The Public Information Officer of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Henry Sheku has expressed that the Commission is “very concerned about the spate of violence in the country” noting that the Commission is not only concerned about elections violence but those incidents of violence that have become endemic in the country over the years.
Henry Sheku stated that Sierra Leoneans have to reflect on where the country has come from in order to determine where they want the country be in the near future.
He stated, “We have come from a violent and bloody war for the past ten years and we all know as a people that the war was characterized by gross human rights violations,” pointing out that wherever there is violence, there is bound to be serious human rights concerns where the right to life is threatened.
On the recent incident of violence between musicians, the HRC Communication Officer maintained that the loss of the lives of those three victims is tantamount to a violation of their right to life.
Referring to the recent by-election related violence; Mr. Sheku noted that apart from those that were stabbed, the right to free movement of a number of people was violated because of the police action to cordon the area.
These situations are a concern to us as a Commission, as we consider the rising spate of violence across the country which has not only been limited to the perpetrators, but many innocent citizens whose rights were abruptly restricted or violated. “The continuous outbreak of incidents of violence will hinder the progress and development of the country as well as hinder the peace and quiet of the people,” Mr. Sheku noted.
“Where there is violence there is no peace; the dignities of the people are not respected. We are even concerned that as we close on the November elections, violence has started marring our electioneering processes. One stands to wonder how the situation would look like when we come to the November 17th general elections proper,” he lamented.
He called on the government, he referred to as “the primary duty bearer responsible to promote and protect human rights”, to hold perpetrators accountable for all the violent incidents that have occurred in the country now and before. “We believe as a Commission that it is the fullest responsibility of government to ensure that its people live in a peaceful environment before, during and after any election,” he stated.
The HCR Communicator warned that persistent violence in the country will prevent most people from participating in the electioneering process, which he noted, “will tantamount to depriving the people of their rights to franchise,” he further stated.
On the issue of commitment from the political parties, the Communication Officer recommended strongly for its addition to the list of recommendations deemed for discussion during the conference.
He charged political parties of deliberately violating the terms and conditions of all the peace communiqués so far signed between them. According to the HRC man, “this is simply because all of the political parties have their selfish political agendas.”
He however called on all Sierra Leoneans to ensure that violence in all its forms is made a thing of the past.
By Betty Milton
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