Cocorioko encountered a very serious technical problem on Sunday after we updated our newspaper with the report and pictures of the PMDC Convention .The Editor was not at home and used  a computer belonging to a finance company for which he is an Associate.

The company’s computer destroyed our website completely. Huge gaps and spaces were created.Some articles literally fell off and were hanging precariously and grotasquely. Also, entries in other pages became difficult to be understood as sentences were cut at the end.

The Technical team of our  hosting company  found out that certain programs loaded on the company computers had created what is known as BAD HTML  which was affecting our pages. The programs on the company computer were inimical to the smooth operation of the pages from our hosting company.

We are not sure whether this problem exists on other computers. besides the company’s .We have had problems with this website working on our church computers. Infact, we think there is also a problem with our website .It cannot work with many other programs on other computers. We do not want to go through the agony and nightmare we underwent on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week when we had sleepless nights with the tech.support of the hosting company trying to correct different problems BEING  triggered by the bad HTML. Therefore, we are acting as if every other computer out there cannot work with our website smothly. We have stopped travelling around with a laptop because it is inconvenient.

Considering the fact that the Editor is  AWAY FROM HIS DESK OR HOME for longer periods  weekends , we have decided to set up a special weekend page, using the AOL services. This will take us away from our webhosts  Quickbliz facilties to a new realm. We want to ensure that if there is a news break during the weekend, COCORIOKO  can  flash it wherever the Editor is that moment and from any computer . This page will be exclusively for news breaks and news flash during the weekends . Readers are to check this weekend page on weekends because if there is a news break , this is where it will be reported by COCORIOKO .

We will later transfer the articles to the main website, if necessary.

This is the weekend page :   COCORIOKO WEEKEND

The Norman Arrest: Sierra Leone’s Day of Infamy

By Alfred Munda SamForay,

The Sierra Leone Working Group and the Hinga Norman-CDF Defence Fund.

Monday, 10^th March 2003, will go down in the history of Sierra Leone as our national day of infamy.  On that day, three years ago while in his official capacity as Minister of Internal Affairs and Regent Chief of Jaiama-Bongor Chiefdom, the Hon. Samuel Hinga Norman was arrested, kicked and shoved into a police van then onto a helicopter and transferred to a mosquito infested former slave penitentiary on Bonthe Island south west of Sierra Leone.  Norman was later transferred to the detention facilities at New England in Freetown.  Three months later, two other high ranking members of the government sponsored militia, the Sierra Leone Civil Defence Forces (CDF-SL), former CDF Director of War, Moinina Fofana, and former High Priest and Chief Initiator, Dr. Alieu Kondewa, were also arrested at the orders of the so-called special court for Sierra Leone. All three men have been incarcerated at the detention center for the past three years while the cases against them drag on ad infinitum.

Perhaps the most shameful and diabolical aspect of Mr. Norman’s arrest and humiliation on that fateful day in 2003 was that his boss and confidant, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, actually picked up the telephone and called Norman to make sure that the Chief was at his desk shortly before the Sierra Leone Police arrived to arrest Norman.  The incidence bears a striking resemblance to the betrayal of Jesus by one of his chosen disciples, Judas Iscariot, who kissed Jesus on the cheek just before his arrest by Roman soldiers on the orders of the kangaroo court set up by Jewish leaders who had become obsessed with Jesus’ popularity among the people.  Judas later changed his mind and tried to return the thirty pieces of silver for which he had betrayed his friend and mentor. He killed himself before Jesus himself was hanged by the Romans. This is not necessarily a suggested path to penitence for Mr. Kabbah during this Lent season. However, the similarity between these two historical events is not to be lost on many Sierra Leoneans including this writer who consider Mr. Kabbah’s complicity in Chief Norman’s arrest not only as the ultimate act of betrayal of friendship but also as a convenient way for Kabbah to dispose of Chief Norman in favour of Kabbah’s Vice President and heir-apparent, Solomon Berewa.  Berewa was last year elected by the ruling SLPP as Party Leader and candidate to succeed Tejan Kabbah as President of Sierra Leone.

Let’s fast-forward to 10^th March, 2006, the third anniversary of Mr. Norman’s arrest.  On Thursday, 9^th March, the Supreme Court in the matter of Sam Hinga Norman versus SLPP, Jah, Saffa and Carew, is expected to hear arguments put forward by Counsel for Chief Norman stating among other things that the election, selection or by whatever means of Solomon Ekuma Berewa as Leader of the SLPP is unconstitutional and should be made of no lawful effect whatsoever.  Mr. Norman also argues that the acceptance by Mr. Berewa of the position of Party Leader while at the self same material time serving as Vice President of Sierra Leone is in itself in violation of the constitution.  If Norman prevails in his arguments, Mr. Berewa will be dispossessed of his title as Party Leader and the SLPP will have the option of holding another convention to elect its leadership.

Meanwhile, Berewa’s boss, President Tejan Kabbah himself is on the ropes from Mr. Norman’s legal maneuvers before the so-called special court.  Norman and co-defendant, Moinina Fofana, recently filed a motion for a subpoena ad testificadum requiring Mr. Kabbah to appear as a witness for the defence.  Kabba’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Fred Carew, presented an asinine argument before the Trial Chamber as to why the president should not be subpoenaed to appear as a witness.  It is, however, unmistakably clear from the Rules of Evidence of the court that Kabbah as Head of State has no immunity either to appear as a witness or to be held in contempt of court indicted, if he fails to appear or for perjury if he fails to testify truthfully under oath.  Kabbah could also, if the evidence so leads, be charged for his complicity in planning and executing various battles and war strategies as testified to by various CDF commanders including Chief Norman himself who have appeared as defence witnesses.  The decision is long over due and should be resolved before the trial resumes on 2 May, 2006.  If the court for some unknown reason were to decide against Kabbah testifying, then is the court making a declaration that Mr. Kabbah is above the law and that the court is subject to the national constitution?

Whatever the outcomes of the matters before the Supreme Court or the Kabbah subpoena, it is now clear that for a country run by lawyers, Sierra Leone is now headed for a slippery road and that lawyers, despite their reputation, may not have a monopoly on craftiness.  One way or the other, the indicted non-lawyers, Norman, Fofana and Kondewa, may have the last laugh at the expense of their tormentors.  For their parts both the Trial Chamber and the Sierra Leone Supreme Court are bound by duty and conscience to deliver their verdicts with all deliberate speed.  As Norman himself has often argued on his own behalf, justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.  It could be that if the justices of both courts where Mr. Norman seeks vindication and justice were to rule without respect of persons and according to the rule of law rather than fair and favour, the outcomes of the Kabbah subpoena and the that of the Supreme Court may render the out come – whatever it might be – of the trial at the so-called special court itself of no consequence whatsoever.

In Martin Luther King’s rendition of the Hebrew Prophet, Isaiah, “Let justice roll down like rivers and righteousness like a mighty stream.”  Then and only then will Sierra Leoneans be able to put behind them this sad and most turbulent part of our history and fully engage themselves in the long-derailed national reconstruction and reconciliation.  If the justices can find within themselves the courage to do this, then we might be able to paraphrase the words of Winston Spencer Churchill before the House of Commons in June 1940:  Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the Republic of Sierra Leone and its government last for a thousand years beyond its day of infamy, posterity will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.”

