The Regional Human Rights Officer-East, Richard Tamba M’Bayo has added his voice to the call by the DISEC-East for the Resident Magistrate in Kenema to be imposing stiffer punitive measures on culprits of illegal mining in the Gola Rainforest National Park.
He made this call while speaking to the press at his 69 Blama Road office in Kenema City.
He noted that inasmuch as people caught for illegal mining in the Gola Forest National Park have their human rights to be respected, once convicted should face the stiffest side of the law as a deterrent to other defaulters.
He however cautioned Forest Guards and the police to always respect the fundamental human rights of people caught mining in the forest until they are presented to the court. He said the Gola Forest is a prohibited area to both miners and poachers, noting that its preservation and conservation is integral to the socio-economic development of not only the communities around it but to the entire country.
Mr. M’Bayo noted that Paramount Chiefs and Town Chiefs are under instruction from government not to issue authority to anybody to engage in mining activity within the reserved area. “The Chiefs know that and have not issued any license for the conduct of mining in the area,” he said.
According to M’Bayo, penalties imposed on defaulters so far are so ridiculous that they have not served as deterrent to would be miners.
“I believe stiffer penalties would stop people from deliberately destroying the forest cover and the fauna and flora which are of immense benefit to all and sundry,” he further maintained.
By Saffa Moriba
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