By Prince J Musa in Kenem
The Chairman of the District Human Rights Committee in Kenema Prince Mansaray has condemned the action by stakeholders in Kenema particularly the Mayor in imposing partial restrictions, compelling people to participate in the ongoing voter registration process.
In an interview with Politico on 30th September 2022, Mansaray noted that, as human rights committee, they totally condemn the restrictions on businesses as they see it as an abuse of the rights of other people. He said considering the economic situations in the country, most people get their livelihood on the daily income they get, and imposing such a restriction was not human right- friendly.
‘’We totally condemned the action taken by stakeholders in Kenema for restricting people for registration,’’ he said.
He maintained that people should not be forced or restricted to register as it is their fundamental right as citizens of this country, noting that whatever might have been the reasons should be established within the ambit of the law.
Also Mohamed Koroma, a resident of Nyandeyama section Kenema said people should not be forced to register, noting that the action taken by Mayor Baio was not correct. He said it is a gross violation of human rights, adding that; people need to voluntarily go and do their registration rather than taking this partial restriction measure.
He pointed out that, a lot of people do survive on the daily income they generate, and restricting them can be seen as starvation by preventing them from getting their daily bread.
Mayor Baio, reacting to the criticisms said the decision has nothing to do with intimidation of people or suppressing them, but as a measure to allow them to register. He went on to say that, the decision was taken after consultation with other stakeholders in Kenema district especially after realizing that a lot of business people are yet to register.
“We are not intimidating people but it’s a way of encouraging them to register’’, said the Mayor.
He said the registration is not only meant for voting but that the voter Identification cards can be utilized by citizens for multiple purposes and therefore encouraged first-time voters, especially children that will become 18 years and above before next year's elections, to register.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Coordinator, East, Office of National Security (ONS) Mustapha Bornie said, as a security sector, they will be monitoring the process from a security point of view. He assured the people in the Eastern Region of their safety during and after the voter registration exercise.
In another development, Paramount Chief of Small Bo Chiefdom Mohamed Dhaffie Benya also released a similar statement on restricting trading last Friday, noting that it is a way to encourage people to exercise their franchise as citizens of Sierra Leone.
PC Benya asserted that the registration will help determine the allocation of state resources by the government and that as a chief who wants development for his people, he wanted them to register fully.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (03/10/22)
