By Mustapha Sesay
The Acting
Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL),
Jamesina King has described as “very fruitful and impressive” an
open dialogue meeting with 15 interested parties at Bumbuna in
response to the commission's report on the protest action in April
that led to the killing of one and the injury of many others.
Mrs King told
Politico
that
the meeting was attended by several high profile people whose
institutions were named in the report as being in breach of one thing
or another. She said the Assistant Inspector General of Police,
North, Soloku Conteh publicly apologised to the Bumbuna community
especially to the women, as recommended by the commission's report
released some two weeks ago. The report had accused the police of
gross human rights violations during the incident of April in which
workers at the iron ore miner, African Minerals were protesting over
pay and conditions.
Conteh reportedly
commended the Commission for their job and promised that the police
would work with them to implement the recommendations contained
therein.
The Acting
Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Daniel Gaima committed
his government to meeting labour issues contained in the report. A
point reiterated by the Commissioner of Labour. He said they would
ensure that African Minerals workers were allowed to join any trade
union of their choice while his ministry would endeavour
to open an office in Bumbuna town.
Company Lawyer for
African Minerals, Kweku Lisk said they had now agreed to have a human
resource manager for local staff so as to pay more attention to their
needs and be sensitive to them. The human rights commission reports
accuses the company of discriminating against locals.
According to the
public relations officer of the commission, Henry Sheku, after
Tuesday’s meeting the stakeholders agreed to cooperate in the
implementation of recommendations made by the Commission.
© Politico
11 October 2012
