the revamping of the defunct National Workshop at Cline Town in Freetown, the revitalisation of Magbass Sugar Company, the creation of job training centres across the country for youths with support from UNDP, UNIDO and other partners.

Another set of improvements are the introduction of a new Investment Code which has greatly improved and modified the investment climate in Sierra Leone, the introduction of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) which now allows Sierra Leonean enterpreneurs to export textiles to the USA and other international destinations much more easier than what used to be the case. Another area that has profited immensely from Dr. Sesay’s thoughfulness, is the Private Sector which is now expanding into agriculture, health and other areas they never went into before. In addition, the Private Sector in Sierra Leone today is publicly demonstrating a strong committment to promoting Coporate Social Responsibility and respect for the communities and environment in which they operate. Such matters were of no significance in days gone by. Another feather to the cap of Dr. Kadi Sesay.

Then the biggest and most noble intervention yet, is the one bringing together dozens of international investors from all over the world with the objective of moving Sierra Leone forward, faster than has ever been seen before. Therefore, we cannot but commend President Tejan Kabbah, Dr. Kadi Sesay and the government for this initiative, while we hope that, the outcome of this week’s International Investors’ Forum would help brighten the future of Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans in a big way in the shortest possible time.

We wish you happy and fruitful deliberations.

YOU TRULY JUST DON’T GET IT

Monday March 13, 2006

First_Name:  Munda
Last_Name:  Tombo
City:  BO
Comments:  Ngor John,
YOU TRULLY JUST DON’T GET IT.
I am happy I am not “educated” as you.I consider you literate and not
educated.To me an educated person is mannered and leads by eaxmples which
generations after him would crave to emulate.I don’t think any Sierra Leonean
will wish for his son/daughter to take after you. I went to a school whose Motto
is: “MANNER”S MAKETH MAN” and not education Maketh Man. It is that Manners that
you totally lack and therefore cannot engage in any discussion without been
vulgar.

Ngor John what education does one need to understand what words like “San-San or
raray boy, carwasher and bike reader mean in Present day Sierra Leone?.
You are always talking of having done this and that for Sierra Leone while you
were Ambassador. But Ngor John that was the job you applied for and got.Are you
telling me that you did not know your job description before you applied for the
job? So why we do have to pat you in the back for doing a job you were paid to
do?. Like any employer would do, when President Kabbah found out that you were
no longer fulfilling your job descriptions he fired you. Remember Ngor John your
job was not a labor contract. Your employment was at the pleasure of your
employer.

Where in my postings have I ever glorified the APC? I only mentioned the APC in
my posting because of your perception and expressed apprehenssion about PMDC,s
partnership with the APC. I said if you were to worry about any party working in
parnership with the APC, it is the SLPP. Just look around. Is that glorifying
the APC party or the peole who destroyed the APC and the nation
?

Ngor John don’t let me belive Dennis Saidu.
Yes, I did say your business is flourishing in Nigeria. What I was trying to
convey to you is that if you have had that business in Sierra Leone and employed
those Raray boys they would have been law abiding    people.
You stated that you cannot invest in Sierra Leone because govt owes you money.
What a patriot! Need I say more.
Ngor John I’ll pass on your invitation for a poyo orgy. I don’t drink but you
are welcome to Bo.

I am not educated and don’t understand English as much as you do. Let me just
remind you that I am not an Englishman to feel insulted that I do not understand
my own mother tongue. I am glad you did not insult me by telling me  I don’t
understand mende, Temne, Madingo and Susu. You once claimed to have lineage to
these tribes. I would like to converse with you in these languages.
I am proud I can speak these languages.
Ngor John,
You Just Don’t Get It!!

ANOTHER  PMDC MAN REPLIES JOHN ERNEST LEIGH

Thursday March 9, 2006

First_Name:  Denis
Last_Name:  Saidu
Comments:  John Leigh Needs Mental Emancipation
I had always vehemently resisted so many Sierra Leonean’s suggestions that John Leigh needs a mental emancipation. But when I read his letter to Mr.Wai, I really had no choice but to succumb to those Sierra Leoneans who had always suggested so. When I read that letter or trash, I really perceived how frustrated, depressed and mentally ill John Leigh is and how desperate he is to vent out his dangerous mental venom on every Sierra Leonean. John Leigh needs a mental emancipation.
But again, when we reminiscence into his political involvement in Sierra Leone in the past eight (8) years or so, one can certainly conclude why he is behaving like a wild goose. Some of us had been always angry with the kind of treatment that had been meted out to that man in that country since he surfaced in the lime light of the politics of that nation. I must confess that I used to revere that man and therefore thought he had always been treated unfairly, little realizing that those who had been close to him in all occasions, knew him better.
For those who don’t know, that man called John Leigh had been used or misused, abused and dumped by the  Kabbah led SLPP to where he belonged. As if that was not enough, Mr.Leigh vied again for the SLPP leadership in Makeni last year. On that occasion, he was not only duped and dumped by the SLPP leadership, but by the very people whom he relied on to campaign for him and then nominate him. No one rose up to nominate him because even his campaign chairman by then knew that the man (J.Leigh) needs a mental emancipation. I was so vexed and mad when I read that news on line that I nearly smashed my monitor, but today, the action of his campaign team has been vindicated, because that man needs a mental emancipation.
Now, John Leigh, who has no more hope in his Sierra Leonean compatriots and even the country, has resorted to drinking ?poyo’ at ?poyo’ bars, hahahahahaha. Very soon, he will be dumped again by his ?poyo’ drinking association in ?bomeh’ and then eventually by the ?omole’ drinking association, who knows where? We therefore have to be on the watch out after his final ?omole’ dumping. Indeed, John leigh needs a mental emancipation.
However, I want to advice Mr.Leigh not to despair, that with PMDC he will find hope and solace.  A PMDC led government in Sierra Leone will certainly get more psychiatrics to assist Dr.Nahim in Sierra Leone to help people like him who are in desperate need of mental emancipation. Indeed, john Leigh needs a mental emancipation.
I know this wild goose is going to come out after me after reading this piece. But let me assure him that this piece is just a ?sheeeeee’ and that I have all my stones in my hands, mouth, ears and every where (arsenal), ready to throw at him, because he is what we say in Sierra Leone, “fol wae nor dae yeri sheeeee.” Indeed, John Leigh needs a mental emancipation.

RECENT RELEASE OF SIERRA LEONE CENSUS REPORT HISTORIC

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Wednesday March 1, 2006

President Tejan Kabbah has launched the 2004 Population and Housing Census final results on Thursday, February 23, at the Miatta Conference Centre, Youyi Building west of Freetown. In his speech, President Kabbah expressed thanks and appreciation on behalf of his government and people of Sierra Leone to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the European Union (EU) for providing the funds for the implementation of the census.

President Kabbah maintained that the launching of the final report makes history as this is the first time a census result has been officially released in record time. He heaped praises on staff of Statistic Sierra Leone, stating that without their dedication and commitment to duty, the report may not have been out by now. The President paid a special tribute to the outgoing Statistician General, Professor Herbert Borbor Sama Kandeh for the dynamic leadership he demonstrated to ensure that a comprehensive population data is realized.

He went on to state that the result will be used in the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).  He also pointed out that the census report will play a key role in the entire electoral process. “Since I became President, my desire has always been to ensure that a national census is held. I thank God that my desire has finally been achieved”,  President Kabbah said.

Professor Borbor Kandeh who is the outgoing Statistician General said this final result was way below three percent in terms of under-count. He went on to say that, the  population of the country has slightly increased. He called on Sierra Leoneans to accept the result in good faith, stating that it is devoid of any political undertone.

The population of Sierra Leone, according to figures released in the final results stands at 4,976,871. There are 2,391,998 males as against 2,538,534 females. The east end of Freetown is the most densely populated area in the country and has shown a three fold increase since 1985, while Kono has shown a decrease in population. The final population of the Eastern Province now stands at 1,191,539. Within the same region, the final census figures stands at 592,655 males as against 589,215 females. The Northern province stands at 1,745,553. Within the same Northern province there are 821,356 males as against 920,570 females. The Southern province is recorded as having a total population of 1,092,657. Within the same  Southern region the male population stands at 517,383 as against the female population of 555,062. And in the Western Area according to the census figures, the population is 947,122. Out of the entire population in the Western Area, 460,604 are males as against 473,687 females.

Blackpool bags Le30.1m & Lions bags Le 21m only

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Friday February 24, 2006

Mighty Blackpool were able to realise the sum total of Le30.1m (Thirty Million, one hundred thousand leones) from their Sunday encounter against CSS of Senegal.

This amount is appreciable compared to the crowd that turned out to watch the match between East End Lions and ASEC Mimossas and East End Lions could only account for a minimal amount of Le21m (Twenty One million).

Most people who heard about the Lions figure have expressed dissppointment over the figure and opined that the club’s executive must carry out some thorough investigations to unearth the anomaly.

“It is a shame that Mighty Blackpool with a smaller crowd could account for a far more bigger figure than Lions whose crowd almost doubled that of Blackpool. Honesty is lacking somewhere”, said a senior club official of Cenegal FC.

UK College principal mobilises Salone students

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Thursday February 16, 2006

The Principal of the Gayleseen College of Technology in the United Kingdom, Charles Wilson has told students at the National Nursing School in Freetown that his  organization is just not about academic drills  towards passing examinations, but concerned  more about building people, young and old, coupled with developing their potentials to think positively thus becoming useful to themselves and benefiting their communities.

He also said that Gayleseen College of Technology came into existence in 1999, initially with IT programmes, but has now expanded covering courses like Certificate in Accounting Technician (CAT), Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA) Diploma in Financial Management, Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies, Health Studies and Access to Nursing and Multi-Skills in Training.

“We have got  branch offices in The Gambia as well as in India, my aim in 2004 was to establish a branch in this country (Sierra Leone) which was thwarted because of some frustration I got from the department of Education” Mr. Wilson said, adding that “but I have some future plans to actually come back with the organization here whenever the time permits me, as about 25 Sierra Leoneans are now enrolleed in the College, we will concentrate on massive advertisment to reach the broader parts of the world.”

Mr Wilson further explained how he set up a local office in Freetown to ensure that they assist potential students in fulfilling the necessary criteria to meet the Visa requirments for  entry in to the United Kingdom. “These documents would be processed and thoroughly checked by the local office before presentation to the student consultation desk at the British High Commission. It’s involvement was because I do not want the refusal rate to be high” he said.

He went on to explain further how his organization admitted students on four different occasions during the months of January, April, July and October to undertake courses meant for the accademic and that of the mature group. The latter, he said, was based on experience, while the former was meant for those in the age group of 16-21 years. “As a Sierra Leonean, I am not here to rip people off, but  to assist in the furtherance of their education that would lead to the development of the country. I have been invited to travel to Liberia to sell the idea of my college now that their war is over and have started their reconstruction process; and similar visits would be made to both Ghana and Nigeria, while I  would  be making a tour to the provinces  to have pupils and students who are interested in the programme” Mr. Wilson noted.

