THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SIERRA LEONE

PRESS RELEASE NO 24

Members of the General Public would recall that in February, 2010, there were media reports that a group of Presidential Body Guards had assaulted, arrested and detained some employees of the Bo/Kenema Power Station (BKPS) during a Presidential Visit to Kenema.  Following the receipt of a formal complaint on the matter, the Human Rights Commission under powers conferred on it by section 7 (2) of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (Act, No.9 of 2004) instituted an investigation to ascertain whether the reported incident violated any human rights or freedoms of the persons allegedly assaulted, arrested and detained.

The Complainants were:

1. Juana Fangawa

2. Rashid Jawaneh

3. Mohamed Mondor Kabba

4. Henry Bockarie

5. Emmanuel Farma

And the Respondents

1. Inspector General of Police

2. OSD Inspector Momoh Bangura

3. OSD 11775 Sgt Alex Alim Bangura

The findings and conclusions of the investigation revealed that the following rights of the complainants were violated:

·Protection from Arbitrary Arrest and Detention – right to personal liberty contrary to section 17 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone – (Act No 6 of 1991)

·Protection from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment – right to be treated with dignity contrary to section 20 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone – (Act No 6 of 1991).

In accordance with Rule 22 (2) of the Human Rights Complaints Investigation and Inquiries Rules (2008), a Conciliation meeting was held in Kenema on 19th March, 2011 where the findings and conclusions were disclosed to the parties and discussions held to reach a settlement.

The Commission is pleased to inform the general public that at the Conciliation meeting, the following agreement was reached and signed by all the parties:

1. That the Sierra Leone Police accepts the Human Rights Commission’s findings and conclusion, and takes full responsibility for the incident of 7th February 2010 at the Presidential Lodge Kenema and the Bo Kenema Power Station (BKPS) and has apologized to the Complainants for the violations who have accepted the apology.

2. That the parties agree that a radio program will be conducted immediately after this conciliation to be aired at least 3 days which the parties shall announce the resolution of this matter and the police shall publicly apologize to the Complainants with a view of restoring the Complainant’s dignity and appeal to the public to desist from using the incident to threaten and provoke complainants.

3. That to prevent a recurrence of this incident, the parties agree that the Sierra Leone Police in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission will conduct a corrective training for all of the Presidential Bodyguards.

4. That all pictures and record in police custody incriminating the Complainants and in particular pictures taken of the Complainants by Police with label “saboteurs” will be destroyed and confirmation provided to the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone.

5. That the Sierra Leone Police will make a symbolic payment, which shall remain confidential to the Complainants, as evidence of this reconciliation which the Complainants shall distribute among themselves as a traditional way of accepting the Sierra Leone Police’s apology and to signify closure of this matter.

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone wishes to thank all the parties involved for a successful handling of the matter leading to an agreeable closure.

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone is an independent institution established by Statutory instrument Act No. 9 of 2004 with the mandate to protect and promote human rights in Sierra Leone.

Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone

37 Wellington Street- Freetown

69 Blama Road –Kenema

30 Wallace Johnson Street – Makeni

1 Old Railway Line- Bo