Cmas in sweet Salone...

Another Cmas in sweet Salone has come and gone... but is fondly remembered.

Cmas Eve was quiet... and dark. No power, no internet connection, candles burning brightly. Started a new book (via headlamp) and relished the horizontal reading and early night. Listened to the music from a street party... and the firecrackers that are popular here at this time of year.

Cmas morning... a bit of a lie-in in bed... guess I needed the sleep. Up to heat water and enjoy my Nescafe while doing a crossword puzzle sitting on my small balcony under the Salone sun. The streets were quiet... first thing in the morning. As I finished my third crossword and my second cup of coffee, the streets became more active... people wandering down the hill carrying laden baskets of food to share, to picnic or to deliver. My phone kept "beeping" notices of holiday cheer and best wishes, which was lovely. Called some folks in Sierra Leone... to wish them happy holidays... and sent some text messages to those up-country.

Washed, dressed and out for a motorbike ride... after checking Congo Cross for the presence of police. All clear and helmet stowed inside... made my way around the western area of Freetown... enjoying the wind in my hair and sunshine on my cheeks. Zipped to a special friend's house... to share a drink, a delicious plate of fish and rice with their family... and listen to Barney's Cmas on their CD player. The children... there are always children... were excited and playful. Women in the compound were dressed in their Sunday best... hair freshly braided and adorned. The men sat and visited... talked about the holidays, the country, the compound, the elections... there are always political discussions... and joyfully ate plates of rice and drank cold soft drinks.

Well fed, I took a cruise along Aberdeen/Lumley Beach were thousands of revelers gathered to picnic, to hang out, to play football, to listen to music, to play on the sand and in the waves under the sunny skies. Great to see so many people out enjoying themselves... relaxing and, for a moment/day/afternoon, forgetting about their issues of concern.

Back home to tidy up and gather some books, chocolates and drinks... and off to visit more friends. Cmas music greeted me at their door... K&T are great hosts and had cold drinks waiting... Enjoyed a fabulous meal with special friends, new friends and colleagues. Of course, I ate too much and drank too much... and was thankful for their comfy couch at the end of dinner.

K. cooked turkey, stuffing and gravy... that was just delicious. Apple crumble and ice cream for dessert. Wow... T. cooked curry goat and spicy rice with beans... her heritage.

Exchanged books with people... shared ideas, talked a lot... and had a wonderful time.

Today is Boxing Day... (this morning I'm blessed with electricity and an internet connection) and more visiting is on the agenda. I'll be out on my motorbike again... with my helmet this time. But this morning... I'm thinking about family in Canada... friends in Canada... snow in Canada... Cmas holidays in Canada... decorations in Canada... and all that my country has to offer at this time of year.

Special thoughts and warm embraces to my extraordinary son, Isaac, who I miss terribly. My family is never far from my thoughts... and, if you're reading this, thank you for everything. I do miss you all.

Another Cmas in Salone... Who knows what the future holds.

Wishing one and all a very happy holiday.
S/

An official hug...

A dear friend posted this to me after reading about my recent experience with Futureshop in Barrie, Ontario. And, I think this about sums it all up... Thank goodness for my "good ole Canadian roots".

Sierra Leone Police...

I may have written about the SL Police before... but I came across this article that better illustrates the problems here in Freetown. 

Human Rights report exposes Sierra Leone Police 

December 11th, 2012 · by Abu Bakarr Kargbo

A report for a Human Right Organization, RIGHTSWAY has exposed the unprofessionalism and criminal behaviour of some police officers in Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone Police is said to be continuously engaged in unprofessional and criminal behaviour, as police abuse of their powers and human rights abuses uncovered on Human Rights Day.


As the world marks International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2012, RIGHTSWAY highlighted in its findings, countless number of Sierra Leone Police Officers that continue to engage in unprofessional and criminal behaviour, which undermine the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day…. “Inclusion and rights to participate in public life”
The findings collated from interviews with about 120 police officers of various ranks and victims of police atrocities said several officers admitted in private that suspects were often tortured and detained unlawfully to distort money or impose cohesive measures on political activists
The report entitled: “Sierra Leone Police: Reckless, Lawless, Powerless, Useless…” claims that a reckless, lawless, powerless, and useless police was a major setback to inclusion and the right to participate in public life. The report argues that police has an integral role to play in enhancing this year’s theme on human rights day…the rights of all people—- women, Youth, minorities, persons with disabilities, the poor and marginalized—to make their voice heard in public life and be included in political decision-making.
The report alleges that police officers were perpetrators of various crimes and human rights violations in the country. The report found that there were persistent allegations of crime victims being required to pay for investigations and of police involvement in extortion, solicitation of bribes, and other criminal acts. The police discriminate against people on the basis of political influence and financial status and consider themselves above the law, undermining the country’s democratic ideals.

The report highlights that the state had been negligent in ensuring public security and guaranteeing justice for victims of violence committed by “agents of the state”. An investigation into the scale and extent of the problem suggests professional misconduct in the police were widespread. The situation raises questions about the efficacy of the police complaints system, recruitment into the police, the police’s internal disciplinary procedures, the vetting of officers and a failure to monitor disciplinary offences.

The report revealed that police are abusing their power to garget victims of crime they are supposed to be helping. Those targeted by the officers are predominantly youth, but in some cases are children and women, many of them vulnerable members of the society. The Eastern Police Station and the Central Police Station in Freetown were named as the most notorious of these crimes, according to the report
For instance, the report described a vulnerable youth, who was twice arrested and detained unlawfully and re-arrested and detained again the following day, beyond the 72hours constitutional time limit prescribed in section 17(3) of the 1991 Sierra Leone constitution, without charge. The officer involved was a senior police officer named ID (d/PC 7706 Kpaka E.WMS) at the Central Police Station in Freetown. He was involved in distorting monies from a group of youth to facilitate the unlawful detention of this vulnerable youth. The Police head of media, ASP Ibrahim Samura, was called to intervene and accompanied the victim to the station to identify the officer involved, but no action was taken against the officer and the complaint was never pursued.

A young woman claims she was in the National Stadium after a political event with her fiancé when two police officers came by. She alleged that two of them raped her while the third kept guard and later attempted to extort money from her fiancé. The woman had this to say. “If you made a complaint to the police, they will have to ask you for certain amount of money to go and invite the suspect. They won’t do it without providing transport or morale booster. If you don’t have money to give them, your case will not be heard. They will tell you to go and come back the other day.

The report also describes instances in which the investigators witnessed a police officer grab a disabled youth activist who was complaining of an injured shoulder while being arrested during a political event. The officer repeatedly shoved the young man’s shoulder while handcuffing him, then cursed and accused him of lying, when he shouted in pain. The investigating Team also observed an officer kick a political activist in the face. The responsible officer was observed getting into a police van, which then drove away.

An independent journalist described her feelings: I am terrified of police now—-for a while, when police came near me, my legs would start shaking. Seeing people being arrested and detained unlawfully….just now have this immediate fear of reaction.
Alpha Umarr Barrie, Coordinator of RIGHTSWAY said: I don’t think any (victims) are quite as damaged as those who are victims of police officers…the damage is far deeper because they trusted the police and…believed that the police were supposed to protect them and support their rights to participate in public life”

“The breach of that trust has an enormous effect: They feel that if they can’t trust a police officer, who can they trust? They lose their confidence in everyone, even those in authority. It is one of the worst crimes that can be committed and when committed by an officer, becomes one of the greatest abuses of power”, said Alpha.

