PRESS RELEASE 16/03/09

UNPRECENDENTED POLITICAL VIOLENCE

The West African Network for Peacebuilding-Sierra Leone (WANEP-SL) is concerned and completely disturbed about the spate of unprecedented political violence that erupted and continues to erupt in Pujehun, Koidu, Kenema and Freetown leaving properties looted and vandalized thereby leading to abuses and violations of human rights on peaceful and unsuspecting citizens in Sierra Leone.

As a national civil society peacebuilding organization striving for consolidation of peace in Sierra Leone, we urge the APC led government to re-double their efforts in the protection of life and property as enshrined in the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone.

It would be recalled that in his last presidential address to the nation on 5th October 2007, President Ernest Bai Koroma on peace and national security stated that “The maintenance of law and order in our nation is a necessary ingredient for peace and tranquility”. Equally, the opposition, SLPP has been preaching national reconciliation; therefore, WANEP-SL urges the leadership and membership of these two political institutions to stay committed to the culture of peace in the best interest of Sierra Leone.

WANEP-SL is therefore very categoric in stating that “We shall no longer sit idly by; repeat “shall not sit down again and allow this country to be enveloped in state violence and reverse the gains that we have already fought for after eleven years of civil war with our blood and sweat.” “Violence begets violence.” In using violence as a tool for expressing frustrations and anger only exacerbate dire consequences for all concerned.

Today, we are calling on all WANEP –SL network members and other civil society coalitions/groups to constructively engage all stakeholders at national and local levels for full commitment and responsibility not to slide this nation back into conflict.

We also hasten to point out that the media should shy away from taking sides in conflict to avoid deepening violent situations. We all know how the media can play both positive and destructive roles in the dynamics of peacebuilding and conflict. Additionally, we are calling on the Sierra Leone Police to stay professionally neutral in handling and resolving conflict situations nation wide.

In conclusion, WANEP-SL calls on the Government, Political Parties, Political Parties’ Registration Commission, International Community and civil society to promote principles of dialogue instead of violence to resolve indifferences at national and local levels. However, if this situation goes unaddressed, WANEP-SL is prepared to undertake intensive mediation through informal dialogue, inter and intra-party negotiations and encourage the effective use of non-violence approaches to conflict and support the institutionalization of the culture of peace.