Iran says no to nuclear weapons

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Thursday February 16, 2006

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Sayed Ali Thaghoghi Mahrizi said that the Iranian government is committed to non-proliferation and elimination of the  nuclear weapons and she will continue to abide by her obligations under the NPT and will continue to work actively for the establishment of a Zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

The Ambassador was speaking on the occasion marking the 27th Anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution and Iran’s National Day at his Wilberforce Loope resident on Sunday 12th February this year. ” Iran will also remains an active member of the UN, non Aligned Movement, and the OIC and fully recognizes the UN as the supreme body of community of nations. But at the same time Iran decisively believes in the fact that the use of this technology for just and peaceful purposes is not her irreversible right but also the right of all other nations of the world. It is also understood that all state party to NPT, without discrimination, have inalienable right to produce nuclear energy for peaceful purpose. In this context it cannot be undermined or curtailed under any pretext. Any attempt to do so, would be an attempt to undermine a pillar of the Treaty itself. Iran like any other Non-Nuclear-weapon state, had no obligation to negotiate and seek agreement for the exercise of her inalienable right nor could she be obligated to suspend it. Therefore, any pressure on Iran’s peaceful Nuclear activities does not only ignorew her Right, but violates international treaties and accords which is particularly injurious to her people and violates her right to enjoy advanced science and technology, independence and democracy as well. Employing such propaganda that Iran is pursuing a nuclear bomb is an instrument to muster International pressurew to abandor her legitimate right.”

The Ambassador also stated that, they are happily celebrating the 27th Anniversary of that victory, and for their various achievements they so far succeeded in gaining as the revolution  gained them freedom from foreign hegemony and domestic dictatorship and which brought about the establishment of an Islamic system of government through the decisive leadership of the late Imam Khomeini ” The revolution was a great inspiration for progress. It committed the authorities to sincerely focus their attention and effort on development in the country. The government in consonance with the provision of the constitution is therefore committed to uphold Isl;amic principles, foster the rule of law, and preserve justice and equal opportunity, freedom of _expression and human rights, taking into consideration the socio-cultural background of the Muslim Nation. This has today counted for scoring tremendous strides and progress in the political,social and economic fronts. It has also rersulted in bounding the nation into one solidified unity with self reliance. in upholding democratic ideals,the government has up to now successfully conducted more than 26 nation wide elections; with more than 70% turn out. There are moer than 60 different political parties in Iran today including those of women, fully registered with the independent Electoral Body”, he said

He went on to say that,  freedom of _expression has a prominent place in the socity,that is why his government has put great effort in place for its promotion as manifested in the high increase of publication of books, newspapers and periodicala every year. “Religious minorities enjoy full rights in performing their rite and other activities. The government has setup a committee to look into their concerns. Consideration is also given to all other existing ethnic groups. With regard Women’s right, the government has established many Women’s Affairs Committees in all provinces, and has assigned more than 540 Decision Making Bodies in all regions to women. with the issue of Human Right Protection government is seriously cooperating with all friendly countries including UN in this regard”, he noted.

The Iranian Ambassador further said that, the relationship between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Islamic Republic of Iran, since the inception of their diplomatic ties,has been excellent as manifested the visit of the former Iranian president last year followed by the singning of MOUs between the two sides ” Iran government continues to provede considerable assistance to Sierra Leone in various areas including education, medical, agriculture and transport. My government is actively in support of the visionary dream of H.E. President Kabbah and the crayon call he made for food security, for which I shall soon be officially handeing over 48 additional tractors to the previous ones totaling 69 Tractors provided. A Red Crescent team of Iranian Doctors will soon arrive to be active once again in the country with the full cooperation of the ICRC and the Sierra Leone Red Cross and Red Crescent in providing medical services in the Satellite Clinic in Freetown now under rehabilitation by Iranian Embassy”, he said, adding that ” Iran has been instrumental in the country. Both our countries desire furthe expansion of ties and co-operations, officials of the government and I myself working presently to enhance trade and technological cooperation for mutual benefit.  I will pray for the prosperity of both nations and governments and for the flourishing of our friendship”, he added.

In his statement, the Director of Asia and the Middle East  for Sierra Leone Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ibrahim Sillah congratulate the government and the people of Iran on their auspicious occasion, he said Sierra Leone and Iran enjoy cordial bilateral relations which have culminated trust between the two states. ” This has fostered cooperation between the two countries mainly in the fields of Science and Education, Culture, Information, Youth and sports and Agriculture. As a member of the Non-Aligned group and the OIC we share common ideas and aspirations”, he said.

 Christian organisation turns cassava exporter

By Cherrnor Ojuku Sesay

Tuesday February 7, 2006

Christian Farmers Cassava Initiatives are set to improve farming in Sierra Leone in order to help the government achieve its food security goal.

According to Mrs. Rhoda B. Akinola, this is a business organisation even though Christians are involved and it is mainly for farmers. “We have gone to different provinces and met with different farmers and they appreciated the venture so much. We are also giving micro-credit facilities to the farmers”, she said, adding that, it is a profit making organisation. The organsiation she went on, will enable farmers to have access to machines and equipment and to increase their production on cassava so that farmers would live better lives.

According to Mr. Boma Simeon Anga, an international cassava commercialization expert from Nigeria, the Christian Farmers Cassava Initiatives want to enter into the business of exporting quality cassava which he said is the second most inportant food in Sierra Leone. “From cassava, we have many products like gari, foo-foo, fuel, flour and more. Cassava produces a fuel that is more better than kerosine”, he said.

He further stated that, the organisation will not attain its objectives if the farmers are not pleased to be a part of it. “We have provided warehouses in the provinces for the farmers to store their products”, he said.

Prison Paymaster escapes death

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

 Thursday February 2, 2006

Pay and Quarter Master (PQM) of the Sierra Leone Prison Service, Ms Cecelia Ellie, narrowly escaped death when her vehicle collided with another at Orugu Bridge over the weekend.

Ms. Ellie who was returning from Waterloo after attending her department’s passing-out parade at Kissy-Town, Waterloo was driving her Mercedes Benz car with Reg No. AAO 982. Whilst  trying to overtake another vehicle with Reg.No. ACF 340 that was coming from the opposite direction, the two vehicles collided.

Eye-witnesses told The Pool that following the collision, Ms. Ellie’s vehicle burst into flames and burnt beyond recognition whist the other vehicle which was a poda-poda Urvan mini-bus was damaged beyond repairs.

Though no death was initially reported, latest reports indicate that three passengers in the Urvan mini-bus have died.  The PQM Mrs. Ellie, however, is said to have escaped with not-too serious injuries and is now responding to medical treatment

SLPP HAS DONE MORE FOR THE NORTH THAN OTHER REGIONS

Thursday January 26, 2006

First_Name:  Idriss
Last_Name:  Feika
Email_Address:  idrissafeika
Address:  17 rector road
City:  Mattapan
State:  MA
Zip_Code:  02126
Comments:  When I read Joseph Saidu Sherman article title S.L.P.P neglecting North and West.I immediately felt the urge to response as it was filled with misleading imformation and to a large extend consist of negative tribalistc tendency and sectionalism which is not good for that country.

