The Kailahun Inclusive District Peace and Development Committee, has as one of the mandates to coordinate all peace and development initiatives in the district in a way that helps all existing sectors,fulfilled their purpose in providing service to communities and facilitating healing and reconciliation in communities.This structure(IDPDC) which was formed three years ago is supported by Fambul Tok and Catalyst for Peace
Reconciliation at work
During the electioneering process,there were reported cases of political violence and threats among members of the All People’s Congress and the Sierra Leone People’s Party in Kissi Teng chiefdom,Kailahun district.This caused serious tensions,especially in Bumassadu and Lela section.
Allegations are that some members of SLPP had threatened APC and promised to deal with them because of utterances during campaign period.Some members of APC were said to have equally threatened SLPP supporters
Immediately after the National Electoral Commission officially announced the results declaring the SLPP candidate winner on April 4,2018,SLPP members and supporters went into wild jubilation.This increased tension in Kangama town.
Residents reported that some members of APC who had earlier made sarcastic commentswent into hiding for fear of reprisals.This continued for a couple of days.The entire chiefdom seemed to be on a ticking time bomb more especially when the Paramount Chief was not available to adress the issue
Peace meeting in progress
Because of this trend,the Committee decided to handle the situation by organizing peace and reconciliation meeting in Kangama last Friday,April 20
In his remarks,District Officer,Kailahun,William Ngegbai said the meeting was timely as the entire chiefdom was under serious security threat since the pronouncement of Presidential results
He called on members of both APC,SLPP and other stakeholders to ensure there is stability in the chiefdom
‘You dont need to fight or intimidate each other because all of you are from this chiefdom and in one way or the other are related’ Ngegbai cautioned
He emphasised that ‘ when President Bio took over,he said he is not President for SLPP or APC but for everyone in the country and therefore there is no need to attack one another
The DO called on the people of Kissi Teng to be law abiding and not to take the law into their hands
Paramount Chief calling for peaceful resolution
Acting chairman of IDC,Madam Isata Ndolleh Kaikai catalogued success stories of the Committee since its inception three years ago.She said one of the mandates of the committee is to facilitate peace and reconciliation in communities and that was why they decided to organize such meeting in Kangama
She stated that similar meetings were held in Dia,Kissi Kama and Baoma in Luawa chiefdoms
In his remarks,Paramount Chief Emmanuel Ganawa said he was not surprised as Fambul Tok preaches peace and reconciles people
He lamented over the the ugly situation in his chiefdom,adding had it not being the timely intervention of IDCit would have been a different story.He called on his people to bury the hatchet and reaim peaceful
APC chairman,Foday Koroma called for peace to be restored in thec chiefdom.He pledged his party’s quest for peace in the country
SLPP representative,Mary Lamin equally called for calm and admonished supporters to remain peaceful
Office of National Security representative Tamba Lamin also cautioned anyone that wants to perpetrate violence again after the meeting not to do so as it will detrimental to the individual
The meeting ended with broad smiles as both members of the two parties hugged one another.
