Concord Times (Freetown)
Pel Korma
7 January 2009
opinion
Freetown — Dear President Koroma,
Thank you for presiding peacefully over the country since you became president. I was fortunate to have visited some jungle towns in the Eastern district of Sierra Leone over the festive period. Interesting that my country is that much beautiful as this trip was the best opportunity I have had to traverse my country especially the East. The war did not allow some of us to tour our country and clearly realize the potentials and beauty of Sierra Leone. As I write, my heart still grieves for what the war did in that part of the country. Yet, I have hope that the people will over come.
It was Forum of Conscience or Fambul Tok that accorded me the opportunity to witness a meeting on the 19th, 20th, and 21st for all the fourteen chiefdoms in the Kono district. Fambul Tok, a local NGO poised towards community reconciliation facilitated an open atmosphere for Kono's to come together and resolve their community problems in their own traditional way that will foster ever lasting peace. There is a concern that the TRC and Special Court did not satisfy the urge for justice among the common people in their localities and there is a need to bridge the existing gap so that development will take place.
Executive director of Fambul Tok John Caulker, appealed to the people of Kono to embrace them selves again and forgive. Though the scale of the war is uncountable, Caulker impressed on the people that the project Fambul Tok is their project which has great respect for the traditional way of healing relationships. He said he was able to convince his friends in the United States that the war actually left the country divided and that the TRC and Special Court did not answer the question of reconciliation at the local level.
Chairman for the occasion was chiefdom speaker Aiah Raymond Komba of Tombodu, Kamaa chiefdom, who dilated on some of the atrocities they witnessed during the war. He said they are currently living with perpetrators and victims because they all belong to the same family and should there fore forgive one another. It was touching when Kono's started confessing to them selves and asking for forgiveness from their people. It was a remarkable event when all representatives of the fourteen chiefdoms came together to map out ways to reconstruct their relationships through their traditional means.
The people converged at Tombodu, the once prosperous chiefdom in the district. Generally President Koroma the Kono's are not happy at all. They are finding it difficult comprehend why they should suffer the way they are suffering. The war devastated their homes and culture, living them absolutely divided. The poor people of Kono lamented over their demise because of a God given resource that has never benefited them. As I entered the township of Tombodu, it dawn on me that it must have been a great city in the past. One would spot its greatness from the damaged structures that are visible all over the township. Unique structures that depicts quality living in the past. Kono's expressed disappointment that no one care for them and have resigned to fate. Majority of them told me that they are not interested in diamond mining as it has only brought destruction to them. Some prefer farming.
Kono's expressed dissatisfaction over the way industrial mining has invaded their land with little respect for culture and the people themselves. The people are wallowing in abject poverty. They do not care who is in governance only that they want their status improved. I observed that Kono's are very brilliant people. Their intelligence can not be compared to other tribes men I have interacted with in our country. The women of Kono are so bold that they are yearning for a liberator. The women actively participated in the Fambul Tok discussion in Kono. They were bold enough to talk about their distress and how much they want to be empowered. The hard work in the farms is having heavy toll on the health of the women in Kono. Most of them told me that they do not have access to money and their social rights are constantly abused.
President Koroma the Kono's said they love you because you are handsome and the women say you are their husband. Their expectations are high that you will try to ameliorate their problems. They said they need just a little from you and they will move on with lives.
At the Fambul Tok dialogue, the Kono's revealed that they believe that they need to appease their ancestors, consecrate the land traditionally before the Kono land will get respite. They spoke of appeasing the spirits of the Donso's who lost their lives during the war. That they want the soul of these deceased Donso's to rest. With out which they believe they will struggle for ever. Revelations were made of the 'Savage Pit' where thousands of people were dumped during the war under a commander Savage. They said over six bags of human skeleton were removed from the pit. All those who lost their lives in the 'Savage Pit' need a befitting burial. The people of Kono told Fambul Tok that they want the war monument in Koidu town to be commemorated formally as a way of unifying the land.
Executive director John Caulker keenly listened to the people of Kono and promised to work together with the people to make their communities friendly. So much tension was manifested but it got eased with the cajoling power of executive director who expressed the importance of peace for national development. Kono is generally peaceful. Not much enthusiasm was shown for the Christmas season because the people are disgruntle and unhappy. Hope they had a nice time. I love the Kono's.
On the 23rd of December, I was again opportune to journey with the Kutubu's to Pendembu, Upper Bambara chiefdom, one of the chiefdoms in the Kailahun district. It was my first trip to that part of the country. I had already resolute my mind to brave the horrible roads that I have been told that leads to the eastern part of the country.
I was curious to grasp all important spectrums of Kailahun district but I went through Kenema in the night which gave me a gloomy picture of the township. As it was a festive season, I expected a bustling atmosphere as it was just 10:30 PM but I was greeted with a scene connoting hardship and unhappiness. I asked whether Kenema is a Muslim dominated town- this is so because the center of the town (Mobil spot and Capitol) were as quiet as the grave yard even when it was the 23rd of December. It strokes me of the status of my country and wondered what the future hold. I continued my journey and arrived at Pendembu about 3 AM. I was amazed over the zest the people of Pendembu greeted me with. I was taken to the old SLPMB stores where I saw over two thousand people sweating in disco organized by popular musical star Steady Bongo. The population surprised me and I asked whether all of the people belong to Pendembu.
Sir, I encountered a very happy group of people in the Upper Bambara chiefdom. The people are hard working and development oriented. Relics of colonialism could be spotted in Pendembu Township. Structures of colonial exploitation in the form of their firms (trade) and the rail way are visible. It tells you of the economic boom the town had once enjoyed. In Pendembu, all the government structures are properly kempt. The police station and the health center are hygienically maintained. The people are friendly and some how organized. Though they are all poor people, the women in Pendembu are always neatly dressed. I did not see any haggardly dressed woman which tells of pride and dignity in poverty. Pendembu was bustling all through out the holiday.
Agriculture still flourishes in Pendembu. I bought three bananas for Le 200, 00 in Pendembu. I was shocked because I expected the cost to be in thousands. Rice production increased this year according to the people.
The Paramount Chief Cyril Foray Gondor brought together all the six sections in the chiefdom to celebrate the festive season together in peace and unity. It was fantastic when the native women displayed their traditional fashions of dressing- in their ashobies' with their mask devils and attendants. It was the RC primary school that the peace show was exhibited. It was so exciting. Tradition was at play when the highest reverenced secret society displayed. President Koroma it will surprise you to know that your constitution was suspended as the 'Master of the Land' called (DWEI) took over control of the township for eleven hours. I was perplexed when all of a sudden, one of the attendants of DWEI surfaced on top of a house roof in the chief's compound dancing. How did it happen is still a mystery to me. I was told they have more mystical powers than what I saw.
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And Dear President Koroma, May I truly state to you,that I hated the APC of the Late Siaka Stevens,Kamara Taylor, S.I. Koroma(AKA Agbasatani)and Joseph Saidu Momoh. I love the SLPP during the time of the Margais. Today, the blood of revenge that kept swelling in me for years have all been reduced to that of no treath,because I truly admire your APC. You have come to know that the National cake(Minerals) is not for the pockets of one region,but for all of Salone. As I write this note,I hail you for the excellent decision you took to name a son… [Read Full Text]