A report titled “Ending Impunity in the Mining Sector in Sierra Leone the Koidu Holding Case” was on Wednesday launched at the British Council hall in Freetown.
The Report put together by the Network Movement for Justice and Development (MNJD) supported by Actionaid critically looks at the Jenkins-Johnston Commission’s Report and Implementation.
In 2008, the government instituted a Commission of Inquiry to look into the Koidu Holdings (Octea mining) incident in which two people lost their lives.
The Commission came up with 17 Recommendations.
In his statement, Lawyer Jenkins-Johnston said that it is a matter of regret that notwithstanding the fact that the government White Paper which was published almost immediately after the report was presented to the President, accepted almost all of the recommendations, very little has been done about implementing same.
He said that “I am especially worried that the recommendations that the two (2) police officers who shot and killed someone on 13 December 2007 have not been prosecuted, as we recommended”.
Johnston stated that “the recommendation that compensation be paid by Koidu Holdings to all persons injured by OSD Personnel on the fateful day and to the next-of kin of those who were killed has been largely ignored or treated with contempt and levity”.
He reiterated that government must be in a position to properly monitor the quantum of diamonds or other precious mineral produced and exported by any investor, and that a system be put in place whereby the production procedures of any investor shall be fully accessible to Accredited Government Inspectors from the Mine, to Separator House, to the Point of Export.
“We further recommended that such accredited Government Inspectors should be fully qualified Mining Engineers, and people of proven integrity and experience, who would not be easily compromised or corrupted”.
He said as far as “I am aware, none of these have been implemented, or even taken seriously. But what has pained me most, is the total silence about Recommendation 17.
The Executive Director of Actionaid International, Mohamed Sillah said that “we believe what is happening in Kono is a denial of rights for the affected people”
He said ‘we cannot address poverty by concentrating on the physical symptoms of poverty (lack of access to basic services) but by addressing the underlying causes of poverty and this can only be due to ‘Power in Balance”.
A Representative of the Centre for the Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) , Prince Bull said that CARL is highly disappointed with the government for failing to implement the Jenkins- Johnston Commission Recommendations. He said CARL considers this as disrespect to the people of this country.
One of the Affected Property Owners in Tankoro Kono, in his keynote address and official launching of the report, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah spoke on three issues: State and Rule of Law, State and Labour and State and Constitution.
He said that from 2007 to 2013, the people of Kono have not had justice, adding that the will of the people is subverted.
“We have to seriously consider those who came up for public offices; questions their integrity”, he said.
In his presentation on the findings of the Report, Dr. Josephus Brimah recommended that government suspends the current operations of Koidu Holdings until the satisfactory completion of both the relocation and resettlement of persons of the affected community.
He also said government should withdraw and put on hold the current expansion drive of Koidu Holdings until the recommendations of the Jenkins-Johnston Commission’s report are fully implemented.
One of the Affected Property Owners in Tankoro-Kono, Aiah Moiwo said as tax payers they are suffering and their voices are not heard.
By Abibatu Kamara
August 12, 2013
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