 MUSLIM CONGRESS PRINCIPAL FIRES BACK

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Tuesday February 7, 2006

The Principal of the Senior Secondary School (SSS) division of Sierra Leone Muslim Congress Boys Secondary School, Kissy Mess-Mess, Mohameed .S. Bangura, has told this correspondent that plans for installing computers in the school are on course, contrary to local media reports that the project was a sham.

In an exclusive interview at his Kissy Mess-Mess office in Freetown recently, Mr. Bangura noted that the rational behind the computer installation in the school is to introduce the pupils and members of staff into basic information technology so as to enhance the capacity in the use of modern communication system. He disclosed that the idea was initiated by him after he was appointed principal last year and had the approval of the school board and the CTA members. Mr. Bangura pointed out that it was uanimously agreed by both the school board and CTA members that every pupil should pay a minimal amount of Le 7,000 to kick-start the project.

“We started to collect that amount only this academic year and not in 2002 as was reported. Besides, most of the pupils have not even honoured their dues” he stated.

Mr. Bangura maintained that even under such circumstances, he went ahead to purchases twelve computers from the YMCA and employed two computer experts to start the programme. “You can cross-check this information with the YMCA and here are the receipts of payment for the computers and the personnel are around to prove me right or wrong” he emphasized.

The principal maintained that the hold-up of the installation of the computers was as a result of poor storage facilities, adding that the items were with the YMCA for safe-keeping at the YMCA until the rehabilitation of the computer room was completed. “I want to ensure that the computers are installed in a decent and safe room, that is why we are fast-tracking the ongoing rehabilitation work. I have already secured a 4 KVA generator for the project and a water pumping machine for the supply of water to the laboratory. So, I’m surprised to hear such a report. But I take that as a challenge to my job. Nothing will make me lose focus of my present development plans for the school” he added.

82 Prison officers pass-out

ByChernor Ojuku Sesay

Thursday February 2, 2006

Eighty-two Prison officers including sixty-two men and twenty women passed-out recently in a ceremony held at Kissy Town, Waterloo east of Freetown.aa

The ceremony which took place last Saturday at the newly constructed Sierra Leone Prisons Training School (SLPTS) was graced by cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, guests, the local press and prison officers and their relatives.

Delivering his brief remarks, the deputy Director of Prisons, Ayodele Moses Showers, thanked the guests for gracing the occasion. He also commended the recruit Prison officers for successfully going through the training course and warned them to henceforth take their job seriously as it is a security conscience one. He went on to say that this is the first official passing-out of Prison officers since the Sierra Leone Prisons Service was established in 1787.

He told the new Prison officers that in order for them to achieve proficiency and confidence in their new job, they must follow orders at all times, adding that the government, DFID and the UNDP are all stakeholders in the development of the Prisons department.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Pascal Egbenda also spoke at the occasion. He said that he was grateful to the UNDP and DFID and other stakeholders for seeking the interest of the Prisons department and the government as a whole. He warned the new Prison officers not to be undisciplined but to do all in their power to serve their country well.

The Commandant of SLPTS, EB James told this correspondent afterwards that the training programme was successful because of the total support they received from the government, UNDP, DFID and other partners.

The climax was a passing-out parade of the officers that ended with the presentation of awards. Best Performance Award went to 2177 Mohamed Kargbo. The parade was led by Staff Officer Lamin Bangura.

.

“2007 is Salone’s stability test”

says Victor Angello

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Monday January 23, 2006

The Executive Representative of the UN Secretary General in Sierra Leone Victor Angello, has said in Freetown that the 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be the stability test for Sierra Leone.

He was addressing members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Monday, who paid him a courtesy call at his Mammy Yoko Headquarters.

The Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNCOSIL) emphasised that his mission will ensure that the 2007 elections be transparent, free, credible and acceptable to the people of Sierra Leone and the International community.

“We have to make sure that voter education and constitutuency delimitations are properly carried out in every corner of this country and to the satisfaction of every body”, he stated.

Whilist admonishing that political parties must be allowed to carry out their political activities in every corner of the country without hinderance, he warned political party members to work within the laid down rules of the game.

The role of his mission in Sierra Leone, Angello continued, is to promote Human rights, expand democracy and other developmental issues.

“We want to ensure that the Judicial system is truly independent, far away from political interference and faster in delivering justice in a fair manner,” he assured.

He lauded Sierra Leone media for what he described as the tremendous improvement interms of both the quality of contents and quantity of newspapers and radios in the country.

Earlier, the president of SLAJ, Alhaji I. B. Kargbo assured the UN boss that contrary to the views held by most government functionaries, Journalists are peace makers and partners in development.

“However, we’ll continue to frown at any corrupt practice by government functionaries especially those acts that provoked the war in Sierra Leone,” I.B. said.

He appealed to Mr. Angello to help in building the capacity of the Sierra Leone Media and appealed for equipment for the SLAJ offices in Freetown, Bo, Kenema and Makeni.

He commended the UNDP for the appointment of a Media Consultant who, he said, has done a great work since she started working in the country.

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM IN SIERRA LEONE : POLICE CHIEF ASSURES THE NATION

Wednesday January 18, 2006

The Inspector General of Police has assured Sierra Leoneans that there was  no cause for alarm .The Police Chief’s assurance came in a Special release from the Sierra Leone Police  that dealt with the recent arrest of the former Spokesman of the rebel Revolutionary United Front ( RUF ), Mr.Omrie Golley .

It is now known from the Police release that three other persons have also been arrested  but the Police statement asked the public to go about their normal business . The Police said their  professional investigation   was  being  conducted .

READ THE POLICE RELEASE  BELOW

Following a press release from the office of the President concerning the arrest of Mr. Omrie Golley, the Inspector General of police wishes to inform the general public that Mr. Omrie Golley and three others were arrested by police on Thursday 12th January, 2006.

The arrest was as a result of an earlier tip-off that Mr. Omrie Golley was alledegly recruiting people to destabilize the state.

It is the intention of the police to expedite the investigation and conclude it within the stipulated period. As soon as this is done the police will further inform the public of any charge or charges that may be preferred.

The public is assured that the matter is being professionally investigated. There is no cause for alarm as the situation is under perfect control.

Members of the public are advised to go about their normal business

‘ARMED ROBBERS ARE SCARING THE HELL OUT OF US’ –Some  Residents of Bo complain

Saturday January 7, 2006

Freetown , the Sierra Leone capital, is not the only place where armed robbery is creating concern. Some communities in the vicinity of Bo have been menaced lately by armed robbers, who are increasing their operations in the country , our Provincial Correspondent , Soriebah Kalokoh reported yesterday.

The sporadic armed robberies last week prompted some residents to appeal to the authorities to do something to avoid the situation going out of hand. They complained that “Armed robbers are scaring the hell out of us”.

Our Correspondent reported that these robbers, who often dress in black and put on masks, have been on the attack and many residents have complained of becoming victims of them. The robbers cart away not only personal belongings like  money, bed, tables, chairs and electronical instruments but even bags of rice from farmers. One resident told our reporter that the armed robbers are fearful and they threaten to kill anyone who does not carry out their instructions.

Some residents  complained that ex-combatants during the last war in Sierra Leone could be among the culprits .

THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR’S PATH TO STATE HOUSE IS PAVED WITH BAD STATECRAFT

Saturday January 24, 2005

By John Lansana Musa, ESQ.

INTRODUCTION: THE PITFALLS OF BAD STATECRAFT

There are many weighty reasons for undertaking the present essay, the least of which is not policy division of opinion on Sierra Leonean statecraft. The noun, statecraft has been defined as the wisdom in the management of public affairs – statesmanship, and diplomacy. After so much bungling of statecraft with consequences still unknown to the authors of bad government, this subject speaks its own importance in the postwar administration of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The importance attached to good statecraft often escapes our notice as we continue to assess our politicians and leaders on how they conduct the public business of our republic by embracing what Alexander Hamilton calls “An enlightened zeal for the energy and efficiency of government,” in the Federalist Papers.  That the “vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty.”  More specifically to our subject, Hamilton says in Federalist No. 70:

“Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy.”

It is this lack of vigor of government which has led us to inefficiency of administering the various sectors of government, a generation and more years after flag-independence.  And when government is questioned on the ill-administration of statecraft, some compatriots dole out excuses.  But these compatriots overlook the central point that Hamilton was making about those who frame poor statecraft:

“A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.”.

Thus, when we debate national issues, proponents dovetail into critics of Government and opponents appear in the armor of defenders of Government with nary a plausible argument to behold.  In this fashion, the debate is not fruitful and often ends in misrepresentation of the elementary reasons for conducting national debates on vexing prevailing issues. Henry Kissinger has suggested what we should do in the canvassing of national questions.  In his speech at the Third Pacem in Terris Conference, October 29, 1973, Dr. Kissinger says,

“The prerequisite for fruitful national debate is that the policymakers and critics appreciate each other’s purposes. The policymaker must understand that the critic is obliged to stress imperfections and goad actions. The policymaker must be concerned with the best that can be achieved, not the best that can be imagined.”

Thus, in disregard of this useful manner of framing statecraft, proponents of statecraft for the last nine years have been more concerned with the best that can be imagined, rather than the best that can be achieved.  Disregarding all the pitfalls of policymaking, we have come to see pratfalls that require only the international community to pick us up. From the prosecution of the RUF war, the suing for peace in the face of the onslaught of the rebels, the negotiations with the rebels and the establishment of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, we invariably regard mediocre bureaucratic routine performance as conception of good statecraft, notwithstanding the patent incompetence that abounds in these grave undertakings of government. This judgment is glaring when one reads with attention all the organic instruments wrought in the war and peace processes.

Statecraft, should not be undertaken in moments of dire circumstances by national officials, it must be learned and practised with extreme care and dexterity. Where it has not been previously practised by our nation, competent services should be procured from national resources of Sierra Leoneans with experience to assist Government to achieve her index of intentions.  The yielding of the terms of peace to the rebels at every turn during negotiations with a gift of indemnity and impunity maximized the hand of the rebels.  The worst case performance of Government at the negotiating table happened at Lome.  There, the rebels, obtained the benefit of the bargain to walk free after committing bloody treachery.  They were granted the highest seats in the Cabinet and were accorded immunity from prosecution.  None of these terms of peace were safeguarded by CLAWBACK clauses as is the practice in the use of such terms of art in peace instruments.

