MPs prefer a Commission for Peace

Politics

At the launch of the Parliamentary Action on the establishment of the Ministry/Department of Peace in Sierra Leone yesterday, MPs that attended the launch preferred a Commission for Peace. With the level of violence throughout Africa and in Sierra Leone which witnessed a decade old rebel war and the aftermath of it seeing people resorting to violence to resolve problems, the West African Network for Peace Building in Sierra Leone (WANEP-SL) and its related partners strongly believes that the development of cultures of peace is desperately needed. Speaking at the launch, Hon Rtd (Cpt) Abdulrahman Kamara said the establishment of the Peace Commission was relevant to the implementation of a national peace policy and also for Parliament to enact laws that will facilitate the creation of a Peace Commission. The chairperson of the ceremony, Hon Elizabeth Alpha Lavalie said one of the areas the Lome Peace Accord dealt with was how to address peace in the country but that despite the formation of the Commission for the Consolidation of Peace, it does not consolidate peace in the country.Hon Lavalie also said that Sierra Leoneans needed to change and to come together, forget about political intolerance and conflict and to do things for themselves. She said the Action Group was to advocate for a body that will have a Constitutional mandate to tackle peace issues. Giving a brief update on the campaign, Fatmata Tarawally explained that in Japan 2005, a Global Alliance for Peace was held and that all the Africans present thought it expedient to replicate peace initiatives in their various countries. Explaining further, she said after the first African summit held in Ghana, it was agreed that each country present establishes its own peace initiative and it was against that back drop that WANEP-SL was contacted to coordinate the efforts for the establishment of a peace department/ministry.Edward Kamara explained the achievements and challenges of WANEP-SL during their campaigns. He said with partnership with the Global Alliance campaigns were launched and several consultative and planning meetings held with the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, the Ministry of Justice, Foreign Affairs and other relevant actors. Christian Aid sponsored the launching and WANEP-SL implemented it.

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