The Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), a national civil society human rights and development organization has on Tuesday July 21, 2020 strongly condemned the recent killings of protesting civilians in the northern headquarter town of Makeni allegedly by the Sierra Leone Police.
“We are deeply disappointed by the alleged use of live bullets by the Sierra Leone Police to disperse unarmed civilian protesters. This action was uncalled for and could have been avoided. We, therefore, call on the Government of Sierra Leone to set up an impartial independent investigation immediately to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the recent protest in Makeni that resulted in the deaths of at least five people and left nine others seriously injured,” NMJD said in the statement.
It could be recalled that Sierra Leone has witnessed several incidents of alleged shooting to death of defenseless and unarmed civilians at the hands of the Sierra Leone Police in places like Mile 91, Bumbuna, Tombo, and more notoriously, at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre in Freetown.
NJMD added, “While we disapprove of the conduct of many youth considered to be riotous in character, we equally believe that peaceful protests are not only a fundamental right and an integral part of democracy, but they are also a means through which citizens communicate their feelings and positions to their leaders. Protests must, therefore, not be criminalized. Citizens should not be criminalized for exercising their constitutional right.”
According to NMJD, the killings in Makeni could have been prevented through adequate consultations and dialogue that should have gone beyond the political leaderships to include the general citizenry in the township, especially the youth.
According to NMJD the fact that the generator, which was at the centre of the protest is Government Propertn it was not enough for it to be removed and taken away without proper and adequate dialogue which could have generated a common understanding which would have filtered down to community members. “We should note that Sierra Leone has a large population that is unemployed and which serves as a breeding ground for disgruntled youth who can spring up on every available opportunity to cause havoc.”
They unequivocally condemned the actions of the youths and equally those of the police for having used excessive force to quell riotous situations, especially where unarmed civilians are involved as it were in Makeni, Tombo, Mile 91, Bumbuna and Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
In concluding, NMJD reiterated calls on the Government of Sierra Leone to institute impartial investigations into the deaths, publish the findings and take necessary actions to promote justice and peaceful co-existence for all in Sierra Leone.
By Stephen V. Lansana
22/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7871