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Sierra Leone Police Spokesman and Director of
Operations has explained to Awareness Times,
developments which erupted in Koidu town on
Tuesday which left two youths dead from gunshot wounds. AIG Al-Shek Kamara spoke over the
phone line from Kono where he had immediately
relocated when the disturbance broke out on Monday December 17th 2012.AIG
Al-Shek Kamara
confirmed that irate Kono youths had “set
fire to and burnt
down the police post at Konomani Lorry Park”
and “burnt
down the Community Development Center built and equipped by OCTEA Koidu Holdings for the people of Kono”.
The Police Spokesman however assured that “an attempt by the rioters to burn
down the Tankoro Police Station was rebuffed
and the Tankoro Police Station is safe and
untouched. The Police post at Kuyor was also
subject to an arson attempt but we effectively repelled the rioters”.
Police Spokesman said a similar attempt to burn down
the residence of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of OCTEA Koidu Holdings was also rebuffed. He said though the
CSO was a black South African, he has lived in Kono
for some 17 years now and was married to a Kono
woman who had actually been inside the house with their teenage children
at the time Kono youths tried to burn the house
with the Kono woman and her children inside.
Unfortunately, according to the Police Spokesman,
the Community Liaison Officer of OCTEA, Mr. Sorgboi,
an indigene of Kono, was not lucky and has had
to suffer his house being “thoroughly vandalized and
looted by the rioters”.
The residence of one Chief Saquee
was also laid siege to but the police arrived and dispelled the rioters
before they could vandalise it.
According to the Police Spokesman, there were “two
sad deaths from gun
shots” which he said the police were currently investigating. He said the
rioting OCTEA workers had forcibly disarmed a police officer of his fully
loaded AK-47 rifle which they carted off “firing the weapon
wildly as they ran off”.
Eye witnesses have confirmed to Awareness Times that the rioters captured an AK-47 gun
from a police officer. Some other credible reports have alleged the
rioters had locally built hunting guns (chakabulla)
in their possession.
Al-Shek Kamara rejects claims police officers were firing
live rounds into the crowd of rioters which caused deaths.
“Our officers were professional in
the control of rioters. It is wrong to say the two persons were killed by
police officers,”
Police Spokesman insists.
“We do know they died of gunshot wounds
but until investigations are fully carried conducted, it is premature to
say which weapon fired shots which killed and also wounded persons,” Al-Shek Kamara insists adding that what
is clear is that at least one of the two deceased victims of the gunshots
was not part of the rioters nor standing with them but had been in a direction located directly opposite
the rioters.
“This raises questions as to who was firing the gun and from what direction,” the
Police Spokeman pointed out.
Al-Shek Kamara however confirms that the police officer who
was forcibly disarmed of his well loaded weapon “is
in detention
awaiting disciplinary hearings”.
He claims several other police officers were
attacked by the rioters who were fighting to over-run OCTEA premises but
upon meeting stiff resistance from police officers, this angered the
rioters. He said attempts were made to disarm many police officers of
their weapons. He said a female OCTEA staff, now proven as an ex-RUF
combatant, was arrested as she tried to wrestle an AK-47 gun from the
hands of a police officer who was trying to control them.
“She and her rioting gang would have
succeeded to make off with the gun had the officer not been rescued by
his colleagues who promptly arrested her. She will be charged to court,” Al-Shek Kamara said.
He confirmed that the institution of Military Aid to
Civil Power (MAC-P) and a curfew on Monday night,
is what prevented the situation from being worse than it has turned out.
He said whilst they were awaiting for police reinforcements from Kenema, the military had to aid the police.
According to Al-Shek Kamara, by yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon when the
Vice-President flew into Kono, the police had
restored public order thus making negotiations by the able Vice-President
to carry on smoothly and in a safer environment. The Vice-President
received high commendation for his peace-making efforts in Kono, which is his home district.
The riot itself started over a series of demands the
OCTEA Koidu Holdings staff were making of the
company including an alleged promised Xmas bonus, demands for setting up
of their own Mines workers Union and
better employment conditions. They are also unhappy that the accidental
death of one of their colleague workers on a conveyor’s
crushing belt, did not see the colleague’s
family members get much cash compensation.
The company meanwhile disputes each allegation and
has an explanation for every allegation thrown at it.We
are continuing to monitor the developments in Kono.
© Copyright by Awareness
Times Newspaper in Freetown,
Sierra Leone.
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