This lack of reflection was employed in establishing the Special Court.  It appears no experienced intellectual weight was thrown into the scale against the routine bureaucratic way of doing things. The President, on the caprice of his office and on the whim of his leadership skills not to consult, requested the Secretary of the United Nations to establish the present Special Court. Statecraft of the magnitude of establishing an ad hoc tribunal in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda required the competence of International Experts to assist the U.N. before it resolved to do so.  The Sierra Leone tribunal was framed by President Kabbah and his legal advisor, Attorney General Solomon Berewa, with the requisite intent of prosecuting violations of the laws of war by the RUF and the AFRC.  In doing so, they harbored or ignored the ephemeral notion that such a court when internationalized by a UN resolution would not countenance across-the-board violations of the laws of war was a leap in the dark.  Yet those who are in the servile pliancy of politicians who bungled this statecraft say, this was a good work, perhaps because it was “the best that could be imagined,” instead of “the best that could be achieved”..

That Government did not know blanket amnesties granted every party in the Lome Accord were useless terms of peace in an international tribunal was poor reflection and the bane of bad statecraft.  That Government did not know allegations of violations of international humanitarian laws, the Geneva Conventions among other such laws would lead to the prosecutions of all suspects of such violations whether they were earnest patriots, heroes or rebel belligerents was a conception of Government operating in welter of ignorance of international standards of prosecuting such crimes.

More than these sentiments, the indictment of all belligerents at the two ad hoc tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda did not even inspire the Sierra Leone Government to reflect on what it was doing in inviting the UN to establish a court to go after only the rebels and their confederates. This incompetence now dogs the nation as those indicted have filed motion after motion to question the establishment of the court, the germane issue of the sovereignty and its kindred notion of subordination of the courts of Sierra Leone to the Special Court and the violations of the Lome Accord that granted all parties to the conflict blanket amnesties.

It is a safe wager of opinion that had President Kabbah sought to prosecute violations of the laws of war in Sierra Leone courts under domestic law of treason, he would have unlikely prosecuted Mr. Norman or would have chosen to do so at the peril of civil unrest.  One thing to keep in mind is that President Kabbah has admitted his gratitude to the Civil Defence Forces with presentation of Commendation Medals for their valour at war against the implacable rebels.  In his TRC testimony, he admitted with profound gratitude more such appreciation about how the CDC held sway on the battlefield.

It also stated with immense appreciation how the CDF became the avant-garde and the force to reckon with as afar as repulsing the rebels was concerned. On the heels of the indictment of Mr. Norman, the lead peace negotiator at Lome and the chief architect of the Special Court, Vice President Solomon Berewa has wrapped himself in fig leaves to express consternation that he did not know this the reach of the court

In light of these anomalies in the practice of statecraft by Government, the question whether Samuel Hinga Norman should have been charged with violations of the laws of war and not the President, the former vice President Albert Joe Demby, his immediate and constitutional superiors, have characterized recent debate with less than discerning clarity. Norman was charged but will others likely be indicted based on the court’s accumulating record and the forthcoming testimony of more witnesses including that of the President?  An examination of this looming question is the burden of the following essay.

It has been announced that Samuel Hinga Norman will call President Kabbah and other civilian leaders as fact witnesses at his trial in the Special Court. President Kabbah has implied in his TRC testimony that he was not a commander of the CDF in the manner Mr. Norman was their coordinator. From Mr. Kabbah’s testimony an inference looms that he was not the CDF commander to account for their alleged violations of the laws of war. Under these circumstances, what testimony would his counsel elicit from President Kabbah?  Would they seek to connect the President to the chain of command through the introduction of memoranda and other probative evidence, thereby tying Mr. Kabbah to the CDF in a manner that makes him a commander within the meaning of the Geneva Conventions and their respective Protocols?  Would the Norman counsel link President Kabbah to the CDF by citing precedent at the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia where President Milosevic and President Karadzic have been tied to the violations of war by the paramilitary groups?

Let us enter upon the subject at hand – statecraft and conjoin it to command responsibility. We have already argued here the notion that the doctrine of Command Responsibility applies to military commanders to take responsibility for the war crimes of their subordinates.  We have equally stated that this doctrine has been extended to civilian leaders after World War II, and has recently been used in the prosecutions of civilian leaders at the two international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.  In asserting these views, we are not to be misunderstood to be prejudicing the Prosecutor’s quest to take his case “wherever the evidence leads” him.  Nor are we to be understood to be expressing a preference for who should be indicted for the grave breaches of the laws of war in the Republic of Sierra Leone.  This essay attempts to throw light at the pitfalls of bad statecraft and the concomitant consequences it portends for the probable indictment of civilian leaders.

COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY FOR CIVILIAN LEADERS

The question whether command responsibility extends to the President of Sierra Leone and others hitherto in the chain of command responsibility has been mooted in a vacuum without evidence.  It can merely be countenanced on the public record before us.  Our learned legal compatriot, Mohamed Savage has cast doubt on the extension of command responsibility to civilian leaders and we rejoined him to look yonder in history for jurisprudential examples for prosecutions of political leaders. But the learned gentleman still inveighs the notion of prosecuting civilian leaders when he stoutly writes,

“President Kabbah was  ‘no hands-on- commander’ and did not give orders for the extermination of anyone, nor did his field commander Mr. Hinga Norman reported to him that the men directly under his command were violating the rules of war by perpetrating wanton violence on non-combatants.  I still refer you to read that piece on Milosevic and see the difference between Milosevic as a non-military commander and Kabbah as a non-military commander. Kabbah did no such things as is alleged of Mr. Milosevic.”

But case law confutes Mr. Savage’s assumption in the Celebici case at the Hague. On the very question which confounds Counselor Savage, the Trial Chamber in Celebici held,

“that persons effectively in command of such more informal structures, with power to prevent and punish crimes of persons who are in fact under their control, may under certain circumstances be held responsible for their failure to do so. Thus the Trial Chamber accepts the Prosecution’s proposition that individuals in position of authority, whether civilian or within military structures, may incur criminal responsibility under the doctrine of command responsibility on the basis of their de facto as well as de jure position as superiors.”

In his fashion to restrict command responsibility to military commanders, and assuming that political leaders occupying positions of authority are not covered by Command Responsibility, Counselor Savage had this to say without legal foundation upon his rejoinder to Rev. Alfred SamForay who hitherto drew Mr. Savage’s attention to nexus between President Kabbah and the CDF:

“You also listed the various roles of President Kabbah at the time and seem to suggest that, because of those roles, the President must have neglected command responsibility and should be therefore be prosecuted. If we are to go by this reasoning, then most Head of State, would have been prosecuted for most the wars their countries had been involved in, as most of them are Commander-in-Chiefs, sits in the War Council and had raised money to finance their country’s war efforts to defend their country’s sovereignty and protect lives and properties for which I believe every leader owes supreme responsibility to his country.”

INDICTMENT OF POLITICAL LEADERS: What our learned gentleman forgets is that Command Responsibility lies in those positions of authority which Counselor Savage is discounting.  The notion is compounded when exercise of duty in those positions are performed negligently.  More than this, Mr. Savage seems to ignore the elements the crimes stated in indictment of Milosevic, Dr. Karadzic and Tadic, the civilian heads of state indicted at the Hague as essentially kindred to the actions undertaken by President Kabbah.

To wit, under Superior Responsibility, an ancillary doctrine of Command Responsibility, Milosevic’s Indictment says this,

“Slobodan MILOSEVIC was elected President of the FRY on 15 July 1997 and assumed office on 23 July 1997. At all times relevant to this indictment, he held the post of President of the FRY.

“As President of the FRY, Slobodan MILOSEVIC was President of the Supreme Defence Council of the FRY. The Supreme Defence Council consisted of the President of the FRY and the Presidents of the member republics, Serbia and Montenegro. The Supreme Defence Council decided on the National Defence Plan and issued decisions concerning the VJ. As President of the FRY, Slobodan MILOSEVIC had the power to “order implementation of the National Defence Plan” and commanded the VJ in war and peace in compliance with decisions made by the Supreme Defence Council. Slobodan MILOSEVIC, as Supreme Commander of the VJ, performed these duties through “commands, orders and decisions.”

“Under the FRY Law on Defence, as Supreme Commander of the VJ, Slobodan MILOSEVIC also exercised command authority over republican and federal police units subordinated to the VJ during a state of imminent threat of war or a state of war. A declaration of imminent threat of war was proclaimed on 23 March 1999, and a state of war on 24 March 1999.”

To return to the point whence I started, what if the Prosecutor of the Special Court collected all the titles of President Kabbah under the Constitution of Sierra Leone and paraphrased Prosecutor Richard J. Goldstone at the Hague thus,

“Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, elected March 15, 1996, assumed office at State House and became Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Chairman of the Defence Council, Chairman of the War Council..”

“Under the aegis of the same President Kabbah, the substantive Minister of Defence, finance, armed and organized logistics for the CDF through the agencies of the Ministries of Fianace and Defence..”

It is clear that any indictment of President Kabbah would mirror and be consistent with that of Milosevic’s.  To take another example of how a leader such as President Kabbah can be brought into the dragnet of the Prosecutor, regard the following indictment of President Radovan Karadzic:

“Radovan KARADZIC was President of the SDS and in that capacity was also, inter alia, President of the Main Board of the SDS. Effectively the Main Board was the main authority within the party’s hierarchy; it formulated the party’s policies and ensured they were put into effect. The Main Board, of which Momcilo KRAJISNIK was also a member from 12 July 1991, and SDS leaders exercised direct control over the activities and policies of all levels of the SDS, including the municipal boards. The Main Board ordered the creation of the SDS Crisis Staffs in municipalities where Bosnian Serbs lived. The chairmen of the SDS municipal boards were frequently the Presidents of or members of the Crisis Staffs. Crisis Staffs included military and police officials amongst their members. Crisis Staffs exercised complete executive, legislative and regulatory authority in the areas under their control and controlled the Bosnian Serb forces.

“From 28 February 1992 until 12 May 1992, Radovan KARADZIC acting in concert with Momcilo KRAJISNIK, Biljana PLAVSIC and others, were jointly responsible for the deployment of the Bosnian Serb Territorial Defence in peace and in war, and for the utilisation of the police in war and other emergency situations. This became particular evident when the Bosnian Serb Assembly created the National Security Council of the Serbian republic on 27 March 1992.

Radovan KARADZIC became President of the Council and Momcilo KRAJISNIK one of its members. The stated function of the National Security Council was to consider political, legal, constitutional and other issues of interest for the security of the Serbian People in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Radovan KARADZIC was of the view that decisions of the National Security Council should bind all the executive organs, the police and the government, particularly in urgent situations where decisions had to be taken on war, peace and other matters of national security. Until the Presidency was formed on 12 May 1992, the National Security Council was effectively the main body of authority in the Serbian republic.”

Now Counselor Savage, consider the hypothetical circumstances whether Prosecutor Goldstone would have indicted President Kabbah when he testified at the TRC by admitting in pertinent part at the following number paragraphs of his testimony there:

47. Other motivating factors included the frustration over the less-than desired efforts demonstrated by the military…. The people had then developed a collective and nationalistic faith in their resolve to take the defence of their country and their livelihood with or without their armed forces. The CDF symbolised that determination.

