AS INVESIGATION OF TREASON CONTINUES
DIAPORANS ARE LINKED TO THE FAILED COUP
It is obvious that the Sierra Leone government is investigating an alleged coup believed to have been commissioned on the 26 November, 2023. This investigation has been in an uncontrolled spreadsheet for making a random arrest of people who are believed to be involved by only phone call log without knowing the content of the call mutually discussed.
Whilst random allegations and arrests are being made from various angle, the Sierra Leone police has declared many people as wanted connecting them to the allegations, mainly, they are focusing on people living in the diasporas alleging that they are the main financiers of the foiled coup. This has discouraged people from the diaspora not to come on visit to their home land, to see their family; scaring to be arrested just for being diaspora sympathizer to the main opposition.
In a recent development being found out by this medium, evidence base fact has established that the allegation is falsely linking people who are members or sympathizers of the opposition, accusing them of staging a coup to topple the existing government.
This has made the opposition to raise concerns about the impartiality of the investigation if only justice is to be served. In an attempt to politicize the investigation or trial, our democracy will only achieve bias mantle of partisan connection coupled with tribalism, regionalism and nepotism.
This investigation of treason firstly started when Fifteen (15) ex officers were arrested last year for allegations that many believed to be skewed to politics. Another development was when a former Superintendent of police who was residing in Liberia was extradited to Sierra Leone for an allegation of planning a coup to unseat the present government, a government that international institution including countries like the US, UK, Ireland and EU countries unaccepted and condemned the elections results as lack of transparency and credibility deeming the result as not reflecting the will of the people.
The failed coup attempt has exposed a myth floating in the heart of certain politicians, that, it a crime for a person to belong to an opposition party, conversing or relating to an opposition member holding a senior executive position. This myth has occasioned a random arrest of many, expanding an arrest of many diasporas if caught in Sierra Leone, this does not represent pure democracy.
As it continues, what could be the fate of Sierra Leonean living in the diaspora who are sympathizers or members of the main opposition if they come to Sierra Leone? This question has left many people thinking of their family members. Seemly, some family members to diaspora people contacted this media that they are being harassed and threatened by unknown people with political statements being said against them including statements of killing, unlawful imprisonment and arson, this is because their connections and political belief to the opposition.
On the 2 January, 2024 the state charged Twelve people for treason and other offences relating to the 26 November, 2023 failed coup, whilst on the 3rd January the Former President, Dr. Ernest koroma was equally charged for Treason and other related offences akin to the 26th November, 2023. Many political pundit and legal scholars are of the opinion that if the Former President who is a senior member of the opposition can be alleged and charged to court for treason and other related offences, relating to the failed coup, who else can be left out.
As our investigation continues, the government had declared many Sierra Leone wanted, many are people who are living in the diaspora and some are living internally, an allegations relating to the 26th November, 2023. On a factual basis, many diasporas who came on a visit were also arrested linking them to the failed coup.
