REVIEW OF SIERRA LEONE MEDIA REPORTS – 14 April 2008

REVIEW OF SIERRA LEONE MEDIA REPORTS

Public Information Office (PIO) of UNIOSIL – 14 April 2008

 

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

 

Local human rights bodies in Sierra Leone benefit from UN-provided facilities

Local committees tasked with monitoring, investigating and reporting on human rights violations in Sierra Leone have reportedly benefited from UN-provided resource centres in the south-eastern regions of Bo, Bonthe and Kenema. The District level human rights committees were set up by the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), with funds provided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in an effort to strengthen the national systems to protect and promote human rights. UNIOSIL formally handed over the resource centres and accessories to the Committees last weekend, reports We Yone newspaper, sourcing a UNIOSIL press release.

 

Koinadugu rejects Councilors’ list

New Vision reports that hundreds of supporters of the All Peoples Congress (APC) party in the northern district of Koinadugu had openly rejected the list of candidates from the district that were awarded symbols for the upcoming Local Government polls. They reportedly complained that the party tickets were given to non-deserving people some of whom were not even members of the party. The aggrieved supporters also questioned the fairness of the interviews leading to the award of the symbols on the grounds that the process was done in Freetown rather than in the various districts, which would have given an opportunity to the people at the ward level to take part.

 

APC youths attack SLPP in Kono

The New Vision reports unruly youths of the All Peoples Congress (APC) party in Koidu town, Kono district, on Saturday, 12 April, laid ambush and attacked with stones and sticks, supporters of the former governing Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), who included the Kono District Parliamentary caucus. The SLPP victims were on their way from a Local Government election sensitization meeting called by a high powered visiting executive delegation of the party from Freetown that comprised former running mate and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Momodu Koroma; National Chairman, Alhaji Unisa S. Jah; and the Eastern Region party Chairman. The APC youths initially attempted to force their way into the Satta Kumba Amara Resource Centre, where the meeting was held, but were repelled by the police before resorting to the ambush. The police made some arrests.

 

Unemployment poses security threat – UNDP Country Director

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director, Bernard Mokam, has reportedly raised concern that unemployment is not just a social problem, but a security issue that has the potential to threaten sustainable peace in the country, Awoko writes. Speaking during the signing of the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) between UNDP and the Government of Sierra Leone past Friday, Mr. Mokam reportedly noted that UNDP was concerned about the status of youths in the country, who he said constitutes the bulk of the population. “We would involve youths in decision-making by mainstreaming youth concerns in the development process,” he stated.

 

Government of Sierra Leone, EC and DFID launch Country Strategy Paper

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), in collaboration with the European Commission (EC) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), over the weekend launched the joint Country Strategy Paper to facilitate partner countries with support from donors. The joint strategy plan for Sierra Leone according to Awoko is to build the capacity to plan, manage, implement and account for results of policies and programmes that are critical for achieving development objectives. Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of DFID in Sierra Leone, Richard Hogg, said the strategy plan was based on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). He noted that the challenge facing Sierra Leone in the medium term is the need to translate peace and security into effective delivery of basic public services, building capable government institutions to maintain social and political stability through democratic and accountable governance. Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Richard Conteh represented the Sierra Leone Government.

 

 

(Compiled by UNIOSIL, Public Information Office)