49. It needs to be stated here that the role played by the CDF was at considerable cost to the Government. The numerical strength of the CDF nationwide was, towards the end of the war, given as 86,000 men.

48. The CDF continued to play significant roles in providing the necessary leverage at critical stages for Government to tilt the scale to its favour – first against the RUF and on many occasions against the combined forces of the RUF and AFRC. For this reason, the CDF became a household name as the people embraced it as the viable option. They provided the leverage at the 1996 elections; they were the vanguard of the ECOMOG-led force that countered the AFRC/RUF junta; they provided the leverage when the RUF misbehaved again and again – notably during the May 8, 2000 problem; they helped to send a clear message to all renegades that the people meant to realize the peace promised by my Presidency sooner rather than later, by the end of 2000.

50. The logistics support and the disbursement of the funds to the CDF was through their National Civil Coordinator, with whom their administration and supervision lay. The funds were provided direct from the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Defence.

51. As President, I did not and could not have interfered in the operations or the internal organization as I was not a member of the Society to which all the members of the CDF had to belong and which created a bond among them. My role was confined to ensuring that Government provided the required funds and logistics and to insisting that the membership of the CDF was contented, motivated enough to perform their security roles.

Counselor Savage would keep in mind that President Kabbah’s testimony above would more likely than not constitute command responsibility, if it is coupled with failure to prevent, halt or punish subordinates in the theatre who commit grave violations of the laws of war.  For instance, President Milosevic was indicted in part for Command Responsibility for the following acts similar to what President Kabbah claimed to have done as President:

“Slobodan MILOSEVIC, acting alone and in concert with other members of the joint criminal enterprise, participated in the joint criminal enterprise in the following ways:

a.      provided direction and assistance to the political leadership of the SAO SBWS, the SAO Western Slavonia, the SAO Krajina and RSK on the take-over of these areas and the subsequent forcible removal of the Croat and other non-Serb population.

b.     provided financial, material and logistical support for the regular and irregular military forces necessary for the take-over of these areas and the subsequent forcible removal of the Croat and other non-Serb population.

c.      directed organs of the government of the Republic of Serbia to create armed forces separate from the federal armed forces to engage in combat activities outside the Republic of Serbia, in particular in the said areas in Croatia and the subsequent forcible removal of the Croat and other non-Serb population.

d.     participated in the formation, financing, supply, support and direction of special forces of the Republic of Serbia Ministry of Internal Affairs. These special forces were created and supported to assist in the execution of the purpose of the joint criminal enterprise through the commission of crimes which are in violation of Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the Statute of the Tribunal.

e.      participated in providing financial, logistical and political support and direction to Serbian irregular forces and paramilitaries. Such support was given in furtherance of the joint criminal enterprise through the commission of crimes which are in violation of Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the Statute of the Tribunal.

As may be readily seen from the indictments of Milosevic and Karadzic’s, a leader may be charged for acting in a presidential manner when he provides logistics, supplies and financial resources to militia or state armed forces but fails toto order them to avoid violations of the laws of war.  The Appeal Chamber affirmed Dusko Tadic’s conviction for command responsibility on this same question when it decided that,

”The control required by international law may be deemed to exist when a State (or, in the context of an armed conflict, the Party to the conflict) has a role in organising, coordinating or planning the military actions of the military group, in addition to financing, training and equipping or providing operational support to that group”. (see Prosecutor v. Dusko Tadic, IT-94-1, Appeals Chamber Judgment, 26 January, 2000, at para.137.

This notion of the Tribunal was emphasized by the Decision in the Celebici case when it adjudged,

“That military commanders and other persons occupying positions of superior authority may be held criminally responsible for the unlawful conduct of their subordinates is a well-established norm of customary and conventional international law. This criminal liability may arise either out of the positive acts of the superior (sometimes referred to as “direct” command responsibility) or from his culpable omissions (“indirect” command responsibility or command responsibility strictu sensu). Thus, a superior may be held criminally responsible not only for ordering, instigating or planning criminal acts carried out by his subordinates, but also for failing to take measures to prevent or repress the unlawful conduct of his subordinates.”

In vogue with his argument that civilian leaders are unaccountable for war crimes, Counselor Savage interposed a related notion on quick sands:

“But we are yet to see any of these leaders prosecuted for assuming such responsibilities, as there are no basis for this in law.  Even the Americans, with their victor’s justice, after Second World War and the trials that followed which is the basis of ‘command responsibility’ rules, prosecuted General Yamashita, the Japanese military commander, but not Emperor Hirohoto, even though he was intransigence in his refusal to surrender before the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan.”

Counselor Savage has forgotten that while the Emperor was spared prosecution for other reasons not related to command responsibility, other civilian leaders were in fact charged for command responsibility in that Far East tribunal after World War II. In every law journal on this subject, the notion of civilian liability has been stated writ large.  For example in the journal International Studies Perspective, Professor James Meernik of the University of North Texas states what Counselor Savage ignores:

“Since World War II, however, a number of new precedents in international law have found that civilians in positions of authority in government and in the private sector are responsible for their subordinates as well. There were a number of civilian authorities in the post World War II tribunals, especially in Japan, who were tried and convicted for their failure to prevent or punish violations by their inferiors of international laws of war (e.g., Japanese Prime Minister Tojo and Japanese Foreign Ministers Hirota and Shigemitsu). In fact, Hirota was judged criminally liable in part for having failed to use his informal influence in the councils of government to stop violations of international law.” (International Studies Perspectives (2004) 5, 356-377).

Continuing to elaborate on his quest to immunize civilian leaders, Counselor Savage digressed into other doctrines not quite related to the present debate. He asserts that anything done by President Kabbah would be legally excused because he was safeguarding the nation.  On this new ground of defense, our learned gentleman writes groundlessly,

“it is the duty of every leader of  to ensure the safety  and protection of its citizens. To fulfil this, he or she should employ all necessary but legal means to this end.  IF President Kabbah as Commander-in-Chief took necessary actions to protect the lives and property of his people, I see nothing criminal or illegal about such acts.  If anything we should congratulate him for living up to one of his major responsibilities as head of state.  To not do so, he would have been rightly condemned as a dereliction of one of his duties.”

Mr. Savage overlooks something larger than what he professes above.  His assertion resembles the late Renaissance doctrine of Reason of the State. That a President may take extra-constitutional measures to safeguard the nation is irrational in this age.  The doctrine of the ‘raison d’�tat’, where the highest power in the state – the sovereign is itself not bound to any legal norm as earlier stated by Bodin, Filmer and other supporters of absolute monarchs is out of fashion now. The epoch for such extra-constitutional ideas is over.  Modern constitutionalism, international humanitarian law and of course the Geneva Convention have vacated these ideas. It is freely conceded that what Giovanni Botero professed in his 1589 book, Ragione de Stato, may be sometimes employed is agreeable when held under the law of the Twelve Tables – salus populi, suprema lex or the safety of the people is the supreme and cardinal law to which all laws are to stoop.

Thus argued Machiavelli in the Prince, that almost any action of a ruler is justifiable if it contributes to the peace, prosperity, and stability of the state.  But Counselor Savage would bear in mind that none of these principles of political epochs antecedent to our modern democratic nations would excuse violations of the laws of war under international law.

But we must go back to our argument by turning now to the basis of statecraft which if had neglected or never undertaken could lead the Prosecutors at the Special Court to take a long hard look at the probable testimony of President Kabbah at the Special Court in conjunction with the mounting evidence in both the Trial Chambers and the Appeals Chamber.  Thus, we next have in mind the notion interposed by Counselor Savage that President Kabbah was a “hands-off” leader at war with the RUF. We trust the reader knows Mr. Savage is not representing President Kabbah, although he does a good job in debate.

FAILURE TO HALT, PREVENT AND PUNISH WAR CRIMES

Counselor has also argued with justification that President Kabbah cannot be tied to his subordinates in the CDF.  That implies that allegations of war crimes by the CDF cannot be imputed to civilian leaders as Mr. Savage has been arguing. But it would be impossible to imagine and implausible to argue that the amputations of civilians among the egregious crimes committed by the various belligerents during the RUF war were ever unknown to civilian leaders.  Counselor Savage the proponent of the argument that only military commanders would have been privy to such grave breaches of international humanitarian law, asserts that since President Kabbah or other civilian leaders were not in the theatre of the conflict, they cannot be accountable for violations of the laws of war.  But the law governing the failure to halt, prevent and punish violations of war crimes has been alleged against civilian leaders based on international law and customs of war. For instance, the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflict did set forth regulations regarding the ”Duty of Commanders”.  Article 86 of Additional Protocol I holds commanders liable for failing to act to prevent violations if they:

“Knew or had information which should have enabled them to conclude in the circumstances at the time, that a subordinate was committing or was going to commit such a breach of the Conventions or of this Protocol and if they did not take all feasible measures within their powers to prevent or repress the breach.

The Trial Chamber in Celebici has also held that

“a superior can be held criminally responsible only if some specific information was in fact available to him that would provide notice of offences committed by his subordinates. This information need not be such that it by itself was sufficient to compel the conclusion of the existence of such crimes. It is sufficient that the superior was put on further inquiry by the information, or, in other words, that it indicated the need for additional investigation in order to ascertain whether offences were being committed or about to be committed by his subordinates.” Prosecutor v. Delalic et al, supra n. 14, at para 393.

The Statute of the Special Court follows the two international ad hoc criminal tribunals in holding civilian leaders responsible for war crimes as Section 2 of Article 6 of the Statute of the Special Court states

“the official position of any accused persons, whether as Head of State or Government or as a responsible government official, shall not relieve such person of criminal responsibility nor mitigate punishment.”

Nor does the argument now being made by Counselor Savage clear civilian leaders if they claim that they did not know of such war crimes:

“The fact that any of the acts referred to in articles 2 to 4 of the present Statute was committed by a subordinate does not relieve his or her superior of criminal responsibility if he or she knew or had reason to know that the subordinate was about to commit such acts or had done so and the superior had failed to take the necessary and reasonable measures to prevent such acts or to punish the perpetrators thereof.”

The question then arises whether or not civilian leaders were aware of war crimes against civilians and whether they had ever heard of children, adults were been hacked in the course of the conflict and if they did, what steps they undertook to halt such violations.  Reports of the maiming of hundreds and thousands of civilians, unconnected to combat were commonplace worldwide as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Society of the Red Cross condemned these grave breaches of war.  That no political or civilian leader knew or had reason to know of these violations of the laws of war would boggle the mind.