A Sierra Leonean from the UK who was one of the legal consultants for the report, Messeh Kamara, opined that: “for many years there have been a high number of crimes committed by police that are not being investigated. This has contributed not only to the corruption of the police but to the actual involvement of officers in criminal acts”. Messeh said that there had been complete impunity for alleged abuses” and said that the conduct amounted to a complex mapping of political suppression…this behaviours by the police undermines the theme of this year’s Human Right s Day inclusion and the right to participate in public life”. He says.

The report accused the police of “committing gross human rights violations—- often against vulnerable groups including unemployed motorbike riders and commercial drivers on flimsy traffic offences for which they are seldom brought to justice”. Allegations of unlawful killings, beatings, and excessive use of force by police officers are rarely investigated effectively, the report says.

Whether it be police atrocities in Bumbuna where the police went on the rampage shooting and beating up people, the murder of one okada rider at Goderich, the shootings that killed several civilians in Calaba Town, the violent eviction of a disabled youth group at Ecowas Street, some political leaders sanction of violence during elections, the unlawful detention of political activists from Kenema for 15 days without charge, the illegal detention or custodial violence by police throughout the country the culture and legal structure of impunity has allowed the most fundamental violation so of human rights to go unchecked, the report claims.

The report also highlights great variations among police departments in their recording of arrests. In many departments, police officers take people into custody, hold them at the station, question and then release them without filling out an arrest report. For all practical purposes, these people were arrested, but their arrests don’t show up in the official data. The report found that, overcrowding and inadequate food, sanitation, and health care in prisons remain serious concerns. The population of the country’s largest detention facility designed for 324 detainees-stands at over 1,400.65 percent of prisoners is being held in prolonged pre-trial detention
Political activists, journalists, legal observers and lawyers interviewed for this report often voiced a lack of confidence in the mechanisms available for holding police accountable for misconduct. Common concerns included fear that reporting police abuse to the police would result in retaliation, and a perception that accountability mechanisms were ineffective, or that any punishment would be so minor as to make pursuing the matter pointless.
Overall, the widespread impunity for egregious Constitutional violations has a negative impact on theme of this year’s Human Rights Day. Indeed, impunity is the quintessential civil rights issue facing Sierra Leone today: if inclusion and the rights to public life were to be achieved, the issue of police misconduct has to be adequately addressed so that victims of abuse can obtain justice, and officials and the State are held accountable
The report concludes with a set of recommendations, including calling on “Government to adopt and publicize new police policies that respect civil liberties and human rights. The report calls for an independent process of investigation and the creation of an independent body that has the power to investigate police actions. The report also calls for authorities to establish an Assistant Inspector General to oversee the police misconduct.
The report warns that if human rights education for the police and the general public including young people and women and the prosecution of agents of the state committing these horrific crimes are not considered, conflict could re-emerge in a country that already suffered from 11 years of brutal civil war.
Despite all the challenges in the Sierra Leone police, the report however commends the general police conduct in connection to the recently held elections. The report also commends the police Family support Unit amid their massive workload, with the limited resources available.

It's a Canadian thing...

Only in Canada, I'm sure...

I'm amazed, awed and honestly a bit shocked by it all... You see, two days ago I decided to order a new Macbook computer from Futureshop.ca. I have a colleague, Justine, who's traveling to Canada (Toronto) for Cmas and then coming back here to Freetown in January. She very kindly asked if she could bring me anything... and of course I jumped at her offer and the opportunity to upgrade my present computer.

I "reserved" a Macbook Pro via Futureshop in Barrie, Ontario. Yes, it took me almost an hour while the internet slooowwly chugged away... but I managed. After I'd placed the reservation, I got an acknowledgement e-mail from a sales woman at the store saying she'd brought the computer up to the front desk and all my parents had to do was pick it up and pay.

I wrote back to Samantha, at Futureshop, and thanked her profusely for her help, efficiency and speed of response. I told her I was in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa... and we shared some e-mails back and forth. She asked what I missed about Canada... In my ramblings about Freetown and Canada, I happened to mention that I hadn't had a Tim Horton's coffee in a very, very long time... among other things I missed about Canada.

Well... Sure enough, my parents picked up the Macbook Pro at the front desk of Futureshop in Barrie the next day... although Samantha wasn't working at the time. And, lo and behold, there was a tin of Tim Horton's coffee, a special TH mug and a card, signed by members of staff at Futureshop, waiting with the Macbook. Samantha and her sales manager, Dave, conspired to send a touch of Canadianna to Sierra Leone with the Macbook.

That... that was so sweet... so thoughtful... so special... and so utterly Canadian of them all. Again, it surprised me and amazed me. Only in Canada. Only from Canada. And, I'm delighted. I can't wait till my colleague, Justine, gets back here in January... some computer fun... AND, a lovely, tall "double-double" of Timmies coffee. What more could a Canadian in Freetown want?! Nada!!

Special thanks to Samantha and the folks at Futureshop... No, this is not a paid-for advertorial... It really did happen. Maybe we should make a commercial out of it. Smile. Just joshin'.

Yours,
S/

Can we live with a 60%?

The elections have come and gone... but not far enough it seems. The SLPP have "not accepted the results" and are calling upon their elected party members to boycott Parliament and local Councils. Essentially staying away from their jobs... These guys (all men) are broke... they've spent every last Leone on the elections... and they need the money. In my mind, this boycott, called for by the National Executive of the SLPP will surely divide their ranks and further split the party. And, how many of those duly or unduly elected SLPP'ers will opt to join the APC (for want of favour or cash). Oh dear... the divide grows.

The SLPP Executive are calling upon the international community to step in and do an investigation... When will they learn. This election has been touted as an "all Sierra Leoneon election", and now they want some sort of validation or adjudication from the international community. Firstly, I have severe doubts that this was an "all Sierra Leonean do". No way! I'll come back to that in other blog posts. And secondly, haven't the FIVE international observer missions spoken loudly enough?

There will never be a "perfect" election, anywhere in the world. Here in Sierra Leone it's probably not possible to have an "adequate" election. On a percentage scale, all we're hoping for is a 60%. For me, I'm not satisfied with that and would want more... but for most Sierra Leoneans, big men, women, business people, journalists, etc. etc. they seem content with a "bare pass" to their elections. What a shame, I say. We should be demanding an election that is completely transparent, totally free and fair, etc. etc.

If we can't manage that... well... I don't know...

For something completely different...

In Sierra Leone, up to 90% of women have undergone some form of "female genital cutting" (according to some local UN statistics). It's a very controversial issue here... a mixture of culture, tradition, "western views", economics, belonging, etc. etc.

Is the international community now standing up to address the issue?

