“Cooperate With The Law…” Bar Association Prexy Urges
The Sierra Leone Bar Association, October 17 held a press conference at the Bar Secretariat at Lamina Sankoh Street, Freetown with regards to the forthcoming General Elections scheduled for November 17 targeting Sierra Leoneans to fully cooperate with the Sierra Leone Police Force.
The president of the Sierra Leone Bar Association Mr. J B Jenkins Johnston in addressing a cross section of journalists, said as the nation enters into the official period of campaigns the membership of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, being officers of the law, and partners in the maintenance and preservation of the rule of law, guarantees the civil rights and freedoms of every citizen and are appealing to all compatriots to ensure that they all conduct themselves in a peaceful, orderly, non-violent, and lawful manner during and after the general elections.
He furthered to remind all compatriots that Section 13 of the Constitution states out the duties of the citizens, and that every citizen should abide by the Constitution, and cultivate a sense of nationalism and patriotism, so that loyalty to the state shall override sectional, ethnic, tribal or other loyalties, citing that there are also laws enjoined to respect the dignity and the rights and interests of others in the said section of constitution.
The president called on all Sierra Leoneans to remember that elections are not a do or die affair, and that in each contest, whether for the presidency, parliament or a local council there must surely be only one winner, adding that just as surely there is bound to be one or more losers and that each loser must respect the will of the people who have voted for that winner.
The president pointed out that as lawyers, they particularly want to remind Sierra Leoneans that in the event anyone feels, or believes, or is convinced that he or she has been cheated of victory in a particular election, then there is ample provision in the Public Elections Act No 4 of 2012 for election petitions to be filed in the High Court, and at Section 55 for presidential candidates and that there is therefore no need for any misbehavior or insults and above all violence. He went on to reveal that abusive language, threatening or provocative words, gestures, is also an offence under the Public Order Act of 1965 and persons can be prosecuted.
Francis B Keifala, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Bar Association in his contribution said as we are approaching the 2012 election he is appealing to every Sierra Leonean to be mindful of their doings in terms of campaigning and at the same time to caution their friends in the police, particularly the OSD, to demonstrate professionalism in the execution of their duties and to avoid overreacting in any given situation.
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