COMMUNIQUE OF A SPECIAL MEETING CONVENED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT ALHAJI DR AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH OF THE TWO MAIN POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ON THE FORTHCOMING RUN-OFF ELECTIONS
TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY THE 8TH OF SEPTEMBER 2007
Following the successful Second Security Consultative Conference on Election held on Saturday 1st September 2007, His Excellency the President, Alhaji Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah summoned a meeting of the leaders of the two main political parties, Honourable Ernest Bai Koroma, Leader and Presidential Candidate of the All People’s Congress Party and the Honourable Solomon Ekuma Berewa, Leader and Presidential Candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s Party in order to follow-up on the recommendations of that Consultative Meeting and to develop an Action Plan for their implementation.
PRESIDENT TEJAN KABBAH
This is considered necessary in order to ensure that the success attained in the first round of elections is maintained or even improved upon in the interest of maintaining peace and stability. In view of this the meeting agreed that the two leaders should strengthen their mutual trust and confidence which should flow down to their supporters in particular and the nation in general.
In order to achieve this, the meeting identified the following matters of concern which should be dealt with immediately:
APC CANDIDATE ERNEST BAI KOROMA
” The use of ex-combatants and vigilante groups by political parties and the assignment to them of security roles in party activities has been found to be negative and counter-productive and it is hereby banned. In this regard, the Sierra Leone Police is instructed to verify the compliance with this ban and to enforce it. The security of the premises of the political parties and activities is the responsibility of the Sierra Leone Police at all times. In addition, the Sierra Leone Police will provide adequate security for the two leaders.
SLPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SOLOMON BEREWA
Any persons in possession of arms and offensive weapons or objects will be arrested and prosecuted.
While appreciating the role being played currently by the Sierra Leone Police they are urged to be more robust and impartial in carrying out their functions to underscore the fact that nobody is above the law.
The two leaders agreed to develop their inter-personal relationship and the exchange of information on matters concerning the elections and national security.
The two leaders agreed that political parties are allowed to have marshals with distinctive T-shirts for crowd control purposes during party functions and should not be armed.
Based on information received, the security forces have been instructed to ferret out and expose any existing unauthorised military training activities and initiation ceremonies aimed at causing subversive activities against the state and the people of Sierra Leone.
The rumour of possible disruption of the peace before, during and after the elections has been received by the security forces who are under instructions to deal with it. In this regard the two leaders agreed to share information in support of the security forces.
Security arrangements for VIPs should be provided by the Sierra Leone Police and not by the RSLAF. In this regard, the Ministry of Defence is under instruction to withdraw all military personnel posted to VIPs and other areas outside of the existing MACP directives.
The two leaders strongly condemn all actions of intimidation, harassment and use of provocative language, physical violence directed at any person/persons or the malicious destruction of property for any reason.
Both leaders agreed to always treat each other with respect and decorum and urge other political leaders and their followers to do the same.
In pursuance to the above, the two leaders agreed with His Excellency that to demonstrate their commitment to the peaceful conduct of the run-off elections, to undertake, in a grand finale, a joint peace rally in Freetown which is to be replicated simultaneously in the provinces.
This Communiqué comes into effect immediately upon signature and remains in force indefinitely.
THE LODGE
HILL STATION
FREETOWN
HON. SOLOMON EKUMA BEREWA
LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE OF THE S.L.P.P
HON. ERNEST BAI KOROMA
LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE OF THE A.P.C
ALHAJI DR AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
SIERRA LEONE
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