UNITED NATIONS -- Campaigners against female circumcision scored a major victory Monday with the approval by a key U.N. committee of a resolution calling for a global ban on female genital mutilation.
The resolution, adopted by consensus by the U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee, calls the practice harmful and a serious threat to the psychological, sexual and reproductive health of women and girls.
It calls on the U.N.'s 193 member states to condemn the practice, known as FGM, and launch education campaigns for girls and boys, women and men, to eliminate it. It also urges all countries to enact and enforce legislation to prohibit FGM, to protect women and girls "from this form of violence," and to end impunity for violators.
With 110 sponsors, the resolution is virtually certain to be approved by the full General Assembly, which is expected to take it up in the second half of December. Although not legally binding, assembly resolutions reflect international concerns and carry moral and political weight.
Italy's U.N. Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini, who has been working with African partners for a ban, called the resolution "a breakthrough in the international campaign to end the harmful practice of FGM."
"I think that together we can change the fate of many young girls around the world, and today this goal appears closer than ever," he said. "The resolution, in condemning the practice and promoting social and educational programs, is ... the beginning of a new journey."
The centuries-old practice stems from beliefs that FGM controls women's sexuality, enhances fertility, or is required by religious belief – although both Muslim and Christian leaders have spoken out against it.
The procedure involves the removal of a girl's clitoris and sometimes also other genital parts, usually in childhood or early adolescence. Critics say it can lead to painful sexual intercourse, complications in childbirth, and eliminates any pleasure for women during sex.
The U.N. said in 2010 that about 70 million girls and women had undergone the procedure, and the World Health Organization said about 6,000 girls were circumcised every day.

According to Amnesty International, FGM is commonplace in 28 countries in Africa as well as in Yemen, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia and among certain ethnic groups in South America, but it is also a worldwide concern because it is also practiced by immigrants in diaspora communities.
Jose Luis Diaz, Amnesty International's U.N. representative, said this is the first time the General Assembly's human rights committee has addressed the problem.
"FGM is an indictment of us all – that a girl or young woman can be held down and mutilated is a violation of her human rights and, shockingly, an estimated three million girls are at risk each year," he said.
Alvilda Jablonko, coordinator of the FGM program at the organization No Peace Without Justice, applauded the committee's action as "a landmark step in the international campaign to foster global leadership" in the campaign against the practice.

Should the international community investigate?

Last night the SLPP held an executive meeting... and decided NOT to accept the results of the recent election. Here's the press from their office.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
November 17, 2012 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) met on Tuesday November 27, 2012 to discuss the 2012 elections.
The NEC resolved as follows:
• The NEC strongly condemns the refusal of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to address the electoral irregularities including fake and unstamped Reconciliation and Result Forms, pre-marked ballot papers, ballot stuffing and over-voting in Kono, the Western Area and the Northern Province and more other instances of malpractices which undermined the credibility of the results.

We demand the unconditional release of all SLPP members and supporters who are currently in police custody.

• In the spirit of reconciliation, we also call on Government to nolle prosequi all pending political matters in our local courts.

• We demand an independent international assessment of the electoral process, results and the democratic institutions involved in the process.
Meanwhile, the NEC of the SLPP directs our elected Members of Parliament, Chairmen, Mayors and Councilors of Local Councils to stay away from Parliamentary and Local Council proceedings respectively until further notice.

Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie
National Secretary-General

New ideas for old election routines...

Okay... a lot is going on in Sierra Leone around the elections... We all know this by now. But, very little talk has circulated about any other way to run elections. If we're striving for a gold standard, it won't happen... and doesn't happen anywhere in the world. So, "this is Africa" (as I'm so often told) and we're only hoping for the bronze. Personally, I'm not satisfied with that.

So, I've put some thought into "other" ways we could run elections here in Sierra Leone. Let me provide a proviso before I attempt to convince everyone of this "new way". I'm only joking... Please remember this... I'm only joking. Don't misquote me or take my words out of context. Again, I'm only joking.

I have to say that three times, at least, because here in Salone so many things are distorted by ill-intentioned media folks who love to ramp up discussion by misquoting and misinforming readers or listeners. That said... Here's my idea for the next election in Salone... Perhaps all parties concerned will deem this process credible. (tongue in cheek)

Okay...

Let's place the leaders of the political parties vying for President into a house for one month (the period of this year's election campaign)... Yes, you've guessed it... An election based on the popular TV show, "big brother".

Each week, candidates will have a series of tasks to do... Negotiate who cleans the bathroom. Work together to change a lightbulb. Carry a 5 gallon container of water on their heads. Cook for each other. Work within a household budget. Find their way around the house in the pitch dark. Meet door-to-door salespeople and dissuade them from coming back. Take bucket baths in the compound. Care for a sick relative who visits. Iron clothes. Oversee house staff. Renovate the garage or build a fence. Plan an event. Etc. etc.

Along the way, they'd provide updates on personal webcams or radio broadcasts. Then, at the end of a two-week period, the audience or people of Sierra Leone could "vote" one of the leaders OUT of the house. Yes, there are ways of checking on texts and votes via phone...

By the end of the show/campaign period... we'd have a leader who pays attention to the people around him/her. They'd know how to negotiate and live together. They'd know how to run a household and care for others. They'd know how to deal with life's little emergencies. They'd be able to live life like an ordinary citizens of this country. And, they could illustrate all of these characteristics live on a 24 hour television channel or radio channel or even online. We'd probably get a truer picture of who these leaders are and what they're capable of.

It would be cheaper... for sure. And, we'd avoid a little of the nonsense of political rallies, rhetorical speeches that say nothing, bribery, buying votes, over-voting, spoiled ballots, etc. And, it's accessible to disabled groups, prisoners, women, children, men, market women, illiterates, young and old.

Okay... I'm just joking... but perhaps the US, Canada, UK, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Libya, et al might want to consider this new way of running an election... Hmmm, just joking.

Back to the realities of sweet Salone... I have to kick in the generator 'cause I'm about to run out of computer power and want to post this on the internet. Candles are lovely... but they don't power my internet connection or my computer or phone.
S/

SLPP statement after the elections

Here's the statement from the SLPP. Interesting use of language...

Freetown, 24 November 2012: 

 The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) notes with utter dismay the announcement by the Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on 23 November 2012 of the result of the Presidential Elections held on 17th November 2012. The Chairperson of NEC made the announcement despite the fact that the SLPP had brought to the attention of NEC, international observers and the general public its concerns about the incidences of systemic and widespread irregularities, malpractices and injustices that occurred on polling day which undermined the credibility of the results.
It will be recalled that in earlier Press Releases, the SLPP had made it known that unless appropriate and satisfactory remedial action was taken by NEC to address these concerns, it would be inclined not to accept the result of such a rogue election.

In the circumstances, therefore, the SLPP is convening an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 at the Party National Headquarters in Freetown to determine its reaction to the events that have occurred.

In the meantime, the SLPP is calling upon all its members, supporters and sympathisers to continue to remain calm and peaceful and to refrain from any action that might bring the Party into disrepute. Any person who is the victim of any acts of provocation, intimidation or violence should report the perpetrators immediately to the nearest Police Station and to the nearest SLPP Party Office.
Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie
National Secretary-General

Hold the presses...

Yeah, I've always wanted to run into a newsroom or print shop and yell that... Guess this electronic vehicle will have to suffice.

