By Mustapha Sesay
Police yesterday clashed with protesting traders in parts of the Freetown business district using teargas to break up what the constabulary described as an “illegal demonstration” leaving all shops bolted. It left the centre of the capital. Police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent Ibrahim Samura confirmed that seven people were arrested and would be charged "for riotous conduct in the next 48 hours".
Speaking to journalists at the PZ roundabout in the city centre, Samura said members of the importers' union took to the streets without a police clearance, adding that it was "ill-advised" to do so.
He said the protesters needed to get the all-clear so “we could...provide security to prevent any public disturbances” the absence of which he said amounted to "hooliganism which the police would not tolerate”.
One Hassan Kallon who said he was a member of the union, denied they took to the streets. “There was no confrontation and demonstration" he said, adding that were simply going round shops telling their colleagues to close their shops because of "the hike in tax and the continuous refusal of government to address the issue".
He said they had tried "on several occasions to come to a final settlement with the ministry of trade and the revenue authority but to no avail, hence their "unanimous" agreement to shut down businesses.
(C) Politico 17/07/14
