GETTING THE RIGHT PROSECUTION WITNESSES - THE GOVERNMENT DILEMMA
It would seem that the authorities in Sierra Leone have found themselves caught in their own web of allegations and charges against opposition supporters as the case against 22 opposition party supporters and others roped in still cannot find the right prosecution witnesses.
The Sierra Herald is still watching and would want to hear what the eight CID officers would be telling the court. It would be interesting, very interesting as this arm of the law is meant to be impartial and have its officers and men telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on oath.
From images of the incidents in Freetown, more especially that raid authorised by the President himself after he arrived the Sierra Herald will be closely monitoring the prosecution witness-preparation with a view to establishing whether illegal means are deployed by a now clearly desperate State House team.
The problem for State House is that those images clearly exposed the double standards of a government which claims to be democratic, law-abiding and respecter of the human rights of its own citizens.
CID officers who according to the latest report are being roped in know that giving evidence on oath requires them to say things as they happened lest they get caught in a perjury rap. And what makes it even worrisome for State House is that the world is watching and waiting to give its judgement.
In one of the images on the internet the "arrested" SLPP supporters (men and women) seemed so brutalised and traumatised while sitting in that police truck that the Sierra Herald would want to get an explanation from the authorities on what effecting an arrest now means in Sierra Leone.
Who was that man in red cap
holding an Uzi sub-machine gun?
Has it become so bad that "arresting" members of the opposition should be likened to combat operations against an invading army?
Again we continue to study the situation as it unfolds with a reminder to the authorities that there will be no protection for those who wage war against their own people.
Let us remind the government of its obligations as enshrined in the Constitution
Government and the people.
5.
(1) The Republic of Sierra Leone shall be a State based on the principles of Freedom, Democracy and Justice.(2) It is accordingly declared that—
a. sovereignty belongs to the people of Sierra Leone from whom Government through this Constitution derives all its powers, authority and legitimacy;
b. the security, peace and welfare of the people of Sierra Leone shall be the primary purpose and responsibility of Government, and to this end it shall be the duty of the Armed Forces, the Police, Public Officers and all security agents to protect and safeguard the people of Sierra Leone;....
Again kindly note the role of the people and how the people through their votes decided that they had had enough of the then ruling SPPP and would want to see how best the APC can help alleviate the suffering of the people.
They never asked to be scourged with scorpions.
The section below is a reminder to the government of a part of the Constitution a violation of which could lead to censure. Kindly remember too that the Constitution is not suspended and was what brought the then leading opposition APC into power!!!!
(2) Accordingly, the State shall promote national integration and unity and discourage discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties.