No, the elections weren't halted... the re-elected President Koroma was immediately sworn in following the announcement of the election results. And, many people in Freetown went slightly mad - running onto the streets, jubilating, dancing, singing, banging pot lids, honking horns, etc.

Yes, that all happened... and today (Saturday) the streets were quiet in the morning... but by 1:00 PM people were out and about... wearing their red t-shirts, scarves, hats, pants, wristbands, capes, glasses, etc. It was remarkably "red" today in Freetown. Thousands of APC supporters took to the streets... not for a rally, per se, but to show off their victory by strolling around in party colours.

I drove around town on my little motorbike and was inundated by impromptu parades of supporters... people strolling, young folks singing... and dancing. Mega-speakers and "music sets" were set up along the roads and the red gyrating was dizzying.

Amidst the hoop-la, the SLPP held a brief press conference. To be honest, I expected Julius Maada Bio to graciously concede to the incumbent Koroma and the APC. But, many people were surprised when the SLPP announced that they found the elections NOT free, fair nor transparent... and found many instances of election malpractice. Bio stopped short of saying he wouldn't accept the results... yet. But, he did say he wasn't happy... and a final decision/direction would be decided by the SLPP executive on Tuesday.

Officially, anyone in the country can launch a lawsuit with the High Court for up to seven days following the election. And it looks like the SLPP might be plotting that route. Essentially, Bio and the SLPP have two options, in my opinion. They could graciously accept the outcome of these elections, which many international observers have deemed "credible". OR, he could denounce the elections as not credible... and launch a legal challenge. He did not call to congratulate the incumbent. No one from SLPP made any official statement till this press conference.

Of course there's always the risk (slight as it is) of "taking to the streets", which means violence. The "big boys" within the SLPP including it's Chair, John Benjamin, have made it pretty clear prior to and just after the elections... If they deem the elections not credible they are willing to take all corrective measures. I don't know what that really means... but violence could be part of that picture. To be honest, I doubt very much if that's a realistic option for the SLPP... given the history of this country... and the fact that NO ONE wants any violence. They say that but judging from some of the heated discussions prior to and after the elections, I'm just not sure.

In any case, this thing may not be over yet. We'll have to wait till at least Tuesday to hear back from the SLPP... and till then, the re-elected President is having a ball. This evening, he and a very large entourage toured the city... They drove through Congo Cross area around 5:00 PM heading west and are due back through this area later tonight. Some smart commentators here have labeled this the "victory lap", which in many ways is appropriately put.

The re-elected President tours the city... and the leadership of the SLPP plots their next step. It ain't over yet, it seems.
S/

"Elections don don" as they say.

In the aftermath of the Salone elections, the streets are very quiet... Saturday morning after Friday night results... Whew. I for one, am glad that's over.

By all accounts this morning, things were relatively peaceful last night... as thousands of APC supporters took to the streets... dancing, singing, banging pot lids, shouting and honking horns. The unusual November rain last night helped quell the jubilations, which was probably a good thing.

As I look off my balcony, I see the giant Maada Bio poster still standing in the middle of Congo Cross... where thousands of APC supporters gathered last night. That's a good, positive indication that things didn't get too out of hand.

I was so pleased to see the voter turnout, the peaceful lines of people, the orderly conduct of the polling stations, the lack of party colours, etc. on voting day (17th Nov). Then, the wait was excruciating... Finally, the official announcement and swearing in ceremony put an end to the build-up. Whew... Months and months of campaigning, propaganda, complaints and counter-claims, suspicion, back-stabbing and back and forth are finished.

I'm working on several pieces, now that things are finished (hopefully) and I'll post notes as I go. Time for the analysis...

Some are very happy... Some are not. That's the way elections go... and that's the way democracy runs... It may not be the "gold standard" but, as Sierra Leoneans say, "we're trying".

More later.
S/

Reuters piece on the election

Here's an article written by Reuters...

(Reuters) - Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma was sworn in for a second term on Friday after winning elections, promising to boost foreign investment and crack down on corruption in the war-scarred nation.
Koroma took 58.7 percent of the ballots in a November 17 poll, just above the 55 percent he needed to avoid a run-off, election officials announced. His main rival, Julius Maada Bio, a 48-year-old retired army brigadier, took 37.4 percent.

"We will continue to attract investment, we will continue to fight corruption," Koroma said in a speech to cheering supporters in the ramshackle capital Freetown.

"I will make sure that the fruits of ... prosperity are equally distributed in every district and every region. The work starts today."
The election was the third national vote since the end of a 1991-2002 civil war that made Sierra Leone notorious as a "blood diamonds" battleground for rebels and child soldiers.
After Koroma's win was announced, groups of youths shouted and cheered under a cotton tree in the centre of Freetown, a landmark where slaves were once bought and sold.
"I'm pleased, very happy (...) He brings joy in Sierra Leone. Ernest brings joy in the heart of the people," said Abdul Deen, 41, who runs a decorating business.
At stake in the vote was the opportunity to oversee billions of dollars of investment in the aid-dependent country's resources that include gold and diamonds, oil and iron ore.
Iron-ore shipments by British companies African Minerals and London Mining are expected to buoy the economy to 20 percent growth this year - below original forecasts of more than 50 percent, but still one of the highest growth rates on the planet.
Election officials and observers reported a large and enthusiastic turnout in the polls, and observers called the process free and fair.
Koroma and his ruling All People's Congress (APC) faced a determined challenge from Bio, a former junta leader who represents the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).
Koroma wrested the presidency from the SLPP in a hotly disputed 2007 vote and was considered the narrow favourite above Bio, who was involved in two military takeovers in the turbulent 1990s.
Bio supporters were dismayed by the outcome, many claiming the results were fraudulent.
"As for me, the election does not go down well with us," said Frank Mattia, a 28-year-old student. "Ernest Bai Koroma has rigged the election which is not free and fair to us, the people of this country."
The electoral commission said there were some polling stations where votes exceeded registered voters, but said those results were thrown out and were too few to have an impact on the election's outcome.
An SLPP official declined comment, saying an official statement would be issued over the weekend.
The election in the former British colony was one of the most closely observed in Africa this year by monitors from the European Union, the Commonwealth and the African Union.
Doubts remain whether Koroma can root out graft from Sierra Leone's patronage-driven politics and fairly distribute the mineral wealth.
"If they get through this successfully, I think it will mark the tipping point from a post-conflict country to a democratically developing one," John Stremlau, of the Atlanta-based Carter Centre's election observer mission, said.

Tallies...

Tallies are complete...

The Results:
 9,269 polling station results were entered into the result database, representing 97.6% of all polling stations across the country, excluding those that were invalidated.
 The average national turnout is 87.3%.
 The total number of valid votes cast is 2,350,626.
 There are 108,898 invalid votes, representing 4.7% of total votes cast.

Darn impressive... Sierra Leoneans sure are passionate about their politics.

Whew... what a night

Well... it's done... finally. APC's Koroma wins... and no run-off election.

My fingers are tired from tweeting... if you want to follow the tweets, search for #salonevotes2012 on Twitter.

Streets filled with jubilant supporters as soon as the results were announced... dancing, signing and banging pot lids... Quite a party.

