The Chairman for the Bombali District Human Rights Committee (BDHRC); Peter Conteh has told SALONE TIMES Newspaper that the committee is strongly contemplating on an option of consulting an International expert to conduct on postmortem on the 5 civilian protesters killed during the July 17th and 18th generator saga in Makeni.
The BDHRC which was established in 2003 comprises forty-three (43) Civil Society organizations (CSOs), Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) and Women’s Rights movements operating in Bombali District. The committee on the 4th August 2020 issued a Press Release demanding that Government and other authorities concerned should to expedite the port-mortem process and hand over the corpses to their respective families for proper burial.
While interviewing the BDHRC Chairman after the Release, Peter Conteh explained that delay in conducting the autopsy and the subsequent release of or charge to court of arrested persons during the saga will further exacerbate the tension in Makeni.
“We curiously welcome the news that an autopsy will be conducted early this week and their remains will be handed over to the families. But continued a delay in handing over the decease to families will increase their anxieties more so when they have already exhibited a visible signs of post-traumatic stress disorders” the committee stated.
He disclosed that since the unfortunate incident happened, the committee is concerned over what they described as the intimidating presence of security personnel who are parading the municipality with display of heavy weapons along major streets of Makeni as if we witnessing a war.
“The committee demands that security forces should with immediate effect cease the unprovoked and unwarranted show of force in Makeni. The parading and displaying of heavy weapons by security forces must stop now because its instilling fear in the minds of the people” he said
According to the press release issued by the committee, the indiscriminate and arbitrary arrest plus the inhumane treatment meted out on the people of Makeni should be condemned in no uncertain terms. The committee called on the public to join them in condemning the increase in the spate of killing of civilians by the Police not just in Makeni but the country at large.
It further stated that on Monday 3rd August, artistes that are believed to have printed the ‘Makeni Lives Matter’ T-Shirts where also arrested by the police and during the course of arrest, a 13 year old boy was publicly beaten for simply asking the officers for the reason behind the arrest of his uncle at Kojo Street.
“It is our considered view that security forces should make deliberate efforts to de-escalate the situation but their present action in the municipality is suggesting otherwise. This may undermine the effort of the His Excellency, the President”
The committee commended the effort by the president of the Republic of Sierra Leone to set up a presidential committee to investigate the cause of the incident. Though the chairman did not state whether they don’t have confidence in the presidential committee, he emphasize that they were putting together a coalition that will comprise both national and international organizations to commence its own independent investigation into the killings of armless and defenseless civilians during the saga.
Peter Conteh called on residents of Makeni city to continue to show maximum restraint and to maintain the peace, stability and tranquility of the municipality.
By Umu Thoronka in Makeni
