“SLPP Defectors are Disgruntled and Disappointed Opportunists”.. Says Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay
By Joseph S. Sherman
Sunday June 4, 2006
Amidst widespread speculations in Sierra Leone and abroad that Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay, Minister of Lands, Country planning and the Environment in the SLPP government is a potential running mate of Mr. Solomon Berewa in the 2007 elections. Assistant Editor of Cocorioko, Mr. Joseph S. Sherman held an exclusive interview with him at his Youyi building office in Freetown.
Reacting to speculations that he is the potential running mate of Mr. Solomon Berewa, he said he has not intimated nor declare is candidacy as running mate of Mr. Berewa, however, he said if it is the will of the people in Sierra Leone to have him vie for the position he will respect their will. Dr. Bobson Sesay said he posses all the requisite qualifications and political will to help lead the SLPP to victory in 2007.
When questioned about the SLPP losing the elections due to mass defections of SLPP members to the PMDC party of Charles Margai and other opposition parties, Mr. Bobson Sesay said the “defectors are disgruntled and disappointed opportunists” whose high expectations and selfish motives were not met by the SLPP government, therefore, these defectors leaving the party to seek greener pastures will not have negative impact on the SLPP winning the 2007 elections.
Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay is a controversial figure among many land and home owners in Freetown and its environs. His position as Minister of Lands, Country planning and the Environment in the SLPP government which is involved in the demolition of illegal structures have left his critics to speculate that if Mr. Berewa selects Dr. Bobson Sesay to be his running mate in spite of his strong influence in the North and his grassroots connections, the chances of the SLPP losing the elections in 2007 is inevitable. Reacting to his critics, Dr. Bobson Sesay said his mandate to demolish illegal structures is an act of parliament which was approved by members. He intimated that it was not the SLPP government that started the demolition of illegal structures in Sierra Leone; he cited regimes like the APC, NPRC and the Juntas did similar exercises. He added, it is unfair for people to demonize him or the SLPP government for demolishing illegal structures which are violating the law.
Refuting further allegations of being a bad apple and an impediment to the success of the SLPP if selected as Solomon Berewa’s running mate in the forthcoming 2007 elections, Dr. Bobson Sesay said to justify his actions and appreciation from the public, he received many national and international awards commending him of his strong stance to implement the law which has been abused by squatters with impunity.
In conclusion, Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay warned that politics must not divide Sierra Leone, rather the interest of the country and people must be a priority and that can be ultimately realized by voting the SLPP to power in 2007 if the dream of a successful Sierra Leone is to be realized.
RADICALS DESCRIBE SLPP NORTH AMERICAN ELECTION AS A TRAVESTY OF DEMOCRACY
Monday April 15 , 2006
Some radical members of the Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP) have described Saturday’s election of the party’s North American Branch as a travesty of democracy. The members, who all live in the U.S , made the pronouncement when they complained to COCORIOKO yesterday .
They said that the whole problem started when the Secretary General of the New Jersey Branch misinterpreted the meeting between the high-powered delegation from Sierra Leone and the NJ Chapter as a Convention.
They stated that Ambassador Joe Pemagbi immediately wrote Mr. Alpha to inform him that it was a meeting , not a convention. But the radicals complained yesterday that it seemed as if the delegation itself from Freetown, headed by National Secretary General, Mr. J.J.Saffa , came with a preconceived agenda to conduct elections and elect a North American Branch of the SLPP.
The problem, though, according to the group, was that the elections were not publicized at all. Also, the group complained that no guidelines or byelaws about the conduct of the elections were put in effect. The national party chapters in the U.S. were also never notified to send delegates for an election. The group further charged that the National Secretary General, Mr. J.J.Saffa, did not write any of the chapters expressing his desire to conduct an election.
Majority of the members at the meeting, the group went on, came purposely to hear what the high-powered delegation had to say about the 2007 General Elections. To their dismay , however, they were confronted with the election of the North American SLPP Branch.
The complainants said that what was annoying was that Mr. Saffa had told Mr. Pemagbi that each chapter should send only 5 members to avoid overcrowding and to maintain structure and order . The surprising thing, however was that the Washington DC Chapter arrived at the metting in Somerset with 4 mini-vans packed with members, the group went on. . They complained that the Washington Chapter behaved this way because they had prior knowledge of the elections.
Continuing their complaint, the group said that J.J.Saffa set the agenda of the meeting and asked members to vote on a referendum where they must decide whether the meeting should elect a permanent executive of the North American Branch or an interim one .
The Washington DC Chapter, with the largest delegation, got their way in the referendum for a permanent executive to be elected. This, the complaining group concluded, was unfair, because , according to them, there was unequal representation of the chapters at the meeting. The group alleged that Washington had 30 members , followed by Philadelphia with 12 , while New York had 5 and Atlanta too had 5 members , including the son of the Vice-President, Solomon Berewa jr. The other chapters either had the same number or less.
The group attributed the victory scored by the elected President , Matthew Margao, to the unequal representation in favor of the Washington DC Branch.
North America Secretary General Kalilu Totangi’s Response
It is an unfortunate allegation. What could be more democratic than what took place in New Jersey? What would those so-called “radicals” prefer; a situation where there is a vacuum of leadership in the party’s most important branch in the Diaspora? Besides, I am not sure who these radicals are, but their approach cannot be called radical in any sense, if it is basically a call to maintain the status quo of inactivity. The members gathered at New Jersey voted soundly to reject that inertia. We are very pleased with the outcome, especially in so far as it pertains to the renewed momentum the Secretary General and his team has brought to our efforts. The more than 700 membership cards that the Secretary General brought from home were sold out by the end of the day. We were able to elect a vibrant and promising executive who will now set about with the task of mobilizing the human, technological and financial resources needed to put our party and our presidential candidate on top come 2007.
For the records, neither J.J. Saffa, nor any member of his delegation imposed anything on the New Jersey meeting. After two weeks of consultations across United States, a determination was made that there was a lot of goodwill towards the party in the U.S., but that there needed to be a structure to coordinate the affairs of the party if that goodwill is to translate into active support and membership. They were indifferent as to what form the structure would take and who would people it. The question to all then became should we have a duly elected body mandated under the constitution to carry on the work of the party or make an ad hoc arrangement to last through the year. These so-called radicals wanted an outcome that is not progressive by any means and they didn’t have the votes to prevail. It is a lie that Washington, DC influenced the outcome in any unfair way. There were two competing motions moved by the house and members voted across chapter lines on the motions. The majority decided that a duly constituted executive was in place, and we went ahead and elected one. Bear in mind that even the gentleman who moved the motion for an interim arrangement was a delegate and voted to elect the new executive. It was the first time ever that as many chapters were represented at any branch election in North America. In the election of the now defunct Nallo executive, only three chapters voted, as compared to eight in this one. And contrary to what your anonymous complainants would want your readers to believe, all the chapters, including the largest in Washington, DC and the smallest from Milwaukee, got three delegate votes each.
It is unfortunate that some of our members felt dissatisfied enough to take their complaints to the press. What I can assure you, however, is that their dissatisfaction notwithstanding, everyone of them still believe that our party is the only one that can provide the enlightened and disciplined leadership that is required to move our country forward.
I look forward to discussing some of those issues with you in the near future.
I QUIT !
Today, I am joining those who have resigned before me, many who are resigning and many more who will resign from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) for its undemocratic, paternalistic, and corrupt attributes. Without any reservation or regret I hereby tender my resignation from the SLPP following over 15 years of pro active membership.
I joined the SLPP in 1991 not because my parents were SLPP or because of where am geographically affiliated with in Sierra Leone, but with a strong conviction that after three decades of the All People’s Congress (APC) misrule, misgovernment and the subsequent damage to Sierra Leone, the SLPP would be robust in turning the country round, genuinely provide and care for all those ordinary people who work so extraordinarily hard for their living. I believed then that SLPP would really make a vast difference politically and would make a positive impact on peoples’ lives. It is now very obvious and apparent that this is not the case since we continue to experience, under the SLPP, all those evil and unacceptable elements many Sierra Leoneans detested and selflessly fought against the APC for.
I joined the SLPP in the UK at a time when the party was struggling to rebuild itself after many years in oblivion. Since 1991, I served the SLPP UK branch in different and varied capacities on the executive and as an ordinary member. I believe I was always committed, genuine and diligent in performing my duties to the party and I am very proud of the fact that I offered my services not for what I could have personally benefited from the party but because I passionately believe that as a politician, my main objective is to make a difference in other people’s lives, and being a member of a political party in government, I believe my priority was to support my party to achieve that and that was exactly what I did throughout as a member.
Many who know and have worked with me would agree that I am a conviction politician and that I am not a political traveler as many others are. I believe that in politics, one should have a set of political beliefs, convictions, expectations and values as benchmarks. I have to say that several months back many Sierra Leoneans believed in the SLPP, convinced that the party would live to the expectations of the ordinary people and that as a political party keep, protect and practice its traditional values and principles. This however does not seem to be the case any more. What many of us see today is an SLPP that has lost direction, a party that has dumped all its values for self indulgence and gratification, a party that is heavily contaminated at the very top by people who only act in their own self interest, people who have never had anything to offer and still have nothing to offer to the nation, people who could never be role models of any positive sort for an average Sierra Leonean hence they cannot inspire or motivate the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans, especially the youth and women who have always had a raw deal by successive governments who have always used them as political tools for empty promises and lip services.
This is not to say that every one in the SLPP and the SLPP leadership is not genuine, committed or hard working. There are still many decent and hard working people in the party and within the establishment for whom I have the greatest and utmost respect. A good number of them are either my good friends or relatives who, in all fairness to them, mean well for Sierra Leone; good luck to them. Having said that, I believe such people stand a chance to be effective and to exhibit their good will, skills and knowledge in the interest of the country only in a different political environment, climate and under a different political system.
The problem as I see it is that the SLPP as a political party has always given a deaf ear to what they do not want to hear and have always had the telescope to the blind eye not to see anything wrong. But what is in fact terribly wrong is the whole system which is embroiled in endemic corruption and injustice; injustice in the face of incompetence, complacency and intolerance. What is worst is that the government is just incapable of dealing with the situation simply so because they themselves are part of the problem. The APC and SLPP politicians have for a long period of time created, managed and presided over a rotten system which they are now incapable of changing. What this means is that neither the SLPP nor the APC can make or bring about any significant or sustainable changes to Sierra Leone that will positively impact on the lives of the majority of Sierra Leoneans.
