CRIMINAL AND SEDITIOUS LIBEL LAWS MUST GO
We don’t want to open any big argument with our Members of Parliament over the recent collapse of the government’s bid to repeal those obnoxious anti-free media laws in our Public Order Act. We’ve been told that by virtue of some provision in the parliamentary Standing Order the papers have to be re-submitted and debated so that a decision can be made to repeal or not. Frankly we don’t think this parliament has any choice but to repeal this very bad law.
The Minister of Information who is working with parliament to make this happen in Sierra Leone has re-committed the government to the full implementation of their manifesto promise to REPEAL the bad laws. We appreciate that but we are very surprised that we are still at this stage two years into the New Direction and after that landmark speech at the UN in which Principal told the world criminal and seditious libel laws in Sierra Leone would be a thing of the past soon. We are prepared to wait for a little while but it will be a big mistake to imagine that we will close the Presidential Year of Delivery without REPEALING the relevant sections of the Public Order Act of 1965.
We need to put the following on record:
1. Principal, his government and the whole country stand on the brink of history and we should never allow any misguided political consideration to stop this repeal process. The whole world will applaud this country when we clear this hurdle.
2. Principal must carry out this manifesto commitment. He was quite sure about what he said in the run up to the 2018 election and has in fact implemented other aspects of his media package. Why should this be a problem?
3. We believe that SLAJ should now build a coalition with interested organizations including NGO’s and research groups to work with the ministry and parliament to repeal the law.
This is not just about the media. In King Messi days, a coalition of civil society groups was dragged to court for publishing a report about an MP who was meddling in chieftaincy matters. The case collapsed halfway but the incident highlighted the dangers we all face with such a bad law. In fact, another campaigning NGO is right now in court, indicted under this law.
LET THE LAW PREVAIL IN THE LUNSAR VIOLENCE CASE
Without prejudice to the situation around those who have been arrested or are on the run, we want to call on the Sierra Leone Police to make sure they speedily bring to justice all those responsible for the recent violence in the town of Lunsar. We have read some comments about the arrests being political and all that. We are not surprised at all because these days even one’s choice of soft drink can be seen in political terms in this country.
However, the truth is that despite all the challenges, Lunsar was very peaceful until the day some people took the law into their hands and decided to attack a police station because the officers based there were doing legitimate work which they (the attackers) saw as a challenge to their ALL MIGHTY AUTHORITY. Those now shouting about political intimidation from the roof tops were alive and perhaps applauded in little corners when people attacked and destroyed the residence of no less a person than the chief. We can only imagine what the chief, his family and friends are going through right now. So we have a few issues we want those who see everything in terms of politics to think about.
1. What should the police do about the police station that was attacked and damaged? Didn’t the attackers know that a police station represents the authority of the government and people of Sierra Leone?
2. They are crying for justice now, for them that simply means free those arrested but what happens now to the chief and his people? Are they not supposed to be protected by the law?
3. There is a murder charge in the public statement issued by the police, meaning a life was lost. How do we get justice for the relatives and friends of the deceased? Should we just look the other way because we don’t want people to cry political injustice?
4. Naturally, there are people who were never on the streets that day attacking people and buildings but they know something. They could have been miles away from Lunsar. Does anybody outside the CID investigation body know what the young people now charged told the police about how they came to be so violent that day? Have they mentioned some names at last? Remember this incident happened a few weeks back
5. We call on the SLP to speedily bring the matter to court and let the story unfold. Those who have no hand in it will be acquitted. Let the police do their job.
SAMIR HASSINIYEH HANGING BY HIS FINGER NAILS
So our friend, the long-standing president of the Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone has started speaking out at last? Last week there were comments attributed to his spokesman about the latest phase in the struggle to get him to leave office. That was a good idea sir because it makes no sense for your opponents to be speaking publicly while you sat in a corner hoping and praying that they decide to drop the issue. We also read some ludicrous allegations made against your main opponents. That was in really bad taste. In fact nobody believes those allegations.
Mr. ISOLATED PRESIDENT sir, the way things are going now suggests that your people are not prepared to allow you complete your term in November as your spokesman appears to be thinking. As your friends we warn you again not to fight this to the bitter end. Your opponents have been gathering steam since the last two years and are now ready to unleash some force to get you out. Please go back to our last edition and act on our advice.
Remember this, those who want you out are many and powerful, they have gone very far with their work to unseat you so there is no chance of them pulling back at this eleventh hour. We are your friends but we are now thinking of switching sides to join the opposition because you have been around for too long doing the same thing. There are children in university now that do not know any other president of the Lebanese community.
LIBERIA FA READY FOR CONGRESS BUT SLFA WAITING FOR THE RAPTURE
We are making plans to cover the elective congress of the Liberia Football Association. Our information is that it will happen soon. We know that preparation is well underway and this is despite the coronavirus pandemic. We congratulate the Liberians and wish them well. On the home front we can only tell the people of this country that we will have to wait for the rapture for an SLFA congress. If the country next door, with all their coronavirus problems are going to congress why should Sierra Leone be different? Let nobody lecture us about CAF and FIFA regulations, the SLFA is supposed to be a democratic organization and democracies are supposed to be run with the will of the people.
Think about this, how many people make up the SLFA? They are not even up to 60 (SIXTY). So we can give them 40 (FORTY) more spaces for secretariat staff and those observers that they like so much. With that number they can go to the theatre in Wusum Hotel in Makeni and hold their congress with face masks and good social distancing. And it’s not as if they don’t know this is possible, the queen is now hiding behind the coronavirus pandemic to further extend her stay in power. That’s all.
Those who moved the earth to bring this queen to the throne just to stop Rodney Michael becoming president should remember this old saying: DO NOT CUT YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE. Long Live the Queen!
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