As they call for the repeal of the death penalty from Sierra Leone’s law books, Amnesty International Sierra Leone (AISL) has also condemned cliques’ activities in the country.
Speaking to Awoko Newspaper recently, the Executive Director (ED) of Amnesty Solomon Sogbandi said “the issue of cliques, youth violence which leads to the death of other people is a treat to the right to life”, adding that “we should live in a peaceful society.”
Sogbandi went on to say that though they were preaching for the abolition of the death penalty, their organization was however condemning those taking the lives of others and that the issues of criminality was not something they were supporting.
He called on aggrieved youths who have issues of concern to ensure that they complain to the appropriate authorities.
“We will continue to appeal to the youths that where they are aggrieved, and have issues of concern, there are legally approved channels of how those issues will be addressed”, he maintained. He further stressed that certain punishment should be awarded to perpetrators of violence “but not death penalty.”
Questioned about those who boast of killing others and face less punishment in prison, the ED said though death penalty is not the solution to violence in the country, “when people boast of killing and say they will not take long in prison, it means there is a problem with the justice system or there is political interference in our justice system. If the youths are killing others and afterwards boast of it, it means there is a problem.”
He suggested that the country focuses on ensuring that the youths understand its value systems… both in the homes, schools as well as religious bodies.
By Edna Smalle
Wednesday September 14, 2016
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