The APC created a Frankenstein Monster in the form of the system, the SLPP leaders have been feeding and sustaining it with the help of the very APC people that created it and now they have all lost the plot; the monster is out of control and all the SLPP could do or continue to do is to keep the monster [system] sweet and alive otherwise it will destroy them. This again is to say that SLPP does not only lack the capacity and ability for change, but also lacks the political will and guts to effect any positive change. The SLPP and APC politicians have found themselves in a political quagmire with the nation in the middle of it all. The only solution, in my opinion, is to overhaul the system. ?The system is dread, we got to change it’.
Many of my colleagues and friends within the SLPP have tried at length to convenience me to stay and fight from within. My response to them has always been that that is what I have been doing within the party for the past 15 years – fighting, fighting and fighting. Those within the SLPP very well know that I am a fighter but why should one continue to fight within an establishment wherein no one listens, wherein people see and start to treat you as an enemy within and wherein even those you fight along side with are ever prepared to betray you and the course for their own selfish ends, wherein basic democratic principles have no place? I however had a choice – the choice of staying in the party, lay low, play the game and wait for a lucrative reward. Yes, I had this choice and I am confident if I played the game well, on their terms as many others have done, I would have made it. No, that is not my style of politics. Being a sycophant and opportunist is not my game; I rather say it as it is purely on matter of principle, based on what I believe in and what I consider my overarching political values.
I find myself unable to support a political party that does not respect, recognise and guarantee the will and liberty of its citizens, I find it hard to support or be part of a political party or system that have demonstrated the propensity of tampering with the country’s national constitution at will to suit them. I refuse to subscribe to a political party that has the judiciary in its pocket in a country where justice is dispensed not on the merits of the argument but on influence, and I also totally refuse to accept the most grotesque behaviour of the Vice President (now flag bearer of the party) and the Minister of Finance (now special adviser to the president) arguing on national media about who is more corrupt than the other. I do not believe they set a good example to the nation and I can not be proud to be part of an establishment that is not only indifferent to such an attitude but also guilty of inaction.
I am resigning from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) on principle and for what I stand for in life. I do not dislike anyone in the SLPP for what they are or what they practice. People have the right to be where they want to be as long as it suits them but I find myself at variant with the party in regard to its policies, principles, values and practices. In such a case, I believe that the most decent thing for me to do is to resign from the party, hence my letter of resignation.
Dr. Columba Blango.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Tel: 020 7737 6436 (Home) Mobile/Cell: 07984 412 812 E-mail: [email protected]
Charles Margai did not know he was talking with Cocorioko Editor Tuesday April 11, 2006 People’s Movement For Democratic Change ( PMDC ) leader , Charles Margai, has told officials of the party that he did not know that he was talking to the Editor-In-Chief of COCORIOKO on Sunday night when he overeacted to questions about a newspaper report that he handed contracts to his “wives , family and proxies” while he was Minister of Internal Affairs. “He did not even know that he was talking to a journalist” , concerned officials informed this newspaper yesterday. Margai , questioned on the contracts by the COCORIOKO Editor , who introduced himself but could not tell whether Margai heard him well, lost his temper and brawled : “My friend, I don’t have time for this kind of nonsense ” and hung up. Top PMDC officials Dr. Sorie Kamara , Agnes Kumba Macauley , Karamoh Kabba and Abdul Daboh all contacted Editor , Rev. Wilfred Leeroy Kabs-Kanu on reading about the incident , to inform him that Mr. Margai had received lots of calls, “some of them nuisance calls” (According to Kabba ) , after the unfortunate newspaper report about contracts alleged to have been awarded by their leader when he was Interior Minister . Officials also complained that Margai had also received heckling calls from political opponents determined to dampen his mood before today’s great event when the PMDC will receive their final resgistration . The officials asked the Editor to picture the situation in Sierra Leone presently where certain politicians were doing everything to harass and trouble Mr. Margai. They said that , under such circumstances , it was possible for Margai to react the way he did, thinking that the caller was a heckler. Some of the PMDC officials praised Mr. Margai that he loved to talk to the press and had always been courteous to journalists and there was no reason for him to behave with hostility to COCORIOKO especially, which is considered one of the best non-partisan and objective Sierra Leone newspapers. “I told Mr. Margai about the the efforts being made by COCORIOKO to provide reliable information to readers in the diaspora, and he assured me that he never knew he was even talking to a journalist “, said Karamoh Kabba. “He was stressed , my brother , and thought he was responding to somebody just trying to create mischief. ” Rev. Kabs-Kanu said he was highly impressed by the attitudes of the officials and it showed that they were determined to make their party a model of democracy in Sierra Leone .”That you all have shown such concern is a manifestation of your commitment to Freedom of the Press .The matter is finished and we will continue to cover the activities of the PMDC as we have been doing to the SLPP and APC. “, the Editor assured the officials. Rev. Kabs-Kanu told Kabba that he did not want any preferential treatment from people but his concern was that pressmen be treated with respect , especially when they spend their own money to call politicians to interview them for articles that turn out to benefit the politicians .The Editor also assured Kabbah that the incident did not stop him from publishing the rather positive report sent by Reporter , Chernor Ojuku Sesay , about how the public denounced the allegations against Margai. ” These things do happen . Misunderstandings will always come. They are part of life , and you have done a reat job to diffuse this one “. the Editor added.
President Kabbah launches Makeni Agric. Trade Fair
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Monday March 29, 2006
President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah over the weekend officially opened the Agricultural Show and Trade Fair held at Wusum Ground, Makeni on March 22 through March 25th this year in the Northern region, Bombali District Sebora Chiefdom. The need for the activities is to promote peace though Food Security and at the same time ensure that the road to food security is achieved.
The programme was conducted by farmers of the Northern province including persons from other business entities under the supervisioon of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security led by Dr. Sama Monde.
The programme attracted ministers including members of the diplomatic corps, international donor agencies like the FAO, UNDP and ADB. The National Farmers Association including members of the Farmers Business Unit, members of the Private Sector, Paramount Chiefs, District Councilors and a cross-section of the township. President Kabbah thanked noted that the ceremony was centred around agricultural productivity which he said has risen up to 69%. The tremendous achievement gained, he added is making it possible for his dream to be achieved by next year. At the same time, he called on the people of Sierra Leone including partners in development to put hands- in-glove to work together harder than before for food surficiency.
In his remarks, Vice President Soloman Berewa disclosed that his purpose of coming to the Trade Fair, is to explain government’s position with regard the achievements made towards Food Security and not to talk on politics.
Vice President Berewa further noted that Food Security is his government’s primary cornern for now. He told his audience that what the government is undertaking regarding Food Security is spelt-out in the PRSP document. He said that in poverty alleviation, Food Security is one of the fundamental pillars of the eradication of poverty to be successful nationwide. VP Berewa stressed the importance that Food Security can create job opportunities for both male and female youths. He therefore encouraged the youths to work relentlessly with the government and donor partners for their personal development and for the betterment of Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Dr. Sama Monde disclosed to the audience that as the Food Security programme is in full swing, the government is making opportunities available to insure Food Security The availability, accessability and affordability and the right to food, Dr. Monde said, is a must. He further said that he has just ended distributing 51 tractors in the Northern provinces free of charge to the farmers, in order for them to do more work in cultivating larger areas for more productivity by the year 2007, which he said, is the vision of President Kabbah. The representive of the FAO, Mr. Mohamed Fara said that, he is very happy about the achievements made in the promotion of the Food Security drive. He said the FAO’s intervention in the agricultural sector is to ensure that the Food Security drive proceeds and at the same time, the FAO ensures accountability in the micro-finance policy, planning and its implementation, Mr. Fara therefore called on the people of Sierra Leone to work harder in order to eradicate poverty.
World Bank monitors projectsTuesday February 21, 2006By Chernor Ojuku SesayThe World Bank team participating in the on-going Country Programme Review (CPR) meeting in Freetown has undertaken a one-day field visit to projects being implemented in the Moyamba district. The 30- member multi disciplinary team of officials and consultants, accompanied by its country team and their Sierra Leonean counterparts, visited on-going World Bank-support Projects in Bumpeh Chiefdom and the Moyamba Township. At Yankissa, the joint team of Experts, including NaCSA’s Executive Director Syl Fannah inspected the R.C. Primary School Construction Project being implemented by the beneficiary Community, through NaCSA Community- Driven Programme (CDP)
Community-Driven Programme (CDP) Director John Ngebeh, Civil Works Engineer Christian Tucker, District Coordinator Osman Jalloh and other NaCSA Officials were also present to clarify issues raised by the World Bank Team. Chairman of the Project Management Committee (PMC) Moses Koroma explained the processes involved in undertaking the project, including their training in recruiting contractors, operating bank accounts and other aspects of project implementation.
The PMC Chairman highlighted the experiences gained by the Community in implementing the project and working with NaCSA problems encountered and lessons learnt. Members of the joint team engaged the PMC members and their councilor during discussions on the benefits and impact of the school project on the Community, which were highly commended by both parties.
The local Councilor Esther Caulker described the process of generation and implementing the project as very participatory, transparent and democratic, thereby helping to promote peace and reconciliation in the area. Earlier, NaCSA Regional Coordinator Southern Region Abdul Sheriff identified the various components of the project, covering a three classroom block, water well, staff quarters, toilets and furniture, and praised the community for providing sand, stone, bush sticks and instilled labour as their own contribution. The joint World Bank/Sierra Leone Expert Team also inspected the 10,000 capacity mini-stadium under construction and facilities of the Moyamba Water Project being financed by the Government and World Bank. Moyamba District Councilor/ Engineer-N.D. Alie and SALWACO Officials briefed the Experts on the status of implementation of the projects operation of the water system and its impact on the Community and the impact on the Community.
At a meeting with the district council, Chairman David Woobay briefed the team of Experts on the status of implementation of projects and devolution of functions by government ministries in the district, commending the ministries of Agriculture and Food Security Education Science and Technoligy and Health and Sanitation for their cooperation. Mr. Woobay disclosed that the Moyamba District Council only undertakes projects which address the felt needs of the people generate income, provide employment and recreation and promote youth re-integration to ensure peace and reconciliation.
He said his council is trying to cope with its financial challenges by mobilizing local resources to implement other projects identified in the District Development Plan and appealed for more assistance from the World Bank. A brief presentation of the Development Pan was made by Councillor/Engineer Alie who also presented copies to the World Bank Team.
