Thumbs up for ex-soldiers!
We are happy at the outcome of the case brought against the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) by discharged soldiers who had taken offence at being referred to as chronically ill and mentally imbalanced.
Our happiness stems more from the realization that Sierra Leone has now graduated to a point where the human rights of aggrieved people can actually be recognized and the defaulting institutions made to pay damages for such gross abuses.
This is very refreshing because in the past it was not uncommon to see powerful individuals or institutions abusing the rights of those in their employ or with whom they live with impunity.
We will also like to laud the fair mindedness of the officials of the Human Rights Commission who have really exhibited what independence is all about.
While we do not want to apportion blame on any one individual in the RSLAF for the heartlessness they displayed in unjustifiably relieving these brave men and women who encountered their disabilities in the course of serving their country and tagging them sick and mad people, we however want to call on them to be more circumspect in future so that they will not repeat such unlawful dismissals of their personnel.
We will also want to call on the Military High Command to accept the judgment of the inquiry in good faith and comply with its recommendations so that we will close this unfortunate chapter in our nation’s history and move forward.
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