For people that are developmentally oriented,will agree with me that,SLPP has done more good to the North than any other part of that country.Examples,construction of Makeni highway,erection of 3 bedrooms from 4 mile unto mile Siaka and beyoung,construction of schools and health centers.

EDITOR’S NOTE :  Joseph Seidu Sherman is not a tribalistic Sierra Leone. He is just a bold journalist that says it the way he sees it. He has also written articles in the past unfavourable to the Northern Province and the Western Area. However, since we are a democratic newspaper, we will allow others to respond to his article.

Class 4 Boy Killed At Wellington

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Wednesday January  18, 2006

A 12 year old Class 4 pupil of the John F.
Kennedy Primary School, Cline Town
in Freetown, Ibrahim Sankoh was on Friday, January 13 allegedly murdered by one Abdul Kargbo, a second-hand clothes dealer at Up-Gun roundabout in Freetown but resides at an unnumbered house at Magnus Street, Wellington.

Kissy Police who are investigating the matter, disclosed to this correspondent that four people including the accused have so far been arrested and detained pending investigation. Three of the detained suspects, according to the police were picked up on Saturday afternoon at a village called Masumana, situated on the highway, five miles to Masiaka town. The arrested villagers include one woman but police could not disclose their names as statements are yet to be obtained from any of them.

The prime suspect, Abdul Kargbo, the police disclosed, highlighted from a truck at Philip Street, Wellington, New Road towards midnight with a white bag neatly wrapped with an object inside. The police said, some youths who were standing by became suspicious as the suspect was carrying the wrapped object and enquired from him what was wrapped in the bag.

The suspect replied that his son was suffering from convulsion and was rushing him to the hospital. The youths however, insisted in confirming the answer the suspect gave and when the bag was unwrapped through the intervention of the police, the dead body of the boy was discovered.

Sources said had it not been for the immediate intervention of the police, the suspect would have been lynched immediately.

Hundreds of people rushed to the station and demanded that the suspect be released to them but the police prevented them.

The government Pathologist, Dr. Owizz Koroma on Monday had to escape and was unable to perform the autopsy to ascertain the cause of the death as hundreds of people rushed to the mortuary demanding that there was no need to carry out an autopsy but that the suspect must be killed immediately. Police had to intervene to disperse the crowd from the mortuary at the Connaught Hospital.

In a telephone interview, the proprietor of the John F. Kennedy Primary School, Alhaji Alim Awoko Sesay expressed sympathy over the sad event and admonished parents to be very vigilant over their children to and from school.

“Henceforth we are going to introduce more stringent security measures in the school. Even those parents going to collect their children and wards will be thoroughly screened” he said.

SALONE – WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?

Charles Bami Carr, LLB(Hons)Law, LLM in Business Law, Lecturer in law @ University of Westminster, London

Wednesday December 14, 2005

Just after completing my secondary education in Freetown, a calypso record with the title: ?Oh, What Are We Fighting for?’ heated the music world, including the Sierra Leone Music Chart. It was quite a popular calypso sound which most Sierra Leoneans, at the time, loved and danced repeatedly to the tune, especially when in social gathering.

Our Primary Values

Well, at a time like this when I often think of Sierra Leone as, it was at the time when the calypso music was the sound of the day, perhaps, even asking us what are we fighting for?, a blessed country, a place where education (book learning), morals (good home discipline) and religion (good Christian and Muslim upbringings) were the Primus values within our culture, and the varied organs of the State were functioning to the envy of our neighbouring nations, it be-gulls to see that all those values had been robbed off the nation. Yet, the Sierra Leonean people are fighting, but fighting for the negative things. All these are as a result of our reluctance to choose the good from bad and to improve standards in our country.

Salone brothers and sisters, can we not listen to the cries of our parents, grandparents and great, great grandparents, who are now in the wilderness, crying that we show mercy to ourselves and engaging in things that are so lovely, pure and upright to improve standards of living in our blessed Land, Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone, as can be seen, is considered to be a small country, but, it appears to have adequate natural wealth and beauty. These are graceful features, which, we as citizens, should be proud of, to have to adapt to a collectivist approach, be in unity with one another and work tirelessly to move forward, especially after a period of senseless war, which we have not benefited from.

At a time like this, we must be ready to serve our country as partners in business with a view to benefit all Sierra Leoeans and take up full responsibilities in its developments. We, Sierra Leoeans, must consider ourselves as singers singing from the same songbook and singing harmoniously to the tune ?Land that we love our Sierra Leone’.

Yes, as a country with democratic values, there are bound to be different political Groups/Parties with different political ideas, just as in a singing group every singer has a different tone of voice, but as the group sings collectively, the sound must be in unison so as to produce melodious choruses. Consequently, despite the different Parties/Groups we must put aside partisan politics, selfishness and work for the good of the nation. Mr X or Ms Y will not only be the looser or benefactor to any rundown or development activities that is taking place in the country, instead, all the citizens will be affected as well.

So, Salone brothers and sisters, we must stop fighting, think positively and manage our country in ways that will benefit us and our generations.

Modern Living

Some Sierra Leoneans who have travelled to, and lived in other countries may have realised how the citizens of some countries are hardworking and patriotic to their countries. They are fighting hard and fast to improve living standards in their countries by being creative and entrepreneurial.  They get less involved in the politics of their country and concentrate, far more, on business tactics for the emotive good of their nations. These are examples we as sierra Leoeans should embrace so that we can reposition Sierra Leone in the international world and stop being referred to as the poorest nation or most corrupt nation.

Sierra Leoneans must not wait on their government to initiate creativity and entrepreneurship leading to the provisions of more employments. In reflecting on the world’s economic situation, there has been an ongoing global inflation emerging from the rising price of a barrel of crude oil, a highly demanding product in every living economy. This has affected, even, some of the most developed economies, such as the USA and countries within the European Union (EU) States upon which the Sierra Leone government could, strongly, rely on support to help create more employments in the country. Nonetheless, our government machinery should not omit their obligations to communicate to the people the issues and problems of modern living so as to bring the nation to awareness.

 Respect for the Law

Most importantly, all Sierra Leoneans must work within the Rule of Law to rebuild Sierra Leone. Our politicians should stop recruiting gangs of political supporters, as they, in most situations, later, turned-out to be enemies of the state by engaging in thuggish and violence against their fellow citizens.  These resulting characters, I’m sure, are beyond the intentions of the politicians when encouraging their supporters just to mobilise political support. However, it is now time for these politicians to realise that such gangs are useless, especially to the country, which the politicians intend to serve on winning electoral seats.

For the sake of our nation, let the politicians adopt a more peaceful and democratic means of gaining support, and leave the youths to think of progressive ideas. Those politicians who work for the nation will always be the idols of our nation. Sierra Leoneans are no more fools.

