Sierra Leone Telegraph: 29 April 2022:
The Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) representing barristers in the country, yesterday issued a strong statement condemning the police for their arrest of three schoolteachers in the country after speaking out against the poor working conditions of teachers in Sierra Leone.
A few days ago, head of the Teachers Solidarity group was picked up by police outside the AYV TV station after speaking in a chat show as a guest.
The management of AYV published a statement criticising the police action and called on the police to respect civil liberty, the right of individuals to express themselves and media freedoms.
Yesterday the SLBA condemned the police arrest in their statement. This is what it said:
Who is policing the police in Sierra leone ?Thats the 64 million dollar question no one with a clear conscience can give an answer to with a straight face with out experssing the abhorrent behavior of the Sierra Leone police force under the command of the present inspector general of police . They have clear pick a side .Now they are paid public money to do the dirty work of the ruling one directionless government of Bio .Someone needs to read the riot act to our police force about their role as up holders of the laws of Sierra leone not becoming law breakers themselves.In case they needed reminding here is whatt the 1991 Constitution of Sierra leone says.CHAPTER III of the Constitution sub-section 15 states:The recognition and protection of the fundamental human rights , and freedom of individuals.Whereas every person in Sierra Leone is entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of individuals,that is to say has rights whatever his race, tribe , place of origin ,political opinions, colour ,creed or sex , but subject to respect for the rights and freedom of others , and public interest , to each and all of the following:( a) life , liberty , security of person, the enjoyment of property, and the protection of the LAW.(b) Freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association”.
And this section that is embedded in our constitution is similar to Article 19 of the United Nations Charter declaration on free speech for which Sierra Leone is a signatory.It states in black and white :Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this rights includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek , receive and imart information and ideas through any media and regardless of countries.Now Bio likes to trumpets his beliefs on this fundamental human rights and respect for free speech but at the same time allow the Sierra Leone police to trample on the rights of ordinary citizens that wants to express themselves freely.
Maybe Bio and the Sierra Leone police force have a different interpretation of what it meant about free speech .Have to say they are inhabiting a parallel universe than what we are now used to .This is not the 1970s or 80s where we have to listen to the propaganda coming out from the national radio SLBS .Today expressing oneself is the only safety valve that remains at our disposal to air out grievances.More like the Sierra Leone police is sealing the safety valve so people like us will suffocate with anger .or has Sierra leone become a police state ?