THE SIERRA LEONE WRITERS FORUM
C/0 25 Thomas Street – Freetown
PEN SIERRA LEONE OFFICE
Email:sierraleonepen@gmail.com
The Chair Person
Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone
NEC BUILDING
Tower Hill, Freetown
15th June 2020
Dear Madam,
The Detention of Professor Sheikh Umarr Kamarah at the CID Headquarters
We are writing for and on behalf of the Sierra Leone Writers Guild, PEN Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Writers Forum and a number of concerned citizens at home and abroad concerning the arrest and detention of Prof. Sheikh Umarr Kamarah, the Community Liaison Head of S L Mining Lunsar, and a professor of linguistics at the Virginia State University in Petersburg, in the United States. He is a writer of high international standing and has to his credit many outstanding publications which include research papers, literary criticisms, book reviews, texts books, book chapters, translations and works of fiction. He is also the proprietor of Lunsar University in Sierra Leone.
We are deeply concerned that since the arrest and detention of Prof. Sheikh Umarr Kamarah at the CID Headquarters on 3rd June, no attempt has been made by the police to explain to the public the reason or circumstances for his arrest and detention. Worse still, he has not been informed in plain language of the facts and grounds for his arrest and detention.
This has given us the impression that the police have chosen to place his personal liberty and freedom entirely at their disposal. In view of this concerned members of the public have had to go around seeking the intervention of influential personalities whom they believe could bear pressure on you to release him. We do not harbour the thought or belief that this country is on such an odious path of tyranny and anarchy. Neither do we wish the police or any agency of Government to give the Government such an uncharitable image. The office of the Inspector General of police is exercising its executive powers not only on behalf of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, but for and on behalf of all the citizens of this country.
We know for a fact that that office is under a duty to conform to, observe and apply the letters and spirit of the Constitution and the principles of the rule of law in all its actions. The rule of law denotes absolute supremacy or predominance of law. Therefore, under it, the Constitution is the supreme law from which this office must gauge the validity of its actions. It is in that spirit that we implore your Commission, the Human Rights Commission, to intervene and get the police to either secure the release of Prof. Sheikh Umarr Kamarah forthwith or bring him before a court of law to answer to charges against him.
The handling of the case of Dr Sheikh Umarr Kamarah is throwing up this country to the international community in a bad light. Unfortunately, for no fault of his and except for his belief that those he has placed in privileged positions will keep the faith and conform to his good precepts and precedents, Mr President is held to be complicit and responsible. We do not only condemn such a disservice but call upon the police – and all those concerned – to retrace their steps and uphold the sanctity of the liberties of the citizens of this country. This is why we are writing this letter and hoping that you will give it all the attention it deserves.
As writers, we have other options and modes of expressing our concerns, but consider this letter to you as one of the necessary first steps. We hope that through your commission this would bring about a prompt and favourable outcome.
Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.
Yours sincerely,
- Oumar Farouk Sesay
- Moses Kelvin Fembeh.
- Abu Bakarr Kamara
- Mohamed Fuad Kamara
- Gbanabom Hallowell
- Vickie Remoe
- Philip Foday Yamba Thulla
- Amara Sesay
- Emmanuel Joseph
- Ahmed Koroma
- Shaka-sylla Conteh
- Hamidu Ansumana
- Ibrahim S. Bangura
- Issa Kanu
- Devon French
- Princess Mildred Kailey
- Njanguma . S. Momodu
- Ibrahim M Fofanah
- Aisha Fofana Ibrahim
- Kayode Robbin-Coker
- Alieu Bundu
- Mohamed Buya Kargbo
- David Williams
- Elizabeth L.A.Kamara
- Sam Kargbo
- Abdul Koroma
- Christopher Hagibu Kalokoh
- Joan A Kainessie
- Kemurl Fofanah
- Sibbie Alpha Sibbie
- Samuella J. Conteh
- Mohamed Tafsir Fofanah
- Rev Alusine Diamond-Suma
- Moses Kainwo
- Chernoh Alpha M. Bah
- Danny Strasser-Williams
- Abdulai Walon-Jalloh
- Syl Cheney Coker
- Fatmata Kamara
- Joseph Lamin Kamara
- Celia Kodjo Dadson
- Ambrose MassaquoI
- Ibrahim Abdullah
- Evereth Bernice Bangura
- Abdul Karim Bah
- Mohamed Pa-Momo Fofanah
- Annie Missah
- Mohamed Sheriff
- Dr Jedidah Johnson
- Yusiff Kamara
- Andrew Keili