REVIEW OF SIERRA LEONE MEDIA REPORTS
Public Information Office (PIO) of UNIOSIL - 11 March 2008
[Disclaimer: Excerpts below are from print media and news agency dispatches. UNIOSIL cannot vouch for the accuracy of the media reports].
US$10 contributed for Local Council Elections
The Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other development partners have pledged the sum of over US$10 million for conducting the Local Council Elections scheduled for 5 July, Standard Times and Independent Observer write. The contributions from donors will go into the election basket fund which is being managed by the UNDP. A release from the UNDP says the Government of Sierra Leone, DFID, European Commission, Irish Aid, the Norwegian and Japanese Governments have pledged the said amount to the basket fund. Part of the donor contributions will be used to conduct the bye-election slated for 29 March the release said. UNDP Country Director, Bernard Mokam, reportedly disclosed that they are working in close collaboration with the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), the Judiciary and the Security Agencies, to ensure that the electoral processes are conducted timely and efficiently. Mr. Mokam maintained that the Local Council Elections are critical to the stability and future of Sierra Leone, and urged the international community to continue to support the national efforts to consolidate peace in the country.
3,000 police for Local Council election
New Vision disclosed that three thousand police personnel from the Operational Support Division (OSD) will be deployed nationwide ahead of 5 July Local Council elections. According to Chief Superintendent of Police, Mohamed Conteh, the police have conducted a nation wide tour to various OSD posts in the country to share knowledge and experiences as to how to effectively police the Local Council elections. During the five-day tour, Chief Superintendent Conteh said all OSD Divisional Commanders were briefed on their roles, responsibilities and deployment of personnel during any possible threat to the smooth conduct of the elections, noting that deployment will be based on threat assessment. According to Superintendent Conteh, police headquarters will soon embark on refresher courses for all OSD personnel on the roles and responsibilities of the electioneering process starting from nomination; campaigning; rallies onto polling day.
Civil Society displeased with NEC’s delimitation exercise
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has come under scathing criticisms for not involving stakeholders in the boundary delimitation of wards for the forthcoming Local Council elections, New Vision reveals. According to a strongly-worded letter written by the Civil Society Movement to the Chairperson of NEC, Dr. Christiana Thorpe, Chairman of Civil Society Movement, Festus Minah, highlighted that it is unfortunate that the delimitation exercise has taken a different turn. The letter, dated 5 March 2008, underlined that Civil Society Movement views the changing of the goal post in the electoral process as the start of electoral fraud which Sierra Leoneans would not want to be messed up with. According to the Chairman, the reason advanced by NEC that the exercise is very complex and technical and cannot be easily understood is far-fetched, recalling that stakeholders were involved in every stage of the electoral process during last year’s elections. He questioned the rationale behind this latest development and urged Members of Parliament to exercise maximum prudence in approving the Bill titled ‘Ward Boundary Delimitation.’
US$6 million worth of Charles Taylor’s assets frozen in ten countries
Special Court Prosecutor, Stephen Rapp, has confirmed to the Independent Observer the freezing of Charles Taylor’s assets in ten countries amounting to US$10 million. Mr. Rapp said lawyers in London have been reportedly contacted to help track down Taylor’s funds in banks across Europe. An official from Special Court was quoted as saying that Mr. Taylor’s fixed assets are in Liberia and may not be among frozen assets mentioned. The report says should Taylor’s monies be retrieved in banks abroad, some of them will go to the Special Court to meeting his legal costs.
Former UN Commander testifies at Special Court
General Ismail Opande, former Force Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, (UNAMSIL), on Monday, while testifying at the Special Court in defense of Issa Sesay, ex-leader of the defunct Revolutionary United Front rebels and Special Court indictee, described the former war lord as moderate, trustworthy and cooperative towards the peace process. Responding to a question about his perception of the accused, Awoko quotes General Opande as saying, “he is a young man propelled into leadership but he had little experience in political acumen. He is very honest and shows respect for me as an elder.” The Kenyan General went on to point out that Gibril Massaquoi, one of the kingpins in the rebel movement, was defiant and disrespectful to the instructions of Issa Sesay, particularly in relation to UNAMSIL peacekeepers disarming them. General Opande informed the Court that in late November 2002, he held a meeting with Issa Sesay that culminated in the successful disarmament process which ultimately led to the deployment of peacekeepers in all areas of the country.
NRA backs ACC over arrest of Customs Officials
The National Revenue Authority (NRA) has in a press release given its strong backing to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) over the arrest of custom officials for alleged graft. NRA views the arrest with the seriousness it merits and assured the public that it will actively collaborate with the ACC to get to the bottom of the issue. The release said the position of NRA will always be on the rigid enforcement of revenue laws and zero tolerance on any unethical behaviour by any staff member. The release also announces the dismissal of two NRA officials on 4 March this year for what it referred to as “integrity related matters.” NRA, according to the release, stands ready to institute administrative action on any official found culpable while at the same time protecting the rights of the innocent Standard Times and Independent Observer report.
Soaring world market prices impedes Sierra Leone’s economy, President Koroma laments
President Ernest Bai Koroma has lamented over the soaring world market prices, especially of crude oil, saying it has been the main factor for impeding the country’s economic gains over the past months. According to We Yone, President Koroma told elders of the APC during a meeting at the party headquarters in Freetown, past Saturday, that the current world market price of crude oil, which stands at US$104 per barrel, is the key factor for the escalating prices of basic commodities in the country, which in his words has shadowed the gains of his government. The President highlighted that though his government has been able to score some major successes, his desired goal of making essential commodities, especially the staple food rice, affordable at reasonable cost in the local market is being hampered by the world market price dynamics, making it difficult for his government to impact positively on the living conditions of the struggling masses. “As I speak, a barrel of crude oil has risen to US$ 104 in the world market which is a bad omen for our ailing economy. Sierra Leone’s economy is mainly import-driven as we are yet to achieve a self-reliant status, hence our survival is directly linked with dynamics of the international community,” President Koroma explained. Report on the same subject, Concord Times in its front page said President Koroma has called on Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States, Bockarie Stevens, to impress upon President George Bush to intervene in alleviating the country’s economy which has been affected by soaring world market prices. President Koroma appealed to President Bush to support the democratic process in Sierra Leone by assisting his government to tackle the current economic situation.
Association of Local Councils denounces Mayor’s arrest
The Local Council Associations of Sierra Leone, comprising Mayors and Chairmen of District and Town Councils, have out rightly condemned the brutal and uncivilized treatment meted out to the Mayor of the Bo Town Council, Dr. Wusu Sannoh, over the defacing of President Koroma’s portrait in Bo. According to a press release issued by the Association, on Wednesday 27 February, a rowdy group of youths, at the alleged orders of the Resident Minister South, Musa Tarawalie and the police, detained the Mayor, accusing him of master minding the incident. The release condemned the indefinite ‘protective custody’ of the Mayor by the police against his wish describing their action as unlawful and irresponsible that compromised the position of the Mayor, the highest political authority in the township. The Association, the release concluded, solidly supports the Mayor in all steps taken and further applauds his comportment and leadership, Awareness Times and New Vision report.
(Compiled by UNIOSIL, Public Information Office)