A question that a hard-nosed prosecutor may ask is whether civilian leaders in prosecuting the RUF war, issued orders to military commanders to ensure that the laws of war were obeyed.  In most nations of the world, the President designates a member of Cabinet to be in charge of Defence.  That Minister or Secretary undertakes the responsibility of for the defense of the nation.  In Sierra Leone, the President being the capstone of power reserves that responsibility to himself.  He is the substantive Minister of Defence and the Deputy Minister of Defence is merely his acolyte. This then brings us back to the framing of statecraft.  It would thus be sophistry to argue that the President of Sierra Leone cedes all command responsibility of the troops in the theatre to operations commanders and there is no nexus in the chain of command.

A leader at war would more likely than not issue such orders as civilian leaders such as Dr. Karadzic had done to avert allegations of failure to prevent war crimes.  It was Attorney general Solomon Berewa’s duty to advise President Kabbah that undertaking to finance, organize logistics and arm the CDF would make those paramilitary groups de facto if not de jure armed forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

It would have been the Attorney General’s duty to request the Law Officers Department to drafts Orders for President Kabbah to issue to all CDF forces that it was their obligation to obey the laws of war just as the Republican Sierra Leone Military Forces would have been equally reminded in Field Manuals on Land Warfare that such laws must be obeyed.

To illuminate this point we are making, Professor Anthony D’Amato will be our guide.  He has underscored this point of statecraft in his article, “OBSERVATIONS ON THE FORTHCOMING MILOSEVIC TRIAL” in the Jurist, that a political leader would mount a good defense against charges of command responsibility id he undertakes to order or have his legal advisors prepare for him to issue to the troops to avoid violations of the laws of war,

“For an affirmative defense, it is more likely that Milosevic will produce a long list of orders, commands, directives, signed documents, and minutes of meetings at which he presided, all to the effect that war crimes will not be tolerated and anyone who commits them will be prosecuted to the full extent of Yugoslavian law. Surely his legal advisers would have prepared many documents for him to sign during his Presidency. They would be scandalously guilty of malpractice if they had not at least learned this lesson from the Yamashita case.”

The reference to malpractice is to the very subject we have been discussing – Statecraft. That it be undertaken deftly or risk such malpractice. I urge Counselor Savage not to take this citation merely I am making.  Let him regard who Professor D’Amato is.  He is the Judd and Mary Morris Leighton Professor of Law at the Northwestern University School of law, where he teaches International Human Rights, International Law, Jurisprudence and Justice and the Legal System. Professor D’Amato was the first American attorney to litigate a case in the European Court of Human Rights.  Must I say more on the bona fides of his credentials?

Thus, contrary to Counselor Savage asserting that President Kabbah was a “hands-off” civilian commander of the war, he should have been engaged as all political leaders customarily do when at war. In the execution of Orders for example President Karadzic issued the following Orders to stave off violations of the laws of war.  Now standing trial at the Hague, he has produced over 30 Orders as evidence that he attempted to prevent, halt or punish troops who might have been committing war crimes.  The following Orders are typical of his Orders:

“OFFICIAL GAZETTE of the Serbian Nation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Number 9, Saturday 13 June 1992, Sarajevo

“On the basis of Article 174, paragraph 1 point 14 of the Law on the Armed Forces of The Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of the Serbian Nation in B-H, No. 7/92) the President of the Presidency of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina makes the following

O R D E R

CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS OF WAR IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE SERBIAN REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

1.      The Armed Forces of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereafter the Armed Forces) and the Serbian Ministry of the Interior apply and respect the international conventions of war in armed conflict. International conventions of war as used in paragraph 1 denotes : – international agreements signed or ratified, that is accepted by the ex-Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, – the rules of international customary law governing the conduct of war. – the generally recognized principles of international law governing the conduct of war.

2.      The Commanders and officers of the Armed Forces and any other member of the Armed Forces or other armed organization participating in conflict are responsible for the application of the international conventions of war. It is the duty of officers to initiate prosecution invoking the full sanctions of the law against individuals under their command who offend against the international conventions of war.

3.      The Ministry of Defense of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is empowered to make directives on the treatment of prisoners of war.

4.      So that the international conventions of war are understood the Armed Forces will hold regular training sessions.

5.      This order comes into effect on the publication of the Official Gazette of the Serbian People in B-H and the instructions for the treatment of prisoners of war form a constituent part of it.

Number 01 – 53/92

13 May 1992

The President of the Presidency of the Serbian Republic of B-H

Dr. Radovan Karadzic”

Samuel Hinga Norman’s counsel might ask President Kabbah, Chairman of the War Council, Chairman of Defence Council, Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic whether in adopting the services of the CDF, by financing and arming them, he also issued them Orders such as other civilian Presidents have done while in the throes of war.

To illustrate the other point, here is a specimen of an Order issued by President Karadzic, to conduct an investigation upon information on violations of the laws of war.

“On the basis of Article 80, paragraph 1, point 7 of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitution and Article 7 of the Law of amendments and additions of the Constitutional Law for the Constitution’s implementation, the Presidency of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at its session held on 3rd July 1992, issued the following

O R D E R

TO CARRY OUT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ACTION OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN THE REGION OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF GACKO AND NEVESINJE

1.      The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is ordered to carry out an investigation into the action of paramilitary groups in the region of the municipalities Gacko and Nevesinje.

2.      After the completed investigation the Ministry will present a detailed report on the established facts in the region of above-mentioned municipalities to the Presidency.

Number: 01-223/92

3 July 1992

THE REPUBLIC PRESIDENT

Dr. Radovan Karadzic”

The question that impinges on this issue of statecraft is this:  Did Attorney General Solomon Berewa prepare or cause to be prepared such orders as Karadzic issued for President Kabbah.  Or to put in alternatively, did President Kabbah request that such orders be prepared for him to issue to the CDF, those paramilitary groups not having the savoir faire in the Law of Land Warfare?

CONCLUSION:

Let us recapitulate these deliberations. We have argued here the general theory of international humanitarian law governing Command Responsibility.  We have relied on the public record of the TRC and precedent to shore up our earlier debating points of departure from our compatriot Mohamed Savage.  He has made good points of argument by supposition.  He has cited legal examples as vessels to hold his views.  But alas, we still await controlling legal authority from International Humanitarian Law to ward us off from our deeply held views. We have looked in the dark recesses of his fine and learned mind.  But we ask leave to conclude these deliberations now.  We may still return to sweep the cobwebs of Counselor Savage’s argument.

Our parting shots are these: We have stated that statecraft should efficiently be undertaken by our leaders with energy to avoid enfeebling the conduct of government such as the prosecution of war.  We have cast doubt on the negotiations of peace accords and the Special Court.  We have inveighed some of Counselor Savage’s arguments and discounted others, that civilian leaders like military commanders are responsible for violations of the laws of war under certain circumstances. There is a preponderance of evidence in case law, substantive law in the Statutes of all the ad hoc international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court to dash Counselor Savage’s assertions that civilian leaders such as President Kabbah are not responsible for the violations of the laws of war by subordinates in the theatre if they knew and did not prevent, halt or punish such violations.

What is more, we have cited the indictments of civilian leaders, case law, and the opinions of legal experts to ascertain our argument that the door remains open to indict more people likely connected with the violations of the laws of war.  Our argument should not be understood to cast aspersions of criminal responsibility on the ongoing investigations by the Special Court.  The thing to keep in mind is the standing order of the Prosecutors at the Special Court: “We shall go wherever the evidence takes us.”  In that regard, whither the Prosecutors to State House?

Best regards,

John Lansana Musa

FSSG Principal marks 100 days in office

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Wednesday December 7, 2005

The Principal of the Senior Secondary School of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG), Mrs. Bobson-Kamara has marked her one hundred days in office last month.

Outlining the success made in her one hundred days in office to a cross section of journalists at the school compound last week, Mrs. Bobson Kamara said she has cemented staff relationship between herself, the teachers and some members of the Board of Trustees and the members of the Board of Governors. “I have an open door policy and my teachers trust me, I have strong relationship with them. I discussed what my plans are especially to senior teachers and members of administration before being implemented” she said.

The Principal also said that she has been able to stop illegal entries into the school which is one of the problems in some other schools.  “At the start of the school year,  I outlined the list of accepted pupils on all doors; so pupils whose names were not on the lists went back to the teacher that admitted them for information about their names that were not listed”, Mrs. Bobson-Kamara said.

She went on to say that her monitoring system is well in place to ensure that teaching in the classes goes on far better than used to be before. “Every class has a ledger in which a teacher should sign when he/she finishes teaching and from time to time, the teacher-in-charge will cross-check the method of work in the classrooms and I have conducted a screening test for the SSS 3 pupils who need to be familiar with what needs to be done for the WASC exam”, the FSSG Principal said. She further said that teachers are now getting their allowances and salary on time every month and that she has concluded her first assessment tests with the distribution of report cards to pupils last week and the conclusion of admissions of SSS 1 pupils. “I will convene a Parents/ Teachers meeting so that the parents will advice their pupils to put more premium on their work,” she added.

It should be recalled that the FSSG Principal, Mrs Bobson-Kamara, had outlined fresh plans which she described as a challenge, but ones which are not insurmountable and promised to raise the standard of the FSSG in all areas.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY  MUST HELP LIBERIA DECIDE ON TAYLOR’S EXTRADITION TO SPECIAL COURT —Ellen Johnson -Sirleaf

Monday November 21, 2005

Liberia ‘s President-Elect Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf today asked the African Union ( AU ) ,  the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) and the international community   to help Liberia make the decision to extradite former President Charles Taylor from Nigeria to face war crimes charges before the Special Court of Sierra Leone.

Mrs .Johnson-Sirleaf said that the two organizations were parties to the arrangement that led to Taylor being granted asylum by the Nigerian government. She said that the decision to extradite Taylor should not be left on Liberia’s head alone.

Today’s statement by Mrs.Johnson-Sirleaf came at the heels of rumors that some legislators in the newly-elected Liberian senate might push for Johnson-Sirleaf herself to be tried by the Special Court for aiding and abbetting Taylor .The rumours were however regarded my some Liberians as foolish because in it was not possible , they argued, for  sitting Presidents to face criminal prosecution .

Mrs. Sirleaf promised to give consideration to the Taylor issue when she assumes power .She said whatever decision was taken would seek to satisfy all the parties responsible for bringing peace to Liberia.

The Taylor issue will haunt the Sirleaf government .Already , the European Union ( EU )  has promised to withhold aid to Liberia if she did not send Taylor to Freetown to face charges that he financed and supported the rebel war in Sierra Leone.

MAYOR WANTS GOVT. TO ACCOUNT FOR LOANS AND AID BEFORE ASKING FOR DEBT RELIEF

Tuesday November 15, 2005

The Mayor of Freetown, Mr. Winstanley Bankole Johnson,  has said that it was the height of recklessness for the government of Sierra Leone to ask for debt relief from the international community when it has not accounted for all the loans and economic aid it has received in the past.