The youths must realise that there is no skill too small to start a career, whether as tailors (seamers), traders (like the Fullahs) or, shop assistants. Any one of these skills can be the starting point of ones life achievements. Even those Sierra Leonean, including myself,  who have lived and/or are living in other countries like the US, UK and other Western States can confirm that in many situations one has to start their new living by taking up menial jobs such as cleaners, shop assistants and/or security officers (watchmen), to name but a few. What matters most is the individual’s commitment to succeed in life.

You cannot or do not have to wait on the government to provide more jobs. We in diasporas have been realising that without working one cannot carry on living any better standard. Perhaps, it is because we have found ourselves in a different environment, an environment where every man is for himself and God is for us.

All Sierra Leoneans have a responsibility to be engaging in sensible debates of issues of national interest. One of such issues is the reckless disregard of law and order. There can be no law and order if we, as citizens are not prepared to respect the Laws and Customs of our Land. Every citizen has a duty to act lawfully and avoid a breach of the law. We must conduct ourselves peacefully and accept that no person is above the law. We must stop fighting each other and work for the progress of our nation.

The institutions responsible to maintain law and order must rise to the challenges facing them. Particularly, the legal profession in Sierra Leone must demonstrate a duty of care to all and serve within the ethics of their profession.

Yes, the legal profession is a profession which some of us who are members realise that we have to rely on it for our bread and butter. But, let us also not forget that we have a reputation to maintain as keepers of the law. We must maintain the letter as well as the spirit of the law. Therefore, those who are in the practice in the country must exercise integrity.

The Police must put aside favouritism and police our nation to support and enforce law and order in our country. No police in the country must intimidate an ordinary citizen, nor should the police be afraid to carry out their duty.

Moving Forward

Let us, strongly, put behind us the war and fighting days, and start acting positively. Let us always ask ourselves, if we destroy our Blessed Sierra Leone with wars, where else could we go to live? We have to remember that there is no place like home.

The general popules must keep away from politics. We have a lot to do for ourselves than going after the politicians. We should, at this time, have learnt strong lessons from dealing with successive politicians of our country. Most of them have not changed for any better and have seemed not to be prepared to help develop our nation, nor even offer the promise of paradise that are being preached pre-election periods. Even the politicians themselves hardly realise much. Perhaps, no wander the majority of them are always being greedy.

The Sierra Leonean citizens are to invoke a rebirth into their lives, show humility and love to one another, as that is the way forward. We are now to expand on the peace the United Nations have left us with and show that we are fighting to live peacefully amongst ourselves.

God Bless Sierra Leone, God Bless those in authorities and God Bless the citizens.

Outrage in African community in New York/New Jersey

ANOTHER AFRICAN IMMIGRANT DIES IN VAIN

Saturday December 10 , 2005

A New York Judge has outraged the African community in the diaspora by sending a Police officer home , though this officer killed an  innocent and unarmed West African immigrant and was even found guilty of Criminally Negligent Homicide. .

Officer Bryan Conroy was only given a five years ‘ probation by Mnhattan Supreme Court Justice Robert Straus when he could have gone behind bars for at least four years. The Judge said the officer was a decent man who suffered  from poor training  and supervision.

The Judge blamed the New York Police Department for the tragedy and said that Officer Conroy’s supervisors should have been in court with him.

Rather ironically, the same Judge had said that he did not believe the officer;s version of the struggle between him and Zongo where he said that the African immigrant tried to grab his gun. The Judge gave the impression that he thought that the officer lied in his version of the story. The Judge also said that he did not believe the officer that he displayed his Police badge clearly enough for Zongo to know that he was an undercover cop.

Many Africans living in New York called radio talk shows to protest the sentence, saying that the officer merely walked away for homicide. Some of them asserted that the cause of justice was not served once again.

The sentence brings back memories of the Ahmadou Diallo saga three years ago when four New York cops were also set free after they gunned down Diallo, who hailed from Guinea-Conakry. .Both Diallo and Zongo , who was a citizen of Burkina Faso , had no criminal records .

Ousmane Zongo ,  43 , . fixed African artifacts for a living  in a Warehouse  in  the Chelsea section of Manhattan. In the same building , there was a company that prepared and  illegally distributed  bootleg compact discs. On May 22, 2003 ,  Zongo encountered  Officer Conroy on the hallway of the building. One version said that the officer called on Zongo to stop but people theorized that like Ahmadou Diallo, he thought the plain-clothes man  was about to mug him.

Zongo ran from him  and the officer gave chase and both men reached a dead end of the building where the officer opened fire on the poor immigrant .One bullet hole showed that the officer shot Zongo at least once from the back.

The first court case ended in a mistrial but the officer was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide during the retrial by the same Judge that virtually freed him yesterday.

Diallo died in similar circumstances on February 4, 1999 when plain-clothes officers looking for a rapist encountered him at the vestry of the building where he rented.  The officers said Diallo reached for his wallet and they mistook it for a gun, whereupon they opened fire on the Guinean,  who took 41 bullets in all and was almost decapitated.

Another version said Diallo must have thought that the four plain-clothes men were out to mug him and was trying to give them his wallet which he thought they had demanded when they asked him to stop as he tried to  enter the building. .

”

THE YANSANEH CASE WILL NEVER DIE …….

Says wife of victorious journalist

Wednesday November 30, 2005

The Harry Yansaneh case has not died and it will never die, Mrs. Isatu Kamara, wife of FOR DI PEOPLE Publisher Paul Kamara,  said in Freetown yesterday.

Mrs Kamara was talking exclusively to COCORIOKO  after the release from jail yesterday  of her husband , who had been incarcerated for over one year , after being found guilty of Seditious Libel against President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. The Sierra Leone Appeals Court quashed the conviction yesterday and set Paul Kamara free.

Harry Yansaneh was the man who became Acting Editor-In-Chief of FOR DI PEOPLE  while Paul Kamara was in jail. He died in Freetown five months ago after languishing in the hospital for a while following his brutal and merciless beating by the children and Property Evaluator of SLPP Member of Parliament, Mrs. Fatmata Hassan. A Coroner’s Inquest on Yansaneh’s death found Mrs. Hassan and her children and Evaluator culpable for the journalist’s death.

Mrs. Kamara said Paul Kamara was very distressed by the beating death of the man he left at the helm while he went to jail. He could not believe that such a thing would have happened.

The Publisher’s wife , in response to questions from COCORIOKO  on the case , said that the attorney pursuing the Yansaneh case , Mr. Blyden Jenkins-Johnston, had written the Attorney General of Sierra Leone to enquire what was happening, amidst suspicions that the government was planning to kill the case.

Mrs. Kamara told COCORIOKO  that the Sierra Leone Association of Jornalists ( SLAJ ) and other civil rights groups will not allow the government to kill the case. “Yansaneh’s death will never go in vain “, she assured.

APC PLANS TO EXPEL 4 MPs

Friday October 28,2005

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Cocorioko Correspondent in Freetown

The Secretary General of the APC, Victor  Bockarie Foh has said that the party is contemplating on taking very tough action against those he described as “dissidents”.

As a first step, according to Foh, letters have been written to four APC parliamentarians namely, Hon. Alfred Serry – Kamal, Hon. Eddie Turay, Hon. Cecil Osho-Williams and Hon. Dr. Moses Sesay.

