Following youth protest in Kabala Town, Koinadugu District on the Northern part of Sierra Leone Amnesty International Sierra Leone (AISL), in an interview with Awoko newspaper on Wednesday condemned the use of fire arms and live bullets by the police to salvage the situation.
The protest which resulted in the death of two persons and injuries of others was staged as a result of the police refusal to permit the youths to embark on a peaceful protest over the alleged relocation of the youth village in that part of the country.
“We are out rightly condemning the level of police brutality which occurred at Kabala… we see the police force which we are expecting to be highly professional, at the slightest provocation using firearms”, Solomon Sogbandi, the Executive Director of AISL stated.
The Director said there are established rules of engagement as stated by United Nations, which the police should have followed in order to bring the rioters under control. He said using firearm should be the last resort. “They should resort to the use of firearms when it comes to very serious situations in which the life of the person they are protecting is at stake or the police life is threatened”, he maintained.
Although Paramount Chief Gbawuru had previously told this medium that the police advised the youths to write a 21 days’ notice of protest, Mr. Sogbandi said report from AISL office in Kabala states that the protest was peaceful.
“This is something which warrant the review of our existing laws because they will want to go by the public order Act. We are in a democracy… I see this as one of the most draconian laws which this country should try to get rid of. Protesting means: I am not happy”.
Solomon Sogbandi said that the police officers that are using firearms and live bullets during protest should be investigated and brought to book adding that it is the duty of the police to protect lives and properties not to destroy life.
He further stated that though their organisation is not in favour of youth violence and criminality in the country, the police should instead engage them in constructive dialogue for them to understand that involving in violence is not the solution to their problems.
By Edna Smalle
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