Date: Thursday, 15-Feb-96 10:21 PM
From: Saffa J. Kemokai \ PRODIGY: (GUGP07A)
To: P.k.muana \ Internet: (p.k.muana@sheffield.ac.uk)

Subject: SIERRA LEONE: Fears of Insecurity Follow Pro-Election Vote

 Lansana Gberie of IPS wrote:

>''We cannot fight the war and secure polling stations at the same
> time,'' said Army Chief of Staff Brig. J. Turay, warning that the military
> might conscript ''able-bodied Sierra Leoneans to assist in providing such
> facilities.''
>

This is very true but you shouldn't worry about it because if it comes to that, your hands are full. With $17 Million dollars floating, INEC by now has figured out how it is going to provide security around the country on polling day. By conscripting able bodies into the army between now and February 26 is a dangerous game. You will not have the time to train and indoctrinate the conscripts. Therefore, you are going to have a whole brand new murderers and robbers with great appetites.

Lansana Gberie of IPS wrote:

>Two days before the conference armed men in uniform fired shots and
> lobbed hand grenades at the residences of INEC Chairman James Jonah and
> SLPP leader Ahmed Tejan Kabba, as well as the INEC building. Both men
> had, however, been tipped off and fled before the arrival of the
> assailants, who cut the telephone and fax lines to Jonah's house before
> attacking it.
>

There is also the rumour that the attempt was engineered by the very proponents of elections now to stir sentiments in favor of elections. Hence the plan included prior warning so that no one would be hurt. We had seen an instance in December 1993 when Brima Kebbie was killed in his home two weeks before he could move to Freetown to head Provincial Law Administration (?). In his case, no warning was giving and died while his mother watched helplessly in Kenema.

Lansana Gberie of IPS wrote:

>The INEC chairman vowed to continue preparations for the elections
> despite the incident. ''I am prepared to die in the search for democracy
> in my country,'' he said. ''Perhaps this country needs a sacrificial lamb
> to change the vices that have made Sierra Leone so rotten.''
>

This is really patriotic; but democratic .. I place a question mark. Sierra Leone has had quite a good number of sacrificial lambs ...Brig. Lansana, Ibrahim Bash Taqi, Mohamed(?) Forna, (executed by Siaka Stevens) Brima Kebbie (gunned down by hit men in his home), Mustapha Kemokai (tied to APC thug van in Zimmi while RSL Army personnel watched and clapped), just to name a few in the recent past. Do we really need more sacrificial lambs in order to wake up to reasoning..? If allsupposedly patriotic people are going to be sacrificed before Sierra Leone can have a "free and fair" election, who is going going to lead this new democracy...? The soldiers right..!

Lansana Gberie of IPS wrote:

>Speaking just after the end of the conference on Monday, he said ''I
> believe no force on earth can stand in the way of a determined people. The
> people have decided and we in INEC are going right ahead.'' The
> independent 'For di People' newspaper was in a jubilant mood Tuesday in
> its commentary on the result of the consultative meeting:
>

This is so true and those in the business of motivating others have concluded that the strongest force on earth is"determination" while joyously point as proof to the single guy with truck load of explosives that levelled the US Embassy in Lebanon in the early 80s. It can be argued that the people are so determined that they can fake registration figures, arrange demonstrations, or even stage a mock attack. It is all but determination to sell a point.

Lansana Gberie of IPS wrote:

> ''The new ... spirit is that the people of Sierra Leone will no longer
> accept domination by any armed group or faction which believes it has the
> right to right to rule,'' it said. ''The people's will is supreme.''

Correct if rhetoric would amount to anything. Already the resigned Cpt. Kamara is hinting on possible coup. I will like to see how "the people" are going to fulfill this rhetoric. Maybe they can do us a favor with this rhetoric by confronting the RUF first, and then they can really determine who is to rule

Sierra Leone.

Saffa Kemokai @ Browns Mills, NJ

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