The letters dated 26^th October, 2005, stated among other things that, “you have consistently and with utter disregard, breached Article 5 (I),(II)  a, (b) and (c), III and (IV) of the APC constitution of 5^th December 1995″.

The said Article 5 of the APC constitution states;

(i)                Every member of the party shall pay such fees and levies as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the National Executive Committee of the party or any other body authorised to do so.

(ii)              Every member of the party shall:

a)     Abide by the provisions of the constitution as well as all lawful rules, regulations, directives and decisions of the party or any of its organs.

b)     Accept the policies, programmes and ideals of the party.

c)      Promote the aims and objectives of the party loyally and refrain from pursuing any course of action, which may be inconsistent with or inimical to the interest of the party…

In addition to the violations of these article, according to Foh’s letter, the four MPS also owe the party accumulated monthly dues ranging from Le 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Leones) for Dr. Moses Sesay and Hon. Eddie Turay and Le 600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Leones) for Hon. Serry-Kamal and Hon. C. Osho – Williams.

Mr. Foh stated that any party member who violates the above Article 5 will face sanctions as provided for in Article 8:1 of the same constitution which calls for either expulsion from the party, suspension for a specified period, removal from office, debarring from holding office or fine.

It would be recalled that the four parliamentarians have been constantly opposing the leadership of Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma even though he is the most popular compared to any of them.

On Wednesday, a local tabloid quoted Hon. A. F. Serry – Kamal as stating that “he would rather join Vice president Solomon Berewa of the SLPP than staying under the leadership of the APC leader, Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma”.

On reading the said article, most APC supporters concluded that the dissidents within the APC are financially sponsored by the ruling SLPP to destabilise the APC and thereby reducing the party’s chances of gaining power in 2007.

Reacting to the said publication, Victor Foh said the actions and utterances of Hon. Serry – Kamal and his cabal are against the spirit and intent of the party for which disciplinary action will be taken.

Mr. Foh accused Hon. Serry – Kamal of notoriety in the finger pointing game, citing two examples in which Serry-Kamal made similar utterances.

He disclosed that in 1999, Hon. Serry – Kamal called for the eviction of all Mende elements from the party ” referring to me Victor Foh and William J. Smith forgetting that the APC is a national entity belonging to everybody no matter your tribe, religion or region”. He added that in 2002, Hon. Serry – Kamal accused Hon. Ernest Koroma of not being a full blooded Temne and this time around only a full blooded Temne will be allowed to lead the APC.

“Our stance now has shifted from extending an olive branch to taking punitive steps for the party to move ahead”, Foh stated.

HOW HINGA NORMAN BECAME REGENT CHIEF–Ex  NPRC military officer explains

Saturday October 1, 2005

A former member of the Supreme Council of State of the then ruling National Provisional Ruling Council ( NPRC) , retired  Lt. Col Idrissa Kamara , has revealed the circumstances leading to the appointment of Chief Hinga Norman as Regent Chief of Telu Bongor in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone.

The former military officer was talking to COCORIOKO  yesterday while rebutting alleged distortion of facts about his role in the Sierra Leone war by a columnist of this newspaper, Mr. Martin Kijangbe.

In a series of articles recently on Chief Hinga Norman, whom he referred to as his hero, Martin Kijangbe intimated that Lt. Col. Kamara , while he was Secretary of State of the Southern Province,” started sending some of his soldiers to Chief Norman or he started visiting Chief Norman and praising him for his courageous work with the local defence….a ploy to understand the force around Telu Bongor and to know how to take them on with a military surprise..”

Lt. Col. Kamara strongly condemned these sentiments by Kijangbe in a long telephone rebuttal with the Editor of this paper yesterday, frowning on the writer’s suggestion of underhand tactics by him in his dealings with the Chief. Kamara indicated that Norman’s relationship with him was cordial and they worked together as a team to fight the RUF  rebels and he never tried to undercut Norman’s authority.

The retired soldier also disclosed that there was no friction between the Chief and the NPRC  and he related that it was the NPRC  who decided to have Norman appointed as Regent Chief of Telu Bongor.

According to Kamara, the inner core of the Supreme Council of State of the NPRC  decided to have some veteran military officers appointed Chiefs to accellerate the war against the RUF . Many of the elected chiefs were running away for their lives due to the deadly attacks being launched on chiefdoms by the rebels.  There was also no understanding between the chiefs and soldiers sent to protect their chiefdoms. The NPRC  therefore decided to have ex-soldiers appointed Regent chiefs.

Hinga Norman was one of those former soldiers identified for appintment and he became Regent chief. Lt. Col. Kamara therefore failed to see where a friction would arise between Norman and the NPRC.

SUSPENSE STILL PREVAILS AFTER WEEKEND ANXIETY

Thursday September 8, 2005

The debates about Sierra Leone’s political future have intensified after a week of anxiety and tension.The two traditional rival political parties -The ruling SLPP and the opposition APC held their conventions last weekend and elected Party leaders and Presidential candidates for the 2007 General Elections.Some leading politicians also suffered defeats in their bids for political ascendancy.

Now , the debates have started about the chances of the two parties in the forthcoming Elections and the effects that recent happenings in the country would have on the future of the nation.  COCORIOKO  sampled the opinions of several Sierra Leoneans yesterday and also looked in at the heated debates going on in the online discussion forums.

One of the issues still causing suspense in the country is the uncertainty about what the  losers in the last weekend political sensation in Port Loko and Makeni planned. Before the APC  went to Port Loko, COCORIOKO  learnt from APC  operatives in NewJersey and from some newspapers in Sierra Leone that Eddie Turay , one of the former aspirants for the party’s leadership and the son of the late President Siaka Stevens, Dr.Jengo Stevens, boycotted the convention and Mr. Turay was said to have predicted that the whole exercise would just be a  mere coronation and he would challenge it in court. If Turay carries out his threat, this will embroil the APC  in another legal battle that will steal valuable time. According to people interviewed yesterday, there was every likelihood that the APC  would go back to court, though the winner of the leadership and presidential votes Ernest Koroma appealed for unity last Sunday after his victory.

It is also likely, from the opinions of some APC  supporters, that Turay and other dissidents may be disuaded from further court actions as the APC  has been thrown a lifeline by the SLPP disputes , which they believe could see the opposition party repeating its 1967 shocking victory over the SLPP  in the 2007 General Elections.

The ruling SLPP’s  losing candidates have been silent since Sunday’s vote but the head of the Campaign -to-Elect Hinga Norman, Rev. Alfred Samforay, did promise a response from the camp of the former Internal Affairs Minister in 72 hours on Monday. It is not known yet whether Berewa’s victory will be challenged in court but at least two Sierra Leoneans in the U.S.  warned yesterday that it was still not over yet in the ruling party.

