REMEMBERING THOSE WHO PERISHED AT MABAYLLA ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 3, 1997
(first published as an editorial on December 23, 2003)

It is yet another time for celebrations as Christians and their friends from all over the world commemorate the birth of Jesus the true Son of God. It is also a time as we approach and enter a new year labelled 2004, to reflect on events of the past and here the Sierra Herald would once again call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deliberate September 1997 killing of civilians at Mabaylla in the east of the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown.

For many who grew up or were associated with that part of the city, that area though described as slum provided the elements that made them appreciate what life was all about - that while some breakfast tables boasted of "bacon en ham", there were other tables, sometimes none at all, though not boasting of the same fare yet produced great men and women who were later to contribute in whatever way to the positive development of the community in which they found themselves.

Life for the people of Mabaylla has always been a hard grind from day to day with inhabitants managing to survive it all despite the neglect of past administrations and indeed a visit to that part of Freetown will paint a graphic picture of the complete lack of state of social and health care in a capital that even in the twenty first century cannot boast of a sewerage system.

The Dove Cot Market area and other outlying "trading" centres provided the means of livelihood with many having to use their wits to stay free while fending for the needs of ever-hungry stomachs. Ask those in "high rise" quarters, living above the sea level that is Mabaylla and you are bound to get various pictures of the varying shades of characters that are rumoured to live along the shores that define Mabaylla.

Some would talk about a "haven of rogues and thieves", others would be more sympathetic and would say some of the inhabitants are masters in the art of "throwing the dice" while others would tell you from the corner of their mouths how it was along the shores of Mabaylla, with the golden sun setting below the horizon, that they first had their real encounter with.....while having their first pull on.......

Others would tell you that it was from these shores that stretched from Kanikay, through "Mowharf" ending up at the great Kroo Bay area that they were taught the practicalities of life which invariably included being taught how to "tie watta" that would eventually lead to "changy" and other activities.

Indeed if you were to take a walk around the Mabaylla area, you would notice traces of a once-vibrant trading post and port area with rail ruts still visible recalling the days of great commerce as goods were offloaded ships for the stores in Sierra Leone while produce from the country was loaded on board.

It was this same Mabaylla, after many years that witnessed the end of such activities whose inhabitants only came in useful to politicians when it was election time that witnessed a horror of horrors on the night of Wednesday September 3 and the early hours of Thursday September 4, 1997.

No need to paint the grisly scene, no need to paint the circumstances surrounding the suffering of those who survived, no need to paint a graphic account of what happened to those who emerging from their rooms and expressing surprise at certain uniformed people were gunned down in cold blood.

Even as we look forward to the coming year, let us all pray for the sweet repose of the victims of Mabaylla and let us pray that their case would be taken up and investigated by a competent body so that those who perpetuated the act would be brought to justice, would be made to account for the blood of the innocent people of Mabaylla.

Diary of Events:

Wednesday September 3, 1997. Extraordinarily long meeting of the AFRC/RUF coalition of evil held at State House in central Freetown.

Thursday September 4, 1997. Tragedy unfolds. Scores are reported killed by bombs/missiles. Junta claims massacre carried out by ECOMOG forces based across the estuary in Lungi. Anti-Nigerian/ECOMOG/pro-democrat hysteria and hate whipped up on junta-controlled radio and television. One medical staff interviewed by junta-controlled TV publicly discloses that some of the victims bore wounds consistent with those inflicted by bullets.

Friday September 5, 1997. Funeral ceremonies for the dead held at the National Stadium. One Major Johnny Paul Koroma appeals to the international community for the removal of Nigerian/ECOMOG troops from Sierra Leone.

Saturday September 6, 1997. Meeting called by junta at City Hall to decide on what must be done to the ECOMOG troops based at Jui, some thirteen miles from centre of Freetown. Persecution/murder of Nigerians and pro-democrats continue. Sackville Street becomes a death zone for all Nigerians. Meeting decides on march on ECOMOG base at Jui. Anti-ECOMOG/Nigerian hate broadcasts continue

Sunday September 7, 1997. Early communion church goers turned back from church entrances. Urged to join march on ECOMOG positions at Jui. Hate broadcasts continue. "Cool heads" close to junta advise against preventing people from attending Sunday services. ECOMOG warns against proposed march using international media outlets as well as the 98.1 FM radio. March begins with some junta supporters forcing civilians at gun point to join the march. Warnings by ECOMOG still continue clearly defining the restricted zone that must not be crossed - a certain bridge on the road to Jui. March organisers get the message, falter and stop far short of Jui - at the Foamex factory just outside the city gates.