Concord Times (Freetown)
Pel Korma
7 January 2009
opinion
Freetown — Dear President Koroma,
Thank you for presiding peacefully over the country since you became president. I was fortunate to have visited some jungle towns in the Eastern district of Sierra Leone over the festive period. Interesting that my country is that much beautiful as this trip was the best opportunity I have had to traverse my country especially the East. The war did not allow some of us to tour our country and clearly realize the potentials and beauty of Sierra Leone. As I write, my heart still grieves for what the war did in that part of the country. Yet, I have hope that the people will over come.
It was Forum of Conscience or Fambul Tok that accorded me the opportunity to witness a meeting on the 19th, 20th, and 21st for all the fourteen chiefdoms in the Kono district. Fambul Tok, a local NGO poised towards community reconciliation facilitated an open atmosphere for Kono's to come together and resolve their community problems in their own traditional way that will foster ever lasting peace. There is a concern that the TRC and Special Court did not satisfy the urge for justice among the common people in their localities and there is a need to bridge the existing gap so that development will take place.
Executive director of Fambul Tok John Caulker, appealed to the people of Kono to embrace them selves again and forgive. Though the scale of the war is uncountable, Caulker impressed on the people that the project Fambul Tok is their project which has great respect for the traditional way of healing relationships. He said he was able to convince his friends in the United States that the war actually left the country divided and that the TRC and Special Court did not answer the question of reconciliation at the local level.
Chairman for the occasion was chiefdom speaker Aiah Raymond Komba of Tombodu, Kamaa chiefdom, who dilated on some of the atrocities they witnessed during the war. He said they are currently living with perpetrators and victims because they all belong to the same family and should there fore forgive one another. It was touching when Kono's started confessing to them selves and asking for forgiveness from their people. It was a remarkable event when all representatives of the fourteen chiefdoms came together to map out ways to reconstruct their relationships through their traditional means.
The people converged at Tombodu, the once prosperous chiefdom in the district. Generally President Koroma the Kono's are not happy at all. They are finding it difficult comprehend why they should suffer the way they are suffering. The war devastated their homes and culture, living them absolutely divided. The poor people of Kono lamented over their demise because of a God given resource that has never benefited them. As I entered the township of Tombodu, it dawn on me that it must have been a great city in the past. One would spot its greatness from the damaged structures that are visible all over the township. Unique structures that depicts quality living in the past. Kono's expressed disappointment that no one care for them and have resigned to fate. Majority of them told me that they are not interested in diamond mining as it has only brought destruction to them. Some prefer farming.
Kono's expressed dissatisfaction over the way industrial mining has invaded their land with little respect for culture and the people themselves. The people are wallowing in abject poverty. They do not care who is in governance only that they want their status improved. I observed that Kono's are very brilliant people. Their intelligence can not be compared to other tribes men I have interacted with in our country. The women of Kono are so bold that they are yearning for a liberator. The women actively participated in the Fambul Tok discussion in Kono. They were bold enough to talk about their distress and how much they want to be empowered. The hard work in the farms is having heavy toll on the health of the women in Kono. Most of them told me that they do not have access to money and their social rights are constantly abused.
President Koroma the Kono's said they love you because you are handsome and the women say you are their husband. Their expectations are high that you will try to ameliorate their problems. They said they need just a little from you and they will move on with lives.
At the Fambul Tok dialogue, the Kono's revealed that they believe that they need to appease their ancestors, consecrate the land traditionally before the Kono land will get respite. They spoke of appeasing the spirits of the Donso's who lost their lives during the war. That they want the soul of these deceased Donso's to rest. With out which they believe they will struggle for ever. Revelations were made of the 'Savage Pit' where thousands of people were dumped during the war under a commander Savage. They said over six bags of human skeleton were removed from the pit. All those who lost their lives in the 'Savage Pit' need a befitting burial. The people of Kono told Fambul Tok that they want the war monument in Koidu town to be commemorated formally as a way of unifying the land.
Executive director John Caulker keenly listened to the people of Kono and promised to work together with the people to make their communities friendly. So much tension was manifested but it got eased with the cajoling power of executive director who expressed the importance of peace for national development. Kono is generally peaceful. Not much enthusiasm was shown for the Christmas season because the people are disgruntle and unhappy. Hope they had a nice time. I love the Kono's.
On the 23rd of December, I was again opportune to journey with the Kutubu's to Pendembu, Upper Bambara chiefdom, one of the chiefdoms in the Kailahun district. It was my first trip to that part of the country. I had already resolute my mind to brave the horrible roads that I have been told that leads to the eastern part of the country.
