President Dr. J.S. Momoh
Address at consultative meeting with the leaders of political parties
Monday, 16 December 1991

Let me say that I am pleased with the progress we have made to date in moving toward democracy.

All aspects of the process to date: the new Constitution, the Referendum, the formation of political parties, the early stages of party organisation, have gone very well.

At the same time I think it is important for all of us to realise that what we have done so far is the easiest part.

The hard tasks of democracy remain ahead of us.

We are committed to free and fair elections, to open peaceful campaigning, to equal access for all parties in all parts of the country, to free speech and free press discussion on all issues.

What we must avoid is the division of our country along tribal, religious and regional lines: and most of all, the unleashing of inter-ethnic and sectional violence that has been the scourge of so many other countries.

All of us need to be responsible in our appeals for support.

Together we can work to foster the spirit of tolerance that has characterised our state.

The Constitution is quite clear that ethnic, religious or regional appeals are illegal, and that people guilty of such action will run the risk of having their parties and their candidates disqualified.

In the last few weeks we have noticed some disturbing indicators that a few people are trying to use ethnicity, religion, region and other parochial ties to gain support for their parties or to foster hostility towards other parties.

We must all put a stop to that: we must ensure that our supporters understand that such activity is improper in a free and democratic multi-party system.

I trust that you will work with me to ensure that party politics in Sierra Leone does not degenerate into what has occurred in Liberia, Zaire or Yugoslavia.

Sierra Leone has a long tradition of ethnic and religious tolerance.

If we fail to uphold that noble tradition, we risk all we have fought so hard for in the past.

We must ensure that everyone understands that ethnic and religious conflict have no place in Sierra Leone, that tolerance, openness and fair play are the watch words of multi-party politics in Sierra Leone.

Let us be a beacon of justice and reason for the rest of the world.

COMPETITIVE PROCESS

Let me say a few words about the competitive process during this transition period.

All of us are aware of the difficulties involved in moving from the old constitutional order to a new democratic multi-party system.

The drafters of the Constitution tried to anticipate and forestall difficulties by including transition clauses, and we have worked very hard to accommodate various interests (for example in Parliamentary committee appointments) even where there are ambiguities.

We will continue to do so.

On the other hand, I know that there will be differences of opinion about what should be done, for example, about what constitutes "consultation" or the conseque3nces of formal recognition of individual parties in Parliament.

In a memorandum addressed to me some time ago, the parties then constituting UNIFOM requested the creation of a government of national unity in which all the political parties would be represented.

The issue continues to be raised from time to time.

Let me state categorically that I am not averse to the idea of a government of national unity.

Indeed, in my own small way, the appointment of my new Cabinet is a manifestation of my commitment to the policy in the best possible manner.

I am not convinced, however, that appointing government which includes people who have formed new parties will contribute positively to our effort to establish a competitive democratic system.

If anything, it suggests a return to the one-party politics we all rejected so resoundingly.

Each of you is here today because your party has been registered according to the provisions of the new Constitution.

Many of you are already actively campaigning for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections in a free competitive system.

All of you are guaranteed the right to hold meetings freely, to speak without intimidation, move about the country without hindrance.

These are all conditions of democracy which I discussed in my address to the nation at the signing ceremony.

I noted that we wee ushering in a "period of freedom, openness and justice – and era in which people will be free to organise political parties, express their views in support of a party of their choice, and know that political differences can be resolved in a peaceful, thoughtful manner without violence or rancour".

I think all of you know that I have been dedicated to the realisation of democracy in Sierra Leone from the beginning of my presidency.

I have worked hard from 1985 to get us to this point including free and fair competitive elections in 1986, calls for liberalisation in August 1990, appointment of the Constitutional Review Commission in October 1990, strong support for the Constitution, the Referendum, and my signature on the document on 24 September 1991.

While I have not done this alone, I think most o f you will agree, that we would not yet be at this point in the democratic process had it not been for my initiatives and my support.

It is for that reason that I am surprised and somewhat puzzled when I hear people suggest that I am not in favour of democracy or that the government will perpetrate or condone violence in the electoral process.

I am not here to point fingers, but I think it is time to eliminate the rhetoric.

It is unfounded, does not enhance the democratic process and it unfairly damages the image of Sierra Leone.

I assure you once more of my commitment to peaceful, free and fair elections.

You too have obligations to this process – to ensure that your party officials, candidates and supporters understand the rules and help all people abide by them.

We are all brothers and sisters.

We must be friends at the same time as we are competitors.

Let me repeat what I said at the signing:

"Let us all commit ourselves to developing a political culture in which we will fight for the protection of not only our own rights but those of others whatever may be their political persuasion.

Among other things, I think it is time to tone down the accusations, threats of violence, menacing language and appeals to ethnic and religious loyalties.

I also urge political parties to refrain from using the press in an inflammatory manner.

Every party, including my own, needs to be watchful and sensitive to this issue, monitoring our followers, and taking remedial action if necessary.

As in 1986, we will hold everyone to a code of proper conduct.

Let us look to, and work for the future, avoiding recrimination and concentrating on what we can do to make democracy work.

I am sure you all concur that we must do that if we are to succeed.

Let me make several suggestions for improving both cooperation and insuring peaceful cooperation.

In the interest of helping to ensure free and fair elections, I want to encourage communication between political parties, and I want to give you access to the Executive Branch of my government if you feel there are problems.

Some of you have already begun to discuss communications arrangements between parties and I want to encourage that effort.

Secondly, I want all of you to feel that you can be heard if you feel there are major hurdles or problems facing the competitive process.

I intend to designate someone very soon, to serve as my personal representative, to be available to the leaders of political parties to discuss major problems if they arise.

I too am available, but I want you to feel that you have several points of access to State House, as well as through the Electoral Commission or the First Vice-President.

CIVIC EDUCATION

An important part of our return to multi-party democracy is civic education.

A central condition of democracy is an informed citizenry.

People must understand both their rights and their responsibilities – they must be aware of their right to be heard, to make choices freely, to be active in politics without hindrance.

And they must understand their own responsibilities – tolerance of other points of view, openness to other ideas, peaceful participation in the political process.

Effective democracy demands major obligations of its citizens – obligations which help ensure that the nation is truly free.

A second aspect of civic education relates to the voting process itself.

Democratic elections work well only when everyone understands the voting process thoroughly.

The Government, through units like the Ministry of Information and the Electoral Commission, are carrying out some civic education programmes.

We hope to expand on those efforts.

Nonetheless, citizens education is something which should be of equal concern to all of us.

I urge you to involve your political parties in the citizens education process both within the party organisation and in the community at large.

I also hope that civic groups and other voluntary associations will do their part to help citizens become aware of their rights and responsibilities.

A number of voluntary organisations are already doing this and I applaud their civic-minded efforts.

FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

I want you to understand that as President I see part of my role being to ensure that multi-party democracy moves forward as quickly and as effectively as possible.

I see the President as the final guarantor of free and fair elections.

In the desire to make multi-party democracy work, I want to emphasise my willingness to help if there are problems, to mediate disputes if there are any, or serve as a final arbiter if you feel that some part of the Government apparatus is not acting fairly or in accordance with proper democratic procedures.

I am working diligently to guarantee that the process will be free, open, peaceful and fair.

CONCLUSIONS

By way of conclusion I want to emphasise several things.

These comments mark the beginning of my dialogue with political parties.

I hope to have many more as time and need dictate.

This first attempt is designed to put multi-party democracy in context, to acknowledge the consequences of war, the need to work together in that effort and in the process, build a viable democracy in Sierra Leone.