By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Wednesday March 29 , 2006

Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) in collaboration with  West Africans to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, recently ended a one-day animated  seminar  entitled:  Advancing Human Security in Post Conflict Sierra Leone- Its Challenges and Prospects. The seminar took place at Satanno House, Howe Street in Freetown.

 In his statement, Mr. Nat John  the Deputy Director of the Office of National Security (ONS) said, the ONS is the highest security  body in the country. He added that it comprises the President, Ministers and other  government bodies. He said that according to the Act which set up the ONS, the object the ONS is to provide the highest forum for the consideration and determination of matters relating to the security of the country and to consolidate and take appropriate measures to safeguard internal and external security of the country.

Miatta Samba a representative from the Special Court said that according to UNICEF and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts, more than 10,000 children fought in Sierra Leone during the war. She said that the three armed factions, namely the AFRC,RUF and the CDF comprised of principal  perpetrators of human rights abuses including recruitment of child soldiers.

According to Mr. Donald  Robertshaw, a Child Protection Officer attached to UNICEF Sierra Leone, three million people were displaced, 5,000 killed, over 200,000 women and girls sexually assaulted, over 15,000 to 20,000 children were associated with fighting forces while over 4,000 children were abducted with about 60% being girls. He spoke of how the war affected children and destroyed  basis social services which created inadequate schooling and limited access to health facilities.

CGG, others end one day seminar

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Wednesday March 29, 2006

Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) in collaboration with  West Africans to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, recently ended a one-day animated  seminar  entitled:  Advancing Human Security in Post Conflict Sierra Leone- Its Challenges and Prospects. The seminar took place at Satanno House, Howe Street in Freetown.

In his statement, Mr. Nat John  the Deputy Director of the Office of National Security (ONS) said, the ONS is the highest security  body in the country. He added that it comprises the President, Ministers and other  government bodies. He said that according to the Act which set up the ONS, the object the ONS is to provide the highest forum for the consideration and determination of matters relating to the security of the country and to consolidate and take appropriate measures to safeguard internal and external security of the country.

Miatta Samba a representative from the Special Court said that according to UNICEF and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts, more than 10,000 children fought in Sierra Leone during the war. She said that the three armed factions, namely the AFRC,RUF and the CDF comprised of principal  perpetrators of human rights abuses including recruitment of child soldiers.

According to Mr. Donald  Robertshaw, a Child Protection Officer attached to UNICEF Sierra Leone, three million people were displaced, 5,000 killed, over 200,000 women and girls sexually assaulted, over 15,000 to 20,000 children were associated with fighting forces while over 4,000 children were abducted with about 60% being girls. He spoke of how the war affected children and destroyed  basis social services which created inadequate schooling and limited access to health facilities.

 SLPP convention postponed indefinitely

Wednesday August 17, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Lawyers for the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) have agreed not to hold any conference until the court case filed by Presidential aspirant Samuel Hinga Norman is disposed of in the Supreme Court.

This was made clear in court yesterday by Lawyer Eke Holloway lead counsel for the SLPP after lawyer Bu-Buakei Jabbie representing Hinga Norman had filed for an interlocutory injunction to stop the SLPP from “choosing selecting or electing” a presidential nominee at their conference which was scheduled to be held this weekend.

Addressing the panel of judges, Lawyer Dr. Bu-Buakei Jabbie emphasized that they are not opposed to the party holding its conference this weekend, but that if they do, the SLPP should not nominate or elect a Presidential nominee or candidate or leader of the SLPP. He further argued that it should be done at the conclusion of the matter before the Supreme Court. Lawyer Eke Halloway replied saying that were ready to make an undertaking that they would not hold the conference until after the case had been decided on by the Supreme court.

At this point lawyer Bu-Buakie Jabbie argued that lawyer Halloway had gone too far, and that they were not calling for a postponement of the conference. Chief Justice Renner-Thomas joking remarked that Dr Jabbie was asking for ten dollars and he was given one hundred dollars and yet he was still complaining. But Dr Jabbie clarified his point that he was worried at the wide latitude of the undertaking because of the implications, which might arise when it came to considering damages for the action.