I was curious to grasp all important spectrums of Kailahun district but I went through Kenema in the night which gave me a gloomy picture of the township. As it was a festive season, I expected a bustling atmosphere as it was just 10:30 PM but I was greeted with a scene connoting hardship and unhappiness. I asked whether Kenema is a Muslim dominated town- this is so because the center of the town (Mobil spot and Capitol) were as quiet as the grave yard even when it was the 23rd of December. It strokes me of the status of my country and wondered what the future hold. I continued my journey and arrived at Pendembu about 3 AM. I was amazed over the zest the people of Pendembu greeted me with. I was taken to the old SLPMB stores where I saw over two thousand people sweating in disco organized by popular musical star Steady Bongo. The population surprised me and I asked whether all of the people belong to Pendembu.
Sir, I encountered a very happy group of people in the Upper Bambara chiefdom. The people are hard working and development oriented. Relics of colonialism could be spotted in Pendembu Township. Structures of colonial exploitation in the form of their firms (trade) and the rail way are visible. It tells you of the economic boom the town had once enjoyed. In Pendembu, all the government structures are properly kempt. The police station and the health center are hygienically maintained. The people are friendly and some how organized. Though they are all poor people, the women in Pendembu are always neatly dressed. I did not see any haggardly dressed woman which tells of pride and dignity in poverty. Pendembu was bustling all through out the holiday.
Agriculture still flourishes in Pendembu. I bought three bananas for Le 200, 00 in Pendembu. I was shocked because I expected the cost to be in thousands. Rice production increased this year according to the people.
The Paramount Chief Cyril Foray Gondor brought together all the six sections in the chiefdom to celebrate the festive season together in peace and unity. It was fantastic when the native women displayed their traditional fashions of dressing- in their ashobies' with their mask devils and attendants. It was the RC primary school that the peace show was exhibited. It was so exciting. Tradition was at play when the highest reverenced secret society displayed. President Koroma it will surprise you to know that your constitution was suspended as the 'Master of the Land' called (DWEI) took over control of the township for eleven hours. I was perplexed when all of a sudden, one of the attendants of DWEI surfaced on top of a house roof in the chief's compound dancing. How did it happen is still a mystery to me. I was told they have more mystical powers than what I saw.
Over all, the people told me they are unhappy because of the neglect they have suffered. They are asking that the government should know that they are a part of the country. They are peaceful people even though the war has ravaged them.
The people told me that they love Ernest Koroma but most of them will never appreciate APC. I was told of a KAMANDA war that was inflicted that brought untold suffering to them and that it was spear headed by the APC. The people said there fathers, uncles, aunts and brothers were humiliated, beaten and molested and that their late Paramount Chief Madam Konor Jajua Kutubu was taken to Mafanta prison under the APC rule. The people have not forgotten the draconian rule of the former APC and its dictatorship. I am sure President Koroma you will now understand why the fears of the people in the APC rule. They do not have confidence in the APC because of their past record. I told my friend that the people have no reason to support SLPP because SLPP did not help the people of the east all through out their reign according to what I saw with my own eyes.
Yet, they will tell they believe in the core values of SLPP and that from time, SLPP had being a peaceful party which allowed them to compete on even terms economically. Of course it is no secret that President Koroma has been dissociating himself from the old APC because of the indiscipline they manifested in the past. The task for you president Koroma is to let the people understand that your own APC now stands on a different platform. The people of Kailahun Court Barrie do not hate you. Only that, they do not have confidence in your party and to some extent, they are justified. Try and penetrate these people- they are open, receptive and very kind which is a typical nature of a Mende man.
I met one wuyata Gondor who was the APC candidate in the last local council elections. She told me she is very grateful to the APC government and that she will over stretch to ensure that APC survives in Pendembu. Wuyata was quick to tell me that SLPP is an ungrateful party. She displayed her certificate she acquired from the Nixon Memorial hospital in Segbema since 1992 but never got enlisted in the main stream until when APC came to power before she was officially accepted. She is determined to die for APC in pendembu.
The people of Pendembu want air borne water. It should be activated as they have enjoyed it before. The people want the medical nurses to be trained in minor surgeries such as appendicitis and caesarian operations. This is so because the road net work is so terrible. They are hopeful that their son John Saad of PMDC who happens to be the minister of works will help them in the construction of the road. Sadly, John Saad has not made any effort to renovate his ancestral giant imposing structure at Padembu.
It was nice at Pendembu. But my memories still recall the slaughter house in Pendembu where people were killed like chickens and the damaged the international forces inflicted during operation Cokry, in an attempt to free the Indian UN hostages. The bombing raid left the town empty as all standing structures were brought down.
