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‘Standing Army for 2012 elections’, says PMDC Leader. |
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Written by Abdul Samba Brima
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 |
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The Leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) says anybody wishing to contest parliamentary or presidential election in 2012 must have a standing army or otherwise it would be suicidal.
Charles Francis Margai made the statement at a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Freetown while addressing the recent political violence in Tongo, Eastern Sierra Leone. He said although Sierra Leoneans do not yearn for that, regrettably, the country was heading for that direction. Mr. Margai said it was sad for people who were highly placed in positions of authority to perpetrate violence under what he called the Vail of diplomacy. He said to a certain extent the international community was ‘over pampering’ Sierra Leone that was why it was refusing to grow. He said the international community should suspend all financial support to the country. Mr. Margai accused the donors of pouring money into the country without checks and balances. There have been mixed reactions to the statement of the PMDC’s Leader. While some Sierra Leoneans say Mr. Margai’s statement of a standing army is too extreme, others say it should serve as a warning to political parties to desist from violence. The recent bye-election in Tongo, Ward Forty-Two, Constituency Fourteen in the Kenema district left about five houses burnt down, shops looted and people seriously injured. Supporters of the APC and SLPP reportedly engaged in violent clashes during and after the election.
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