The Mayor , who accused the government of being chronically corrupt, was responding to a question posed to him by the Editor of COCORIOKO , Rev. Wilfred Leeroy Kabs-Kanu , during an exclusive interview at the TREETOPS Hotel in Somerset where the Mayor stayed during his recent visit to New Jersey .” It is the height of recklessness for the government to also ask for more aid when they have eaten the ones given them previously”, he asserted.

Mayor Johnson called on international donor agencies not to give the President Tejan Kabbah government anything more until they have accounted for what they have received. The Mayor said further that he had often asked for a total inventory of the government’s debt portfolio.

The Mayor longed for the day when an international tribunal would be set up in Sierra Leone to try those who have committed economic atrocities against the people , like the Special Court which is presently trying those who had committed physical atrocities against the people.

The Mayor accused the government of being uncommitted to national development. He charged that because the government was upset for losing the Freetown municipality to the APC,  it was busy placing all kinds of barriers before him in his quest to develop the capital .He said the government was undermining him seriously , yet people who did not understand kept accusing him of being proud and arrogant. He stated that he was not proud and arrogant but he would not do anything that was designed to divert his attention for the reasons he was elected. He wanted to know how a government committed to the success of the Freetown City Council would do things to sow the seeds of disunity in the council.

The Mayor complained that recently the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID ) stated that Sierra Leone was  much-aided and was receiving sufficient aid from  the international community. The Mayor cried : “If Sierra Leone is much aided, why don’t we come together to ask the government what it did with the money ? Where is the money ? If what DFID  said was untrue , why is the government not taking them to task ? If Sierra Leone qualifies for debt relief, why are we not getting it ? ”

The Mayor accused the Kabbah government of not only being corrupt but unserious .He wondered how a serious government will indulge in dirty politics and hinder the chances for the development of its capital, just because it lost the municipality to the opposition .

READ COCORIOKO TOMORROW FOR MORE ON THE INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. WE ARE PRODUCING THE INTERVIEW IN SERIES OF ARTICLES FOR EASY DIGESTIBILITY BY OUR READERS.

NO NEXUS INDEED BETWEEN SPECIAL COURT AND THE SIERRA LEONE JUDICIARY

Monday October 31, 2005

First_Name: Dr. Baimba Last_Name: Kamara, (LAW) Email_Address: [email protected] Address: 7803 Candle green Ln. City: Houston State: Texas Zip_Code: 77071 Comments: SPECIAL COURT IN SIERRA LEONE: Dr. Baimba Kamara, JD. (Law) HOUSTON, Texas. I noted with interest the arguments of Mr. Charles Margai and Lawyer Serry Kamal as stated by Mr. Kabs-Kanu on the Cocorioko net, challenging the constitutionality of the SPECIAL COURT IN SIERRA LEONE before the Sierra Leone supreme Court. The two lawyers were trying to prove before the Supreme Court that the Special Court has no case against their three clients. In essence, they were actually arguing about the jurisdictional issue- ie, that the SPECIAL COURT lacks jurisdiction over their clients. If the Sierra Leone Supreme Court was going to uphold their argument, then the president of Sierra Leone, in this case, His Excellency Dr.Alhaji Tejan Kabba, does not have the Executive authority to enter in to any international agreements even though the Sierra Leone constitution authorized him. When we talk about international or foreign, that field is under the domain of the president. He/she has the constitutional authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the country. If this is constitutionally so, then the SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT is legitimate and therefore has jurisdiction over the three clients, because of the agreement entered into between President Kabba on behalf of Sierra Leone and the UNITED NATIONS. Furthermore, the Special Court under the United Nations has no nexus with the Sierra Leone Judiciary. In a layman’s term, it means that, there is no linkage between the Sierra Leone Judiciary and that of the UN Special Court. WHY SPECIAL COURT? In all fairness to President Tejan Kabba, I do not think that he would rush to eatablish a special Court just to avail Sierra Leonean citizens to International Judicial Process. I strongly believed that he was an unwilling negotiator. But… President Tejan Kabba has no other choice but to allow the establishment of the Special Court in Sierra Leone because of the principle of UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION. The universality principle provides for jurisdiction to enforce against crimes that have independent basis in International Law. In other words, the principle applies to crimes that affect the international community and are against Internatioanl Law. Technically speaking, universal enforcement jurisdiction has been recognized over crimes against mankind, and the enemies of the whole human family ie.”humani generis”. As a result, we can reasonably infer that the past war in Sierra Leone fits this description; no matter what position you may take. HOW DO WE DEFEND THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE SPECAIL COURT IN SIERRA LEONE? Lawyers should make strong connections with more evidence that, the government of Sierra Leone, especially government officials in higher positions in particular, knowingly or have reasons to know that the defendants were their agents; and that they were tacitly sponsoring the defendants in many ways etc. KEY: CONNECT THE GOVERNMENT TO THE ISSUE.

PUBLIC PRAISES PRESIDENT KABBAH FOR COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON GLORIA NEWMAN-SMART

Friday October 28, 2005

A cross-section of the Freetown public yesterday hailed the new commission of inquiry set up to probe  the death of the late Sierra Leonean Chief of Immigration, Mrs. Gloria Newman-Smart. A sampling of public opinion by our reporter ,  Olu Faulkner , discovered that the public was highly grateful to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah for the commission of inquiry.

Apparently responding to calls by journalists, lawyers and members of the public for an investigation into  whether other extraneous factors played their hands in the death of Newman-Smart, the government of President Kabbah announced on Wednesday that a commission had been set up to look into the former Imiigration Boss’ death.

According to the Sierra Leoneans questioned by Olu Faulkner in poda podas, taxis and on street corners, the government was being highly commended for showing a sense of justice . The public equated the commission set up to probe Gloria’s death to the coroner’s inquest that found Parliamentarian, Fatmata Hassan, her sons and an evaluator culpable in the beating death of journalist, Harry Yansaneh. several months ago.

Olu Faulkner said some of the elderly Sierra Leoneans he spoke with recalled a time in Sierra Leone when many citizens died suspiciously but nobody had the guts to discuss it in public, not to mention call for a commission of inquiry or a coroner’s inquest. They gave as typical example the death of the one-time Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Mr. Sam Bangura, who was allegedly bumped off  by  alleged hit men hired by the government in power.They also recalled a time when a newspaper vendor called Hindolo was killed by agents of the government at a newspaper office and nothing came out of it.

The public expressed concern about the rumors swirling in the country about the circumstances leading to the death of the former Immigration Chief, Gloria Newman-Smart. They agreed with those people theorizing that certain actions by the Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) , which may have amounted to harassment, may have been prime contributors to the death of the late woman.

The Sierra Leoneans whose opinion Olu Faulkner sampled said that the culture of impunity in Sierra Leone had reached a point where the government had to start acting in the interest of the public to probe suspicious deaths.

Gloria Newman-Smart died suddenly three weeks ago after being the subject of a  protracted row with the ACC over allegations of corruption. Following the investigation, the ACC  put out this press release :

The Anti-Corruption Commission has concluded its investigations into allegations that the Chief Immigration Officer Gloria Newman Smart misappropriated $520 obtained for the issuing of 26 passports via the Sierra Leone High Commission in London.

It will be recalled that the Commission acted when numerous allegations were made in the media. Consequently the Commission has interviewed witnesses in both the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone.

The Commission has established that whilst clear breaches of correct procedure for the issuing of passports were apparent that no offences under the Anti-Corruption Act can be proved against Mrs. Smart beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore the Commission has closed its investigations and in the absence of any new evidence no action will be taken.

Nonetheless the $520 remains unaccounted for and many of the 26 alleged Sierra Leonean citizens to whom passports were issued cannot be traced.

During the course of its investigations the Commission discovered substantial amounts of suspect documentation that have been passed to the Office of National Security.

Koloneh Sankoh
Ag. Public Relations Officer
29th September, 2005

The surprising thing was that though Gloria was cleared by the ACC ,  she was still sent on leave by the government and some sections of the media have been reporting that she continued to receive threatening letters from sources that may not be unconnected with the ACC.

The public opined yesterday that if it was true that Mrs. Newman-Smart suffered from high blood pressure, any harassment of her could have endangered her health and it would be in the interest of the nation to find out whether such harassment, if at all, played any part in bringing on the ill-health from which she suddenly died.

APC CRISIS CONTINUES , AS ERNEST KOROMA AND 7 OTHERS IN COURT FOR CONSPIRACY TO DEFEAT PUBLIC JUSTICE

Wednesday October 12, 2005

The crisis in the opposition All People’s Congress ( APC )  has continued , with party leader and Presidential candidate ,  Ernest Bai Koroma and seven othermembers of the party  appearing  before magistrate Sam Margai of the Freetown magistrate court no. 1 to answer a twenty – count charge of conspiracy to defeat public justice and other related offenses contrary to law.

The case was adjourned because the fifth defendant, Dauda Kamara , was not present in court. The counsel for the APC  defendants , Mr. Sheku Turay,  in his submission to the court, argued that Dauda Kamara had not stayed away deliberately. Rather, Mr. Kamara had gone abroad to attend to important matters.

     To this effect, counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Bu-Buakai Jabbie, denied knowlege of any information about the trip. He said that he only knew from a letter written to him to the effect, at a latter time.

        The court was adjourned to October 25, 2005 following a warning by Magistrate Margai to Mr. Kamara to make sure he did not miss the new court date.

U.S.continues tough policy against criminal Aliens

24 GHANAIANS AND 31 LIBERIANS DEPORTED FROM THE U.S

 Saturday September 23, 2005

Read report from the Ghana News Agency

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA – The US Embassy in Accra on Friday explained that 24 Ghanaians who were deported from the US were convicted of various offences, including possession of drugs, domestic violence and other crimes.

“Under US law, both non-immigrants and immigrants (“green card” holders) can lose their legal status as a result of criminal convictions and can be rendered deportable under US immigration law,” said a statement from the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy in Accra.

“The deportees were afforded all due process rights contained within the US system of jurisprudence,” it added.

A total of 55 people, made up of 24 Ghanaians and 31 Liberians, arrived in Accra on Thursday after the US Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement had deported them. The chartered commercial flight that brought the Ghanaians continued to Liberia with the Liberians.

The statement said in support of this repatriation, a member of the Ghana diplomatic corps stationed at the Ghana Consulate in New York City interviewed all 24 of them prior to the aircraft’s departure and accompanied the flight to Accra to ensure that the deportees’ travel documents were in order.

The statement said there was an automatic 10-year bar against deported aliens from legally re-entering the US, adding that re-entering the US after being formally deported was a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The Ghanaians who arrived in Accra on Thursday told tales of mistreatment against them.

Some of them, who said they were legally resident in the US, looked traumatised and claimed they were not allowed to contact their families in the US. They were also not informed of their deportation.

