Freetown, the Sierra Leone capital, is calm this morning, with everybody going about their business in peace, despite the weekend’s widespread publication on social media of plans for an anti-government demonstration said to be planned by the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) .
According to social media, the demonstration was supposed to have been staged to protest the removal of government subsidy on fuel, which is one of the resource mobilization measures adopted by government , following conditionalities given by the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) as one of the steps to address the economic slowdown caused by the twin shocks of the Ebola outbreak and the decline in prices of commodities in the international market.
FREETOWN IS CALM
Our reporters visited many parts of the capital and said life was going on normally, with no unusual gathering of people seen anywhere.
The Sierra Leone Police is however said to be out on the streets in readiness to nip any such demonstration in the bud , since the organizers have not sought a permit from the Police.
Last weekend, Police issued a statement stressing all the steps that should be taken to stage a legitimate demonstration , including obtaining a permit and indicating the routes to ensure police protection. The Police warned all those planning to engage in an illegal demonstration to desist forthwith or face the full force of the law.
By mid-morning, it was obvious that the planned demonstration was a ruse .
