APC secretary general was accompanied to the CID by comrades

 

Seeings of APC Sec Gen Lansana Dumbuya coming out of CID after he was questioned for simply issuing a press statement on behalf of his party, APC, in support of former President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma. This development is worrisome and disturbing to say the least, a country where the police will question a legitimate opposition party simply for issuing a press release in support of their member is extremely dangerous and concerning. The police are acting as though SL is an autocratic state, every well minded citizen should be appalled at such seemingly misuse of state law enforcement departments. 

The last time we saw such horrific and oppressive tactics against citizens and oppositions was during the military regimes when juntas could do whatever pleases them. 

Already we have few or only one credible opposition party in the country, because most of the other opposition parties have been forced to submission or silenced through the judiciary. This was apparent leading to the June 24, 2023 elections. 

If a credible opposition isn’t allowed to publish a simple press release then how can anyone be assured of their democratic freedom of expression. How can government expect opposition ApC to work with them when the opposition is deprived from exercising their basic democratic rights and freedoms. The only opposition leader who doesn’t see anything wrong with these deplorable happenings is Hon Abdul Kargbo, otherwise no one in their right minds will entertain such actions from the police. 

We take one step forward and two steps back when it comes to democracy in SL, I’m sick in the stomach seeing such happenings in SL. 

To assume that every citizen must support the government is insane, because doing so will only mobilise growing revolts against the government. 

His Excellency Julius Maada Bio needs to step in and prevent this endless oppression by law enforcement officials as well as the judiciary; it’s enough already!

Aiah Pandanteh Thomas