Sierra Eye: Politicising a Former War Hero's Death

It borders on the criminal for anyone to incite unrest on behalf of Chief Norman. The only authentic press release from the family of Chief asked everyone to keep politics out of the family's grief. However, only one political party seeks to politicize and desecrate Chief's name even though the wife of the late chief warned against such action. To incite unrest on account of the chief is tantamount to desecration of his good name. The PMDC party is the culprit in this instance. One of the PMDC executive members, Morie Moussafa (aka Toegondoe) had the audacity to incite unrest in the country. I had identified this executive in my last piece as the most irresponsible of all PMDC members. I still stand by that identification. Recently he was at it again inciting unrest when he wrote: "THERE SHOULD BE NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS IN EVERY CITY, TOWN, AND VILLAGE IN SIERRA LEONE TO PROTEST NORMAN'S DETENTION AND DEATH AT THE HANDS OF THE SLPP." Again, this is the height of irresponsibility. These are some of the PMDC folks who incite violence while they sit in the USA. Such callous and reckless behavior should be publicized not because the executive member is any serious individual or that anyone knows or would listen to him in Sierra Leone, but because he is echoing what Charles Margai had promised Sierra Leone-violence. Most of the PMDC members were probably hoping for far reaching riots in the country. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for Sierra Leone, the people are beyond violence. It is clear that PMDC does not get the message that is why they are now trying to incite unrest on account of Chief Norman.

It is clear that Charles Margai and his PMDC are making a shameful attempt at cashing in on what they think is a political capital in the death of Chief Norman. How can a party and its leadership be so callous? The body of the chief has not even been handed over to the families, Charles Margai and his group is hovering like vultures over the rotten carcass of a dead elephant in the Serengeti. Yes it is appropriate to call them vultures, because in the wild, vultures hardly work for their meals. They just wait for a vulnerable animal to die and rot. PMDC and specifically Margai are doing just that. Here's why.

Reports and discussions on Sierra Leonean online forums indicate that when Mr. Norman was arrested, the very first lawyer asked to defend him was Mr. Charles Margai. Indeed newspapers reported that Mr. Margai was the first to visit Chief Norman on Bonthe Island to discuss modalities. Regrettably, those who were raising funds for Mr. Norman's defense reported that Mr. Margai even refused to speak with Mr. Norman except the latter coughed up $50,000. Indeed Mr. Margai never touched Mr. Norman even with a ten-foot pole until when Mr. Margai thought he could exploit the tragedy. In fact, Rev. Sam-Foray had some choice and unflattering names he called Mr. Margai for what he called on Leonenet a cold hearted abandonment of Mr. Norman.

During the trial, Mr. Norman decided to boycott the proceedings while he was protesting the legality of the court. According to Rev. Sam-Foray, this same Mr. Margai and the PMDC coordinator of UK, Mr. Moijueh Kaikai, tried to sow seeds of discord in the alliance formed by Mr. Norman, Fofana, and Kondewa. According to reports from Rev. Sam-Foray, Mr. Margai tried to influence Mr. Kondewa and Fofana to abandon Mr. Norman in his protest. Had they been successful, Mr. Norman would have been devastated. Now compatriots, is this the type of party and leader who should even try to foment trouble on account of a man who according to Rev Sam Foray they actively undermined? Would anyone with a clear conscience, undermine the defense strategy of Mr. Norman after refusing to represent him and try to gain from his death? Well the state of Mr. Margai's conscience is unknown at this time, but it sure is troubling when he tries to benefit from Chief Norman's tragedy.

The line on unrest, violence and other unsavory situations being invoked by Mr. Moussafa is not new. The new PMDC convert in Indiana, USA one Alfred Sam-Foray who keeps putting out questionable press releases has on many occasions insinuated about violence. In an online newspaper, he was calling for "Kamajors" to remain calm. The underlying tone was that he was responsible for keeping the Kamajors from wreaking havoc. Such behavior is really repugnant because there is no evidence that Mr. Foray has any contacts with the Kamajor commanders. This evidence was unearthed when Mr. Foray insinuated that the Kamajor commander of Kenema was convening a meeting against SLPP, because the Kamajor commander of Kenema area, Mr. Arthur Koroma is the Secretary General of SLPP, Kenema District. People close to Arthur Koroma categorically said the report was untrue. If the counter information is true, then Rev Sam-Foray may be deliberately trying to foment trouble in the country and that is despicable.

We have heard about how the government of Sierra Leone invited the Special Court to try war criminals. A lot of people have blamed the SLPP government. I am one of those who blame the SLPP government for giving a blank check to a very divisive outfit that clearly had a hidden agenda. It is also clear that the Western governments outflanked the Sierra Leone government. Having said that elementary knowledge of how the Sierra Leone government works would tell you that the decision was taken collectively by the cabinet. The Sierra Leone cabinet operates on the principle of collective responsibility. This means that as long as you were a member of cabinet at the time the decision of the Special Court was made, you are as responsible as the president.

PMDC is trying very hard to dissociate their leader from that decision. Mr. Margai was a member of the cabinet that voted to allow the Special Court in Sierra Leone; Mr. Margai fully agreed with the agreement otherwise he would have resigned. It borders on dishonesty when the PMDC party leader voted to have the special court; refused to resign if he was against it and now wants to gain politically for Chief Norman's tragic death. That is shameful. If, as a number of PMDC operatives like the Director of Communications North America branch insinuate, the SLPP is culpable in the death of Chief Norman because they allowed the Special Court, they also need to look at Mr. Margai's hands because the Chief's blood may also be dripping from them-collective responsibility.

In fact, according to reports, Charles Margai as Interior Minister may have actually undermined the activities of the Kamajors when he refused to release rice that was meant for the fighting men. His reason was that the Kamajor outfit was an unconstitutional militia. The report further stated that Mr. Margai made this unfortunate statement shortly after he had attempted to take control of the Kamajor militia as Minister of Interior and Chief Norman rebuked him. People speculate that the split that occurred within the Kamajor group may have been ignited by Mr. Margai's refusal to send food for them and some Kamajors accused Chief Norman of diverting their food ration. Now if all these allegations are true, it is indeed nauseating for Mr. Margai and the PMDC trying to gain politically from this tragedy. Please allow Chief Norman to rest in peace.

Link to allAfrica.com: Sierra Leone: Politicising a Former War Hero's Death (Page 1 of 1)