The World Bank Team Leader Mike Deliberti commended the Moyamba district Council for the detailed report and the strides made in implementing projects. He said the visit had afforded them the opportunity to see, project implementation in the field and promised continued support to Local Councils within the framework of the country Assistance Programme (CAS). The World Bank Experts and their Sierra Leone counterparts have continued with the three-day Country Programme Review Workshop in Freetown CHARLES MARGAI CREATES BIG CONTROVERSY AGAIN Thursday February 16, 2006 Lawyer Charles Margai, the Leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change in Sierra Leone ( PMDC ) , has created another controversy in the country , this time at the just- started Treason trial of former RUF Spokesman , Omrie Golley. Margai , who is representing Golley , staged an acrimonious walk-out from the court after his submission to transfer the trial to the Supreme Court for clarification of constitutional issues was overruled. by the Director of Prosecution , Ladi Robin – Mason. Robin-Mason , rejecting Margai’s submission , argued that the case had not evoked any constitutional controversy.He also argued that the court did not introduce any constitutional issue to warrant the case being sent to the Supreme Court. Robin-Mason said that it would tantamount to hijacking the prosecution’s case if he granted Margai’s request. The Prosecutor also argued that it would delay the trial. As a result of this legal controversy , the case has been adjourned indefinitely. PAUL KAMARA EXPRESSES THANKS TO COCORIOKO AND CONTRIBUTORS By Chernor Ojuku Sesay Tuesday February 7, 2006
The recently released Publisher of For Di People newspaper, Paul Kamara has expressed thanks and appreciation to the Publisher of Cocorioko online newspaper, Rev. Wilfred Kabs-Kanu, the paper’s local correspondent in Freetown, Chernor Ojuku Sesay, the entire Cocorioko team and most especially to those “Patriots” who contributed towards his health fund. Mr. Kamara was speaking at his Pademba Road office where the sum of $700 (seven hundred United States Dollars) was presented to him by Chernor Ojuku Sesay in the presence of his staff. Mr. Kamara said though some might consider the amount as small, but to him he considers it as the most valuable thing that has happened in his life. “I don’t even know the contributors. But for the fact that they show concern over my poor health suffered as a result of my unjust incarceration is a sign that they appreciate what I stand for-and that is for the people to know the truth,” he said. Mr. Kamara urged journalists to be steadfast in their jobs and stand for the people to know the truth no matter the consequences.”They hate the truth because they are corrupt and anyone who is determine to expose their corrupt acts is regarded as an enemy, but that must not drive you away from the profession”, he stated
COCORIOKO RECEIVED $ 2, 000 IN PLEDGES BUT ONLY $ 700 HAS BEEN PAID INTO THE FUND SO FAR. RSLAF spends Le930m monthly on ric aloneBy Chernor Ojuku SesayThursday February 2, 2006The Republic f Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) spends a whooping Le930m (Nine hundred and thirty million leone) monthly to buy imported rice and other cooking condiments to feed its slightly over 10,000 troops country wide.
This figure has created some uneasiness among the rank and file of the army and even the civilian population who described the amount as “too colossal.” “We are not against the government taking great care of the security forces especially the army, but it is completely nonsensical and waste of resources to keep spending such a huge amount of money on people who are strong and energetic enough to nt only feed themselves but even the nation,” remarked Abdul T. M’briwa,a Civil Society Activist . He suggested that the government must encourage the army to embark seriously on agriculture by providing the necessary mechanical logistics and finance. “The army has thousands of acres of land at its disposal at Kontobi in the North and other areas in the country that are eagerly waiting to be cultivated. All the army need is the push from the government,” he stated.
Our investigations reveal that the present army has 23 (twenty three) officers who are degree holders in Agriculture and three of them holds Masters Degree in Agriculture. “The army has the man-power and the technical know-how to engage in serving agriculture that can go a long way to make a reality the dream of President
Kabbah of food self-sufficiency by the 2007. it is far better to donate the tractors to the army than to politicians wo does nothing whosoever in terms of Agriculture,” our M’briwa explained. However, in a telephone reaction, the Chief of Defense Staff, Brig. Gen. Sam Mboma assured that plans are on foot to reactivate the Agriculture sector of the army and went further to state that a comprehensive proposal from the army had been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and they are awaiting on the response of the Ministry. Hinga Norman spits fire at Special CourtBy Chernor Ojuku Sesay Cocorioko Correspondent in Freetown
Friday January 27, 2006
Chief Hinga Norman, the former SLPP Deputy Defence Minister, Internal Affairs Minister, National Coodinator of the Civil Defence Forces and now an Indictee of the Special Court for crimes against humanity continued his self defence which he started last Tuesday at the Special Court in Freetown.
Chief Norman informed the court on Wednesday that after the overthrow of President Tejan Kabbah on 25th May 1997, the entire SLPP government including himself went into exile in Conakry, Guinea.
He explained that when he realised that President Kabbah was residing at Bellevieu in Conakry, he attempted to see him on seven consecutive days but was not permitted to see him. He said he therefore decided not to see him again.
A day later, according to Norman, he received a telephone call from someone whom he later identified as President Kabbah who told him (Norman) that there is only one Captain to a ship and that he (President Kabbah) was that Captain. Chief Norman said in response, he told the President that ”if I’m aboard a ship that is about to sink and I have one or two things to do, I will do all I could to help it not to sink”. Norman said two days later he was reached at his Novotel hotel by four foreign diplomats who were in Sierra Leone at the time of the coup namely; Ambassador John Hirsch of the American Embassy, Peter Penfold, the British High Commissioner, Berhanu Dinka, the UNDP Resident Representative and Chief Alhaji Abubakarr, the Nigerian High Commissioner. Their mission, according to Chief Norman was to broker reconciliation between him and President Tejan Kabbah which was not cordial at the time.
Norman said during the meeting with the four diplomats, Chief Alhaji Abubakarr told him that their countries were ready to assist Sierra Leone from sinking further but that assistance would depend largely on the combined efforts of all including himself and President Kabbah. Norman further disclosed that he was further reassured that the former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Sani Abcha was prepared to convince other ECOWAS Heads of State to assist Sierra Leone and have the government re-instated .Norman then said that it was then that President Kabbah directed that they would need the hunters of the country to help in that respect with the assurance that arrangements had already been made for Norman to be flown to Liberia to meet with some ECOMOG military officers.
Chief Norman said after the reconciliation between him and President Kabbah, he was later appointed as the National Coordinator of the Civil Defence Forces (CDF) comprising of all the local militia fighters in the country with President Tejan Kabbah as the Chairman of the War Council which also comprises of other notables like Dr. Prince Harding, Momodu Koroma, Momoh Pujeh, Ho. Ansu Kaikai, late R.E.S.Largao, Thorlu Bangura and T.K. Vandy.
Norman said he was sent to Liberian on the 17th of June where he met the then ECOMOG Commander, Gen. Victor Malu and the other day they held a meeting alongside other Kamajor Commanders.
He added that ECOMOG promised to support the Kamajors with food, medicines, arms and ammunition and cash. He added that he was constantly in communication with President Kabbah reporting to him every moment on the progress since the President was the Defence Minister and Commander-in-chief and therefore his immediate boss.
Hinga Norman further testified that following verbal reports he made to President Kabbah, the hunters of Sierra Leone were supplied between 500 to 5, 000 pieces of short guns and cartridges as well as oil, rice and dollars . Norman contined his explosive testimony by revealing that Mr. James Jonah, who was then Minister of Finance, sent him a satellite communication set which was delivered by Mr. Momoh Pujeh.
Hinga Norman said he was sent the equipment after he moved to the BASE ZERO Camp of the Kamajors in Sierra Leone following threats by Liberia’s then President Charles Taylor that if he did not stop moving into his country to and from Guinea , he will have him arrested.
Who is Solomon Berewa? By Sidie Yahya Tunis
<삅❵䶋>Wednesday January 25, 2006
Sierra Leoneans in general see Solomon Berewa as the Vice President of our beloved country and a man who helped President Kabba bring Sierra Leone to economic backwardness. There is a group of us, however, who see Solo B as the chosen leader by President Kabba to continue his legacy of corruption, intimidation, misrepresentation and total economic and developmental destruction of Sierra Leone.
The most fitted description of Solomon Berewa, however, came from one of his closest allies, one time cabinet Minister in the J.S. Momoh administration and former finance minister of the ruling SLPP, Mr. J.B Dauda. JBD described Solo B as the most corrupt politician he has ever known in his entire life. I decided to follow up on this description because Solo B is now the flag bearer and leader of the SLPP and is also hoping to become the next President of Sierra Leone, a country that needs to be entirely cleaned up from the same corrupt elements.
JBD himself is not only corrupt, but knows pretty much what corruption is and I believe has dealt with so many corrupt people because he has served on two very corrupt administrations. First the J. S Momoh government, which had corruption written on the foreheads of every cabinet minister and government official and which was famous for the saying “USAI U TIE COW, NAR DAE E DAE EAT”, then the current Tejan Kabba administration, which recruited money hungry people like Momodu Koroma, now foreign minister and once a briefcase carrier to Charles Margai, to help him economically destabilize the country.
The difference between these two governments however, is that unlike Kabba, Momoh was never ashamed to admit that he has let the country down. Kabba however, continues to claim that he has done well as president and throws anyone in jail who dares challenge his claims.
JBD did not need to tell us that Berewa is corrupt because just his actions are enough to let us know this. This man once wanted to have nothing to do with the SLPP, but quickly bought his way into Tejan Kabba’s good books by helping him slaughter the junta boys of AFRC. He also prevented the Anti corruption commission from doing its job through section 48 of the Anti Corruption Act.
That Commission has become a failure because he obstructed all moves by the Commission to take appropriate action against all those of his bodies who were found guilty of corruption. Then came the SLPP convention, where he used Tejan to buy out the delegates so that Kabba can be set free once his tenure is over. Oh and then came Abbass Bundu, who was once convicted by the same Berewa, for selling Sierra Leone passports and converting the money to his personal use. Berewa has now embraced Bundu as he, Bundu, became a member of the SLPP.
With all these things happening, how can one believe Berewa and how can people still continue to think that this man will bring any developments to that country at all? The man has no agenda and every time he is out to speak to the people, all he says is how smart he was in law school and how good a student he was at CKC. What are even more frightening are the people you can expect to see in this man’s administration if God forbids he becomes president.
We can’t afford to have people like passport trader, Abbass Bundu in another administration, neither do we want to see briefcase carrier now turned foreign minister, Momodu Koroma, house breaker, Bobson Sesay, J.J. Siafa, a.k.a J.J. Blood, who has talked so much for this short time he has Secretary General than all the ten years Prince Harding spent in the same position, Kanji Daramy, who was found guilty of corrupting Salpost, but was made Presidential spokesman. At the end of the day these people will continue their very activities while we continue to suffer as a country. Let us not fall for the little gestures Solo and his allies have started doing, going to these small towns and opening schools just to fool the people into voting them to power. Now, do we have options? Yes, we do.
The People’s Movement for Democratic Change is born and has Charles Margai as its leader. This party is here to give our country its glory that has been taken away by corrupt leaders like Solo B. One thing that I want to bring to everyone’s attention is the fact that we have never heard anyone, not even Solo B, who hates Charles so much, refer to him as corrupt.
