By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Two people were killed and 72 arrests were made in the wake of pockets of protests that happened in parts of the Western Area on Monday September 11, according to Media One of the Sierra Leone Police, Assistant Commissioner Brima Kamara.
He was addressing the media at the weekly press conference of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Tuesday 12th of September.
He claimed the two deaths were as a result of stray bullets, which happened in the Moiba community in Kissy, East of Freetown.
He said they have launched investigations into issues surrounding the deaths. He said over those arrested sixty were from Waterloo, eight from the Mountain Division and four nabbed by the Goderich Division.
The officer couldn’t determine the origin of the bullets but told the media that investigations are ongoing.
He said people are not applying for permission to demonstrate. “People are assuming that if they apply for clearance to protest they won’t have it,’’ he said, adding that he couldn’t recall when last they received the application for protest
He noted that the provisions of the law make it very clear to apply for “demonstration.’’
Giving general security assessment in the country, the Deputy Director of Communication at the Office of National Security (ONS) Abdul Karim Will said the country is ‘’relatively calm and peaceful.’’ ‘’Life has returned to normalcy,’’ he said.
Will said before the day of the said protest, the security sector and other relevant institutions engaged the public on matters regarding national security.
They engaged various sectors such as bike riders, drivers, and traders among others to give confidence to them about the security system, adding they did a lot of media engagements both in Western Urban and Rural and other regions in the country.
Will said several arrests were made before and after “the unauthorized demonstration.’’ He said those that didn’t have anything to do with the matter have been released, and others handed over to the police for investigations.
Weeks before the protests, social media was inundated with audio purportedly emanating from Sierra Leoneans based abroad calling on people to take to the streets across the country to protest against rising cost of living. The authorities have described those behind the protests as 'faceless persons'. Only a few areas witnessed small crowds that were swiftly dispersed by the security forces. Various trade unions dissociated themselves from the demonstrations agitated by the creators of the audio.
On 10th August 2022, a similar call for protests left over thirty people dead including 6 policemen.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (13/09/23)
