By Septimus Senessie in Kono
Some of the leaders of the striking mine workers in the north-eastern Kono district of Sierra Leone say they have had to go into “hiding” following the arrest of their chairman, Michael Nyandemoh and the public affairs officer, Gibrilla Sankoh. Their Secretary General, Raymond Moriba told Politico that their leader had been taken to Kenema in the south east after being “hoodwinked” by police while the rest of them "are in hiding". He said they were invited to a meeting by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Al Shek Kamara before they were arrested by police. The AIG could not be reached for his reaction or detail of why they had been arrested. It followed a sit-down strike by hundreds of workers at the OCTEA Diamond Group in Koidu which turned violent after the workers threw stones on convoy of mineral resources minister, according to the local police commander, chief superintendent Saidu Jalloh. Police later opened fire and imposed a curfew. Two people were subsequently shot dead. The workers are demanding improved pay and conditions and an end-of-year bonus they say was promised them. Shortly before the reported arrests, the workers had called off their strike after the intervention of the country's Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana who held talks with all sides. He reportedly told the bereaved families that the killing of the two would be investigated. © Politico Online 20/12/12