People have said that Charles is arrogant, but have never said that he is corrupt. At least Sierra Leone still has politicians that are not corrupt. SLPP hates Charles so much because of this one reason. When you have a party that is full of corrupt people that are eager to continue their agenda, there will be no room for honest people like Charles, which is why the leadership of that party has fought him over and over to make sure that he does not get the leadership. For those who think that the SLPP has been their religion or symbol of their family, think again because at the end of the day, it is not party that rules, but individuals because if it is party that rules, then people like Kabba and Berewa would not be leading the SLPP. That party was formed on moral values and principles, none of which is in existence under this leadership.
You all need to really sit and ask yourselves whether you will continue your loyalty to SLPP and continue to put the wrong people into government just because of SLPP and also whether saving a party that is being crippled by corruption is more important than saving a country that is being crippled by those same people that have crippled the party? Either way you look at it, no good will come out of it because if you vote in Berewa because of SLPP, then you are only saving Berewa, but not SLPP and at the same time not the country and so all we need to do is look closely at the aspiring leaders, then make our choice and not at the parties. Making a choice between Charles Margai and Solomon Berewa should not be a difficult one at all especially if we look at their track records in terms of national interest.
If you think that you are okay with all that is going on in our country and would prefer things to remain the way they are or get worse, then support and vote Berewa to power, but if you, however, think that change is needed in our country in any shape or form, then support the PMDC and its leader Charles Margai, as the party was formed by Sierra Leoneans who have our country’s interest at heart and who want to see progress and prosperity in our beloved nation. Let us choose wisely come 2007 so that we can all enjoy what belongs to all of us as Sierra Leoneas and may God bless our country.
APC TAKES MORAL HIGH GROUND IN HINGA NORMAN WAR CRIMES CASE —Says Kamajor Spokesman Samforay Saturday January 7, 2006 With the 2007 General Elections still a long way ahead, strange things continue to happen in the Sierra Leone political scene. The opposition All People’s Congress ( APC ) , the party that is often blamed for the socio-economic and political mess the country in which the country is wallowing, which lead to the 11-year civil war that created the Civil Defence Force ( CDF), has assumed the moral high ground in the War Crimes case involving former Commander of CDF , Chief Hinga Norman. With the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) allegedly taking no interest in the Norman plight , the irony of the APC battle to save Norman is not lost on the Spokesman of the CDF , Rev. Alfred Samforay. READ SAMFORAY’S ASSESSMENT BELOW Even as the ruling Sierra Leone People’ Party (SLPP) and its erratic leadership take a hands-off role in the matter of Prosecutor versus Sam Hinga Norman, the opposition All Peoples Congress led by Ernest Bai Koroma and Victor Foh have taken the case against the former SLPP senior minister as a cause celebre.
In the nearly three years that Chief Norman has been arrested and incarcerated by the so-called special court for Sierra Leone negotiated for by the SLPP government, only once or twice has any leader of the SLPP visited the chief and that was in an attempt to dissuade Norman from pursuing a law suit against the party for alleged violations of the party constitution and relevant sections of the All Political Parties Act and most importantly the national constitution. The case of Samuel Hinga Norman versus the SLPP, Jah, Saffa and Carew is scheduled for hearing before the Sierra Leone Supreme Court next month.
Meanwhile, in the past several weeks, the opposition APC and its leaders have held several meetings with Chief Norman at the New England Detention Center where Norman along with two other leaders of the government-sponsored Civil Defence Forces (CDF) are being held on eight counts each of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and other serious violations of ordinary humanitarian laws. It is to be recalled that the CDF along with other international and regional forces were responsible for twice returning the SLPP to power after being removed by rebels on May 25, 1997 and on this very day on January 6, 1999.
While the SLPP considers the so-called special court as independent of government and the party, the APC leaders consider the case against Chief Norman a national problem beyond partisan politics. As such, Party Leader Ernest Koroma and Secretary General, Victor Foh, have taken upon themselves to take the Norman issue to the public and the international community. The party blamed for largely for being responsible for the deterioration of the conditions of living in the country culminating in the civil war, now appears to have taken the moral high grounds.
Largely as a result of intervention of Bai Koroma and Victor Foh, a statement that was to be released this week by Chief Norman on a wide range of issues including his trial and the case against the SLPP has been postponed for early next week.
Alfred SamForay, Hinga Norman-CDF Defence Fund. “I believe in Justice but reconciliation is paramount”. Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Saturday December 24, 2005
Liberia’s president-elect, Madam Ellen Johnson -Sirleaf has said in Freetown that she believes in the rule of law and justice but indicated that what is paramount now to her is to reconcile Liberia.
She was answering questios from journalists at State House last Friday during her one day visit to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone on whether her government will hand over Liberia’s former Presdient Charles Taylor to the Special Court in Sierra Leone to answer to 17 counts indictment.
“I have held fruitful consultations with other Heads of State in the sub-region and my visit to Sierra Leone is a continuation of those consultations. What is important at this stage is to see how to carry out justice without returning to war. I am also here to thank the government and people of Sierra Leone for hosting their Liberian brothers and sisters during Liberia’s time of war and to apologise for the wrongs done to the people of ths country”, she told journalists.
Madam Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf later met with a cross-section of Women`s organisations in Sierra Leone. She promised to work closely with the Mano River Women Peace network, MAWOPNET, a women `s organisation comprising women of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Sierra Leone`s Minister of Gender, Social Welfare and Children`s Affairs, Madam Shriley Gbujama congratulated Madam Sirleaf onbehalf of the women of Sierra Leone for her successful election as president of Liberia. “Your ascension to that enviable office has inspired other African Women to stand up and challenge men in whatever capacity,” she stated.
Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf later met with senior staff of UNAMSIL before she returned to Liberia.
Berewa Says Youth Unemployment Is Security Threat By Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Friday December 16, 2005
Vice President Solomon Berewa has acknowledged that the unemployment of youths in any country is a potential security threat, adding that this issue was lengthily discussed at the recently Consultative Group (CG) meeting which underscord the need to find effective solutions to the youths’ problems. He made this acknowledgement last Friday at a press conference held at State House in Freetown, to brief journalists on the outcome of the CG meeting that was held in London last week. Below are excerpts of what Vice President Berewa told journalists:
“You may recall that few days before the departure of the government of Sierra Leone delegation to London/UK to attend the fourth Consultative Group (CG) meeting on Sierra Leone, a press conference was convened to inform you and the rest of the country about the essence of the CG and the expectations from the International Community. At that briefing, I informed you that the World Bank, in partnership with the GOSL, the United Nations and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), were going to host the CG for Sierra LEone from 29th – 30th November 2005.
“In addition, I also mentioned at that meeting that the CG would lay the basis for a new partnership between the government of Sierra Leone and its development partners around the Sierra Leone PRSP. I am pleased to inform you that the CG was successfully concluded in London on the scehduled dates and to also share with you some of the outstanding outcomes of that meeting: “The meeting was well attended with over stwenty (20) of our development partners in attendance and this included the World Bank, DFID, the UN agencies, European Commission, ADB, Saudi Fund, Kuwaiti Fund, the USA, Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Algeria e.t.c
“The donors appreciated the substantial progress made by GOSL in consolidating peace and stability since the last CG meeting in 2002. The Government of Sierra Leone was congratulated on its impressive record of macro-economic management, which has fostered consistently strong economic growth and low inflation. However, the government was encouraged to continue its focus on improving public financial management and fighting corruption.”
“With regards to donor support for the Sierra Leone PRSP which covers the period 2005-2007, donors pledged a total of US$ 800 million, for the various activities as outlined in the Activity Matrix. This figure does not include the projected gains from HIPC debt cancellation nor does it include the gains f rom the multilateral debt initiatives. The GOSL and donors agreed to use two funding mechanisms for the PRSP. These include the Multi-Donor Budget Suport (MDBS) and the Trusst Fund.”
COCORIOKO SETS UP SPECIAL FUND TO HELP PAUL KAMARA Wednesday November 30, 2005 The Editor -in -Chief of the COCORIOKO newspaper Online today pledged $ 100 towards a Special “Help-Restore-Paul Kamara’s -Health Fund” which the newspaper is willing to pioneer . The gesture was necessitated by the picture published by an online newspaper yesterday of the journalist after his release from jail . The newspaper plans to run adds and special appeals to all Sierra Leoneans of goodwill and conscience in the diaspora for contribution to the fund , which would help the journalist secure medical treatment and stop the nation from losing a great son of the soil whose cares for the welfare of his country .Paul ‘s picture depicts a man very sick and in need of help . Paul Kamara’s picture , as published by the Freetown newspaper, looked very pitiful .A once-burly and healthy-looking young man was all bones and head. We as a people cannot afford to see one of our kith and kin suffer so much , whatever the circumstances. The looks of Paul Kamara bespeak the fact that if the Good Lord had not intervened yesterday to pluck him from jail through victory in the Sierra Leone Appeals Court, this patriotic citizen could have wasted away to death in jail while our President and his government played politics with his survival MOIJUEH KAIKAI AND SHYKH TUNIS PLEDGE MONEY TO HELP-RESTORE -PAUL KAMARA’S -HEALTH FUND Wednesday November 30, 2005 Two Sierra Leoneans have already responded to the special fund set up today by COCORIOKO to help restore the health of journalist Paul Kamara , who was released from jail yesterday after winning his case against the President , Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, on appeal. Mr. Moijueh Kaikai , wjo lives in the United Kingdom , has pledged 50 British pounds while Mr. Shykh Tunis , who resides in the U.S., has pledged $ 100 .Thus within one hour of the launching of the fund, it is now U.S $280 . As more people respond to the COCORIOKO gesture, a reliable third party will soon be appointed to handle the fund through a bank. COCORIOKO regrettably cannot handle any finance , though the newspaper plans to canvass support for the fund. We want to appeal to all Sierra Leoneans to respond to the appeal, not from a political perspective , but a humanitarian gesture. The fund will not be politicised . We are all Sierra Leoneans. We shall look at the problem from the angle of a national crisis . This is not an SLPP or APC PROBLEM and we call on all Sierra Leoneans to leave partisan , regional or any other politics out of this matter. What happened to Paul Kamara can happen under any government . The Editor of this paper was jailed not by the SLPP but an APC government . We can therefore see that the issue is not politics. It is Man’s inhumanity to man.
