KMK et al.,
I am a bit worried about advocating "civil defense" in the country side. Furthermore, I find the comparison with the American West very unfair. We seem to ignore the fact that the terrain (old growth forest, farm bush, and the extensive drainage system) in Sierra Leone poses a major problem to maintaining any form of security. In addition to not knowing the weapons capability of the so-called bandits, the poor civilians would have no idea what numbers they may be dealing with. How many "sorsor-be-pee" guns are equivalent to one AK 47? Can 40 Kamjoi defend all of Small Bo Chiefdom for e.g., on foot and with no form of "intelligence" network? What will happen to our numerous small (less than 10 homes) settlement to which some of can trace our roots?
If western movies adequately reflect what goes on in the American west, then it is nothing compared to what rural Sierra Leoneans may be faced with. The bandits most often had a "well-known" leader who is almost always on a "most wanted" list? In Sierra Leone, we don't even know whether the bandits will be from within the very communities that they end up ravaging.
We should also not forget that the Kamajoi are most often among the strongest and most efficient farmers....who will feed them if they take up defense? I remember this time last year at Njala, lots of so-called civil defense people were simply taking advantage of the food provided by the community. In a town as big as Bo or Kenema, that may no longer be a problem because of the larger population.
Frankly, I just don't see why a national army cannot perform the job for which it was destined in the first place. If a locally mandated civil defense should work, then why not eliminate the army (because it probably won't prevent an invasion anyway) and channel the funds into supporting the former?
Let us hope and pray that 1996 will give peace a chance.
ImamBakarr
Coral Gables, Florida