Pressure Mounts On Kabbah

1st November, 2005

TO: 1. Civil Society Movement

2. Sierra Leone Association of Journalists

3. Sierra Leone Labour Congress

Dear Sirs/Madam,

RE: SECTION 34 OF THE CONSTITUION OF SIERRA LEONE ACT NO. 6 OF 1991 AND SECTION 2 OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT NO. 3 OF 2002

Please find attached a self explanatory letter dated 12th October, 2005 addressed by me to His Excellency, the President, Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and his reply dated 14th October, 2005.

Subsequent to the said letters, I have gained information that Justice Gbao who was in 2002 nominated by His Excellency to be Chairman of the political parties Registration Commission and other proposed commissioners had appeared before parliament and gained parliamentary approval as required by section 2 (1) of Act No. 3 of 2002. Their letters of appointments were signed by the secretary to the President in 2004. Notwithstanding the above appointments, His Excellency in October, 2005, submitted other names including retired Chief Justice Abdulai Timbo to parliament to serve as Commissioners with Justice Timbo as the proposed Chairman. Parliament is now faced with the dilemma as to how to proceed having regard to the fact that Justice Gbao and his team were indeed appointed by His Excellency as provided for in section 2(1) & (3) of Act No. 3 of 2002.

I am further informed and verily believe that His Excellency has purportedly withdrawn Justice Gbao’s appointment on the grounds that circumstances have changed. The changing circumstances were not disclosed by His Excellency. As institutions committed to the prevalence of democracy in our beloved Country, I am humbly appealing to you individually as well as collectively to prevail upon His Excellency the president to address this all important issue as soon as possible.

My interest in having this matter resolved is to enable the People’s Movement for Democratic Change to be registered as a party in fulfilment of the aspirations and dreams of the people of this Nation.

Like I said in my letter to His Excellency as above mentioned, the International Community has gone a long way to stabilize this Nation and it therefore behoves us as Sierra Leoneans to jealously guard against any situation that may likely jeopardise the same. In other words, nothing should be done or perceived to be done to frustrate the aims and aspirations of the citizenry of this Nation whose prescriptive and inalienable right it is to choose a Leader of their choice come 2007

I look forward to your usual cooperation whilst thanking you in anticipation

Yours faithfully,

C.F. MARGAI

C.C 1. HIS EXCELLENCY ,

PRESIDENT AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH

2. HIS EXCELLENCY,

THE U.S. AMBASSADOR

3. HIS EXCELLENCY,

THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

4 HIS EXCELLENCY,

S.R.S.G

Photo: President Kabbah.