The protests follow the people’s anti-inflation agitations against the upward movement of the costs of living, which have risen more than 40 per cent within the last few months. The protests were part of the expression of discontent by the citizenry in the face of the rising and biting cost of living.
Nevertheless, the two regional labour organisations strongly condemned how the supposed legitimate and peaceful protests degenerated into violent and deadly ones across the country.
The organisations said videos depicting gory sights of killings of civilians and security agents during the demonstrations are awash on the Internet and different social media platforms, saying the developments are regrettable and unacceptable.
“The ITUC-Africa and OTUWA, therefore, call on the government to conduct an inclusive and genuine investigation to address the protests’ root causes. Through the transparent application of the rule of law, the inquiry should also identify, prosecute and sanction persons, groups and entities that encouraged and perpetrated violence during the protest. We urge the government to ensure that the investigation is devoid of vendetta and medium to settle political scores.
“Trauma runs deep in Sierra Leone. The memories of the past 11-year ravages of war that left more than 50,000 people dead are still fresh in people’s minds and the ordinary citizenry has no wish whatsoever to return to that dark past. However, it is also important to highlight that corruption, poverty and unemployment remain rampant as Sierra Leoneans try to rebuild their lives and country.
These concerns need to be dealt with,” the joint statement signed by the General Secretary, ITUC-Africa, Kwasi Adu-Amankwah and the Executive Secretary, OTUWA, John Odah said.
ITUC-Africa and OTUWA urged Sierra Leoneans to remain faithful to the tenets of a democratic dispensation by, among other things, respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