This feeling was reinforced by the swift action President Kabbah took on Tuesday night to dismiss some ministers of government in a stunning post-convention cabinet reshuffle. The Reuters News Agency reported yesterday that Kabbah sacked the ministers “After they failed to support the ruling party’s candidate to succeed him in polls due in 2007. “The agency said that all the sacked ministers Joseph Dauda ( Finance ), who it said “Had unexpectedly put himself forward as a candidate”,   George Banda-Thomas( Internal Affairs) and Emmanuel Grant ( Energy and Power) failed to support Berewa, quoting party members. However,even before the Reuters report, forum debaters online had already accused President Kabbah of sacking the ministers because they were dissenters to Berewa’s candidacy. Another suspenseful point of interest is whether all these men would slip into oblivion or fight back one way or the other.

Whatever the answers to all these uncertainties, it is definite that the political scene in Sierra Leone has just become more pulsating and sensational with about two yearsstill to go to the elections.

KABS KANU : Editor-In-Chief

Status Quo demands explanation from Government

Friday August 19, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Government has been urged by Status Quo Sierra Leone (SQ-SL) to give an explanation on burning issues affecting the majority of citizens in the country.

Among issues they demand explanation for in a Press Release dated 17th August 2005 are; “the astronomical increase in the cost of rice and other basic commodities; the deplorable environmental and sanitary conditions in the capital City Freetown; rapid inflation and general deterioration in the standard of living for the vast majority; the obsolete and draconian public order act and the libel laws of the 1991 constitution which are suffocating and strangulating our hard-won democracy and the glaring evidences of corruption and Government obstruction of the operations of the Anti-Corruption Commission.”

The civil society organisation states further that “. we wish to express our concern over the current state of affairs ranging from: the excessive spending of State resources by State officials to succeed themselves in power; the ineptitude of the opposition party to make Government account for its action and the selfishness of most of our Parliamentarians whose only interest is to run after contracts at the expense of the State.” These and many factors Status Quo maintains, “Are not intune with good governance and democratic freedom.”

On the circumstances leading to the death of the Acting Editor of the ?For di People’ newspaper, Harry Yansaneh, SQ stated that it is a “very bad precedent for a nation just emerging from a decade of war.” They went on to demand that it is a matter of urgency that the Government explains to the people of Sierra Leone on the above issues. “Failure to respond to these issues, we shall be left with no alternative but to embark on Mass Action that will compel Government to be accountable to her citizens which is a major requirement for good governance,” Status Quo stressed.

HINGA NORMAN’S INJUNCTION STALLS SLPP CONVENTION

Monday August 15, 2005

There are doubts whether the SLPP Leadership Convention slated for this coming weekend will materialize, at least  in the near future. The Writ of Injunction filed by Chief Hinga Norman against the holding of the convention has thrown the whole convention into uncertainty .

The Spokesman for the Hinga Norman Presidential Campaign Team, the Rev. Alfred Samforay has been analysing the domino effects the Hinga Norman injunction has caused. He sent COCORIOKO  the following report :

We are highly encouraged that the lawsuit by Chief Norman against the SLPP and its leadership regarding the upcoming Party Conference (Convention) seems to have created a domino effect for the Norman campaign.  Several fellow aspirants as well as leaders of the SLPP have met or  are set to have strategy meetings with Chief Norman at the Detention Center in the very near future.  We do not want to get too far ahead of the game but we are optimistic that whatever the outcome of these events, it will be to the advantage of the Norman campaign and the party, in general.

With regards to the lawsuit itself.

• The Supreme Court will begin hearings on the matter on Monday, Aug 15
• Lawyers for the SLPP have advised the court and Chief Norman that they are willing to postpone the SLPP Convention indefinitely until the Supreme Court decides on the issue.
• Lawyers for the SLPP have argued that the Supreme Court have no jurisdiction over the Party Convention, but the High Court obviously has rejected that argument.

It is to be noted that Mr. Norman never asked the Supreme Court to stop the SLPP Party Conference altogether.  Only thet the election of the Party Leader be not allowed to go on.  Mr. Norman had also asked that party executives presently holding cabinet positions including that of the Vice President, should resign the cabinet or party executive positions.  This latter aspect of the case will directly affect V.P. Berewa, Finance Minister, J. B. Dauda and Transport Minister, Prince Harding.

To the extent that lawyers for the party have offered to postpone the convention indefinitly, we are greatly delighted and look forward to a speedy resolution of the matter when the court considers the issue next week.

We are expecting some documents from home shortly in these regards, but meanwhile, Mr. Norman and his lawyers are very optimistic that the issue will be resolved in their favour.

Regards,

A. SamForay,

Campaign to Elect Hinga Norman

SAMFORAY GAVE AN UPDATE TODAY AUGUST 15, 2005

The Supreme Court in the matter of Sam Hinga Norman (Plaintiff), versus Sama Banya, Prince Harding and the SLPP (First, Second and Third Defendants, respectively) has adjourned the matter to Wednesday, August 17 to allow both sides to reach a compromise or have the justices decide it for them.

Lawyers for the Defendants have apparently balked at the idea of compromise mainly due to economic reasoons.  Our sources tell us that the party is unwilling to hold two seperate conventions, one to elect the party executives and the other to elect the Party Leader on the grounds that they don’t have the funds for two conventions.  Instead they have offered to postpone the entire convention altogether.

Lawyers for Mr. Norman have only asked that the High Court put an injunction against the Party Leader selection process on the grounds that the position of Party Leader is integral to that of President of the Republic and President Kabbah cannot relinquish one without the other.  So if the party wishes to declare the Party Leader position vacant two years before the presidential election in 2007, they will also have now and here declare the presidency vacant.

The Supreme Court will resume hearing on the matter on Wednesday and possibly make a ruling if both sides do not come to a compromise position.  As Messers Dumbuya and Musa have indicated, the party is, in non-legal terms, up the creek without a canoe.  According to Dumbuya, the party wrote a constitution which does not clearly define the difference between the presidency and the Party Leader position.  So, asks, Musa, what is the point of what he calls a “snap convention”?

The SLPP seems to have a lot of money and lawyers to devote to this issue.  What they don’t have in their favour is time.  The Leadership Conferene is slated for Friday, August 19 – 20 in Makeni barely four days from now.  Party leaders travelling from abroad have much less time to travel to Sierra Leone and should be asking what their leaders have been doing for the past eight years.

Stay Tuned,

A. SamForay,

Committee to Elect Hinga Norman.

Bank of Salone celebrates 41^st anniversary and unveils Charity Trust Fund

Sunday August 7, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

At the celebration marking its 41^st anniversary, the Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) has today 6^th August unveiled the Sierra Leone Charity Trust Fund during at its Complex at Kingtom. Dr. J.D. Rogers who is the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone in his statement recalled that the idea of the Charity Trust Fund was conceived out of the need to support the enhancement of education in the country after a decade-old civil conflict, which almost wrecked the education sector.

The Bank Governor stated: “A whole generation of Sierra Leoneans lost the right to education which would have prepared them to meet the many complex challenges to life.”  He added that this is the reason the Bank has decided to make a modest contribution to a worthy cause.

The key challenges of using education as a vehicle of development and change Dr. Rogers went on to note, must be confronted with renewed vigour if the country is to once more achieve the status of Athens of West Africa. He further stated: “by establishing a Charity Trust Fund for education, the Bank is pre-positioning itself to be in the vanguard of economic development and change.”

