Citing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report of 2002, former Presidential Spokesman, Abdulai Bayraytay has expressed concerns over the current spate of ‘Hate Speech’ in Sierra Leone.
He says the proliferation of hate speeches affects the country’s governance system.
His concerns emanate from ‘hate Speeches’ which have become viral on social media platforms noting that the statements have the tendency to undermine the peace and democracy for which Sierra Leone has won laurels over the years.
Mr Bayraytay who is currently based in Canada is also particularly concerned about the tagging by government of the main opposition, All peoples Congress as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bayraytay made it clear that he reviewed a lot of literature on ‘Hate Speech’ when he was lecturing International Human Rights at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
In his assessment of Hate Speech syndrome in the country, the former Spokesman made reference to the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and in Kosovo as bright examples where hundreds of thousands of lives were lost.
The Rwandan genocide, he said, was caused by hate speeches directed at a particular class of people.
In striving to distinguish what constitutes hate speech or not, Mr Bayraytay made reference to the government’s description of the APC as a terrorist unit as the genesis of ‘Hate Speech’ in the country.
“If one says the government’s human rights record is abysmal, that is not hate speech. But, if one describes an organisation as a terrorist group, that is ‘Hate Speech’ as they have attributed the features of terrorism to a particular class of people,” Mr Bayraytay explains.
The mere description of an organisation as a terrorist, he said, would make those who have read the literature on terrorism to develop hatred for the persons identified as terrorists.
The tagging of the APC as a terrorist organisation came after violent activities that posed security threat to the state of Sierra Leone.
The said activities were seen in the burning of the country’s main correctional facility on Pa Demba Road in Freetown, the riots in the North-western town of Lunsar and in the Western-rural town of Tombo.
Mining and fishing respectively are the main economic activities of residents in the two communities from time immemorial.
A ban of any nature either temporal or permanent would generate a brutal response from the residents considering their low standards of literacy and exposure to civilization.
It implies that that both riots occurred when they were deprived of those activities which support their livelihoods.
It was a response for survival ignoring the use the law as the main means for redress.
The government however failed to pay attention to the principal factor of livelihood problems among the residents thereby accusing the APC to have fomented and fuelled the riots.
The accusations led to the arrest of dozens of Sierra Leoneans including key opposition figures who were lengthily detained before arraigned.
Most of the accused persons have been granted bail while others still incarcerated.
The former spokesman, in his statements, also explained that the rule of law principle had taught civilised societies that an offender is presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent judicial authority.
Mr Bayraytay thus calls on government and the people of Sierra Leone to be tolerant to each other thereby strengthening the pillars of peace and democracy.
“To consolidate politics in Sierra Leone, we have to encourage divergent and opposition views. A leader must not suppress freedom of speech,” he cautioned.
He said the country’s divisiveness and polarisation are issues of great concern to the international community noting that such factors could stifle investment in the country.
The former spokesman also spoke about his disappointment in his attempts to bring investors to Sierra Leone banking on the status the country gained years back as one the most peaceful in West Africa.
“Some of us give the investors positive image of Sierra Leone for them to invest in the country. After their independent research, they come back with negative feedback,” he said.
In light of the prevalence of such situation, Mr Bayraytay further appeals to government to improve the security situation for the country’s socio-economic prosperity.
He is of the opinion that whenever there is uncertainty in the peace and security of the state, it creates a ripple effect on investment.
Sierra Leone, quite recently, has been badly affected by hate speeches transmitted via social media platforms.
The country’s youths are the players in the ‘Hate Speech’ syndrome as they are both senders and receivers.
As hate speeches continue, peace credentials for which the country is known over the years have been smeared and under threat.
Sierra Leone Police, the country’s principal law enforcement institution have put out a number of press releases condemning the acts.
They have also threatened purveyors of hate speeches with arrest and prosecution using the Cyber Crime Unit.