The Chief Justice then agreed with him and after a few other clarifications the court was adjourned for an hour to allow both counsels to formulate their undertakings. When the sittings were resumed almost three hours later the Chief Justice gave a six point order, in which he called on Dr Sama Banya (Chairman) Prince Harding (Secretary General) and Brima Koroma (Administrative Secretary representing the membership of the SLPP) to make an undertaking to the court that the SLPP conference to be held on 19-20th August or any other time in 2005 will not nominate or elect a presidential nominee, “candidate and/or a leader or at any other party conference thereafter in 2005 until the determination by this court of the plaintiff/applicant’s substantive application in the originating notice of motion of 27th July 2005.”

The Chief Justice further addressed Dr Jabbie representing Hinga Norman to give a cross-undertaking on behalf of Hinga Norman that they “shall abide by any order which this court may make as to damages in case this court shall be of the opinion that the defendants/respondents herein shall have suffered any damages by reason of the undertaking they have given to this court on the 15th day of August 2005 and which the plaintiff/applicant ought to pay.”

He also ordered that, both the undertaking and cross undertaking shall be perfected and filed not later than noon today. The Chief Justice further instructed that the notice of motion shall commence tomorrow and that all copies of all authorities to be relied upon should be filled with the Registrar not later than noon today. He ordered no costs to either party.

Assisting Lawyer Halloway in the matter brought against Dr. Sama Banya, Dr. Prince Harding and the SLPP Party are D.B. Quee, E.E. C. Shares-Moses and Anthony Brewah. The other Judges that constitute the panel of Judges are, Mrs. Justice Virgina Wright, Justice M.E. Tolla-Thompson, Justice Sir. John Muria and Justice Jon Kamanda.

Inquest demanded into For Di People Editor’s death

Journalists have unanimously called for an inquest into the death of the editor of ?For Di People” Newspaper Hassan Henry Yansaneh who had his home calling Thursday 28th July at a private clinic. At a well-attended emergency SLAJ meeting held yesterday morning at SLENA journalists agreed to a proposal that the authorities should set up an inquest into the death of the former Mass Communication student at FBC. The purpose of the inquest is to ascertain whether it was the alleged beating by her former landlady, the Hon Fatmata Hassan relatives that aggravated the kidney problems affecting Yansaneh, which eventually led to his death yesterday. However the funeral committee established by SLAJ has announced that the late editor will be laid to rest on Sunday after funeral prayers at the Central Mosque at 2p.m and interment at the Kissy Road Cemetery. The news of his death did not come, as a surprise to many of his colleagues who saw his picture in the newspapers last week. Sources close to the deceased have revealed that he had the best result in his class before ill health prevented him from taking this term’s exams.

Inquest demanded into For Di People Editor’s death

SATURDAY JULY 30, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Journalists have unanimously called for an inquest into the death of the editor of ?For Di People” Newspaper Hassan Henry Yansaneh who had his home calling Thursday 28th July at a private clinic. At a well-attended emergency SLAJ meeting held yesterday morning at SLENA journalists agreed to a proposal that the authorities should set up an inquest into the death of the former Mass Communication student at FBC. The purpose of the inquest is to ascertain whether it was the alleged beating by her former landlady, the Hon Fatmata Hassan relatives that aggravated the kidney problems affecting Yansaneh, which eventually led to his death yesterday. However the funeral committee established by SLAJ has announced that the late editor will be laid to rest on Sunday after funeral prayers at the Central Mosque at 2p.m and interment at the Kissy Road Cemetery. The news of his death did not come, as a surprise to many of his colleagues who saw his picture in the newspapers last week. Sources close to the deceased have revealed that he had the best result in his class before ill health prevented him from taking this term’s exams.

Former Special Court Investigator’s judgment deferred

Friday July 22, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Judgment has been deferred in the case of the former Special Court employee; Peter Halloran whose appeal hearing was slated for final judgment at the Appeal Court, presided over by Sir. John Muria, Justices Abel Stronge and Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh yesterday.

