The solidarity demonstrated by members of the Sierra Leone parliament on the issue relating to the killing of innocent Sierra Leoneans in the Makeni-EDSA machine transfer saga is a laudable demonstration in the spectacle of many well-meaning Sierra Leoneans who are always comfortable to witness Sierra Leone bathing in the pool of democratic principles.
This demonstration is not only a classical showcase that the fundamental human rights guaranteed and enshrined in the 1991 constitution deserve to be recognized and safeguarded by the authorities vested with the responsibility to do so, but it also exposes the fact that, the rate at which police officers have been violently killing innocent remonstrators has become so alarming that the country’s house of representatives is left with no option but to join the fight to ensuring that the issue of indiscriminate police killing is nip on the bud.
In his statement in the AYV television station the leader of the minority party in parliament Chernor Chericoco Bah made it categorically clear that as a leader of his party in parliament they are supporting their colleagues from the Bombali district who have been persistently advocating for the corpses of their diseased families to be handed over to them for a befitting burial, adding that it is neither political nor partisan but it has to do with the promotion of the rights of the ordinary Sierra Leone in extension the dispensation of patriotism.
To us the covenant Newspaper the statement made by the minority leader of parliament that their action is devoid of any political allegiance but laid on the sound foundation of patriotism, is of course in line with political best practice, but the trillion questions we may want to ask, ‘was he making these utterances in the spirit of practical realism, or was he employing what we would refer to as ‘political rhetoric’, in his presentation? It is an acclaimed truth that the common definition of ‘politics’ in the Sierra Leonean context is the act of knowing to transform the’ wrongs’ to’ rights’ and the most admired politician is one engages in the fooling of the masses through his utterances for his personal benefit.
In his response to proving the fact that the motion raised in the house of parliament on the death of Makeni protesters do not have any political flavor the honourable Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, leader of National Grand Coalition (NGC) told AYV journalist that the decision of his party is always consistent pointing out that he has been on the radio on several occasions condemning violence and the act of the unlawful killings of protesters, stressing that he strongly believes in the uphold and promotion of democratic principles and a society of serenity.
That his concerns are geared towards the adherence of democratic principles, we in the covenant Newspaper are supportive of his presentation, for we are of the strong opinion that members of the Sierra Leone parliament must have an objective and unbiased perception and outlook especially on significant issues bordering the safeguard of fundamental human rights and other development discussions devoid of their political interest or belonging.
We are also of the candid understanding that by virtue of the responsibilities and powers vested in the legislative house of Sierra Leone, parliament is fortified with the necessary authority to control the activities of the other arms of government thereby creating an enabling environment for development and the respect of human rights, thus we, are of the vehement view that with an unprejudiced parliamentary representation, Sierra Leone as a nation will have the proclivity to transform into a developed democratic society.
