Presidential aspirant of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party has told Politico in an interview that he was sorry for the death of former Inspector General of Police Bambay Kamara and 28 others under the National Provincial Ruling Council (NPRC).
Julius Maada Bio said “I was part of the NPRC and therefore take collective responsibility and for which I have apologised to the people of this nation. But I wouldn’t take personal responsibility.
“The TRC did a very good work when they investigated thoroughly into this matter and those who bear direct responsibility have been named in that report and in that same report I was completely vindicated and praised by the commission for my part in not only bringing peace but also democracy.”
When asked whether he did not know who ordered the killings, the retired military chief said the NPRC was a group of people but he was neither the head, second or third in command.
“I was at that point the minister of information and I was not involved in the killing nor was I involved in giving that command. I could not have given the command.”
Pressed further to know who ordered the killings, he said he did not know who gave the command. “Not at all.”
But why were they killed? He said the TRC was very detail on that and that he did not want to bandy blames.
Since many people have not read the TRC report, Politico asked: could you tell us who judged them? He said: “I have said I really don’t want to discuss this.”
It could be recalled that in September 2011 a spokesman for the bereaved families of 29 Sierra Leoneans who are said to have been killed by the military junta during the country's brutal civil conflict called on the ruling All People's Congress to institute an inquest into the death of their loved ones.
Julius Bambay Kamara, son of former Inspector General of Police, Bambay Kamara among those killed, told journalists in Freetown that they were eager to know the circumstances that led to the death of their relatives.
The government, through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Minister of Information and Communication, said they could set up an inquiry into the death of Bambay Kamara and 28 others in 1992.
Several stakeholders have criticised the government's proposed move and some sections of the society believe the inquest would open up old wounds that would be difficult to heal.
