REVIEW OF SIERRA LEONE MEDIA REPORTS

Public Information Office (PIO) of UNIOSIL – 15 May 2008

 

[Disclaimer: Excerpts below are from print media and news agency dispatches. UNIOSIL cannot vouch for the accuracy of the media reports].

 

UN Chief calls for commitment to family responsibilities and challenges

In his message to commemorate this year’s International Day of Families, United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon has called on the international community to be committed to building a social environment that encourages and sustains a positive vision of fatherhood. Mr. Ban Ki Moon called on fathers to honour their families and families to as well honour their fathers for their important contributions to family life, We Yone, Concord Times and Premier News report.

 

UNIOSIL, PPRC, NEC host inter-party dialogue

The United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) in collaboration with the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Tuesday hosted an inter-party dialogue at UNIOSIL headquarters in Aberdeen, Freetown in an effort to promote peaceful, non-violent local council election, We Yone and Concord Times report. Representatives from the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC), the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), the Peoples Liberation party (PLP) and the United National Peoples Party (UNPP) took part in the dialogue. The political parties underscored their commitment to holding a peaceful local council election as well as the need for complete compliance with the PPRC and NEC codes of conduct.

 

137 Military Personnel Awarded medals of merit

137 military personnel serving in the Mongolian Guard Force attached to the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone on Tuesday 13 May were decorated with medals of merit at the headquarters of the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) in Aberdeen, Freetown. Officer-in Charge of Mission Support, Ilpo Mikkola, deputizing the Officer-in Charge of Mission, was among senior UNMIL and Sierra Leone military officers, reports We Yone.

 

Special Court to decide indicted CDF appeal

Independent Observer reports that the Appeal Chambers would this morning deliver judgment on the appeal matter of indicted members of the Civil Defence Forces that fought alongside the Government in the Sierra Leone civil conflict. Alieu Kondondewa and Mionina Fofana challenged their earlier conviction and sentence.

 

SLPP UK lodge formal complaint to International Community on Radio closure

Concord Times
reports that the UK branch of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) has officially lodged a complaint to the UN, AU, the British Government and the Commonwealth about the alleged closure of the party’s Radio Station, Unity Radio, F.M. 98.4 by the Ministry of Information and Communication. Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) is reportedly optimistic of a peaceful resolution pending a high-level meeting called by the vice president. The letter of complaint was reportedly dated 11 May and addressed to the Rt. Hon. David Malliband, MP, Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. The letter described the action of the Ministry as a “threat to democracy in Sierra Leone.”

 

Police detain former Ombudsman

Awoko reports that the former Ombudsman in the administration of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Francis Gabiddon, had been detained by police, accused of undue interference with investigations into alleged corruption during his tenure of office.

(Compiled by UNIOSIL, Public Information Office)