Coalition for Change Blasts SLPP’S Acts Of Terrorism
One of Sierra Leone’s opposition parties, Coalition for Change (C4C) Party, in a press release dated 17th June, 2019, has condemned what it refers to as the acts of terrorism perpetrated by the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) led government through the Sierra Leone Police on opposition parties’ leaders and supporters.
This comes following what the party refers to as the June 16th, 2019 terror that was unleashed on its party leader and supporters by the Sierra Leone Police at Lungi.
According to the C4C in it press release, the Sierra Leone Police on the common directive in Sierra Leone Politics ‘’ Order from Above’’ ordered to attack and terminate the former Vice President of Sierra Leone, Chief Sam Sumana who had landed safely at the Lungi International Airport and on his way to Freetown through Port Loko.
The release furthered that Chief Sam Sumana’s convoy was attacked by the Sierra Leone Police at multiple points en route to his home in Freetown, on direct orders of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) of Port Loko.
‘The clearly audible command was to ‘’fire at the C4C Leader and his entire team that came to welcome him’’, the release stated adding that shots were fired at their leader subsequent to the orders being disseminated and a few injured by what the C4C refers to as unprovoked attack which it said was in contravention with Section 18 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone (Act No 6 of 1991) which guarantees citizens freedom of movement.
Although Chief Sam Sumana escaped from Port Loko and continued to make his way to Freetown, the release furthers, he was chased by the AIG, the Local Unit Commander (LUC) and a truck with registration number SLP 023 full of heavily armed policemen who blocked him at the Mile 38 Checkpoint, forcible removing all civilians away and proceeded to make indiscriminate arrests on the authority of ‘’Orders from Above’’
The C4C therefore vehemently condemns these acts of aggression against their leader, his followers and innocent bystanders, who it says, were caught in a senseless show of power by the SLPP Government as their party did not hold or organize any procession contrary to law.
It further calls on the international community to intervene immediately in order to stop these acts of terrorism by the SLPP government, as seen by not only this attack but those at other political party offices to ensure that peace and stability reigns in Sierra Leone.
In what is described as a response to the C4C Press Release, the Sierra Leone Police in a statement signed by AIG Kalia Edward Sesay for the Inspector General of Police denied most of the allegations made by the C4C Party stating that the former Vice President left Lungi with a convoy of over twenty (20) vehicles for his residence in Freetown.
On reaching Port Loko, the Police states, the former Vice President insisted on entering the township with a view to addressing a gathering of Coalition for Change (C4C) supporters and also to attend a football match which the police say was done without any prior notice and hence contravenes the Public Order Act of 1965 Act No. 46.
The police release furthered that there was already a convergence of a hostile crowd and tension was brewing when they decided to fire teargas to disperse the crowd.
However, the former Vice President during an interview on VOA rubbishes the claims of the police calling them as black lies aimed at covering up for the reckless manner in which they have been operating since the SLPP came to power a little over a year ago.
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
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