Concord Times (Freetown)
Mohamed Massaquoi
3 November 2008
Secretary General of the Sierra Leone peoples party SLPP Saturday said the ruling All Peoples Congress APC is a disgrace to the principle of democracy.
"APC is a shame. They try to impose their dictatorial rule on the opposition," Jacob Jusu Saffa said while reacting to the alleged arrest of sixteen SLPP members by the police in Lungi.
The Local Unit Commander (LUC) of Lungi division, Henry Sesay, confirmed the arrest of unidentified people who allegedly organized rally without police permission but did not state that they are SLPP members though he was informed that SLPP supporters have attacked APC office and beaten people mercilessly.
"The complainants alleged that they were attacked by a group of people. Police officers were dispatched to the scene and some arrests were made. I am not concerned about their political affiliation. We have charged them for riotous conduct," Sesay said adding that the arrested persons organized a rally without the notification of the police.
Saffa said APC is bent on harassing and intimidating SLPP members as he explained that his party members were grossly manhandled by the police based on the allegation that they attacked the APC office at Lungi.
"This is an effort by APC to intimidate our supporters all over the country. It is very clear that APC is seriously losing support among residents in that part of the country.
"We consider APC attack on SLPP as undemocratic and unacceptable. I am calling on civil society organizations and the press to shame the APC government for their undemocratic behavior," he said.
However, in a swift reaction, information minister I. B Kargbo said he is not aware of any arrest of SLPP supporters.
"You know SLPP makes statements to create chaos for the public. The country is operating under the rule of law and anybody who violates it will be dealt with accordingly," Kargbo said.
Saffa claimed that the police have lost credibility in the last few months as they always support APC whenever there is a standoff between the two parties.
"We are not happy with these developments. I therefore call on President Koroma to take a very stringent step against rampant intimidation, harassment and attacks on SLPP supporters," the SLPP scribe said.
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