Ernest Bai Koroma was sworn in immediately following the announcement... along with his VP, Sam Sumana.

Let's see what the next few days hold


.NATIONAL RESULTS

Candidate	Party	Votes	Percentage
KOROMA, ERNEST BAI	APC	1 314 881	58.7%
CAREW, JOSHUA ALBERT	CDP	22 863	1.0%
KAMARA, GIBRILLA	PDP	8 273	0.4%
CONTEH, KANDEH BABA	PLP	6 144	0.3%
MARGAI, CHARLES FRANCIS	PMDC	28 944	1.3%
COLLINS, ELDRED	RUFP	12 993	0.6%
BIO, JULIUS MAADA	SLPP	837 517	37.4%
BANGURA, MOHAMED	UDM	5 069	0.2%
FULLAH, JAMES OBAI	UNPP	5 044	0.2%

In exercise of the powers conferred on the Returning Officer by section 52 of the Public Elections Act, 2012, I hereby certify that 1,314,881 valid votes were cast in favour of the candidate ERNEST BAI KOROMA at that election:

AND ERNEST BAI KOROMA therefore received 58.7% of valid votes cast in the election
ERNEST BAI KOROMA has been duly elected president of the Republic of Sierra Leone at the Presidential election of 2012.

Any citizen of Sierra Leone may challenge the validity of the election of the president by petition to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone, within seven days after the declaration of the presidential results.

Clouds of uncertainty...

There's a strange cloud hanging over Freetown these days... It's the cloud of uncertainty.

We're still waiting for the official announcement of election results... and the country is on edge. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) held a press conference last night and announced... get this... they're still counting. Madam Thorpe, the Chair of the NEC, also informed the country that 10% of the ballot boxes have been placed in quarantine. (Undoubtedly some have spots/measles which don't jive with voter registration numbers or have "pre-marked" spots that have invalidated the ballot) Ten percent of the approximately 12,000 ballot boxes is a substantial number and there's no word on when they'll be finished with the counting or validating. BTW, Sierra Leone voted four times... and had approximately 3000 polling stations.

The cloud isn't lifting any time soon... and official results aren't expected today (Thursday 22 November).

At the press conference held yesterday, Madam Thorpe mentioned a number of complaints made by the main opposition party, SLPP. She and her team are looking into the identified problems... but she stated that any evidence of election malpractice should be taken to the police. Hmmm, the reaction from most of Freetown is... "why the police? They're generally useless."

Political intrigue continues as SLPP and others uncovers further "evidence" of malpractice...

Rumours... rumours are everywhere... 

Still waiting to see/hear - officially.
S/

A good information piece...

SIERRA LEONE: Opposition cries foul after election

Photo: Tommy Trenchard/IRIN

A man in Fourah Bay, Freetown, listens for election results

FREETOWN, 21 November 2012 (IRIN) - The Sierra Leone People’s Party, the main opposition party in Sierra Leone, has accused the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of bias in favour of President Koroma’s All People’s Congress (APC) in presidential, parliamentary and local elections on 17 November.

Voting was carried out peacefully, and has been commended by observers, but allegations of irregularities have increased tensions as Sierra Leone waits for official results to be released.

“The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is dismayed at the extent of the irregularities which have come to light,” said party Secretary-General SulaimanTejan-Sie on 19 November. Addressing reporters in the SLPP headquarters, Tejan-Sie spoke of a “catalogue of malpractices and the apparent unwillingness of the National Electoral Commission to address them”.

SLPP accused the electoral commission of instructing people to vote for the ruling party, saying it has video evidence of the commission “directing voters to vote for specific candidates”.

A pamphlet released by the SLPP also makes accusations of ballot-stuffing, as well as physical assaults on polling agents by state security services. It also accused certain NEC officials of allowing people to vote without voter ID cards.

President Koroma’s APC has long faced such allegations from the rival party. Before the vote SLPP chairman John Oponjo Benjamin told IRIN: “There has been a lot of misuse of incumbency, so we are not going into these elections on a level playing field.”

The SLPP’s pamphlet concluded that the party was “only willing to accept results from an election that is considered credible… These unfortunate incidences not only have the potential to undermine the credibility of the election results but have the tendency to derail our effort to consolidate our hard-earned peace,” it said.

On 20 November there were reports of a skirmish in the eastern town of Kailahun, with AFP news agency reporting that police used teargas to disperse a group of APC supporters celebrating victory based on unofficial results released by the Independent Radio Network. It is seen as crucial that official results are released as soon as possible to end any uncertainty and speculation. The NEC announced on 20 November it had tallied 75 percent of the votes thus far.

NEC spokesman Albert Massaquoi denied allegations of NEC involvement in election malpractices. “It is not our policy to do that,” he told IRIN. “We are aware of some minor malpractices. But the commission is satisfied with the election process so far,” he said.

The election - Sierra Leone’s third since the end of an 11-year civil war - passed off peacefully, and was widely praised by observers. On 18 November UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Sierra Leone on its “peaceful and largely orderly elections”, issuing a communiqué stating: “The high voter turnout and the remarkable calm displayed by the country’s citizens as they cast their votes are a clear manifestation of their desire for peace, democracy and development.”

The statement also warned Sierra Leoneans against violence as they wait for the results. “The Secretary-General calls on Sierra Leone's political leaders, parties and their supporters to accept the will of the people and to put their country above any other interests so as not to jeopardize Sierra Leone's hard-won peace.”

EU observers

Richard Howitt, head of the European Union Election Observation Mission in Sierra Leone, told reporters: “The EU preliminary assessment… records that so far in this election, there has been respect for freedom of speech, movement and universal suffrage.”

He also commended the performance of the NEC. “Overall we find that NEC has been independent and has been impartial,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that there were shortcomings in the process, and said that the elections had been conducted on an “uneven playing field”. “Unequal access to resources clearly affected the campaign,” he said, explaining that APC had enjoyed 61 percent of airtime on the state broadcaster the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, compared to 18 percent for SLPP.

He told reporters that his team had observed at least three cases of vote-buying by the APC, as well as one case of over-voting in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone. But he clarified that this was an exception, not a trend. “We are asking the hard questions and will report all our findings in an unbiased way,” he told IRIN on 17 November.

The election, which pits President Koroma against former junta leader Julius Maada Bio, is seen as a critical test of Sierra Leone’s recovery 10 years after the end of the civil-war. President Koroma is widely tipped to win a second term in power, on the back of economic growth and extensive infrastructural improvements over the last five years.

If no candidate wins 55 percent of the vote the country will go to the polls again in a run-off next month.

Still waiting...

Polls closed at 5:00 PM on Saturday 17th November. It's now Wednesday the 21st at noon... and we still don't know the results of the elections.

IRN, partnered with BBC Media Action, Cotton Tree News, et al have been reading "provisional results" since Saturday night. Some political parties have jumped the gun... and reported "wins and losses" but NOTHING has been officially tallied nor announced.

Three and a half days of counting... in a country with fewer than 2.5 million voters... Hmmm, something's amiss. I know some ballot boxes have been "quarantined" for closer scrutiny... but still... I have to wonder at the delays.