The Governor recalled that the Trust Fund was established and formally launched on 4^TH August 2004 with the objective of providing sustainable support to deserving students to achieve academic excellence in their chosen areas of study. Dr. Rogers said that in ensuring efficiency and transparency, a Board of Trustees has been constituted comprising Sierra Leoneans and long-term committed friends of Sierra Leone who have showed a record of probity and integrity in addition to a demonstrated leadership in their various spheres of life.

Confidence was expressed by the Bank Governor that the members of the Board of Trustees would assiduously work within the framework of the Trust Deed to achieve the objectives of the Charity. Dr. S.B. Nicol (former Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone); Mr. William Taylor (Director General of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology); Ms. Christiana Thorpe (National Electoral Commissioner); Mr. Raymond Bob Katta (Principal Bo Government Secondary School); Professor A.A. Gbakima (Vice Chancellor University of Sierra Leone) and Mr. Tom from the United Kingdom are the members of the Board of Trustees.

NaCSA Boss denies footing VP Berewa’s campaign bills

Fridy July 29, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

The Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA)- Alhaji Kanja Sesay has emphatically stated that he does not bankroll the Presidential campaign of Vice President- Solomon Berewa. He was reacting to a question alleging that he is offering financial support towards the campaign of the VP during a Press briefing Wednesday 27th July at their headquarters at Gloucester Street.

Commissioner Sesay went on to state, “I don’t think I have grown that big to be able to support the candidacy of a whole aspirant for Presidency” adding that “it is not true.” The NaCSA Boss denied being neither a politician nor a civil servant; maintaining that his institution is not a Government Ministry. He explained that donors only give them money for payment of salaries, procurement of vehicles and running cost; adding that he is not even involved in the selection and approval of projects but only performs an oversight role on behalf of Government in the institution. This in essence means he does not dip his hands into funds disbursed to NaCSA to carry out its programmes.

On the issue of recent brain-drain at NaCSA, Alhaji Kanja Sesay acknowledged that they have started suffering from it. He noted that at some point, NaCSA had a reasonably good condition of service; adding that as new programmes or projects are established by other institutions, most of their very qualified personnel are targeted and paid much higher than NaCSA, which he maintained has led to some staff members leaving the institution. However, Commissioner Sesay disclosed that they are currently in consultation with their donor partners in a bid to review the current conditions of service for staff.

He acknowledged that his institution has always maintained a poll of very qualified multi-disciplinary staff, which other new institutions use as a baseline. Asked why NaCSA seems to be implementing more projects in the East of the country than in the South, Commissioner Sesay said that the first project of NaCSA which was the Emergency Recovery Support Project (ERSF) targeted areas in the south of the country which were accessible to them. The new projects he noted mostly focus on the east and northern parts of the country, which were not very accessible just after the end of the war. “This is not for any political reason. It is simply because we thought we had serviced part of the southern province before so now we are making up. But that is only for one of the projects- under the Social Action Project, we have no such limitations or restrictions. We go evenly all over the country,” Kanja Sesay said.

On the issue of NaCSA’s relationship with Local Councils, he maintained that “we have a very good working relationship with them.” The Executive Director of NaCSA, Mr. Syl Fannah gave a brief overview of the various programmes/projects being implemented under the Public Works Programme (PWP), Community-Driven Programme (CDP), Micro-Finance Project, National Social Action Project (NSAP), social Action Support Project (SASP), Relief and Resettlement Project (R&R) among others, while explaining the various funding mechanisms for these projects.

Special Court revelations.

How a civilian was killed for his palm wine

Thursday July 26, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

During cross-examination by Prof. Knoops – Defence lawyer for former AFRC commander Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara, prosecution witness TF1-045 has stressed that he saw one civilian shot dead by an ARFC soldier for his palm wine in Tongo.

During examination -in -chief, the witness had stated that he saw many people killed for different reasons during the three months he was in Tongo after the overthrow of the legitimate Government. The Defence lawyer further asked him whether he was present when any of these killings were done.

The witness said he was at the scene when one civilian was shot dead by a soldier because of his palm wine. As a result one of the commanders in punishing the soldier for killing a civilian unnecessarily ordered him to stretch out his hand away from his body. The soldier was shot in the arm and he went away crying.

Another incident took place at Lamin Street, Tongo Field,  where two civilians were also killed. He also narrated that civilians were beaten just to mine for the troops, if they are not lucky they would be killed. The witness who was also a member of the RUF denied knowing any of the AFRC Commanders until during a meeting held at the Wilberforce Mess where he saw the Chief of Army staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Revolution.

The witness said he was present at another meeting held at the residence of Johnny Paul Koroma at Spur Road where his commander was given an appointment. At that meeting also the witness said he saw ?55′, Bazzy, the Chief of Staff and General Bropleh. The witness said that he only saw these Commanders but he does not know them well.

Parliament re-elects Hon. Elizabeth Lavalie

Friday July 22, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

Parliament has on the 20th July  re-elected the Honourable Elizabeth Lavalie as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

83 Parliamentarians voted. 80 of these parliamentarians voted for her to continue in office whilst three voted against her. This overwhelming majority, the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Justice Cowan pointed out is a result of her efficiency and capability when she was holding the same office.

The Speaker said, “Mrs. Lavalie stands out markedly in this house when it comes to Parliamentary debates and other duties in the House.” The Acting Leader of the majority party in Parliament Hon Ansu Kai Kai said that the Deputy Speaker position is not new to Mrs. Lavalie and during the years she has performed diligently.

The leader for the Minority Party Hon. Ernest Koroma in congratulating Hon. Lavalie said he has no doubts in her capabilities when it comes to maintaining neutrality. After taking the oath of office the Hon. Lavalie pledged to continue to work in the house more than she had worked before. She promised that she would work assiduously for a parliamentary Commission.

Meanwhile the House also voted for MPs to represent the Sierra Leone Parliament at the ECOWAS Parliament after November this year. The MPs elected where the Hon. Fatmata Hassan, Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma, Dr. B.M Kamanda, AOD George and Paramount Chief Kebbie. Five substantive members were also elected for the ECOWAS Parliament; these are Madam Gamanga, Hon Haja Musu Kandeh, Agnes Koba, Hon Kamanda and Hon. Tejan Sankoh.

3, 550 HIV/AIDS patients treated in Makeni

Tuesday July 19, 2005

Tamba Borbor reports from Freetown

A traditional medical practitioner- Dr. Rabbi Melchizedek Azolene David Kuyateh of Makeni, has disclosed treating 3, 550 HIV/AIDS infected patients.

Speaking at the 1^st National Convention of Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Association (SLENTHA) organised by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with SLENTHA, the Sierra Leonean Jew said that he has been researching since 2001 in his laboratory in Makeni about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

The practitioner with fifteen years experience in Medical Herbarium Scientific Research and Technology explained that he has demonstrated a lot of expertise in HIV/AIDS control and treatment. He added, “during my research, I discovered a traditional recipe that would suppress HIV becoming AIDS.”