COCORIOKO’S ‘PAUL KAMARA HEALTH APPEAL FUND’ SWELLS TO $ 2, 000 : BANK ACCOUNT OPENED Saturday December 3, 2005 The Special Appeal Fund set up by COCORIOKO to cover Mr. Paul Kamara’s medical costs hit $ 2, 000 yesterday and the Editor of the newspaper, Rev. Wilfred Kabs-Kanu , opened a special bank account to receive the pledges so far made. Yesterday, Mr. Foday Turay , a Sierra Leonean in the diaspora, , pledged $ 200. Said he :” I wish to contribute to your fund -$200 or pds100. It’s a good cause -we should do all within our reach to prolong Paul’s life. Our country needs Pauls and we do not presently have many. Please send me details where to send my contribution -UK or USA.”. Also, the COCORIOKO Newspaper Corporation, as a body , pledged $ 500 yesterday on behalf of its executives Messrs Foday Mansaray, Alex Mansaray , Joseph Saidu Sherman, Martin Kijangbe , Dauda Sekou Bangura and the Editor , Rev. Kabs-Kanu. This is separate from the personal $ 100 the Editor pledged in opening the appeal Fund on Wednesday. Messrs Alex and Foday Mansaray said that the Paul Kamara Health Fund was a worthy exercise designed to help a worthy Sierra Leonean who had been an outspoken advocate of human rights Contributors can now send their pledges to the Wachovia Bank. The routing number is 021200025 and the account number is 1010126234396 . We want to thank all those who have contributed to the fund.
MOIJUEH KAIKAI AND SHYKH TUNIS PLEDGE MONEY TO HELP-RESTORE -PAUL KAMARA’S -HEALTH FUND Wednesday November 30, 2005 Two Sierra Leoneans have already responded to the special fund set up today by COCORIOKO to help restore the health of journalist Paul Kamara , who was released from jail yesterday after winning his case against the President , Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, on appeal. Mr. Moijueh Kaikai , wjo lives in the United Kingdom , has pledged 50 British pounds while Mr. Shykh Tunis , who resides in the U.S., has pledged $ 100 .Thus within one hour of the launching of the fund, it is now U.S $280 . As more people respond to the COCORIOKO gesture, a reliable third party will soon be appointed to handle the fund through a bank. COCORIOKO regrettably cannot handle any finance , though the newspaper plans to canvass support for the fund. We want to appeal to all Sierra Leoneans to respond to the appeal, not from a political perspective , but a humanitarian gesture. The fund will not be politicised . We are all Sierra Leoneans. We shall look at the problem from the angle of a national crisis . This is not an SLPP or APC PROBLEM and we call on all Sierra Leoneans to leave partisan , regional or any other politics out of this matter. What happened to Paul Kamara can happen under any government . The Editor of this paper was jailed not by the SLPP but an APC government . We can therefore see that the issue is not politics. It is Man’s inhumanity to man.
COCORIOKO APPEAL FUND FOR PAUL KAMARA’S MEDICAL TREATMENT NOW UP TO $700 Thursday December 1, 2005 The Special Appeal Fund set up by COCORIOKO yesterday for assistance to offset the medical bills of the Editor of the FOR DI PEOPLE newspaper in Freetown , Paul Kamara, rose to U.S. $ 700 yesterday , with pledges of $200 each from former Member of Parliament, Mr. Dauda Tombo Bangura and the Editor of the PATRIOTIC VANGUARD in Canada , Mr. Gibril Gbanabome Koroma. Yesterday, the COCORIOKO Editor , Rev. Wilfred Kabs-Kanu , with a personal pledge of $ 100 , opened the Appeal Fund . Minutes after the appeal was published, Mr. Moijue KaiKai of the United Kingdom pledged 50 British Pounds ( Which we are estimating to be U.S. $ 100 ) and Mr Shyk Tunis of the U.S. followed with an $ 100 pledge. If after 2 pm tomorrow, no other person volunteers to handle the banking aspect, COCORIOKO will set up the account at the Bank of America or the Wachovia Bank in Franklin Township, New Jersey. We want to express our sincere thanks to all who have responded so far PAUL KAMARA HEALTH FUND : $ 500 IN THE KITTY . $ 1, 500 PLEDGES YET TO BE FULFILLED Friday December 23, 2005 The amount of U.S. $ 500 has been received so far in the Health Fund set up by COCORIOKO to help journalist Paul Kamara offset some of his medical bills following his recent release from jail where he languished for over one year on a conviction for Seditious Libel against the Sierra Leonean President , Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. The money represents fulfillment so far of pledges made by the Editor-In-Chief of COCORIOKO, Rev. Wilfred Leeroy Kabs-Kanu ( $100 ), Shyk Tunis ( $ 100 ) , Dr. Foday Turay ( $200) and Moijue KaiKai ( $100 ). The contributors made cash payments into the Special Wachovia Bank account set up by the Editor to facilitate the Appeal Fund. Paul Kamara, Editor of FOR DI PEOPLE newspaper, recently won his Appeal Court case against his conviction for Seditious libel and was released from further imprisonment , but Sierra Leoneans of goodwill are trying to help him offset his medical expenses. .
SLPP election ends in violence By Chernor Ojuku Sesay Cocorioko Correspondent in Freetown The Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) Western Area Central 1 zonal election ended in violence over the weekend at the party’s former headquarters, Rawdon Street in Freetown. Two opposing groups engaged themselves in running battles, threw missiles like empty beer bottles, rocks and other objects, injuring several innocent passers-by and even some among the groups. Reports gathered indicate that the two contestants for the post of Chairlady, Central 1 Zone II, known as Haja Mammah of Regent Road in Freetown and Magaret Tarasid-Tarawally of Free Street in Freetown and their respective supporters converged at Rawdon Street to conduct the elections on Sunday. However, according to eye-witnesses, the actual election was yet to commence when supporters of Magaret Tarasid-Tarawally reportedly started to chant against Haja Mammah that she was too old for the position; that she should now give way to a younger person because she (Haja), had been in the Chairlady seat of SLPP Central 1 for close to a decade now. The anti-Haja group reportedly vowed not to vote claiming that Haja had imported thugs and hired voters from outside the constituency in an attempt to rig the elections. Following this development, the group supporting Haja reportally responded by hurling insults and pelting their opposers with missiles. It was then that all hell broke loose and for about forty-five minutes the stretch of Rawdon Street between Siaka Stevens Street and Garrison Street was a battle-field. Normalcy was however regained when riot police arrested a number of people upon their arrival at the scene. SLPP authorities contacted for comment at their Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown, headquarters yesterday were said to be elsewhere attending to urgent party matters.
Dying ex-minister cries for helpThursday November 10, 2005By COCORIOKO’S Chernor Ojuku Sesay
Hon. Osman Kamara, the last Minister of Trade and Industry under the ruling SLPP before the 2002 Presidential and Parliamentary elections is crying for government help through the press.
The former Minister who is bed-ridden at his Wilberforce residence in a pathetic tone told journalists that “my brothers, I am bed-ridden for the past two months and I am dying slowly without care. I want you to make it clear to the government and the general public that I do not deserve to be abandoned. I need to be rescured out of this predicament. Don’t sit down and allow me to perish. Please explain my plight to the Secretary to the President, Sheka Mansaray”, Kamara appealed.
Kamara took over the leadership of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP-Sorbeh} after the death of the party’s former leader, Hon. Thaimu Bangura in 1998. He was branded at the time as the most vocal Parliamentarian in the opposition which earned him the admiration of the populace. His reputation became suspicious when he accepted the ministerial appointment from President Kabbah few months to the 2002 presidential elections. Most observers at the time predicted that the offer was a ploy to silence Hon. Osman Kamara.
And indeed, few weeks to the elections, Hon. Osman Kamara was on radio and television to tell all his party supporters that |after critically considering the popularity of President Kabbah and his role in bringing peace to Sierra Leone, he would not be contesting the presidential elections but his party will participate in the Parliamentary elections.
He further called on all his party supporters to vote for President Kabbah in the Presidential elections and the PDP-Sorbeh in the Parliamentary elections. This pronouncement by Hon. Osman Kamara eventually resulted to his political demise as his party failed to even secure a single seat in parliament including his own seat at Freetown West III.
He was sacked immediately after the elections and since then life has been very uncomfortable for him. Secretary to the president, Sheka Mansaray said the government was very much concern with the former minister’s health. He disclosed that the government had made arrangements for Kamara to be treated in Ghana but it was Kamara who refused to undergo surgery in Ghana but instead withhold the funds.
When political failures and military tyrants conspire in Liberia‘s run-off elections
By Joseph S. Sherman, Washington, DC
Monday October 31, 2005
Surprises are always being strewn around along the way to the end. You never know who is good and who is bad until near the end. Once more we are witnessing a strange political phenomenon in Liberia’s presidential elections where political stooges and failures are conniving with former military tyrants to usher in a puppet government come the run-off elections in November 8. 2005.
We are also witnessing hypocrites and political opportunists who practice the very things that destroyed Liberia teaming up to make mockery of a country that needs a pragmatic and visionary leader who will restore the country’s credibility in the international arena.
Liberians may think that these conspirators are opting for a lasting solution to the more than century old debilitating and pandemic problems of the country. This is quite an intelligent plot by the conspirators to manipulate an incoming government, thus making another mockery of good governance, accountability and prevalence of the rule of law. Since these political failures and military tyrants can not have their way in the first elections they will rather throw their heavy weight in support of a candidate whose presidency will resort to the much failed state Liberia find itself today.
But the fact is, these conspiratorial schemers ways of trying to explain events are beginning to drastically influence the electorates come November 8, 2005. Even some sectors of the electorates have become so hungry for quick-fix conspiracy explanations and they are beginning to gravitate toward any quasi plans no matter how ridiculous.
One way to start thinking about reform in Liberia is to distinguish between political failures and opportunists. Those that depend on puppet presidents for their survival, an believing that the rank -and file are replaceable commodities, and that social priorities-education, health, justice, and relief-are unimportant so long as the public produces enough bodies to use as soldiers and workers. If Liberians keep deluding themselves this way, they will continue to respond with slack-jawed bewilderment and senile indignation to violence, self destruction, and lack of good education and general erosion of their human dignity.
This utopian thinking that educated people have failed Liberia has engendered some of the worst abuses of power in history, as evidence in the 14-year civil war. Most erstwhile creators of puppet governments and state utopia behave like dangerously immature parents. They expect their charges to accept all their ideas. They see their charges as embodiments of noble innocence, only to turn violent against opponents who fail to conform to their whims and caprices.
How will Liberia measure up when it comes to producing a thriving citizenry? Reform will start when the electorates put the raw sewage of political opportunists and failures through an adequate treatment facility, and elect a visionary and pragmatic leader who will not be pulled by nose and dictated to by political stooges and sycophants.
