Amputees after their march being addressed by their president
By Musapha Sesay
President of the Sierra Leone war wounded and amputees association, Edward Conteh, has criticised government for "forgetting" about those who bear the scar of the civil war especially of the 6 of January 1999 invasion of Freetown by rebels.
After marching form the National Stadium to the Cotton Tree in central Freetown, close to State, the amputees mounted a loud public address system to highlight their plights. They called on government to look into their concerns as they commemorate 15 years since rebels attacked Freetown climaxing the orgy of brutality characterised by the rebel war. Killing, maiming, rape and arson became the order of the day.
Conteh called on government to revisit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations on war wounded and amputee.
“Look at us today. We were more this last year. Our colleagues are dying like flies because we continue to suffer as a result of neglect by government and civil society groups. We have been marginalized by the state and the government does not care about us,” he complained.
He said they were only given Le 6 million (US$1,400) by the government through the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) as reparation package which he said was not enough.
“We have school-going children to take care of and we don’t have any other means of generating income except through begging, which is not dignifying for some of us,” he said, adding that those who wreaked havoc on people now hold prominent positions in government.
"Most people in the country, including those in government, have forgotten this day like they have forgotten about us. But can we the victims forget this day? NO! I repeat, NO! We cannot forget this day because we live with the scars and we suffer the neglect" Conteh charged, emotionally. He added that they had been "marginalised by the state because the government does not care about us. Since this carnage was inflicted on us, more than half our colleagues have died in complete neglect and frustration. The 45% of us that still continue to suffer in this wicked world have had our numbers inflated by wicked people".
The Western Area chairman, Mohamed Tarawalley, said that since he was amputated in 1999 life had never been the same for him.
“Most times my children asked me if I knew the person who amputated me. I have refused to tell them because I don’t want them to be revengeful,” he said.
(C) Politico 07/01/14
