Editorial -

Editorial - In search of the real enemies

MUCH HAS BEEN said about the Campaign for Just Mining, a broad-based civil society coalition initiated and spearheaded by the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD). In the same vein, a lot of accusations/charges have been levelled against members of the Campaign and staff of NMJD by especially senior officials of the government and staff of Koidu Holdings SA Limited (KHL).

THESE CHARGES RANGE from distortion of facts, to undermining the government, to acting as fronts for some corporate bodies with an eye on Sierra Leone minerals, to subversion. These are serious charges that carry long jail terms, and even the death penalty. These charges are precipitated by the Campaigners’ uncompromising pro-poor stance on the operations of the KHL in Kono district, eastern Sierra Leone. However, none of them is based on facts. They are all woven in falsehood, with the main objective of intimidating the Campaigners to back off.

DESPERATE TO CONTINUE to do business with the South African mining outfit, the Sierra Leone government was quick to throw its total, unequivocal and uncritical support for the KHL irrespective of the wailing and groaning of people in the affected mining communities. Local leaders are compromised or coerced to sign Memorandums of Cooperation against their will. Those who insist on pursuing the ‘forbidden’ path are demonized before the court of public opinion or detained.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR Just Mining was established in January 2000 following the publication and simultaneous launching in Canada and Sierra Leone of the incisive report on Sierra Leone’s diamond industry entitled: The Heart of the Matter – Sierra Leone Diamonds and Human Security. The report, authored by Partnership Africa Canada, traced the link between the devastating civil conflict and minerals, especially diamonds. It came up with concrete evidence to suggest that proceeds of diamonds from conflict zones were used to bankroll the 11 years civil war.

THE EFFORTS OF the Campaign since then have been geared towards exposing the criminal use into which our diamonds have been put; delinking them from arms trade, barbarity, drugs and cross human rights violations. This is done through strategic alliance building, dialogue and sustained engagement. We are not against mining in Sierra Leone as is being suggested in some quarters. But we abhor reckless and irresponsible mining – mining that devastates the environment, undermines community livelihoods and leaves the people in abject poverty and disunity.

DOES THIS AMOUNT to being anti-progress and unpatriotic? We definitely don’t think so. If anything, it is those who collude with doubtful characters and corporate bodies to milk mother Sierra Leone are the true enemies of state. Their collusion has helped to deepen the poverty situation of the great majority of Sierra Leoneans and reduce them to a life of squalor and wretchedness. Therefore, it is they who deserve public trial, and not us. It may be long in coming. But it will surely come! And when that day does come, the proverbial heaven and hell will meet on earth. It is then, and only then, will the people know who their real enemies are.