SLPP FIGHTS TO AVOID DISINTEGRATION , AS OPPOSITION SET TO CAPITALIZE Wednesday September 14, 2005 The ruling Sierra Leone’s People’s Party ( SLPP) is said to be involved in frantic behind-the -scenes efforts to avoid disintegration as supporters of the opposition All People’s Congress ( APC ) look to be making moves to capitalize on the schisms to build solid support for the 2007 General Elections. Well-informed sources in the Sierra Leone capital of Freetown told COCORIOKO last evening that only a miracle will stop the SLPP from splitting into two different entities. According to the sources, Charles Margai, the son of one of the founding fathers of the party and former Prime Minister, Sir Albert Margai, has set his face firmly against reconciliation ,like a flint. Reports said that top brass of the SLPP have been burning the telephone wires and also sending emissaries to Margai to persuade him to accept the olive branch offered by Vice-President Solomon Berewa, whose victory in the votes for Party Leader and Presidential candidate during the SLPP delegates Convention in Makeni almost two weeks ago sparked the threatening split. SLPP supporter John Fomba told COCORIOKO yesterday that the party was desperate to stop Margai from reaching the people with his grievances to avoid reinforcing apprehensions about a pending split in the party . Fomba said that the SLPP had to project a united front to the people. However, it appears as if Charles Margai had different ideas as he went on with his plans to consult with the people . Initial reports say that Margai has received tremenduous support in the provinces where fans encouraged him to form a new party. However, within the very SLPP, even some members who frowned at the manner of Berewa’s victory are said to be uneasy with Margai. A report relayed to this newspaper by our correspondent Olu Faulkner , spoke of feelings within the party to the effect that Margai had some preconceived notions that will not only hurt him but the party’s interest will be jeopardized. According to Faulkner, some SLPP supporters charge that Margai has an “All-or nothing ” attitude about the leadership of the country . .He is accused of believing that nothing else is good for him but to become President . Faulkner said that he heard some SLPP supporters commenting that Margai’s ambition to be SLPP party leader and President was so intense that if he pursued it to the wire he would end up causing the party’s defeat in the elections in 2007. ” As I said earlier “, Faulkner went on, “Many SLPP supporters do not like the way Berewa won the votes , but at the same time they want Margai to pursue reconciliation in the interest of the party and the nation .They believe that it will not serve Margai’s best interests or that of the SLPP’s if he splits the party .” As a manifestation of the fact that Margai’s quest does not have unanimous support , COCORIOKO learnt yesterday that the late Prime Minister’s son does not even have the support of some of the losing SLPP Leadership candidates .John Leigh, who was allegedly approached to join the provincial tour where the defeated members would consult with party members about their next move, opted out, saying that he was not going to join forces with Margai. Infact, according to unconfirmed reports, Leigh is flying back to the USA today to give himself time to reflect better on the situation and choose better options short of quitting the SLPP. Another losing candidate, former junta leader Maada Bio , has not come out openly to embrace plans for a new party, as at the time of filing this story. Bio , who surprisingly performed nearly as better as Margai in the votes, may be looking forward to other options as well, but Faulkner stated yesterday that the situation may change. For now, Margai is on theprovincial tour with former Finance Minister, J.B.Dauda and Abubakarr Kamara, all of whom were defeated by Berewa during the September 4 votes. APC supporters , meanwhile, are said to be jubilant over the SLPP’s troubles . Any split within the SLPP which will bring another party into existence, will benefit the APC ,but again the APC too is riven by feuds and law suits and some neutralists have said that it must put its house in order to be able to capitalize on the SLPP’s problems. COPYRIGHT. COCORIOKO 2005
BEREWA’S OLIVE BRANCH FAILS TO CONTROL RIFT IN SLPP Saturday September 10, 2005 The acrimony in the ruling SLPP remained yesterday, almost a week after the party’s controversial National Delegates Convention in Makeni where Vice-President Solomon Berewa was voted party leader and presidential candidate for the 2007 Elections. A day after the Makeni drama, Berewa extended the olive branch to leading rival, Charles Margai, but his gesture has not been reciprocated so far , according to well-informed sources within the SLPP last evening. In his letter to Margai , Berewa sermonized :”The transparent and fair manner in which the election for the many offices in the party were held is a matter that should speak loud of the democratic credentials of our party and should be one of which every member of the party should be justly proud “. According to some SLPP members who were contacted by COCORIOKO yesterday, this aspect of Berewa’s letter did not go down well with the Margai or other belligerent camps because, according to them, it tended to gloss over the serious problems that were manifest in the votes last Sunday . Some SLPP members stated that Vice-President Berewa should have acknowledged the problems with the voting that left his rivals fuming and claiming unfairness, as a first step towars reconciliation. “Berewa cannot take back what happened but he could create some emotional connection with the others if he admitted that there were problems , like for instance, the strange behavior of those delegates who allegedly fooled John Leigh that they would nominate him when they did not “, one member said. Some party members however agreed with Berewa when he said in the letter : “Now that the conference is over and the election has been held, I believe its my responsibility as the newly elected presidential nominee of the party to ask every party member including the candidates who contested for the many offices to join forces now to develop the party and ensure it maintains its pristine position as the only national party in the country devoted to ensure the sustenance of peace and security and to ensuring the social and economic development of this country, and also as the only party that is devoid of tribalism and other parochial tendencies.” They agreed that it was time to heal the breach in the ruling party and that losing candiates must join the winner Berewa to help develop the party ahead of the 2007 Elections. What some of them however wondered was whether it will help the party’s chances in the 2007 Elections to have Charles Margai as Berewa’s running mate. Though Margai is regarded as competent by them, SLPP supporters who spoke with COCORIOKO believed that Margai being Berewa’s running mate will not give the SLPP the regional balance the party needs to win votes in the Western Area and the Northern Province. Berewa’s appeal to Margai has gone largely unheeded as the latter was said to be one of the disaffected members of the SLPP planning to launch another political party. The idea of the formation of a new party was divulged to the public today by the Hinga Norman Campaign Head, Rev. Samforay in another release today, in which he said in part : “To be sure, we are going back to court and the formation of a third political party is on the table”.
After stunning Hinga Norman court loss ….. JOHN LEIGH PROTESTS HASTY CONVENING OF SLPP LEADERSHIP CONVENTION Thursday September 1, 2005 Just hours after the Supreme Court delivered Hinga Norman a stunning setback by throwing out his much-talked-about law suit against the SLPP, another high-profiled Presidential aspirant within the ruling party has protested openly against the hasty convening of the SLPP Leadership Convention on Saturday . Mr.John Ernest Leigh is not only protesting that the convention was being rushed , but also that it was being done by former national officers whose term of office, he said, expired in March 2004. Yesterday, Mr.Leigh released a strong press statement in which he also raised serious questions of unlawfulness and unconstitutionality of the operation of the National Executive Committee of the SLPP. Here is the press release sent to COCORIOKO and some other newspapers yesterday by the John Leigh Campaign Team : RUSHING THE SLPP CONVENTION IS UNWISE!
PRESS STATEMENT BY:
JOHN E. LEIGH, SLPP CHIEF PATRON & PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT
The wholesale rush by SLPP bigwigs to stage a snap Nominating Convention in Makeni on barely three days’ Notice is bound to go down in the history of Sierra Leone as one of our country’s most ignominious, reckless and shameful power grab.
Hence the recent call for party unity and sentimental references to the good old days of genuine Party democracy by President Kabbah are unlikely to be fully requited or laughed at. The membership and the general public know fully well that the onward and indecent rush to an untimely convention; organized and/or directed and staged by former National Officers of the Party whose terms of office has long expired – ex-Party officers such as Sama Banya, Solomon Berewa and Tejan Kabbah, etc. portends possible trouble for the Sierra Leone Peoples Party in the weeks, months and years ahead.
TOO PREMATURE
First, the re-scheduled starting date of Saturday, September 3, 2005 was made official only on Wednesday, August 31. Thus, many legitimate delegates will not be able to attend and much chaos and large scale inconvenience awaits those who make it safely to Makeni for the Convention.
The reason given for the fantastic rush is that President Kabbah needs to travel overseas. This is a very poor and insubstantial reason for rushing, amidst chaos, a most important event in the history of our country.
Certainly, the same Makeni convention could be held upon his return or he could even cancel an unnecessary junket to New York. The Makeni Convention is far more important for the stability of Sierra Leone and the unity of the SLPP than yet another boring but expensive speech at the United Nations.
SUPERFLUOUS TRIP
At the UN, the President will probably be speaking to an empty or near-empty UN General Assembly Hall and his message is unlikely to have any lasting impact abroad or even resonate at home. On the other hand, the rush to Makeni is going to have an indelible impact upon the SLPP and thus our country. Therefore, the need for a proper convention should take precedence over the president’s superfluous overseas’ travel.
The September 2005 date for the impending Convention is itself much too premature. The earliest proper date for a genuine SLPP Convention which is to nominate the Party’s presidential candidate for the May 2007 presidential election cannot be justly set prior to January 2007.
Next, the Party bigwigs who are now rushing the Party to possible destruction have no lawful authority to set the date of the convention, or decide on a convention agenda or manage the said convention or parade themselves as National Officers of the Party because their two-year terms of office expired in March 2004 and no one has been re-elected to fill their vacant position since.
UNLAWFUL & UNCONSTITUTIONAL
The Party’s National Executive Council those same officials staged on July 8 & 9 in Freetown and where the decision to rush the convention was taken was also legally and constitutionally invalid because those who authorized and controlled the proceedings had no lawful or constitutional authority to authorize and take charge of the said National Executive Council meeting because their two-year terms of office had expired in March 2004 and had not right to exercise the authority of their former offices.
They also had no right to participate in the said NEC meeting as voting members as they were no longer in office.
Under the Party’s Constitution, Clause 1V (A, 3g), the Party Conference, popularly known as the Convention, elects the National Officers of the Party biannually as well as the Elected Members of the National Executive Council.
The National Officers of the Party are listed in Clause V, 1 of the Party’s Constitution.
The 34 National Officers of the SLPP are: The National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, Leader-Presidential Nominee, Deputy Leader (Vice Presidential Nominee), Four Regional Vice Chairmen (one for each province and one for the Western Area), National Secretary General, Assistant National Secretary General, National Treasurer, Financial Secretary, National Organizing Secretary, Assistant National Organizing Secretary, Leader of the Women, Leader of the Young Generation, Publicity Secretary, Internal Auditor, Three Legal Advisers, Eight Trustees, two per region, Imam and Chaplain.
The above officers were last elected in March 2002. Under Clause 1V 3g, their terms of office expired in March 2004. Thus those among them still parading themselves as National officers of the Party and making decisions on behalf of the Party from are acting unlawfully.