Mr Richmond Oklu, 68, who had lived in the US for over 40 years, said he had five children in the US and served jail term for domestic violence in 1988 after which he was given a 10-year probation. He said he was sent to jail again for a similar offence in 2003.

He said he was a veteran who served in Vietnam for the US and added that he had a 25-year-old son serving with the US army in Iraq.

“I am disturbed because as I stand here now my case is pending before a US court yet my wife and children do not even know that I am in Ghana.”

Mr Joseph Owusu, 52, who said he had been in the US since 1977 and was a legal resident, said he was arrested for forgery and jailed 60 days after which he was deported.

Mr Owusu said he was picked up in 2004 and had been moved from one detention camp to another since then.

Stephen Abzinah, 66, who could hardly talk and limped, told the Ghana News Agency that he had been in the US since 1978. He said he was arrested and convicted for possessing controlled substance.

Source: GNA

ALLEVIATING  POVERTY  AND STAMPING OUT CORRUPTION AMONG BEREWA’S PRIORITIES

Wednesday September 14, 2005

If he wins the Presidential Elections in 2007, alleviating poverty and stamping out corruption will be among the main priorities of Vice-President Solomon Berewa, the SLPP Leader-designate  and Presidential candidate  told COCORIOKO  last night in an exclusive interview conducted by the Editor of the paper, Rev. W.L Kabs-Kanu .

Mr. Berewa said that there is already a poverty alleviation program which he will follow. He indicated that President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah already had the program and what he, Mr. Berewa , will have to do is to build up on it.

As for corruption, the Vice-President stated that eradicating it in Sierra Leone will be another of his many priorities. Mr. Berewa hinted that he already had a track record of fighting corruption. He drew the Editor’s attention to the foundation he laid while he was Attorney General .He said that his efforts were now bearing dividend and he hopes to continue it , if elected President.

READ MORE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW IN OUR TOMORROW’S UPDATE.

How the Supreme Court ruled against Hinga Norman

Thursday  September 1, 2005

TAMBA BORBOR REPORTS FROM FREETOWN

The Supreme Court yesterday struck off five of the original notice of motion filled to it by Special Court indictee, Chief Sam Hinga Norman against the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) by a unanimous decision of the five Judges.

After a lengthy 33-pages judgement from the Chief Justice- Dr. Ade Renner-Thomas,  spanning over an hour, all of the Judges agreed that the original notice of motion should be struck off. At the conclusion of the various addresses, the Chief Justice- Dr. Ade Renner-Thomas gave the following orders: firstly, he stated, “the claims for the first and second relief in the originating notice of motion are hereby struck out as they could not be granted in this Court’s original jurisdiction.”

The Chief Justice went on, “the second and third relief in the original notice of motion are hereby struck off for want of locus standi on the part of the plaintiff.” The order further emphasised: “in view of orders one and two above, the fifth relief on the original notice of motion- that for a permanent injunction is stroke out accordingly.” He went on to discharged the defendants from the undertaking they gave to his Court on August 16^th 2005. The order from the Court relating to the undertaking as to damages given by the plaintiff on the 16^th August 2005 is to remain on the file until further notice.

Chief Justice Renner-Thomas further emphasised to the Court that each party should bear its own cost of the proceedings so far and rounded up that both parties have liberty to apply for clarification on issues raised in the judgement. The thorny issue of whether the Supreme Court had jurisdiction to hear the matter was extensively dealt with by the respective judges who in summary emphasised that they have such powers to hear the legal arguments. Another issue that featured prominently in the various judgements was whether the plaintiff, Chief Sam Hinga Norman has the locus standi to bring the matter to the Supreme Court. These, the judges ruled against; indicating that he does not have the right to seek the jurisdiction of the Court.

The Chief Justice expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to both Dr. Bu-Buakei Jabbie, for the plaintiff and Lawyer Eke Halloway for the defendants for their contribution in the matter. Meanwhile, the Delegates Convention of the SLPP to choose the flagbearer of the Party has been slated for 3^rd and 4^th September in the northern headquarter town of Makeni.

Fatmata Hassan released

Husband poisoned in Jimmy Bagbor

Monday August 29, 2005

Cocorioko Reporter Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Mr. Alusine Scott Jah of Jimmy Bagbor in the Bo District has reportedly been poisoned by one of his wives. Mr. Jah who is presently undergoing medical treatment at the Gondama Health Centre is reported to have eaten food, which had been contaminated with caustic soda.

According to report, Mr. Alusine Jah has two wives- Sombo Jah (eldest) and Baindu Jah. Sombo is said to have been married to Alusine for two years while the younger wife- Baindu was married few weeks ago.

Source close to the family disclosed that since Baindu was married, Mr. Jah has not slept with her because he only has a single room, which is being shared together with the eldest wife. The younger wife has been sleeping elsewhere together with relatives of the husband.

As a traditional practice in native homes, the husband gives money meant for food to the eldest wife while she in turn passes it to the younger wife who does the cooking while the eldest would dish the food afterwards.

On 18^th August, Mr. Alusine Scott Jah is reported to have secured another room where he was to sleep with Baindu for the first time. On this same day, he is reported to have come late from work and wanted to eat his own food. No sooner he put the first spoonful in his mouth than he could not swallow it the report states; adding that he then discovered that the food had been poisoned with caustic soda. Mr. Jah was then rushed to the hospital where he is responding to treatment. Meanwhile, the two wives are helping the Bo Police Station in their investigation.

Iraq job seeker sent home injured 

Sunday August 21, 2005 

By Tamba Borbor , Cocorioko’s City Editor

A Sierra Leonean who left in search of greener pastures in war torn Iraq has been flown home with serious head injuries after he was trapped when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in his container apartment. The victim has been identified as Alusine Taylor-Kamara, who arrived with the Belleview flight on Wednesday at the Lungi International Airport.

Narrating his ordeal to yesterday at Masoila, Alusine said that he was among the fifth batch who left the shores of Sierra Leone on July 29 this year. He went on to explain that when they left Sierra Leone on that fateful day they were taken first to Libya and later to Baghdad, where they encountered a lot of difficulties at the airport, and they had to use the emergency exit of the plane to board a bus that took them to the Baghdad airport. From there he said they tendered their passport to the airport authorities where they were stamped and given a visa to Iraq.

He disclosed that his own serial number was 12527, and was even given a cap, bullet proof and weapon, contrary to what they were told before their departure. Alusine Taylor-Kamara went on to narrate how they were cautioned to dive flat on the ground if they heard the sound of gunshots. As they were travelling between 15-20 miles from the airport to their camp he said they survived two ambushes and one attack. With these attacks, he said, they were then flown to their working place and were lodged in a container in the company of some Americans.

Further explaining his ordeal he stated that contrary to what they were informed here in Sierra Leone before their departure, he was subjected to three days of military training. On how he got involved in the fracas, Alusine Taylor-Kamara explained that he was in their camp when a girl of about 7 years, approached them and requested that she wanted to have a drink, so he sent her further down the container for the water. After she drank, he said, the girl decided to have a short rest and within five minutes of taking a seat the entire container was blown up.

He explained that the suicide bomber claimed the lives of series of people and he was lucky to escape with some fragment on his head. He expressed fear that most of his compatriot might be dead because of frequent attacks on their position. He advised parents to ensure that they mount up pressure to forestall more Sierra Leoneans departing to Iraq, because what was promised has now turned out to be contrary to the arrangements. Alusine left Freetown to work as a customer service assistant. Another Sierra Leonean was flown home with him yesterday with a damaged foot.

__________________________________________________

JOURNALIST’S FUNERAL MARKED BY CALLS FOR JUSTICE

Wednesday August 3, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Journalists turned out in unprecedented numbers July 31 to pay homage to their departed colleague Harry Yansaneh, as placards demanding for justice in respect of those responsible for his alleged death dominated the sad event. Some of the placards read: “We demand justice in this rotten system,” “Bring those responsible for Harry’s death to book,” “Dr. Fatmata Hassan is not above the law.” “Who murdered Harry?” “HARA mourns the death of Harry Yansaneh RIP.”

The banner of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), which led the funeral procession read: “SLAJ mourns the death of Harry Yansaneh. Who was murdered. We call for those responsible to face justice.”

The solidarity of Journalists started Saturday July 30 when they converged at the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) to pay sad tributes to the remains of the young, vibrant and promising editor. There was a candle light procession to the former ?fleet street’ of Sierra Leone Journalism at No. 1 Short Street, where the late journalist was alleged to have been molested by the Hon. Fatmata Hassan and family sometime in May.

On Sunday, his colleagues at the Mass Communications Department at Fourah Bay College wearing their academic gowns joined the procession from the Central Mosque after prayers, along with the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists to the Kissy Road Cemetery where the young and promising acting editor was laid to rest.

As the procession moved along the main streets people stood to cast evil spells on those who are alleged to be responsible for his death and even those who have woefully failed to take the necessary appropriate action to bring them to justice. One elderly woman was heard commenting along Kissy Road, “May God grant you peaceful rest and punish all those who have sent you to your early exit.” Indeed this was the sad episode that dominated the funeral procession of Harry Yansaneh.

THAT GOOGLE LETTER : ANOTHER EXAGGERATION AND SELF-EXALTATION  BY AWARENESS TIMES

Awareness Times is really preying on the  gullibility( Or extreme penchant not to take her seriously ) , stoic character and silence of Sierra Leoneans online by feeding them with lies and exaggeration. The front page report that Google has found the paper to be a credible source of information is an  unnecessary self-exaltation . We are concerned because innocent ones  like PAPASALONE  had started reading meaning into it.It does not mean AWARENESS  is winning anything.  We received the same letter from Google as soon as we started publishing. It is routine if you publish news items regularly. We did not follow up on it.

Google is a business entity and their decisions to carry websites are guided more by their thrust  for more economic returns.

What the Publisher has done is to submit the paper’s name to the Google  search engine . Google will feature Gbanabome’s PATROTIC VANGUARD  or Victor Sylver’s   SIERRA HERALD  if they went through the same process which usually  involves a fee. Usually, it is done by your hosting company if you instruct them to do so. GOOGLE  is nothing but a search engine which can feature any website registered with their search engine.

COCORIOKO   did not only receive the same letter but is listed as a credible source of information by the following  world organizations which register online newspapers :Kidon News Link, World Newspapers Online, World News papers.Com (which describes COCORIOKO  as the biggest and the most-widely read Sierra Leonean newspaper online ), the Walter Clinton Jackson  Library of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and ADU INC. Just type in African Nwspapers Online using the same Google search engine. We have not bragged about this. There is no reason for it.Any newspaper reporting news regularly can be listed by them.

