…Says Senior Protection Officer
July 19, 2017 By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
The Senior Protection officer and Supervisor of the Residual Special Court in Sierra Leone, Thomas Konie Akin Bobola, has on Friday 14th July ,2017, observed that the launch of the Special Residual Court Booklet “Wetin na di residual Special Kot for Sierra Leone” was a milestone in the history of the court.
He was speaking on behalf of the Registrar of the Residual Special Court, Binta Mansaray, during the launch of the SRC Booklet at Former Special Court for Sierra Leone Canteen, New England Ville in Freetown.
Speaking during the ceremony, he said the establishment of the Special Residual Court came about after the work of the tribunal ended with the closing of trials in 2013.
Mr. Bobola said RCSL was established to continue to perform the legal and other obligations of the Special Court, including ensuring the human rights, safety and well-being of all the prisoners until the end of their jail term.
“We continue to look after our witnesses and the legal obligations of the establishment of the Special court of Sierra Leone.”
He said there was still a defense department within the RSCSL to protect the rights of prisoners in Rwanda and the United Kingdom.
Speaking on behalf of the Judges of the RSCSL, Senior Legal Adviser, RSCSL and President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, Rhoda Nuni, said “we are happy to be part of the launch of the Residual Court.
She disclosed that there were 16 Judges at the RSCSL and that they have been very active.
“The establishment of the Special Residual Court is the first in International Human Rights Justice in the World,” she said.
The Chairman, Independent Media Commission and Lead Negotiator during the establishment of the Special Court For Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ibrahim Alieu Kanu, said he led the negotiations for the establishment of SCSL together with the Attorney General and other members of the Legal education in the country to take part in the process in New York.
He said SCSL played a significant role in the peace process of the country.
“The Residual Court is not well known by many including those in the diaspora. This booklet will answer all the questions about the Residual Court and its importance to Sierra Leone and the World at large,” he said.
He noted that the booklet would go a long way to explaining the essence of the Residual Court of Sierra Leone.
The Former Chief of Outreach and Public Affairs of the SCSL, Peter Anderson, thanked civil Society organisations who helped to sensitise and propagate the essence of Special Court for Sierra Leone in the schools, colleges and all over the country.
“I am very grateful to the media for helping them in communicating about the importance of the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to the people of Sierra Leone,” Mr. Anderson said.
“Today I’m launching this booklet titled ‘Wetin Na Di Residual Special Kot? “
The book was written by Peter Anderson, Patrick Fatorma and the Registrar of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The Executive Secretary Coalition for Justice and Accountability (COJA), Sulaiman Jabatie, speaking on behalf of the Civil Society organisations, said they as civil society were always happy as they have been with the Special Court since its inception and closure in 2013.
“This booklet will be used as civil Society organisations in the country to know more about the RSCSL,” Mr. Jabatie said.
He advised the SRCSL to be organising a residual interactive forum so that they as civil society organisations could work together with the SRCSL to do their work effectively and efficiently.
He thanked the Registrar of the court for considering them as stakeholders in the development process.
The launch of the RSCSL was climaxed with performances from one family people- a disability society showing and sensitising about the importance of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone and the significance of peace, love and harmony in a country.