KALANGBA ECHO
Cocaine Saga: Scapegoating, lies and denials
By Alusine Sesay
As a nation, we are currently in deep shame and despair. Our country has been prominent on the international news stands for the wrong reasons.
Our integrity as a nation is currently being questioned and the stigma is deepening. Our government is struggling to correct things politically but the scar is too visible to disappear.
We are battling, as a nation, to save our image, an image that has already been tainted by serious drug scandals. We are yet to face the reality, and by the time we do, something damning might have conquered us all.
In just one month the country has been faced with one of the worst embarrassments in history-from the impounding of our diplomatic vehicle loaded with cocaine in neighbouring Guinea, to the harbouring of Europe’s one of most wanted criminals convicted by the Dutch government for drug trafficking and other related offences.
SCAPEGOATISM
Currently, the fate of the Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea hangs in the pendulum. His name came up after the Guinean authorities impounded a diplomatic vehicle loaded with cocaine, plus one hundred thousand United States Dollars.
Two people in the vehicle-the driver and one passenger were arrested and detained, while the ambassador was reportedly placed under house arrest in Guinea.
Within the shortest period after the Guinea cocaine scandal, Reuters published a damning report that, a Dutch drug lord who had been convicted for drugs trafficking, has been in Sierra Leone for over six month enjoying high level government protection.
Now the question is could the ambassador be a scapegoat used as a sacrificial lamb for the government? Or, is he being put on the line because he represents the Sierra Leone government in Guinea? Reports are that the passenger in the impounded diplomatic vehicle is an errand boy to a prominent business tycoon, who has a very strong connection in the Bio administration.
Who knows whether the ambassador was under high level instructions to make available the diplomatic vehicle and facilitate the trafficking of the said cocaine?
The probability is too high to be dismissed by just a wave of the hand. Some personnel of the Sierra Police are currently in Guinea to investigate the said issue and we are patiently waiting on their report. The government owes us some answers and we MUST know the names of those behind that drug deal. It is our right to know.
LIES
From the look of things, government is not being honest in their communication to the public about this giant drug trafficking scandal. Initiatially when news broke out that the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Guinea was placed under house arrest, the government refuted the claim and stated that they had recalled him while they investigate the matter here in Sierra Leone.
Almost one month since the incident took place, there has not been any tangible information about the fate of the ambassador.Recently in the government weekly press briefing, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernoh Bah, told journalists that the ambassador is in Guinea carrying out his normal diplomatic duties.
But the question now is that, how can an ambassador that had been recalled, go about his normal diplomatic activities? Although it is sinful to look into the face of a public figure and tell him that his is a liar, but it seems as if the Government of Sierra Leone wants us to be and feel stupid and to take hook line and sinker the tales they tell us.
Also, the Inspector General of the Sierra Leone police told journalists that he had dispatched a team of investigators to interrogate the Sierra Leoneans arrested so as to get first-hand information about those involved in the cocaine deal.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, who had earlier informed the public that the ambassador had been recalled, was in Guinea to negotiate with the Guinean authorities, but the ambassador is still in Guinea. Information is that the Guinean authorities had requested the Sierra Leone government to remove the diplomatic immunity from the ambassador and allow them subject him to the Guinean laws.
The government should know that people are no longer fools and could easily read within the lines and conclude that the ambassador is indeed under house arrest.
DENIALS
Several names and institutions have been linked with the Dutch drug lord convict, Jos Leijdekkers, who, according to Reuters, has been in the country for over six months.
First, it was the President’s daughter, Agness Bio, who allegedly happens to be dating the man. The man is seen attending new years’ church service in the home town of the President. He was seated just behind the president, together with Agness Bio.
Several video footages have revealed a strong tie between the president and Leijdekkers, but government, in their press statement denied that the president has no knowledge about the presence of the man.They noted that during the holidays, the president attended several functions and that he could not tell who he might have come in contact with anybody.
Yes, it is possible that the president might not have been aware about his daughter’s relationship with the Dutch convict, but it is hard to believe, with all the video and photo evidences that, the president had no knowledge about the man’s presence in his company.
Also, the Chief Immigration Officer, Hon.Alusine Kanneh, is seen in a video footage at Lagoonda where there was a serious fight among seemingly drug dealers, including the Dutch convict who was visibly present at the scene. The President’s junior brother,Askia Bio,was also accused of having a hand in drug trafficking, but they all have denied the claims.
Leone Oil and Sierra Rutile are also fighting their own battle of denial after Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, former flag bearer of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) linked them with the Dutch drug convict.
Leone Oil, a locally owned oil company, had bought over Sierra Rutile in the tune of $80 million United States Dollars. According to Kamarinba, the said money was allegedly provided by the convict, but the company has vehemently denied the claim.
But there is an adage which says that, ‘where there is smoke there is fire’ and we believe that there must be some elements of truth in Kamarainba’s claim. Even the rush to file litigation against the man in court is in itself suspicious.
Many would argue that the company is a private company and owes the public no explanation, but in a situation like this, it behooves them to clear their name with tangible evidences, including bank transactions in relation to the buying over the Sierra Rutile. They have taken a radical move to silence Kamarainba, but time will tell.
CONCLUSION
Although the government of Sierra Leone had earlier stated in a press statement that they have not received any official communication from the Dutch Government for a possible extradition of the convict, but the Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister, in his tweet on February 6,disclosed that they have just officially delivered a letter of request in that direction. Drug trafficking is an organized crime which the international community seriously frowns against and it is the onus of the Sierra Leone Government to hand over the man to Interpol so as to save the country’s image.
We are tired of the embarrassment as a nation.
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