More than a year after announcing an
investigation into police killings in Bo, Bumbuna, Kono, Freetown, the
president-Ernest Bai Koroma does nothing
to bring the police to book.
Posted 26 March 2013
On June 12, 2012, State House (read Ernest Bai Koroma) issued a
statement in which the public was informed that
the government was up to the task - that it had listened to the concerns and
anger of many over the extra-judicial executions carried out by the armed wing
of the APC party, the Operational Services Division of the police as well as
general violence in which civilians were at the raw end of police brutality.
The statement gave the impression that State House had therefore thought it
expedient to issue a statement informing all and sundry that Ernest Bai Koroma
really cared about the welfare of citizens. The State House message states it
part that "It has therefore pleased His Excellency the President to
establish a Coroner's Enquiry to look into the the respective circumstances
that led to the death of civilians in Bo, Bumbuna and Wellington on the diverse
dates mentioned above, pursuant to the Coroner's Act Chapter 9 of the Laws of
Sierra Leone 1960 as amended......and on and on ending with..."the General
Public is assured that modalities have been put in place for the speedy
conclusion of this task. The cooperation of all is hereby solicited and
Government continues to entreat all concerned to exercise patience. This
statement, coming at a time when the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone
(HRCSL) was getting set to investigate disturbances in Bumbuna that led to the
police extrajudicial killing of Musu Conteh was viewed with scepticism if not
suspicion by many who saw it as a smokescreen meant to scupper plans by the
rights group to investigate the violence and murder. One year on and several
other police killings later, the modalities notwithstanding as well as a
promise "for the speedy conclusion of this task", not a word has come
from State House again after that June 12 announcement a sure sign once more of
just how uncaring and to what extent Ernest Bai Koroma and his gang are willing
to cover the crimes of murderers and rapists wearing the colours of the
national police force. And while trying to absorb this smoke and mirrors act of
the President, Dr Dr Dr Ernest Bai Koroma (BA General, FBC Division 3 (Allowed
to pass) please read this from the Sierra
Express Media news outlet.
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