The judgment was deferred after COCORIOKO  learnt that one of the three judges; Justice Abel Strong failed to appear in court. It was understood that Justice Stronge had been served notice to proceed on vacation, which would last for two months. The two other judges waited for his arrival to no avail. Counsel Brown Marke and A.K.A. Barber were summoned into the chambers of Justice Sir. John Muria where the matter was adjourned indefinitely.

The former head of Victoria’s homicide squad in Melbourne, Australia appealed against a child sex conviction slammed against him on February 21 at the Freetown High Court. Justice Samuel Ademusu, who convicted him of sexual assault, acquitted him of three other charges. His legal counsel, Nicholas Brown-Marke appealed against the sexual conviction citing wrong decisions in law by the trial judge, misdirection in law and fact coupled with the sentence. Lawyer Brown-Marke during his arguments before the three judges- Sir. John Muria, Abel Strong and Umu Hawa Tejan Jalloh cited that the sentence of 18 months imprisonment on the appellant was manifestly excessive, being a first time offender.

During his almost two hours arguments, Counsel Brown-Marke cited that the trial judge erred in law and in fact in failing to exercise the discretion given to him by Section 231 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965, namely to impose a fine on the appellant, instead of a term of imprisonment. Countering his argument for the State was Lawyer A.K.A. Barber who emphasized that the trial judge did not err in law in convicting the accused.

TAMBA BORBOR WORKS FOR BOTH AWOKO AND COCORIOKO

Without DDR, long-term stability remains dim”. Pres. Kabbah

By Tamba Borbor

Thursday June 23, 2005

President Dr. Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has said that “without a comprehensive Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme, the prospects for long-term stability will remain dim.” The President was speaking today 21^st June at the opening of a three-day United Nations Conference on Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration (DDR) and Stability in Africa held at the Miatta Conference Hall Brookfields.

President Kabbah stated that Sierra Leone feels exceptionally proud and challenged for being chosen to host this very important event during its post-conflict transition. He noted that the timing and theme of the conference are very significant for the African continent as Africa has experienced and is still enduring too many gruesome conflicts and senseless acts of violence.  “These conflicts have eroded the human resource base and overall potential for development in the continent,” the President said. He went on to state that inspite of the instability that has swathed the continent, “Africa has devoted much time, efforts and resources to resolve or manage its own conflicts. the reason for this is simple. It has dawned on African leaders that peace, security and development are inextricably linked.”

President Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah maintained that this conference also sends the rights signals and shows the continued commitment of the United Nations and the rest of the international community to breaking the cycle of violence and promoting durable peace and stability in Africa. He recalled that Sierra Leone drifted towards chaos following an invasion by a group of rebels from Liberia in 1991; adding, “after a protracted peace process and the steadfast support of the international community, we have gone through a transition from war to peace and DDR has been at the heart of this process. ”

About Sierra Leone’s DDR programme, President Kabbah noted that it has been assessed as successful by all stakeholders and that it has provided the basis for the progress recorded in the country’s post-conflict stabilisation and development programme. He hoped that delegates would be able to share their countries’ experiences by looking at different ways of tackling the issues of DDR and stability in Africa.

In his welcome address, the former Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroonian-born Dr. Namanga Ngongi on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari said that the Secretary General of the United Nations accords the highest priority to issues related to peace and stability in Africa of which DDR is a major component. He quoted a recent report of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, which notes that “demobilising combatants is the single-most important factor determining the success of peace operations. Without demobilisation, civil wars cannot be brought to an end and other critical goals- such as democratisation, justice and development- have little chance for success.”

Dr. Ngongi noted that DDR programmes had placed emphasis primarily on the disarmament and demobilisation of ex-combatants. ” However, lasting and durable peace requires more than the disarming and demobilisation of ex-combatants. The greater challenge is how to integrate them into well-functioning and well-governed societies that offer attractive long-term opportunities and benefits for all citizens, particularly the youth,’ he stated. Participants attending the three-day conference, which was funded by the Governments of Sweden, Finland and Germany, are from African countries with experience and interest in DDR namely: Angola, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, south Africa, Sudan Uganda, Zimbabwe among others. The. conference ends on Thursday by which time it is expected that a model for DDR would have been formulated for use by the UN and other international bodies.

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