SLPP PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL MUST ACT
Those with the lawful and constitutional authority to fill vacancies occurring among the National Officers of the Party are those of its members of the National Executive Council whose terms of office have not expired. They include SLPP Members of Parliament and former members of Parliament. Since this group constitutes the quorum requirement of Clause 1V B4, the members should fill all existing vacancies and it is this lawfully constituted National Executive Council that should organize the Nomination Convention in proper time.
To do otherwise is to act unlawfully as well as set in motion practices which can only destroy our Party at some future point.
I intend to take the matter of the expired terms of office to the appropriate channels for a proper determination.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
– Dated: Thursday, September 1, 2005 in Freetown.
Former Detention Staff Members Honoured Monday August 29, 2005 A Special Court Press Release The five men and one woman were seconded to the Special Court in late 2003, In a ceremony in front of the Special Court’s courthouse, Veronica Bameh, A sixth honoree, Emanuel King, was absent. Through working with experienced international detention staff, the These include inter-personal skills, such as how to treat detained persons Mr. Conteh, who spoke briefly following the ceremony, told the honorees He added that the certificates awarded to the staff members were not only Iraq job seeker’s parents blame Govt. Sunday August 21, 2005
By Tamba Borbor, COCORIOKO’S City Editor
Mr. Alieu Taylor Kamara, the father of repatriated Iraq job seekers, Alusine Taylor Kamara has blamed the Government for the plight of his son.
Speaking to Mr. Taylor-Kamara at his home at Masoila Lungi, he disclosed that upon arrival at their residence, his son, Alusine was seen with a bandaged head and complained of body pains. He went on to explain that when he questioned the boy regarding the reason for having a bandage wrapped around his head, the 21-year-old SS3 pupil of the Bullom Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School explained that he sustained serious injuries when a bomb was detonated close to his place of work while in Iraq.
“He told me he is feeling pain in the chest after been hit by fragment on the chest and ribs in Baghdad, Iraq,” Mr. Taylor-Kamara went on to say. He added that the boy told him that while he was admitted at a hospital in Baghdad, his employers surprisingly brought his ticket to return back home to Sierra Leone. Upon arrival at their home at Masoila, Alusine according to the dad was unable to alight from the vehicle that brought him to the house, as he complained of severe pain.
Asked what he would like to see done about the present condition of his son, Mr. Taylor-Kamara stated that as his son had signed a year’s contract with the employers, he should be paid in full all what he is due in addition to receiving sober medical treatment. He blamed the Government for negotiating a deal that would endanger the lives of its citizens under the cloak of job creation. “Our children were taken into slavery in Iraq and I blame the President and his Cabinet because they should have been aware of all this,” Mr. Taylor-Kamara said.
Meanwhile, during a radio programme- “Night Line” on Radio UNAMSIl last Friday, a Sierra Leonean caller from Iraq- Mr. Smith who said he is the Manager of the Camp where the job seekers from Sierra Leone are being kept, denied the story of Alusine Taylor-Kamara. He disclosed that he (Mr. Smith) escorted ten of his Sierra Leoneans colleagues to the Airport to board a homebound flight after they had failed a medical test conducted in Iraq.
Mr. Smith categorically denied that any Sierra Leonean has never being a victim of a bombing in Iraq; adding that the ten who have been sent back home did not successfully go through the medical test. However, an official of Faith Consortium- a Non-Governmental Organization confirmed on the same radio programme on Friday that Alusine was in their care but was not seen again not too long before he (Alusine) was suppose to tell his story during the radio programme.
Nurses to down tools 1st September Tuesday August 16, 2004 Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown At around 9:00am on Friday 12th August, Nurses converged at the National School of Nursing in protest over their incorporation into the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS). Defying the heavy downpour of rain, they lined up in front of the Hostel at Wallace Johnson Street displaying banners and placards which had different messages inscribed on them in getting the authorities to take note of their grievances. Speaking to the President of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association (SLNA), Sister Patricia Abu, about the cause of the peaceful protest, she said that they are totally against the idea of incorporating the School of Nursing into COMAHS; adding that they support being an affiliate of the University. Disclosing that they have already given a 21-day strike notice to the authorities concerned; failing which they would resort to a sit down strike come 1st September. Sister Abu stressed that there is a marked difference between “incorporation and affiliation.” “When you incorporate something, you are in control of it. the thing would not be autonomous but would be run by somebody above,” she stated; adding that the School of Nursing has been governed by the Nurses and Midwife Board in Sierra Leone which effectively monitors standard and practice of students a well as they the professionals. The Nurses Association President stressed, “incorporating us into COMAHS is like taking away our autonomy as professionals and even taking away our facilities.” She disclosed that the dropout rate at the COMAHS is 62.3% as compared to theirs, which is 5% for State Registered Nurses (SRN), and 6% for State Enrolled Community Health Nurses (SECHN). These figures Sister Abu said were obtained from a survey done by a Consultant from the European Union. She went on to say that 70% of the lecturers of COMAHS are working part-time and are engaged in private practice; which she maintains does not allow them to teach effectively hence the reason for the high dropout figures. COMAHS the Nurses Association President stated would argue that they want to maintain standards at the Nursing School to justify the incorporation. ” We as professionals started it already and there are standards. When nurses leave these shores and go abroad, they perform very well. You cannot separate nursing education from nursing practice,” Sister Abu stated; adding that as a way of improving on the present, there is now a whole Department at COMAHS wherein nurses can pursue a BSc programme. She categorically stated that there is nothing to gain from being incorporated but rather COMAHS stands to gain more; stressing: this is infact the reason for the insistence on incorporating us.” Asked whether they were consulted by the Government before taking the decision to get them incorporated into COMAHS, the President of SLNA said: “we were never consulted and infact we heard they have been working on this thing for over two years now. When we heard about it last year, we wrote to the Director General of Medical Services who then told us it is news to him. The Ministry of Education did not reply to our letter and it is like they think nurses don’t know what they want.” Sister Abu stated that the whole issue seems absurd especially at a time when the country is talking about decentralisation. “How can the Ministry of Education start centralising schools? We really don’t know what the Government is preaching. Is it centralisation or decentralisation,” she queried.
SLAJ retains Lawyer to write for inquest into Editor’s deathSunday August 7, 2005Tamba Borbor reports from FreetownLawyer J.B. Jenkins-Johnston has on the request of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) written to the Attorney General and Justice Minister requesting an inquest into Harry Yansaneh’s death. His letter states, “our instruction are to request as a matter of extreme urgency and inorder to preserve and uphold the rule of law in our country, that a Coroner’s inquest be convened in accordance with Section 7 of the Coroner’s Act Cap 9 of the Laws of Sierra Leone.”The Act states Lawyer Jenkins-Johnston’s letter went on: “it shall be the duty of every Coroner to hold an inquest or an enquiry according as this Act, on the body of any deceased person within his district, whenever there is reason to suspect that the deceased person died from violence or unfair means or by culpable or neglect conduct either of himself or others and also whenever any death shall have occurred under circumstances appearing to the Coroner to require investigation.” “.The facts and evidence made known to us, we are under no doubt that the circumstances of the late Harry Yansaneh’s death are such that do warrant an urgent and transparent inquiry by the coroner,” he went on to state.At the time of this sad incident, Lawyer Jenkins-Johnston further pointed out to the Attorney General “our clients through several newspapers and the electronic media called the Police to investigate the incident urgently, thoroughly and transparently, but it is a matter of extreme regret that the Police do not seem to have done anything even to apprehend any suspect for the assault on the poor and unfortunateHarry Yansaneh until his untimely demise on the 28th July 2005.” Meanwhile, members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) at an emergency meeting have endorsed the position taken by the Sierra Leone Reporters Union, to impose with immediate effect, a news blackout on the Sierra Leone Police Force, the House of Parliament and the Office of the Vice President, who is Chairman of the Police Council. They further demanded the immediate extradition of all those involved in the assault who have fled the country.
Seven children reunited by ICRCFriday August 8, 2005Tamba Borbor reports from FreetownSeven children have been reunited with their families in the North, South and Eastern regions of Sierra Leone by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).On average, the children had been separated from their families for almost ten years, as a result of the internal armed conflict in Sierra Leone, which caused them to flee to refugee camps in Guinea where the ICRC identified and registered them. This reunification is the latest that ICRC Sierra Leone has conducted. Since 2000, 828 persons were reunited with their families after been transported mainly by air. One vulnerable Sierra Leone adult is also included in this batch. The ICRC is actively searching for parents of about 200 Sierra Leone unaccompanied minors staying in Guinea. No sooner the whereabouts of such parents or relatives is located, and both the parents and children agree, then family reunification would be made possible. Already, the ICRC has reunited 2,784 individuals with their families worldwide, most of them children.
UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PAYS VISIT TO SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT Friday July 15, 2005 Mrs. Louise Arbour , the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has promised to ensure that former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor is arrested and handed over to the Special Court for trial. She made this promise when she visited the court. Read the Press Release below
Special Court for Sierra Leone Press and Public Affairs Office
PRESS RELEASE
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Visits the Special Court The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights pledged today to support the Special Court’s efforts to secure the arrest and transfer of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.
Louise Arbour is in Sierra Leone for four days as part of her mission to West Africa. During her visit to the Special Court complex in Freetown, Mrs Arbour pledged her support to the Special Court in the areas of fundraising and the transfer of indictees whom remain outside the custody of the Special Court.
During the meeting, Mrs Arbour reiterated her supported for the immediate transfer of Charles Taylor from Nigeria to the Special Court in Freetown saying it was now time for “justice to follow its course.”
She also enquired about the Special Court’s funding and said she would “certainly be supportive” of all fundraising efforts. The Special Court met this week with private foundations in New York, and will hold a pledging conference in September, in an attempt to obtain contributions from member states to secure funding beyond 31 December 2005. In an hour-long meeting, Ms Arbour was briefed by senior Court officials on the progress of the trials, funding, involvement with the local community, and the legacy of the Court. She listened to short presentations by the Acting Registrar and officials from Prosecution, Defence, Chambers, Witness and Victims Support, Outreach and Press and Public Affairs.
#END
The Special Court is an independent tribunal established jointly by the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. It is mandated to bring to justice those who bear the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996. To date, the Prosecutor has indicted eleven persons on various charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Nine indictees are currently in the custody of the Court.
