Civil Society… Sierra Leone’s VP Sam-Sumana Must Apologize
The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana (in photo) has been heavily criticized by the Civil Society movement.
The social interest group has tabled a plea of apology by the Vice President to aggrieved miners of the OCTAE Group of Companies in Kono. They say he (Sumana) violates rights of miners by using his position in society to intimidate them as he ordered them to sit on the floor of the ground owing to an industrial strike action this January, undertaken on the grounds of condition of service by workers of OCTAE formerly known as Koidu Holdings.
A Civil Society activist who happens to be the Chairman of Campaign for Just Mining, Lesley Booker said on the electronic media that the VP’s response was inappropriate to say the audience must sit down on the ground while listening to him as he was sadly expressing his dissatisfaction over the action taken by the miners which led to the killing of few people by allegedly police bullets.
He said the way and manner the VP presented his statement was abnormal and inaccurate more so as he over emphasized that he would handle anybody that went against his orders in a way that that person would regret why his or her mother gave birth to him or her.
Lesley Booker maintains that the VP must apologize for his intimidating comments while reacting to a big burning issue early this month days after the re-election of the ruling APC government.
Lesley went ahead calling on the VP not to forget to write in his memoir that in that occasion he over used his power to disrespect especially his Kono tribesmen in a situation he could have performed much better as an internationally exposed man being the Chairman of the Police Council which is the biggest human rights institution.
However, the VP was in Kono to find out what caused the strike action that propelled the losing of lives and the imposition of curfew.
In his statement to the aggrieved workers, VP Sam-Sumana said the Minister of Mines Hon. Mansaray had negotiated with the mining company on behalf of the workers for better conditions of service. He told his audience that he had inspected the new facilities OCTAE is providing for its workers. He said there was no need for the workers to mount such protest action noting that the ring leaders would be dealt with severely if caught.
The VP made it categorically clear that he would step hard on any one within the audience who did not sit down on the ground to listen to what he was saying after the dastardly action. He stated that nothing would bring back the victims. He further commanded that the audience should disperse quickly or face his wrath.
By Ilyasa Baa
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2013, https:. All rights reserved.
