The day Norman’s heroism became a curse

By Osman Benk Sankoh,Monrovia, Liberia.

Hush-hush - that was how it started. Then, the rumours started raging like wild-fire in the harmattan. With the advent of mobile phones and the internet; texters, e-mailers and callers took charge. They wanted to know if what they were hearing was true or just another ‘April fool’ in the middle of February. Remember the late Alfred Akibo-Betts? (Concord Times used to describe him as ‘enigmatic’). He was considered to be like the proverbial cat with nine lives that always bounced back every time people ‘pronounced’ him dead. So, many thought the news about Chief Hinga Norman’s death was a hoax, not until the Special Court confirmed it and the BBC and other international media organizations made it a lead story. The news was absolutely shocking. Many were speechless.

Truth is, Chief Sam Hinga Norman(photo) of Ngolala Village, Mongeri, Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, in the Southern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone is no more. He died in the custody of the UN backed Special Court while in Senegal for medical attention last Thursday.

To some, he is considered a war hero. To others, he is a villain that deserves nothing but indictment for war crimes and should have been found guilty, locked up in jail and the key to freedom flung into the Sewa or River Moa. However, whatever your take is on this, Chief Sam Hinga Norman, the Kamajor chief who fought for the restoration of democracy and indeed the return of President Kabbah to power after he was booted out by the khaki boys in 1997 has begun his journey in the spiritual realm. Norman is dead and like a one time fallen Comrade once opined: “Let the laws of the land be like death that spares no one”. Cruel death has struck once again and this time, landed a devastating blow on Norman who now joins the list of those indicted persons like Foday Sankoh, Sam Maskita Bockarie and Johnny Paul Koroma that never had the opportunity of proving their innocence or guilt before the Special Court.

Ever since news of Norman’s death became public property, shock and dismay have been two major words that have gripped people’s emotions. If I had my way, I would have blocked my ears from hearing about Norman’s death. Come to think of it, when Sankoh and Maskita died, I am sure, apart from their close families and associates, many shouted Halllelujah ! Allahu Akbar (God is great) or even, ‘praise be to Jah! Rastafaria! for removing them from the face of the earth. For Norman, the story is different and I can’t resist the urge to salute a war hero by taking some time off my somewhat busy official schedule for my first love, writing and to pay a well-deserved tribute to Norman.

When I first got a call from a friend in Freetown with the ‘breaking news,’ I was totally dismayed if not devastated and for one split second, over a thousand thoughts readily came to mind. Questions that I could not instantly provide answers to myself - was this conspiracy that those indicted for crimes ‘are guilty’ and will never see the light of a free day? Did he die of natural causes? Have the fears of his family not to take him to Senegal but UK or America for medical attention not come to pass? What of his recent declaration of support for Charles Margai’s PMDC instead of the SLPP he sacrificed his life to bring back to power, and what are the political and need I say security ramifications of such a high profile death as we march towards the July polls? Describe me a doomsday pessimist if you like, but I am still struggling to get answers to at least few of my questions. Need I remind you that war crime suspects like Slobodan Milosevic and Foday Sankoh died in their cells even before the rule of law was put to test? If these two are lucky to have even started the process, what of Sam Maskita Bockarie and Johnny Paul Koroma? For the latter, no one knows if he is still alive or not.

I belong to the school of thought that believes that war crimes and crimes against humanity should not go unpunished, but when the catch phrase, “ those who bear the greatest responsibility,” becomes very difficult to quality , then, if you like, that is where my woes begin. To sound like Mark Anthony in the famous Shakespearean masterpiece, ‘Julius Caesar,’ am not writing to praise Norman but to simply talk about a simple village chief who took up arms at a time those constitutionally charged with doing so, kicked out a fourteen month old democratically elected government from power and turned themselves into a rare specie called ‘sobels.’

The late Alpha Lavallie should be credited for being the pivot behind the formation of the Kamajor militia, but it was Norman, as Coordinator that gave them much prominence. Norman used his one time military experience to make this group of local hunters much more potent and a major auxiliary force to ECOMOG troops in their quest to see Kabbah back to State House. No matter what, he did so at the behest of sacrificing his own life for the good of all Sierra Leoneans. That he was made Deputy Defence Minister and Internal Affairs Minister in Kabbah’s government amidst the numerous accolades showered on him and his Kamajors were all pointers to the fact that he was a major player in Kabbah’s second coming.

Indeed shock and bewilderment were understatement for many Sierra Leoneans when on March 7, 2003, Norman was indicted, put in cuffs and thrown to jail in Bonthe. His crime was for fighting for the restoration of democracy, he stands indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. But why Norman? I am sure this was the question on the lips of many people. This was a moment of crisis and defenseless and innocent Sierra Leoneans were like animals in a slaughterhouse, at the mercy of rebels. Where did the short hand or long sleeve ‘ideology’ come from? Was it not to prevent people from voting Kabbah in the 2002 elections? The word junta or collaborator became legalized by the government in exile on their return while targeting those they deemed sympathetic to the AFRC and the truth is all sides were guilty of committing atrocities.

Let us just imagine what would have happened had Norman not mobilized this outfit? Of course, your guess is as good as mine. But with all of this, I wonder who would want to be a Norman again even in the pursuit of truth, justice and democracy. Just imagine you fought on the side of truth and that truth handed Norman a date with David Crane who indicted him for war crimes while a serving minister in the government he helped bring back to power. Tell me, would you have been surprised if the like of the late Alpha Lavallie and Maxwell Khobe were indicted and arraigned before the Special Court?
According to newspaper reports, the Kamajor Chief was said to have shared his belongings to cleaners at the Special Court. Again, it was reported that he scrapped dust from the tarmac at Lungi airport, kissed it and said, “May God bless Sierra Leone.”

It is a pity that Norman died even before he could prove to the entire world that he was guilty or innocent. Was Norman a true hero or villain? I would have loved to say goodbye Norman. But did he really die? No! Chief Norman has only retreated to take his rest in the spiritual kingdom, but his legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace great patriot!