By Hasbin Shaw in Freetown, Sierra Leone
The main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is blaming President Ernest Bai Koroma for the escalation of tribal hate speeches spewed by politicians and their followers due to his silence and his government in action.
The campaign chairman of SLPP party Dr. Alie Kabba told a news conference at the party headquarters in Freetown on Monday, saying, “In the face of these attacks, intimidations and hate speeches, President Ernest Bai Koroma has remained conspicuously silent.”
The SLPP observed that giving the impression that he either supports the attacks against other Sierra Leonean who are not members of his political party, or he is unmindful of what happens to them. Mr. Kabba has called on President Koroma to unequivocally condemn these acts and ensured that these ugly situations do not lead the country into ethnic and political conflict.
“As President, we believe it is his constitutional responsibility to provide security and protection for every Sierra Leonean irrespective of party, ethnic and regional considerations,” he said.
Kabba says Koroma remains the political leaders of the APC and that both the national and international laws will hold them individually and collectively responsible and accountable for their actions or inactions during and after this elections cycle.
After cataloging intimidations and attacks on the supporters, SLPP also called on the leadership of the security forces, especially the armed forces and police to remain professional and not to allow politicians to undermine their traditional role of providing security and protection for all Sierra Leoneans irrespective of partisan affiliation.
SLPP has called on the Inter-Religious Council and civil society to closely follow this ugly development and condemn them as well as name and shame those responsible.
“We are calling on the international community that has invested so much in Sierra Leone’s peace consolidation efforts to urge the APC to stop the spate of orchestrated violence and intimidations,” Dr. Alie Kabba said.
“We remain unswervingly committed to free, fair, transparent and credible elections without fear or intimidation,” he said.