However, things remain relatively peaceful... but people are anxious and eager to hear the final results.

Waiting and waiting... Soon my phone will ring.
S/

Views on SLBC...

I feel compelled to respond to the media observations made by the EU Observer Mission and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).

I’ll start with the relevant sections of the SLBC Act… where it clearly states the duties and responsibilities of the public broadcasting corporation. Then, I’ll highlight the findings of the EU Observers Mission… Finally, let’s look at what the SLBC said in their press release.

PART III–FUNCTIONS OF CORPORATION

10. (1) The object for which the Corporation is established is to provide information, education, entertainment and reflect all shades of opinion throughout Sierra Leone.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation–

(c) shall allow and accept limited sponsorship for programmes and advertisement, except that no sponsorship shall be allowed for news programmes or accepted from political, ethnic or religious groups or institutions;

(o) shall provide appropriate coverage of the proceedings of key decision making bodies, including Parliament;

11. (1) In the discharge of its functions under section 9, the Corporation shall be guided by principles geared toward the development of free and educated opinion, the respect for the rule of law, human rights and with due regard to issues of public interest and fair play.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the discharge of its functions of the Corporation under section 9, shall be guided by –

(a) Sierra Leone’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression;

(b) the principles enshrined in the Media Code of Conduct adopted by Sierra Leone’s Independent Media Commission;

(c) promotion of fair competition based on internationally accepted principles for a public broadcaster, which include independent management, public servile ethos and representation of all viewpoints and sectors of society in a non-partisan and objective manner;

d) accountability to the public through an independent board, protected against interference of a political or economic nature, with editorial independence and adequately funded in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference;

(e) transmission covering the whole country and politically balanced programmes .

From the EU Observers preliminary report – delivered at a press conference on Monday the 19^th, 2012.

The public broadcaster Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) gave access to all political parties on radio and to nine political parties on television. Contestants were granted two hours of free airtime to present their political proposals on the public TV channel during the campaign period – although only PMDC, UDM, SLPP, RUFP and PDP made use of it. SLBC national and regional radio stations also offered free airtime to political parties and local candidates to address their messages to voters. Nevertheless, in key areas like news bulletins and election related programmes SLBC showed significant quantitative unbalance in favour of the ruling party. EU EOM’s media monitoring findings show that, from 17 October to 15 November, SLBC TV allocated double the amount of airtime (40 per cent) to APC than to SLPP (18 per cent). On top of that, additional 21 per cent of airtime was devoted to APC led government activities, meaning that 61 per cent of all coverage was devoted to the governing party. On SLBC radio the unbalance was slightly lower, with APC receiving 40.5 per cent of total airtime on news and programmes and SLPP being afforded 23 per cent of the coverage. None of the remaining seven parties received more than 8.5 per cent of coverage either on SLBC Radio or on SLBC TV. The tone of the coverage on SLBC Radio was generally neutral, while 23 and 27.5 per cent of news on SLBC TV related to APC and the government, respectively, were presented in positive tone.

PRESS RELEASE
THE SIERRA LEONE BROADCASTING CORPORATION HAS DESCRIBED THE EUROPEAN UNION OBSERVATION MISSION’S STATEMENT ON SLBC’S COVERAGE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AS MISLEADING AND CONTRADICTORY.

Tuesday November 20, 2012

After careful reading of the European Union Observation Mission Preliminary Statement, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) has described the Mission’s statement on SLBC granting 60% airtime to the APC and 18% airtime to the main opposition party as misleading and contradictory. According to the EU Observation Mission, while the SLPP was allocated only 18% of airtime, the SLBC allocated 40% airtime to the APC and an additional 20% to the APC Government.
After a closed door meeting between the head of the EU Observation Mission and the SLBC Director-General at the Broadcasting House yesterday, the Director-General noted that it became apparent that the EU team had not digested the SLBC Act 2009 that gave mandate to the SLBC to always cover activities of parliament, the judiciary and the executive irrespective of whatever other activity is occurring.
“Were the EU Observation Team could argue that they had read the SLBC Act 2009,” the Director-General added, “the corporation then views the inclusion of SLBC’s coverage of government activities into their elections preliminary statement as misleading and contradictory, capable to undermine the valuable strides the corporation has made to represent the opinion of all categories of Sierra Leoneans. Was the EU Observation Mission expecting the SLBC to place a ban on the coverage of the activities of the executive, parliament and the judiciary?” The Director-General questioned.
The SLBC is also concerned that the Head of the EU Observation Mission only relied on the mission’s viewing of SLBC television to draw their conclusions. SLBC also noted that the EU Preliminary Statement did not show any enthusiasm in SLBC’s radio coverage of political parties, only once mentioning that “On SLBC Radio the unbalance was slightly lower, with APC receiving 40.5% of the total airtime on news and programmes and SLPP being afforded 23% of the coverage. None of the remaining parties received 8.5% of coverage either on radio or on SLBC TV.” The SLBC strongly challenges this assertion.
The SLBC is calling on the leadership of the EU Observation Mission to share its data and analyses with the corporation, as much as the corporation is willing to share its own data and analyses with the EU Observation Mission. As the Head of the EU Observation Mission stated in an SLBC interview after the Mission’s press conference, that the statement should be able to provide learning experience for the SLBC, the Director-General said SLBC will appreciate any documentation leading to the methodological bases that informed the EU Observation Mission’s findings.
Please find an SLBC block analyses of political parties’ appearances on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting cooperation Radio and Television medium, in/and programmes from 6th June to 15th November 2012. (A detailed Report to follow)

Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation Formed by an Act of Parliament 2009
Broadcasting House, Jomo Kenyatta Road
Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa
Tel: 232-76-410-623
elvishallowell@hotmail.com
www.slbc.sl

Pic from EU presser

Richard Howitt, Chief Observer, is the third from the left.

From presser to presser...

Okay… After the EU, AU, Carter Center press conferences, I attended the SLPP (main opposition party) press conference in their “unity room” on the top floor of their building.

The National Secretary General, Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie, gave out a written statement. It starts (don’t worry, I won’t repeat the entire thing) “The SLPP is dismayed at the extent of the irregularities which have come to light in the conduct and supervision of the 2012 elections by NEC.”

It goes on… “… a catalogue of malpractices and the apparent unwillingness of NEC to address them has lead to the heightening of our concerns as far as the credibility and legitimacy of the entire election process.”

It ends with… “The SLPP would also like to make it abundantly clear that unless these concerns are addressed satisfactorily it would be constrained not to accept the final election result.”

Now, what does this mean? Well, it seems the SLPP are assembling evidence/building a case to show that these elections were not credible nor legitimate… and they’ll probably not accept the results. So, the obvious question is… “okay, what will you do then?”

When I asked, the quick response was… “We’re complaining to NEC, the international community and foreign media. Then, we will launch a legal action through the courts.” I heard nothing about “taking to the streets” or “demonstrating or protesting”, which is a good sign. But when I left the building… the groups of young people were eagerly awaiting news… They said they’d protest and take to the streets if the party loses and doesn’t accept the decision of NEC. A clear disconnect between the SLPP executive and the supporters.

