By Kabs Kanu
A huge crowd of angry Sierra Leoneans — representing the People’s Power in Politics ( PPP), Sierra Leone Lives Matter and Concerned Sierra Leoneans –congregated at the Dag Hammarskjeold Square, United Nations, New York , yesterday to protest vehemently against President Maada Bio’s misrule and bloody atrocities . Things got so heated up that at one point, New York Police had to step in to stop a flare-up between the protesters and supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party, who were also rallying at the Square.
In a no-holds-barred demonstration that featured placards and banners highlighting the corruption , gross human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings and elections rigging of the Bio Government, Sierra Leone’s Ambassaador to the U.S, Sidique Wai, who had earlier been sent to the square from inside the UN building by a concerned President Bio to test the waters, was savagely booed, insulted and nearly manhandled by the animated ANTI- BIO/ SLPP protesters , who reflected the anger coursing through the veins of average Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad for the violent, lawless and corrupt administration of President Bio.
PPP pulled a sizable crowd. The protesters were loud and made their voices heard. The demonstration was well-organized , the placards and banners largely, boldly written and eye-catching and the messages were eloquent. The success was a testimony to the popularity of social media activist, Adebayor of Holland, who formed the PPP .
PPP, SIERRA LEONE LIVES MATTER AND CONCERNED SIERRA LEONEANS PROTESTING
“Sierra Leoneans are very angry with this Bio government and what happened at the UN today replicated the feelings of the people on the streets of Sierra Leone during the violent August 10 demonstrations “, Ahmed Mansaray, one of the protesters with a banner calling for the arrrest of President Bio by the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) , told COCORIOKO reporters at the scene . He blamed President Bio considerably for provoking this anger from his people, who are very disappointed with the four-year tenure of the retired Brigadier.
Protesters complained bitterly against President Bio’s impunity, crimes against his own people, massive corruption and wasteful, needless trvels, tribalism, disrespect for the constitution and the rule of law, arbitrary arrests of innocent people who disagreed with him and the unlawful killings of opponents, which they want the international community to become aware of and help stop in Sierra Leone.
After addressing the United Nations, President Bio was to have marched down to the square with officials to greet his rallying supporters ( As is the custom ) but the President’s appearance was delayed as security and Protocol detail planned ways to get Bio to meet with his supporters without encountering the furious protesters. Soon, news spread that President Bio was afraid to come out of the UN to see his people. Officials, including Ambasssador Wai and the Permanent Representative to the UN, Fanday Turay, had been worried over the past weeks about this PPP-ordered demonstration , with regards to the embarrassment and psychologal pain it would inflict on the President. As Bio delayed to come, his supporters who were across the street , were playing music while the protesters chanted derisive and abusive slogans against the president.
President Bio appeared later and was roundly booed and called all kinds of names , including “Killer”, “Tiffy-Tiffy” and “Human Rights Abuser ” by protesters as he went around shaking hands of supporters. Bio , given a microphone, addressed his people over the cacophony of the wild protests and chants and was quickly scrambled into his official car and driven away to his hotel.
“We are going to make life very difficult for this President, as long as he continues to oppress, suppress and rob our people “, a PPP supporter, Abdul Karim Conteh , was overheard at the Square . He is the worst president ever to rule our country and we can’t wait for June next year to vote him out “, said an apparently aggrieved Mr. Conteh , who used the occasion to appeal to all Sierra Leoneans to go and register to enable them to vote against President Bio in the presidential elections next year.
Sierra Leone’s former Press Attache to Ethiopia, Mr. Abdul Karim Koroma ( Ajamie ), described the demonstration as a huge success and noted that Sierra Leoneans had the democratic and unfettered opportunity once again to publicly express their disapproval of the poor governance and human rights abuses going on in their country. “I am glad I took part”, he added.
For their part, SLPP supporters blamed the All People’s Congress ( APC ) for the demonstration and accused the party of desperation to return to power. One of the SLPP supporters at the rally, who gave his name as Morie Kanneh, said they were delighted that they were able to celebrate the achievements of President Bio, which was the primary reason for their rally. Asked to name one of President Bio’s achievements they are celebrating, Mr. Kanneh replied : The appointment of the president as Co-Chair of the UN Education Summit. A PPP man , standing by, booed him.
As for the APC, the President of the New Jersey Chapter, Mr. Alimamy Turay, denied his party having anything to do with the demonstration and affirmed that the protest was organized by PPP, Sierra Leone Lives Matter and Concerned Sierra Leoneans. Members who attended went there in their individual capacities, Mr. Turay told COCORIOKO.
SLPP SUPPORTERS STAGING THEIR OWN RALLY
PRESIDENT BIO ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS AT THE RALLY