The Executive director of Fambul Tok John Caulker called me up on the 27th to say I should join him on coverage in Luawa chiefdom. I was excited to visit Kailahun. John Caulker did not tell me that I was going into the jungles of eastern Sierra Leone. Our destination was Tambateko, where three sections in the Kissy Tongi chiefdom were to meet and play foot ball under the initiative of PLAY 31, an NGO complimenting the effort of Fambul Tok in spreading traditional peace. It took us five hours traveling from Kailahun Township to Tambateko. Honestly, had it not been for the courage of John Caulker, I would have opted to drop from the trip after just an hour into the jungle leading to the Liberian border. The roads are so bad that my heart jumped into my mouth over hundred times. All bridges are death traps. I was told the fighting forces destroyed all the narrow bridges, cutting deep holes as a way of totally delinking the towns. Here, the people are
pathetic. They are lock up with no one to care for them. Thanks to a Danish, Jakob Lund, director of PLAY 31 who has deemed it fit to spread joy and happiness with the use of foot balls.
President Koroma the Kissy people of the east are impoverished, neglected and relegated. I went through Gbalahun which has electricity and I was told one Jack Lansana and his sister helped their village people by giving them a standing generator that light the streets at night , Buedu, Vaohun up to Tambateko. Their situation is pathetic. I wondered if they are part of us. As the three teams from Gbekedu, Baildu and Tambateko interacted which was why the game was played, the town chief Madam Yatta Fatorma told me that that was the first time in her life to see the three sections come together in such a cheerful mood. The children were seen over excited, while the aged and women rejoiced together. The essence of Fambul Tok is to ensure that people communicate in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere so that together they will heal their wounds.
Yatta Fatorma said her people want better education for their children. They want their road to be constructed so that they would be exposed to the wider society and avert the frequent accidents caused by motor bikes which is the only means of transportation. She said they are no longer benefiting from the cacao and coffee. She said they lost their husbands to the war and their children are no longer interested in agriculture. She said the plantations are bushy and only little farming was done this year. She appealed for safe drinking water. The Kissy people are friendly as they are quick to introduce themselves and will proudly tell you his or her village he or she is coming from. They want to be exposed. The youth leader told me that they want electricity supply so that they too would watch video at Tambateko. I knew it is virtually impossible for the villagers to enjoy electricity. They are over two hundred miles from the city so light is a dream for now. But they insist out there that they are all Sierra Leoneans and should be treated equally. I saw a lot of justification in the eastern region why my country is always put at the first rung of development ladder
I discovered a lot of ex- combatants in Kailahun. I appreciated why ex-soldier Nyuma is the district chairman. I bumped into plenty of the ex-soldiers I knew in Freetown during the war. A lot of widows in Kailahun and a lot of unmarried women hustling around to make ends meet.
In Kailahun, people are happy for the harvest this year was a bumper one. All they complained of is the road. They have food to eat even though not a balanced one.
I fell in love with Kailahun town. She is as beautiful as Mabgaraka town. I thought before now that I should make Magbaraka my second home apart from the Island I was born but there is now a keen contest as to which I should choose second between Kailahun town and Magbaraka. In Kailahun, memories of war still hunt me especially the slaughter house I visited. Stains of blood are stacked to the walls. I am told hundreds of people were killed in the slaughter house in cold blood. I shed tears and prayed for the lost souls. I wish President Koroma will visit these sites.
I have heard that your government currently has some money for reparation. I beg you in the name of God for you to start the reparation in the eastern part of the country. It was hard hit and all what should make them whole was destroyed. They are patching their lives in dilapidated homes. Why should our people suffer this way amidst all the natural endowments? Some thing needs to be done Mr. President. People of Tombodu, Pendembu and Tambateko wish you success. Only that they want a little share.
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And Dear President Koroma, May I truly state to you,that I hated the APC of the Late Siaka Stevens,Kamara Taylor, S.I. Koroma(AKA Agbasatani)and Joseph Saidu Momoh. I love the SLPP during the time of the Margais. Today, the blood of revenge that kept swelling in me for years have all been reduced to that of no treath,because I truly admire your APC. You have come to know that the National cake(Minerals) is not for the pockets of one region,but for all of Salone. As I write this note,I hail you for the excellent decision you took to name a son of Kono as your Vice President. Polishing you with the First Star of Salone,you did no mistake by chosing your dearest Wife from the Land of Diamonds. This makes her a Shinning Star today in Sierra Leone. Past APC's did not realize that,there were men in Kono.The only post offered to a son of Kono, that I came to know of, was the Ambassador to Liberia, Sahr Fellie Faboe. A position he held for many years. Honestly, you have made a great change and you will win the next term.May I once more appeal to you,that you should not only change one place but the entire country. I love Leaders who make positive changes in the World and you are one of them. FROM THE ANTI-SOUPIST AGENT WITH A HAND OF DIALOGUE.