Among the long list of “instances of voter fraud, malpractice and irregularities” supplied by the SLPP were: missing voter lists in some polling stations. Interference by NEC officials in voter’s choices. Ballot stuffing. Intimidation by NEC and security forces. NEC officials directing voters to vote for Ernest by using a code word. (apparently they have phone video of one official doing this). Etc. etc.

I’m sure the APC is compiling a similar list if the announced results indicate their loss… But, SLPP is first off the mark (after the voting) to “warn” of not accepting the results.

BTW, both parties stated (prior to voting) that they would not accept the results if the results were deemed “not free, fair or transparent” or not legitimate… meaning, if they lost.

I saw a plenty of ballots on Saturday… and they were all deposited in ballot boxes. But today I saw one that “missed the box”… I’ll explain in a minute. S/

Now the fun begins...

I spent the morning attending press conferences for the European Union Observer mission, the African Union Observers and the Carter Center. The most interesting was the European Union... headed by a guy named Richard Howitt.

Check out www.eueom.eu/sierraleone2012 for more info. There's a link to the full PDF report on that website.


Essentially, the EU have said that the elections in Sierra Leone have been largely peaceful and well-conducted. They've said how impressed they were with the high voter turnout... and the orderliness of the lines and voting process.

The main issues identified by the EU observer team were the very severe lack of women candidates, some voting irregularities, and the "unequal playing field" of the process. They also observed money changing hands... buying of votes, essentially. They saw the inappropriate use of government money by the ruling party. They saw the supposedly neutral Paramount Chiefs actively campaigning for the ruling party... and on and on.

For the most part... the EU report was good... But, when I spoke to Mr. Howitt after the presser, he told me directly that they were not going to play diplomacy here... They were going to tell the truth whether parties or governments agreed or not. He mentioned several other things that were of concern including the fact that there are no laws (or very broad guidelines) on election financing, campaign spending, etc. This is a glaring hole in the "free, fair and transparent" criteria.

None of the observers would categorically state that they thought the elections were a "pass" or "fail", for obvious reasons. The counting and tabulating is ongoing... and we're all eagerly awaiting word from the National Electoral Commission... who is the only authorized body to release official results.

More later... After the presser, I visited the SLPP office to attend their press conference. Hmmm, are you filled with suspense? I'll write that up shortly. S/

Press statement from NEC

Press statement from the National Electoral Commission...

"CLOSE OF POLLING DAY PRESS RELEASE - SUNDAY 18TH NOVEMBER, 2012 (PDF VERSION)

1. Close of polls
Polling officially closed at 5:00 PM in 98% of polling stations nationwide. However, voting went on in the remaining centers after the close of polls. Generally, polling was reported to be orderly and peaceful in almost all polling stations nationwide.

Eastern Region
Generally, all polling stations closed on time in the Kailahun, Kenema and Kono Districts with the exception of one centre in Ward 63 Kono New Sembehun City Council and in Nyandeyama Ward 31 in Kenema City. Polling subsequently closed successfully in these centers and counting of ballots immediately commenced.

Northern Region
Polling in the Northern Region was generally orderly and peaceful. Although, polling did not close on time in Ward 89 in Bombali District due to large voter turnout and other technical problems. Polling was disrupted by honey bees in Ward 135 in Kambia District. The polling station was automatically relocated and polling went on peacefully. In Ward 146 Koinadugu District, polling did not close on time due to the delay in generating the Final Voters Register through the use of Voters Identification Cards.

Southern Region
Reports indicate that polling in the Southern Region was also very peaceful and orderly. Polling closed in all polling stations except in one centre each in Ward 296 and 325 in Moyamba and Pujehun Districts respectively due to late commencement of the polls.

Western Region
Polling in the Western Region was reported to be peaceful except in Constituency 112 Ward 394 in Lumley, Freetown. Polling was also delayed in Ward 326 Mount Aureol, Freetown. This was due to unavailable registration details of some voters whose information were not on the Provisional Voters Register as these persons failed to show up at inquiry centers for inclusion of their names on the Final Voters Register.

Polling was also disrupted in Ward 392 at the Metropolitan Funeral Home center and Ward 394 at the Malama Comprehensive in the Western Urban District because of elections malpractices. Arrests have been made and these persons are helping the Sierra Leone Police in their investigations.

2. Reconciliation, Collation and Counting of Ballots
Reconciliation and counting of ballots commenced immediately after close of polls at polling station level. After counting of ballots, copies of relevant result forms were handed over to all political party agents and observers present for each election in all the polling stations.

3. Operations of District and Regional Tally Centers
Results in Tamper Evident Envelops from polling stations were collected by polling centre managers at centre level and handed over to the relevant ward coordinators for onward delivery to NEC officials at districts and regional tally centers. Tallying of elections results commenced immediately as elections results were received.

Elections results from polling stations in Kailahun, Kenema and Kono are being processed at the Regional Tally Center in Kenema.
The elections results from polling stations in Bombali, Kambia, Koinadugu, Port Loko and Tonkolili are being processed at the Regional Tally Center in Makeni.
Elections results from polling stations in Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba and Pujehun are being processed at the Regional Tally Center in Bo
The elections results from polling stations in the Western Area were received at the Regional Tally Center, Wellington at 3:40 AM on 18th November 2012. Imputing of data began immediately and is ongoing.

The Commission will like to record its appreciation to the National Elections Watch (NEW), all national and international observers who continue to accompany the process to its final phase.

The Commission appreciates the dissemination of provisional elections results through IRN and other media networks and solicits the continued patience of the general public while awaiting the announcement of the official results of the elections.

Signed:
Dr. Christiana Thorpe
Chief Electoral Commissioner/Chairperson
National Returning Officer

SLPP press statement...

This is a press statement released by the main opposition party, SLPP, late on Sunday night... following the elections.

Evidence of blatant ballot stuffing in several centers, especially in the Northern Region, Kono and Freetown
Monday 19 November 2012
By Brig Gen (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio
Sunday 18th November, 2012: On behalf of myself and the National Executive of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), I wish to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to the entire membership of the Party for the tireless and unrelenting effort during this electoral process. Provisional Results of the election started coming in since last night and have been broadcast by the Independent Radio Network (IRN). The results reported by the IRN came on from various polling stations across the country and so far they do not reflect any pattern that may give an indication of who is winning or losing. I wish to emphasise, as the IRN itself has repeatedly said, that the results are purely provisional.
Although the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has the official mandate to announce the final results, the Party has set up its own mechanisms to monitor, collate and eventually report the results of the elections to its membership in the Chairman of the national Electoral Commission (NEC), Madam Christian (sic) Thorpe in her latest statement to the Press, admitted the disruption of polling in some parts of the Western Area. She mentioned only three wards in Freetown, namely wards 362,292 and 394. Her statement also mentioned the disruption of polling due to election malpractices.
In addition to the discrepancies identified by the NEC Chair and the National Elections watch (NEW), it has come to the attentions of the Party that the factors that have affected the polling in Freetown are more widespread and a lot more serious than has been reported by the NEC.
We have ample evidence and vital information to substantiate a number of incidents bothering on irregularities that violate the Electoral Code and which has the potential to affect the final outcome of these elections.
There are evidence of blatant ballot stuffing in several centers, especially in the Northern Region, Kono and Freetown with full complicity of NEC staff in most of these cases, at the time of counting the ballots, security officers at the polling station drove our agents and prevented them from observing the process and collating results. Evidently, most of the results announced do not reflect actual votes cast. There are videos of the NEC staff ensuring that voters cast their ballots for Ernest Koroma. This act was also widespread in the Northern Province.
Meanwhile, I wish to appeal to all our supporters to remain calm and to have the confidence in the Party Executive, its machinery and my humble self that we will leave no stone unturned, I repeat no one steals the mandate of our voters or alter the results to our disadvantage.
As things stand now, we are very confident of winning the elections.
Finally, to members of the International Community who have been co-sponsors of these elections, we express our profound appreciation for your continuing support.
We trust that you will continue to be supportive of our efforts as a country to ensure that the will of the people prevail and the outcome of the poll reflect that will.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio
SLPP 2012 Presidential Candidate

No results... but rumours...

