The convoy of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya Esq was last Wednesday 22 February 2023 allegedly attacked by guards of President Julius Maada Bio, on orders from the presidency.
Lawyer Dumbuya Esq was badly beaten along with other members of his party including the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr while on their way from the APC National Delegates’ Conference in Makeni. The attacks were executed by the presidential with unexplained reasons from above.
When faced by security guards including armed police and military personnel attached to the Presidential Lodge, the victims according to reports were forcefully dragged on a wet tile floor at the lodge at Hill Station in Freetown, where they were badly treated by presidential guards.
So far with concerns raining in from everywhere including Political Parties Regulations Commission (PPRC) relating to Wednesday 22 February attack on Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya Esq. In view of that the PPRC called on heads of the security sector to institute independent speedy investigations into the matter, though the Sierra Leone Bar Association SLBA is yet to state their position on the matter concerning one of their senior colleagues. As a professional organization which Lawyer Dumbuya Esq belongs to, one expects a firmer stance from the Sierra Leone Bar Association. The soundlessness of the association raises suspicions of the lawyers’ league true existence and fit for purpose. Or do they want to tell the world that Lawyer Dumbuya Esq does not belong to the SLBA? Or is it because it happened to the APC National Secretary General which is why the SLBA is deliberately silent on the matter? These few legitimate concerns require urgent answers from the executive of the SLBA.
Besides, the SLBA must come out now with a clear position of the association, on where exactly they stand in all of these. The reason being is that when once incidents of such emerge especially where it concerns professional, members of whichever professional group must make their position clear to the public and the world over with condemnation, call for immediate redress measures and urge independent investigations into the matter as and when or where necessary. Otherwise, the quietness of the SLBA can be fully understood as their direct endorsement of the victimisation of Lansana Dumbuya Esq and his members by President Bio’s guards on orders from above.
Sierra Leone being a democratic and a sovereign state under no parliamentary emergency instituted by government to warrant heavily armed military intervention in multiparty democracy and engage in perpetual harassments of civilians, seize their personal belongings like they presidential guards did when they seized Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s laptop, certainly begs questions of the exact whereabout the leadership of the SLBA and their entire executive. Are they all now on the paylist of the government that does not permit them their professional voice on serious issue, even in the interest of their highly treasured profession?
The nation has in the past few days waited for reactions from the SLBA but to date no reaction is seen. Any attempt to keep mute on this issue will be grossly interpreted as SLBA being insensitive to the deadly attack on the life of Lawyer Dumbuya Esq. Again, one is tempted to say, by keeping mute is to avoid confrontation with the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party-political authority. Looking at the whole political violent in every perspective, it deserves the timely and unconditional intervention with strong reaction from the SLBA.
Former SLBA president, Basita Michael attempted as an individual to address the beating up issue of barrister Lansana Dumbuya, which was good and timely. It is good also to hear the collective response from the Bar Association. They are the moral guarantor of our unity, freedom and justice. Lansana Dumbuya Esq has always been part of the association and must be protected without any fear or favour.
Today it has started with Lansana Dumbuya; tomorrow it will be someone else. Irrespective of the Bar Association, the protection of the individual is a fundamental Human Right. The man has not committed any breach of the law and must be allowed to enjoy the president’s peace without any harassment or physical commotion from state authorities.
Elections are the test of our democratic credentials. They never meant as a ground to inflict pain and torture on the life and liberty of the individual. It is fundamental Human Right to choose your government and holding them accountable.
Looking at the disposition of Lansana Dumbuya at the time of his complaint and anguish on social media, you can easily see the frustration, worries and torment he was subjected to.
The nation is looking up to the bar association to come out with a statement, condemning the barbaric act of civilization and teach our gullible people what is democracy?
In the case of barrister Ady Macauley when he was arrested on alleged incitement on the issue of police clearance to stage peaceful demonstration, the nation saw the strides of the Bar Association in support of their comrade, which eventually necessitated his release from the Criminal Investigation Department.
To date, it is the belief of the nation that the same Bar Association has the right to judiciously interfere in the alleged beaten and political harassment of barrister Lansana Dumbuya. Every member of the bar association is equally important and must be fully protected. “What is good for the goose is good for gander.” Now or never, it is good to get the reaction of the bar association on the alleged beaten of barrister Lansana Dumbuya Esq.
