LEGAL LINK is deeply worried and concerned about the recent state of affairs, political wranglings, claims and counter claims between the main opposition party and the ruling government regarding the conduct of the June 2023 elections.
It has also keenly followed the position statement of Dr Samura Kamara, the presidential aspirant of the main opposition party as revealed in their press conference and the response of the President in one of his slated political rallies and address to his supporters in the provinces.
*Furthermore, LEGAL LINK also notes with surprise the steps taking by ECSL to conduct early voting in the midst of this turbulent environment without prior notice as to the amount of people, place of voting, time and date of voting for effective observation and monitoring by observers. *
*As a reliable partner in the electioneering process, we call for a pause so as to afford an opportunity for all stakeholders in the electioneering process including the government, ECSL, political parties, the police, religious bodies and the diplomatic community to hold peaceful dialogue meetings and address concerns raised by aggrieved candidates and parties so as to ensure a free, fair, credible and non- violent elections. *
It is no gainsaying to opinionate that election related violence in Africa are usually occasioned when opportunities for dialogue and consultations are blatantly suppressed and suspicions of fraud are not addressed in time before the elections.
*In present day Sierra Leone, the call for civil unrest as directed by ADEBAYOR, the malicious threats and combative mood of AUSTIN JOHNNY, the plethora of hate speeches and tribal rhetorics as expressed by political actors, the open casting of aspersions by the President against the former president, the outright distrust for ECSL by the main opposition party and its supporters and the indiscriminate arrests and detention of political supporters by the Police poses without doubt, a clear and present danger to the June 2023 elections and the security interests of our nation.*
*It is against this backdrop that we are calling on all sides of the political divide as well as the diplomatic community and moral guarantors of Sierra Leone to hold an urgent peaceful stakeholder’s dialogue that will help in addressing concerns, de-escalating tensions and toning down the rhetoric’s for a free, fair, credible and non-violent elections. *
In less than 10 ten days to the general elections, it is unfortunate to say the least that our country is still being caught up in this ugly malaise and protracted state of affairs. *Certainly, this atmosphere of panic, tensions and confusion ahead of the June 2023 elections will ultimately serve as a dis-incentive to voter turnout and inject voter apathy in the electioneering process. *
It is therefore in the best interest of every political party leader and their supporters to help tone down the rhetorics, de-escalate the tensions, sit down and dialogue so as to create a serene environment that will incentivize voter turnout and ultimately ensure a peaceful and fruitful elections come June 24th, 2023.
*We hope and pray that this call of ours will be adhered to and that good sense, wise discretion, reasoning and judgment will prevail at the end even in this moment of extreme hate, malice and division between and amongst political actors and their supporters. *
We condemn all forms of violence, inciters and hate speeches made at home and abroad and call on all Sierra Leoneans to continue to pray for the nation and remain law abiding and peaceful as we await the outcome of this much anticipated dialogue between stakeholders.
We end by appealing to ECSL to display the highest degree of transparency and accountability to the citizens of Sierra Leone, political parties and the donor community as enshrined in their Guiding Principles and further urge the Sierra Leone Police to act professionally in its dealings with the civilian population while policing the June 2023 elections.
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