As the debate continues about the continued political fracas in the country, civil society and the police have been pleading for political tolerance from all parties so that the 7th March 2017 elections will be free, fair and peaceful.
The Director of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), yesterday, said the rate at which political intolerance is taking place in the country is not good for democracy as every individual and political party must have the space to operate and be heard.
“I think it’s high time that the political parties’ leadership take responsibility for the supporter’s action because they are not doing enough to educate their supporters that democracy is about people supporting and voting for who they want. I should not be attacked if I wear red and walk past the SLPP office or vice versa. Nobody has the right to tear down a poster of another candidate because they are not supporting him. We must be able to live with one another in peace and tranquility.”
The National Elections Watch (NEW) Chair Marcela Samba said it is for this reason that NEW has started sensitization work to make sure that Sierra Leoneans can accommodate each other during elections because there is no way people will live together in peace after they have abused and fought themselves during the process.
“We want political leaders to talk to their supporters and advise them that Sierra Leone is bigger than any political party. We want them to be responsible for their supporters’ actions and no political party should be at a disadvantaged because they are in opposition. It is high time we move from violence to issue based politics in Sierra Leone.”
Lucien Momoh of Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) said 11 out of the 12 political parties have signed up to the codes to make sure that the 7th March 2018 elections are peaceful.
He said they have been engaging them regularly for them to see reason to talk to their supporters that there is no reason for violence and that people should be able to support whichever political party they desire.
“In families, we have seen mother supporting a different party from the father and they live in peace. That is what we want to see – SLPP supporters jubilating with APC, because politics is not war, but a platform where ideas can be shared and those that are convinced can make their choice.”
He called on those that are singing hate songs to stop as it is malicious and has the tendency to spark up problems that will not augur well for the stability of the country.
“Supporters must sing for their own candidate and stop singing hate songs on other candidates that will give rise to fighting and instability.
We are calling on the leadership of the parties to advise their supporters to sing along their Party’s ideology and not creating trouble by singing against other candidates.”
ASP Ibrahim Samura of the Police Media said because they want the police to be neutral they have advised them not to wear any party colours that will associate them and compromise their neutrality.
He said the police too have been engaging with the parties and they are working with them to make the country safe because policing is not done only by them but with every citizen.
“When we make arrest it is not the party but the individuals and we want everybody should be aware of that. Colour is a big problem in Sierra Leone and that should not be the case. But the police will continue to work with these parties so that come March 2018, peace will reign.”
He said the police are for Sierra Leone and not for any political party. ASP Samura averred that they accord the same treatment to all political parties and they expect all the parties to work with them if peace should prevail. National Commission for Democracy Chairman, Abubakar Kargbo has called on all political parties to work with each other and make sure that peace prevails. Kargbo said the destroying of billboards and posters is uncalled for as there is enough space for all the parties to work and they are calling on those that are involved must stop. “We want to conduct a peaceful election next year and we want all Sierra Leoneans to love each other and accommodate each other as politics will end but the love and friendship as well as Sierra Leone will still stand. So members of different parties must see themselves as brothers and not as enemies.” He called on the police, the civil society and the political parties to work together and make sure that the rallies are peaceful; citizens must have the freedom to wear any colour and use any street in the country without being attacked.
“No landlord should give quit notice to a tenant because they are not on the same side. Parents must not disown their children because they are on the opposite side. Instead, we must be seen dancing, eating and staying together because elections will go and the friendship will continue.” Belgium Sellers have demonstrated that they can support whoever they want and they still together as colleagues and friends. The SLPP and APC billboards are there as nobody has the right to tear any billboard down.The Lumley youths too have been demonstrating such tolerance as they have been seen dancing together with their red and green with no fighting or tearing down of billboards. This is the tolerance that the country is yearning for each and every day until the elections are over.
AT/8/11/17
Thursday November 09, 2017.