By Septimus Senessie in Kono
15 people charged with various offences including malicious damage, riotous conduct, conspiracy, throwing of missiles, threatening remarks and arson have made their first appearance before Magistrate Otto During at the Sefadu Magistrate Court.
All the accused were denied bail and remanded in custody until 17th January as the complainant, OCTEA Diamond Group was not present in court.
The charges stem from a three-day strike action by workers of the Israeli-owned South Africa-based outfit in mid December which left two people dead and a dozen others with gunshot wounds.
On New Year’s Day, two of the leaders of the protest who had been arrested and detained in the regional headquarter town of Kenema were brought back to Kono and charged with the others arrested in connection with the strike.
Some of the mine worker who spoke to Politico on condition of anonymity described the government’s action against their colleagues as “biased and unbelievable” because the government has “sided with the police and the OCTEA mining group”.
They urged the authorities to give their colleagues a fair trial and speedily bring “the police personnel who killed the Okada Rider and the 14 year-old school boy to book”; otherwise they will resume their strike which according to them has only been “suspended.
In a press release issued last month the government condemned the strike action and describing it as “illegal and lawless” because the miners did not go through “the right channel by engaging the United Mines Workers Union, the Labour Union… and the Ministry of Mines before taking the strike action against the company”.
The release said government will provide “maximum security and protection for mining companies in the country that are helping the government to achieve the development agenda of the country”.
Meanwhile police in the eastern district of Kono have arrested two more leaders of the strike. Raymond Moriba and Arthur Kandeh were picked up from their homes by officers from the Tankoro Police Division in Koidu City.
At the police station, Kandeh told Politico that they were accused of organizing the three day strike in mid December.
Inspector Abdulai Kemokai of Tankoro police said warrants have been prepared for the arrest of the remaining “ringleaders” but that they have received information that the wanted persons have left Kono district.
Kemokai said they have ended investigations into the killing of the two people during the riot and their report has been sent to the CID in Freetown for further action.
(C) Politico 10/01/13