This post appeared on Facebook at 5:30 PM on Sunday... a day after the elections... and is totally false. The author is a well-known "troublemaker" who calls herself a journalist and might just throw this country back into violence. This sort of stuff is now all over the FB groups from Sierra Leone. Sigh. It's disgusting what some people will do to this country.

No results have been officially announced...

I can confirm that the ruling party has already won 71 Parliamentary seats from all the four regions of the country making the next Government of President Koroma to be one of the most representative of national unity that the country has seen since restoration of multi-party democracy.
This 71 seat winning means, even without the Paramount Chief MPs who traditionally vote with ruling party, the APC has an almost two-thirds majority in the next Parliament. It means the APC can now make changes to the National Constitution even if the SLPP is opposed to such changes. 

 

From 2007 elections in Salone

This is an article clipped from Awoko newspaper 2007 referencing the elections held then... It's scary how history keeps repeating itself.

Unless the opposition denounces violence… Berewa to boycott SLAJ debate

Vice President Solomon Berewa may likely boycott the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) presidential debate slated for Tuesday if the APC and PMDC refuse to eschew violence.
This was contained in a press release issued by the SLPP secretariat yesterday bearing the signature of its publicity scribe Victor Reider.
The reason for the boycott, according to the scribe, “is based on the demand that both opposition leaders of the APC Ernest Bai Koroma and PMDC’s Charles Margai denounce violence.
 According to the release, the Sierra Leone People’s Party categorically condemned the unwarranted spates of violence that had characterized the past fortnight after the declaration of the official start of campaigning.
It noted further that, “as the ruling party and the government that have brought an end to the 11 years war, the SLPP abhors violence in all its manifestations before, during and after the August 11 polls.”
It also noted that, “the SLPP leadership is convinced that only by consolidating the hard won peace can the nation embark on any development”.
However, it stated that, “it is disheartening to observe that some leaders of the opposition have taken upon themselves to attempt to render the state ungovernable by their very utterances.”
The SLPP national publicity secretary cited an interview granted by the APC presidential flagbearer, Ernest Koroma, to the Peep magazine in which he reportedly said the “SLPP has no reason to win this election. SLPP has rigged the elections.
There is no way we will ever accept an SLPP victory. We will protest; and we intend to protest violently. Nothing will stop us from protesting violently except an announcement that the APC has won the elections.”
The release stressed that Charles Margai “…has equally intimated in an interview on UN Radio recently that he is capable of marshaling and leading 20,000 troops to Kailahun following the fracas which took place in that part of the country.”
Considering these above utterances from opposition leaders, the release emphasized, “the SLPP has concluded that unless Messrs Koroma and Margai denounce violence in all it forms and manifestations, Mr Solomon Berewa, the leader and presidential candidate of the SLPP will not sit in any presidential debate with them.”

No results yet...

There are NO results in the Sierra Leone election - yet. The Chair of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has said nothing about official results yet. (Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 5:15 PM) Rumours are flying around... but NEC is the only source of official results. I've just criss-crossed Freetown and heard some strange things... all unconfirmed and unofficial. There are NO results in the election... We are hearing provisional results read over the radio but NOTHING is official. S/

More pictures...

Pictures from election day...

It's 8:20 pm on election day in Sierra Leone... and by all reasonable accounts things went very, very well... Very little violence. Few problems. Lots of people.

NEC has announced several issues such as campaign posters too close to the polling stations and polls not opening on time... There were some reports of overcrowding and transportation problems... but honestly... No big deal.

I have to say, I was reasonably impressed. Of course, let's just wait and see what happens now... Vote counting has begun but official results won't be announced for several days.

We'll wait... at 1:00 pm, voter turnout was at around 65%. Wow... no voter apathy here. Anticipating up to 85% turnout.

More later,
S/

Some FB posts from election day...

Back home now listening to radio... No, not SLBC but Star... I'm looking for IRN on the dial... Someone should remind all Salone announcers that these are PROVISIONAL results... and NOT the final results. This announcer hasn't specified the PROVISIONAL nature of these numbers she's reading... Oh brother... Wait, WAIT for NEC's final results to pop the champagne or place the conciliatory call. Please, all announcers should ALWAYS state that these are PROVISIONAL results. Sigh... this is the kind of stupidity that drives me crazy. S/

From Lumley to Puti... 10 polling stations visited... by 2:00 pm... and I'm so pleased to report all seemed to be proceeding with efficiency and order. The general sense amongst those I spoke to was very positive and optimistic. The police and military along the routes have been pleasant, efficient and helpful. Way to go, Sierra Leone!! So far so good...

Getting around today... most people are walking from their homes to the polling stations and back home. Some are waiting for the privately sponsored government buses... and there have been some issues around not having enough buses... but for the most part the city is moving, voting and strolling home proudly displaying their "inked" finger. S/

I spoke to hundreds of people today - so far - and one of the most interesting comments came from a young man... a strapping, tall man in a sleeveless vest, side-tilted blue baseball cap and low-slung jeans. I asked to see his inked finger to which he said, "we're waiting a little while before getting into line to let the older people, women, disabled and others vote first." I smiled broadly and replied, "how gentlemanly of you... Thank you. Good for you." One of the remarkable experiences of this year's elections. S/

It's remarkable... Today is about the people of Sierra Leone... No colours, no politicians, no political parties... just the voice of the people. One older, partially-blind gentleman, KC Wilson who voted in Brookfields, said, "the last six months have been rubbish. Today is the day. Today is our day." Mr. Wilson has voted in six prior elections in Salone. Remarkable. S/

I dropped into the Women's Situation Room at the Bintumani Hotel around 9am. One of the organizers, Evette, told me of a few minor incidents... polls not opening in time, etc. but they were up and running... and monitoring the situation around the country... focused, of course, on gender-based issues. Later in the morning, I followed up on a story of a man who beat his wife for voting for a different party. The husband apparently seized his wife's voter ID card and wouldn't let her vote. After police intervention, the woman cast her vote. She later went to the King Harmon Hospital to treat her bruises and small cuts. The Women's Situation Room can be reached by dialing 711. They will present their report at a press conference on Monday at 10 at Shangri-La Restaurant. S/