BY IBRAHIM TARAWALLIE
232NEWS, FREETOWN —
The Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Victor L Lansana has said that if the police fails to protect the rights and privileges of Sierra Leoneans then they are failing the state. Mr. Lansana made this statement while giving a situational comment on the fiasco that enveloped the country on Monday 11th September, 2023.
He said that the Police have over time refused to approach conflicts with a human rights based approach and condemned the high handedness of the Police in combating riots. Mostly the Police uses disproportionate force. “The use of firearms should be the very very last resort but in our case in the country and unfortunately, is the first resort. You cannot use live bullets on demonstrators using stones and sticks. Police have the mandate that every right is protected,” he said.
The acting Commissioner said that the Police need to go back to the drawing board to see how they could be able to contain demonstrations and protests. He noted that for ages the police have not been giving permission to people to go out to demonstrate.
When people want to go out, the police should give them permission to go out, he said. Such he says will explode to what he referred to as pent up anger. He cited Section 26 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 on the right to Freedom of Assembly and Association, Section 17 (1) & (2) of the Public Order Act, 1965 on the procedure for assembly, Section 13 (a.j) of the constitution on the duties of Citizens.
Mr. Lansana went on to express disappointment over the security forces referring to the organizers as faceless people and if the security forces are unable to go after those responsible for blowing the embers of unrest then they are failing the state. He however noted that citizens also have responsibilities to be patriotic and law abiding. If these are nor respected then the civil, economic, social and political rights among others are undermined.