Dr. Kuyateh who is also the National Executive Director of the Orthodox Judaism Philanthropic Project in Makeni continued, “I went to the Connaught Hospital so that my formula could be tested.” adding, “I was told that there is no machine to prove that my traditional recipe could suppress HIV from becoming AIDS.” He explained that he was also told that his medicine could only be ascertained through an infected individual. Indeed he went on, “I got many of them, since 2001 to date I’ve treated 3,550 HIV infected patients,” he stressed.

RUSSIA PROMISES TO FORGIVE AFRICAN DEBTS

Sent to COCORIOKO by M. Sheriff of the World Bank

Monday July 11 , 2005

Russia promised the U.N. General Assembly it would make good on its pledge to
forgive $2.2 billion in debt for African nations as part of an agreement by
major industrial nations to cancel more than $40 billion in debts to the world’s
poorest countries.

Moscow’s U.N. ambassador, Andrei Denisov told a session of finance, foreign and
development ministers on Tuesday that Russia “underlines our general support” to
the Group of Eight industrial nations, whose finance ministers decided in London
to cancel the debt of 18 countries.

“Thus, this year Russia intends to announce the cancellation of $2.2 billion for
the poorest African states on a bilateral basis,” he said. “In absolute terms,
Russia is among the leaders in the cancellation of debt to the poorest
countries.”

Denisov spoke during a two-day ministerial General Assembly session, which ended
on Tuesday, on financing for development. It touched on aid, trade and debt
relief before a U.N. world summit in September. One aim of the summit is to
reduce poverty and disease among the poorest countries.

Russia’s Finance Minister Alexei Kurdrin has said Moscow would include $2.2
billion in debt forgiveness. He has estimated Russia’s write-offs at $5 billion
until 2015.

Under the G8 agreement earlier this month, the 18 mostly African nations would
receive immediate relief on debt they owe to the World Bank, the International
Monetary Fund and other multilateral lenders. Nine other African nations are
likely to qualify soon.

‘CLAPTRAP OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT’

While many positions had been voiced previously, the General Assembly session
gave developing countries a chance to criticize the inequities before the
forthcoming G8 session in Gleneagles, Scotland and the U.N. summit.

Several nations including Turkey, Paraguay and Bangladesh said that without
liberalized trade, other incentives could come to naught.

“Fifty least developed countries (LDCs) are seemingly caught in a claptrap of
underdevelopment, poverty and structural weaknesses,” said Bangladeshi
Ambassador Iftekhar Chowdhury.

“We urge the international community to provide immediate bound duty free and
quota free market access for all exports of all LDCs. Their exports should not
be subjected to unrealistic rules of origin conditions,” he said.

French Finance Minister Thierry Breton told the session that airline passengers
were “rarely among the poorest” people and could pay anywhere from $6 a
passenger to $24 in a special tax, which could generate about $12 billion a
year.

He said that in addition to Germany, Brazil and Chile backed the plan and were
“calling for the rapid implementation of a pilot solidarity levy.”

The United States is against the tax but told the G8 it would not block others
from implementing it.

Luxembourg’s Development Minister Jean-Louis Schiltz, whose country is just
ending the rotating European Union presidency, told a news conference on Tuesday
that two ideas were promising to meet U.N. Millennium development goals.

One was the tax on air tickets. The other was Britain’s proposal for an
International Finance Facility that could raise $50 billion a year by selling
bonds on capital markets.

Witness reveals how 14 ECOMOG soldiers were killed at State House

By Tamba Borbor in Freetown

Tuesday June 14, 2005

Continuing his evidence at the Special Court witness TF1-334 has  disclosed that Brig.  Gullit and other junta soldiers killed 14 ECOMOG Nigerian soldiers at state House.

In his evidence, the witness said after they had captured state House, some ECOMOG soldiers were caught and were brought before Gullit who asked them who was their commander, what was their military strength and where they were having their supply of arms. The soldiers, the witness said, refused to give correct answers so this annoyed Gullit, who took out his pistol and shot two of them and ordered Tito and his men to execute the remaining twelve.

The witness further stated the wife of one member of the junta was also shot by Gullit at State House, adding that the environment of State House was all littered with corpses. TF1-334 also told the Court that when they were at State House, a civilian boy came by and informed them that the ECOMOG troops have captured family members of SLA’s at Wilberforce Barracks and if they attempted to attack the Barracks they will kill all of the family members that they have captured. So Gullit advised them not to attack Wilberforce. “We later returned to State House where an announcement was made by ?55′ speaking as the Chief of Staff on the radio saying that they have ousted the government of Tejan Kabbah and that the army is presently in control of the Country.”

The witness also said “later on we heard another announcement on Radio France International by mosquito that the troops commanded by Gullit have captured Freetown and that even State House is under their control.” The witness maintained that on the 6^th January 1999 there was massive looting everywhere even the office of the president at State House was vandalised. The junta forces also looted other offices. There was abduction of women.

On January 6^th also, the commanders were in various vehicles while the civilians were singing that they want peace, and the soldiers are their brothers. The witness also told the court that the strength of the forces that attacked State House was about eighty men.

The witness said after they attacked CID and set the building on fire they then moved to Pademba Road Prison  “we met little resistance from the loyal troops stationed there so we were able to open the prison. There were soldiers, Politicians and even prominent lawyers there. We told them to report to State House where they would receive orders from us later, which they did.”

The force then moved towards New England to capture the Radio Station there. The junta troop later headed for Brookfields where they met little resistance. The junta also captured Hill Cut. ” We then moved to Tengbeh Town together with Supervisor A, Tito, and Pikin. After we had captured Tengbeh Town we moved to the National Stadium, we discovered that there were some soldiers there and so we forced our way and entered and called on the soldiers to join us which they did and were later asked to report to State House.” He narrated

__________________________________________________

The LAWA Sierra Leone Interview Panel (from left to right): Amb. Melrose (former U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone); Valerie Nicol, Women’s Rights Advocate and Lawyer; Isatu Hyde, WLPPFP Director of Finance and Administration; and Abdul Tejan-Cole, Human Rights Officer and Professor of Law, University of Sierra Leone . Photo courtesy of LAWA website.

VALERIE NICOL , WIFE OF LATE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER , DIES

Friday March 18, 2005

The spate of stunning deaths in the  Sierra Leone community continued yesterday with the passing away  in London, England, of a very charming lady—Mrs. Valerie Nichol ( Nee Bankole-Jones) , wife of the late Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Walter Nicol, who predeceased his spouse only two years ago. Husband and wife sadly succumbed to Cancer.

Valerie was the daughter of the late Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Sir Samuel Bankole-Jones and Lady Bankole Jones. Her death has plunged the nation into more mourning today , following other shocking deaths that have gripped the nation since last year. She will also  be missed by the Sierra Leone Legal community and the the mid 70s-80s Fourah Bay College alumni .

Mrs. Nicol was educated at the Annie Walsh Memorial School and Fourah Bay College and she studied law in Great Britain. She is survived by her mother , Lady Bankole-Jones , brothers John, Clifford ,  Louis ,  and her sister Jennifer , as well as three sons.

READ A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE VALERIE NICOL, WRITTEN BY THE EDITOR OF THIS NEWSPAPER AT LEONENET TAMU