More importantly, for 2 consecutive years in 2002 and 2003 , COCORIOKO  was nominated  by CNN  for the annual African Newspaper of the Year Competition, which readers can recall we published. We were thrilled and flattered. We could not  however go for the competition because we do not have a print edition , which is a condition. We should have been writing on our masthead : 2002 and 2003 CNN Nominee for African Newspaper Of The Year, if we wanted self-exaltation, but we believe that man must not exalt himself. Only God exalt  a person.

If we take our time to submit our paper to all search engines, they will carry our news similarly, but it is one thing we have not concentrated on. I have always said that I did not go into journalism for self-exaltation or money but for a desire to serve–A fact that all who went to CKC and FBC  with me will acknowledge. Today, Sylvia Blyden’s supporter wrote in our forum that I am the only journalist who does not receive money for my work and he advised me to change the trend. It is only sad that we who have a genuine desire to serve our country selflessly are being harassed by a criminal and mercenary who is jealous and wants to stal our halo. .

Our readership is now in the region of 1, 500 daily .We are even read widely in Sierra Leone. I learnt all that these few days when the Awareness Times accelerated its offensive of envy and malice against us. This is why our article gives the AWARENESS TIMES Publisher sleepless nights. They are read in Sierra Leone and they carry weight.   If not, why all the fuss about our articles ?

AllAFRICA.Com is another source that publishes articles from African newspapers , but it is only with newspapers that have print editions. The Liberian paper, DAILY OBSERVER , which is online was told by ALL Africa. Com that when they establish their print version, their articles will be carried. We want to warn our readers ahead of time. When the courtesy is extended to AWARENESS ,  it does not mean that they are the best. It just means that they have a print edition and the organization wants to do business with them.

As a matter of fact, AWARENESS TIMES  is performing poorly in the Freetown market, so poorly that it is the cheapest in price. Other newspapers go for Le.500 and at times more when there is hot news. But AWARENESS TIMES costs Le 100  because its sales are poor. Only 200 copies are produced and most return unsold. I got this information from pressmen in Sierra Leone . You all know fron simple Economics that commodities of higher value are expensive on the market.

The Awareness Times Publisher  is a criminal who connived with the RUF and AFRC  rebels to destroy Sierra Leone. She deserves to be in jail and nd not outside harassing innocent people.  She is doing everything to gain credibility  and acceptance .This could have meant nothing to us if she had left us alone. But she just won’t leave us alone.She  wants to gain credibility at our expense and we will not allow that. We  too will go all out to unmask any lie , self-exaltation and exaggeration by her. The gloves are off.

INDICTEES’ WIVES CONTEMPT CASE ADJOURNED 

Friday July 22, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

The Presiding Judge of the first Trials Chamber of the Special Court, Justice Pierre Boutet has adjourned to Wednesday 27th July the case of wives of three AFRC indictees.

The three women- Margaret Fomba Brima, Anifa Kamara and Neneh Binta Jalloh are wives of AFRC indictees- Alex Tamba Brima, Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Kanu alias ?55′ respectively.

When the Presiding Judge called up the case, he had to give a period of one week to the newly appointed Independent Prosecutor- Bintu Amadu Tejan Jalloh to familiarize herself with the case file.

The Defence Team of the indictees comprising C.O Osho-Williams, Amadu Koroma and Andrew Daniels however accepted the adjournment date. The three women including their friend, Esther Kamara are standing trial for contempt of court for allegedly disclosing the identity of a Prosecution witness sometime ago.

MOBILIZE LOCAL RESOURCES TO COMPLEMENT DONOR FUNDING : Actionaid Country Director

Thursday July 21, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

The Country Director of Actionaid Sierra Leone, Mr. Tennyson Williams has disclosed his organisation’s willingness in spearheading moves to set up a local Trust Fund for the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

He disclosed this at an interactive meeting organised at the offices of Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and the State to Improve Poor People’s Lives (ENCISS) at Old Railway Line. Mr. Williams maintained that there is an urgent need to mobilise local resources in complementing donor funding for the implementation of the PRSP. International donors Mr. Williams said would eventually come on board if they see Sierra Leoneans setting the stage through local resource mobilisation aimed at funding poverty reduction projects contained in the PRSP.

 He noted that if every citizen of this country contributes even a Le1, 000 to the Trust Fund, it would go a long way in kick-starting some projects in the Paper while others would be undertaken through eventual donor funding. Although Actionaid Country Director did not give an exact timeframe for the setting up of the Trust Fund,  “we need to start on our own even before the holding of any Donors’ Conference on Sierra Leone regarding the funding of the PRSP.”

He called on all well-meaning organisations to support this novel idea in helping to making poverty history in Sierra Leone. Reacting to the G8 communiqu�, he bluntly puts it that no giant steps have been taken by the G8 regarding Africa- but only tiny steps. He maintained that although the announcement on debt is welcomed, it however falls far short of what is needed. “Only 18 countries have had their debts cancelled; leaving 40 more waiting. For these countries this is a major disappointment,” Mr. Williams stated.

On trade, he stated that the G8 have completely failed to deliver trade justice whiles stating that the promise of AIDS treatment for all by 2010 is welcome but “the means to deliver this target need to be put it place.” On aid, he said it is a good thing but that it is still too little too late and much of it is not new money.

Class II pupil discloses how a rebel impregnated her

Saturday July 16, 2005

By Tamba Borbor in Freetown

In her evidence before the Trial Chamber of the Special Court, Prosecution witness, TF1-014 has narrated how she was raped by a rebel, which eventually left her pregnant.

The witness who could not ascertain her age said they were attacked by the rebels and some members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) in August 1998 at Bamukura village in the Koinadugu District.

“When the attack occurred, all the civilians fled into the bush to seek refuge,’ the witness said. But the rebels she explained captured her parents and took them in a house where they were taken away and killed. “My cousin who was also captured together with my parents, informed me that they had been killed; so I went to the place where I saw my father’s head lying after been chopped off. My mother too was laying their dead,” she said.

The witness went on to say that Andrew, who was a rebel, later captured her. During the time of her capture, the witness noted that she was in class II and had not even reached puberty stage. “We were taken to Yemadugu where I was raped by Andrew. I would have been killed if I had refused him. After the raping, I later realized that I was pregnant. I used to launder and do other menial jobs for him as I was with him for a very long time,” the witness narrated.

During their stay she said, the civilians both men and women were trained in the use of weapons by a man called- ?Oga my brother’. “The civilians again left Yemadugu for Bamukoro as Superman had ordered that all the women in the village should leave, as he maintained that they were not allowing the boys to fight,” she explained further.

The troops journeyed through various villages under the Command of Saj Musa until they stopped in Kamalo where Reverend Farther Mario was captured, the witness recounted. ” Saj Musa ordered that the Forces should advance to Freetown. When we entered Waterloo, the women were queued up- pregnant women, suckling mothers and then followed by Saj’s group.”   Continuing, TF1-014 further stated that she was with the troops until they retreated to Makeni where she had a stillbirth, she told the Court.

Special Court revelations.

How over 500 civilians were killed in Karina

Tuesday July 12, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Led in evidence by the Prosecution team, witness TF1-033 has told the Court that over 500 civilians were killed; about 400 amputated, while over 100 women and girls were raped and houses burnt. The witness said he was a Journalist opposed to military intervention as the means of removing the ARFC junta from power. So as a result, this got him to support the junta forces. As the junta forces were dislodged the witness said, he went with them as he wanted to escape from the mob in Freetown. The witness maintained that they left Freetown for Kono under the command of Gullit and finally arrived in Tombodu. “We went to Yifea after Gullit had addressed the fighters in Yayah to make another move to capture Freetown. In Yifea, 50 civilians were killed; there was also raping by the forces. After the attack at Yifea, we headed for Samabendugu which was also attacked and about 40 civilians were killed, while amputations were also carried out.” The witness continued, “the group started to rove again. Before we could arrive in Bonoya and Karina in June 1998, Gullit gave orders that since Karina was the home Town of President Tejan Kabbah, the people there should face the same punishment that was meted out on the supporters of the AFRC and their families after they had been overthrown. The village was then attacked and about 500 civilians were killed; 300 amputated and over 100 women and girls were raped. Houses were set on fire; over 300 were abducted and stripped naked.” The 45-year-old witness also told the Court that the troops went to Madaya where they were attacked by CDF fighters; an attack which left four of the CDF men dead.  “Gullit then ordered that because of the heavy downpour of rain, the troops should take a rest. So we went to Camp Rosus where Gullit instructed the men to kill all the captured civilians as he does not want them to escape and give information to the ECOMOG troop of their location,” the witness said. He went on to explain that the civilians were later killed; adding that as there was no food in Rosus, the fighters were sent on a food-finding mission to the nearby villages. The fighters came with some looted items with the aid of some civilians who were killed on the instruction of Gullit. “In July 1998, Gullit ordered ?55′ and other Commanders to attack the ECOMOG troops in Gbinti for arms and ammunition.” This operation the witness said, was successful as the men returned with some ammunition and reported to Gullit; saying that there were no civilians in the town and that it was burnt down.  He also ordered an operation for more arms and ammunition at Gbere Masmante village in the Port Loko District were about 40 civilians were killed and the town burnt down. Three fighters died during this operation- prominent among was a notorious one called ?Oga’. “The force stayed in Rosus from June until August 1998 when we were driven by heavy bombardment and air raids for two weeks by the ECOMOG troops,” TFI-O33 further explained.

David Crane speaks on his legacies as Chief Prosecutor .

“I brought down the most powerful warlord in Africa”

By Tamba Borbor

Tuesday June 28, 2005

Outgoing Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, David Crane has said Monday 27^th June that bringing down the former Liberian President- Charles Taylor from power is one of his legacies.

Speaking at his last Press briefing at the offices of Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) at Wallace Johnson Street, Crane said, “when I signed the indictment of Charles Taylor with the stroke of a pen, I brought down the most powerful warlord in Africa.” This he said clearly shows that the rule of law is more powerful than the rule of the gun. Among other legacies he is leaving behind, David Crane stated that he had began “to show the people of West Africa that the law is fair. Certainly, no one is above the law and the rule of law is more powerful than the rule of the gun.”

On the issue of Charles Taylor’s extradition to be tried by the Special Court, Mr. David Crane stated that the international community has stressed its commitment to the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the desire to see the war crimes indictee turned over for a fair and transparent trial. ” The international community through our work in the UN. has clearly stated that Charles Taylor is a meddler; is a terrorist and a war criminal,” he said, adding, ” the ball is clearly in the court of the international community who has accepted responsibility and are now working out ways by which Charles Taylor can come to the Special Court for Sierra Leone.”

David Crane who is leaving the Special Court as Prosecutor after serving for three years, maintained that Taylor’s extradition to the Court may not happen in the time frame he would like to see it but that “I can assure you that it is moving to an appropriate conclusion.” He noted that it is with great pride and some sadness that he is leaving, while disclosing that he hopes to return back to Sierra Leone someday.