THIS OCCURRED IN BO IN 2009 DURING THE SLPP DELEGATE CONFERENCE. YOU CAN SEE WHO IS THE REAL TROUBLE SHOOTER. Journalists beaten by SLPP in Bo Nine journalists who were invited by the opposition SLPP to cover their two days National Conference in Bo were past Saturday night molested, beaten and harassed. The first harassment came when Journalists were persistently and deliberately blocked by private party guards dressed in plain clothes (some in all black and others in party colours) who refused to let them have access to and from their seats. It climaxed around 9pm when the open meeting came to a halt and pocket meetings on the adoption of the 2009 SLPP Constitution or the retention of the 1995 Constitution started. Naturally journalists sought to capture these scenes of seeming disagreement, but again private party guards prevented them. The Editor of The Exclusive Newspaper David A. Jabati was the first to face the ferocity of the private party guards, as the driver of the SLPP chairman, John Oponjo Benjamin collared him and started raining blows on Jabati for taking photographs. This started the terror campaign as the other party security guards descended heavily on him and practically bundled him out of the conference area. His wallet and some personal belongings disappeared during the fracas. Jabati was beaten in full view of the SLPP Deputy Women’s Leader Harriatu Turay, the Assistant Secretary General, Alpha Timbo, Head of the legal team Eke Halloway and Caucus leader for the SLPP Bo MPs, Eric Jumu. None of them even attempted to halt the attackers. The beating and assault spree continued after a controversial motion was moved by the SLPP Secretary General, Jacob Jusu Saffa that executive members of the party should have the right to contest for positions in the 2012 election provided they resign their posts six months to the election. That motion received disapproving reactions by members and some began moving out of the hall. Awoko needed those motion pictures and as the reporter was doing just that, fingers down the floor were pointed at him calling for the destruction of his camera and again fearsome looking party security guards rushed at him, pushing him whilst others were hitting and pulling him. Had it not been for the timely intervention of the Western Area Chairman for the SLPP, Lansana Fadika who went to the rescue of the reporter it could have been a disaster. Later, the District Council chairman of the SLPP in Kailahun, Tom Nyuma also joined in helping to protect the reporter. Fortunately the camera of Awoko was protected by the wife of the former President, Mrs. Isatu Kabbah while the notebook which was forcefully taken away from him was later recovered and handed back by the young generation leader, Mallam Janneh who told him that the Awoko note book was about to be torn apart when he secured it. As if venting their Constitutional spleen, the other journalists that surrounded Awoko for protection were also not spared. Sulaiman Storm Koroma of 98.1 Radio Democracy was also punched for his voice recording of the fiasco. His tape recorder was spotted and was targeted for destruction. He got it back after receiving some slaps. Idrissa Sesay, a camera man at the SLBS reportedly lost some items in his bag while trying to protect his camera and tripods. Alimamy Lahai Kamara and Aruna P. Kamara also of the SLBS were equally assaulted. Mohamed Kabba of Awareness Times Newspaper, Abdul Kamara of Star radio, James Fillie of Eastern radio Kenema, Bampia Bundu of the Awareness Times newspaper all faced the brutal hands of the SLPP members. Later however some senior members apologized.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 15:46:57 +0000
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