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DR. LANSANA NYALLEY FOR THE 2006 SIERRA LEONE PEOPLES PARTY (SLPP) NOMINATION FOR THE 2007 NATIONAL ELECTION
THE SIERRA LEONE PEOPLES PARTY (SLPP) WITH NEW VISION FOR THE HIGHEST HORIZON We want a lasting greater and better Sierra Leone equally available to all Sierra Leoneans. Don’t be a victim of inaction. Join the move today and let us make it a reality. IF it is to be, Its left to Us. For More Information Contact Keifa Vandi (076-634-544) or Ernest Pekanyande (703-675-5787)
CECIL SAMBA TO HELP OPEN DOORS OF COMMERCE TO DESERVING AFRICAN NATIONS Monday June 4, 2005 Mr. Cecil Samba, a top adviser of the ruling SLPP New York Branch has been inducted as head of the African Section of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and Senior Vice-President of the Maximization of Resources Enterprises for Caricom/Africa Business Industry and Investment Commission Incorporated. Samba, who was inducted by the New York Chamber of Commerce, has the responsibility of introducing into the chamber African countries desirous of exploring the enormously rich New York business markets. During his induction, Samba promised to serve the continent diligently and help open doors of commerce for deserving African countries .The induction of African countries into the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce also means that the African nations will automatically become part of the New York business community where they can broker economic deals on behalf of businesses back home and in New York and America. Mr. Kim Erroll Fuller, Manager Partner of the McCreary and Fuller Public Relations Inc. of New York told COCORIOKO that the economic benefits to be derived by African nations from their induction to the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce were “enormous.” HINGA NORMAN DEFENCE TEAM HOLDS SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SENSITIZATION MEETINGS IN KENEMA AND BO
Wednesday May 4, 2005
The defence team for Chief Sam Norman, Moinina Fofana and Alieu Kondewa had a very successful defence strategy and public sensitization meeting in Kenema District this weekend. Chief Defence Counsel, Dr. Bubuakai Jabbi, along with defence investigators met with citizens of Kenema District and the surrounding Eastern Region to plan for the upcoming defence segment of the trial of the CDF leaders.
We are informed that several hundred potential witness have lined up to testify for the CDF leaders. Many include women who plan to tell the so-called special court how they and their towns and villages were liberated by the Kamajor wing of the Civil Defence Forces of Sierra Leone. The Kamjors were singled out for prosecution by the UN hybrid tribunal invited to Sierra Leone by President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah which resulted in the arrest and detention of Kabbah’s own Minister of Internal Security and former Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief Sam Hinga Norman.
Norman and his fellow CDF leaders were arrested by the Sierra Leone Police and have been in detention without bail for the past two years. They are accused of bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and international humanitarian laws. The CDF was organized by Kabbah’s government and twice in two years restored his government to power after rebels of the Revolutionary United Front and their allies of the Sierra Leone Army routed the elected government from power.
The prosecution is expected to rest its case in June having run out of its paid witnesses who have been testifying about cannibalism charges against the Kamajors. Norman has informed the court that Kabbah and several members of his cabinet and advisers including octogenarian and senior adviser, Richard Sonny Lagao currently in New York, will be subpoenaed during the defence stage of the trial. Lagao was head of the War Council and Chairman of the CDF that his government now disowns.
The some times rambunctious crowd grilled Dr. Jabbi on why he was still attending the trial while his client was boycotting the court over the issue of the consolidated indictment. Jabbi explained that he has the full blessings of Chief Norman as he continues to file motion after motion both before the so-called special court and the Sierra Leone Supreme Court to have the case and perhaps the court itself invalidated. A similar meeting is scheduled for Bo District in about two weeks. Similar meetings were held in both places last November but we are told that public interest in the case in favour of Chief Norman and his colleagues has peaked even as the prosecution seems to be running out of steam as prosecution witnesses abscond with Crane’s money and senior court officials resign “for personal reasons”.
The defence team and the people of Kenema extended their heartiest gratitude to the friends and supporters of Mr. Fofana, Mr. Kondewa and Chief Norman for all their moral and financial support in keeping the fate of our national heroes in the forefront of the international community.
Another One Bites the Dust Meanwhile, the Principal Defender for the so-called special court, Simone Monasebian, has resigned with immediate effect. Ms. Monasebian who is said to have an extensive background in defending and prosecuting those charged with serious violations of international criminal and humanitarian law will leave the court next week. Our unofficial sources tell us that Monasebian referred to in court circles as Simone, is leaving because according to her, the court is not a career building activity. Daah. As we say in Indiana, whoopidi doo. It is regrettable that Simone and the other Ayatollahs of international jurisprudence who materialized in Sierra Leone to save the savage Africans from themselves did not check in with our own Prof. A. K. Bangura who would have gladly told them what they are now finding out after wrecking their professional careers in pursuit of the comedy of errors otherwise known as the special court for Sierra Leone.
Also curiously missing in action for a long while is the court-appointed legal counsel for Mr. Norman, John Wesley Hall. After reportedly been trashed by fellow American and former US Ambassador, John Hirsh, for his participation in the so-called special court, Hall returned to his lucrative practice in Arkansas and has not been heard from since Chief Norman refused to attend court or speak to court-appointed lawyers on his defence team. Hall, who is head of the American Criminal Lawyers Association, is a college mate and personal friend of Principal Defender, Monasebian, who is now leaving the court.
According to her vitae, before her appointment to the so-called special court, Ms Monasebian was a Trial Attorney with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR.), where she prosecuted war criminals in complex, multi-defendant cases. Ms. Monasebian is also an Adjunct Professor of International Criminal Law at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, through Seton Hall University Law School.
Readers on this forum are also aware that Chief Prosecutor, David Crane, who had vowed to make sure Chief Norman and his colleagues never see the light of day, will pick anchor and perhaps return to his former spy job at the US Department of Defence in June.
With the Chief Prosecutor and Principal Defender leaving the court, that leaves Registrar and Grand Ayatollah, Robin Vincent, and our own junior Ayatollah from California, Alieu Iscandari, Esq., to pilot the gradually sinking ship. We wish them all well (or not) in their next ventures as the prosecution of the 100 million dollar court prepares to rest its case and the Defence prepares to take center court with an international array of witnesses including former Us Ambassador, John Hirsch, former British High Commissioner, Peter Penfold, a former Special Representative for UN Secretary General and other senior diplomats and government officials from around the globe who have agreed to testify or are to be subpoenaed by Mr. Norman. The comedy continues.
Alfred SamForay, Coordinator, CDF Defence Fund FORMER FIRST LADY TELLS IT ALL : CHARLES TAYLOR , MAN OF MANY CONCUBINES Wednesday March 23, 2005 Jewel Howard Taylor is by no means an ordinary woman. She is the lady believed to have tamed and controlled the emotional heart of the former Liberian President and dictator, Charles Taylor , who until two years ago held virtual sway and masterdom in the warlord fiefdom of West Africa. Or so Liberians thought about the relationship between Jewel and the so-called “Butcher of Monrovia..” Now the former Liberian First Lady is talking. West Africa’s most feared warlord during his heydays who left a woman shamelessly and bitterly crying on the tarmac of the Robertsfield International Airport as he left for forced exile two years ago , is a man of multitudes of concubines. Talking to the Nigerian magazine , OVATION, Mrs. Taylor disclosed that her husband has many concubines. When asked by the magazine whether Taylor had other women beside her, she retorted cynically : “He got plenty of concubines. Do not bother me about that one “. Taylor is said to be romantically involved with the sister of Nigerian President , Olusegun Obasanjo , who granted him exile in Nigeria two years ago and he also has as his woman the daughter of His Excellency Hon. Donald Duke , Governor of Calaba State , one of Taylor’s townmates in Nigeria. However, Mrs.Taylor, who is known for her jealous fits at the Executive Mansion during their stay there and also at the Governor’s Lodge in Calaba where they now reside, made many complimentary remarksabout her husband during the interview. She said that most of the things said about Taylor were false and were propaganda from his enemies. Mrs.Taylor complained that Charles Taylor was used by power-hungry politicians to invade Liberia .She said that after the late President Samuel Doe killed, the politicians who used Taylor could have said to him that hecould not be President, but her husband stood his ground that he had given enough blood and tears to gift somebody else the Presidency. COCORIOKO WILL PRODUCE THE FULL INTERVIEW LATER
IF I AM PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE First_Name: Patraick By Patrick S. Bockari, Mendekeima, Kailahun; California, USA. PREAMBLE: As president of Sierra Leone, my administration will accomplish a bold Like most of Africa, Sierra Leone has more than adequate natural Why is our country still led by virtually the same politicians and The general elections of 2007 present unique and once in a life time The key revenue sources in our country (minerals, fishing, the harbor, ECONOMIC REFORM & REVITALIZATION: I have developed a spending plan of $6.5 to $8 billion for the first ? Return to the original 1973 design capacity of approximately 1,650 ? Build a national irrigation and flood control system to facilitate ? Modernize the Freetown harbor to become the regions choice for ? Provide guaranteed loans and legislative mandate to reconstruct ? Modernize the airport and link it to our major cities and to our ? Create a Land Ownership Reform and Identification Commission ? Develop a fraud proof and well protected computerized national ? Provide loans and grants to private companies that set up ? General human assistance to indigent adults and children in the ? Provide modern national defense with emphasis on territorial water, ? Create and strengthen govern revenue generating, control, and TOTAL SPENDING = $6.5 TO $8 billion Revenue will be generated from the following: reform the trading of In the coming couple of years, I will continue to look into how my If you have any questions regarding my plans for our country, please Thank you for reading and may God bless Sierra Leone.
SIERRA LEONEANS PERISH IN TSUNAMI DISASTER ? Anxious citizens await news Thursday December 31, 2004 Anxiety is slowly sweeping through some Sierra Leonean circles as some of the nation’s citizens may have been caught up in the colossal tidal wave disaster in Asia that has now claimed 135, 000 lives. According to our reporter, Olu Faulkner, there are strong rumours in the capital, Freetown, that Sierra Leone had students and citizens in affected countries like Thailand , Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka and they were unaccounted for as anxious families have not been contacted by them since the disaster struck last week. The government has not made any announcement to the effect that there were Sierra Leonean students or citizens in the countries devastated by the Tsunami , but since the Civil war broke out in 1990, Sierra Leoneans are dispersed all over the world and in a massive disaster of this nature it cannot be ruled out that our country was affected. It is certain that Sierra Leoneans live in these countries.What is still unconfirmed , though, is whether some of them perished in the disaster. Sierra Leoneans who worked as security guards and office workers were killed in New York during the attacks on the World Trade Centre . According to the then Minister of Information, Dr. Cecil Blake, some of the victims of the terrorist attacks were also traders selling goods under the foyer of the Twin Towers that collapsed that fateful day, killing 3, 000 people. COCORIOKO is calling on readers who know about the fate of any Sierra Leonean to contact this newspaper so that families could be informed . The SLPP government is also urged to make a public announcement about the rumours spreading in the capital to still the minds of the people.
I WAS RAPED AND AMPUTATED–Witness testifies By Sampson Cole Sunday July 18, 2004 At the Special Court the statement of the second According to At One rebel then escorted her to a certain point where
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