Mr. Gibril Massie Bah, Director of Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR ), was beaten and injured by a lieutenant of the Armed Force of Republic of sierra Leone on the 19th of December 2009. The day the unfortunate incident took place was on a Saturday, a day observed as a” National Cleaning Day” at the makeni and the organization that Mr. Bah is currently working, Centre for Democracy and Human Right (CDHR) was asked to support it by providing logistics and other essentials logistics required for the exercise.

According to Mr. Brima Sheriff,Director of Amnesty International of Sierra Leone who released this information, Mr. Gibril Massie Bah was very active on that Saturday when he came in contact with a lieutenant. Mr. Bah had an argument with the lieutenant over the release of a man who was arrested that day driving a vehicle and whom Mr. Bah knew and respected. In the argument that ensued, Mr. Bah exchange sharp words with the lieutenant who later on, attacked him with fist, punches, claiming that he had insulted him in the presence of his junior military men.

The human rights defenders were not insensitive to this assault and a Human Rights Defenders Emergency Meeting was convened.
Following the meeting, urgent actions were taken consisting in writing a press release to condemn the action of the lieutenant for the assault of one of their member; making trip to Makeni to sympathize and investigate on the assault. It was also agreed that the team should meet with UN Representative, public and military authorities on this issue.

Participants of the meeting as shown below:

1- Brima Sheriff, Director of Amnesty International
2- Charles B.P. Lahai, Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organization (SLYEO) Executive Director
3- Gibril Massie Bah Coordination for Active Peace & Empowerment in Sierra Leone (CAPE-SL) Executive Director
4- Charles Mambu, Coalition of Civil Society and Human Rights Activist Director
5- Ngolo Katta, Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA) National Director
6- Alfred Carew, National Forum For Human Right Executive Director
7- Mohamed .S. Kamara, National Forum For Human Right Documentation Officer

C. Alfred

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Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the north, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi) and has a population estimated at 6.4 million. The country has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Freetown is the capital, seat of the central government, and largest city. Bo is the second largest city. Other major cities in the country with a population over 100,000 are Kenema, Koidu Town and Makeni. The country is home to Fourah Bay College, the oldest university in West Africa, established in 1827. The Njala University in Bo and the Eastern Polytechnic University in Kenema are the other two major universities in the country. Sierra Leone is home to the third largest natural harbours in the world, the Queen Elizabeth II Quay (also known as the QE II Quay and locally as the Deep Water Quay or Government Warf). English is the official language of Sierra Leone spoken at schools, government administration and by the media.

The West African state of Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of brutal civil war, which was marked by the hacking off of limbs. Life expectancy in the country declined to 33 years for men and 35 years for women. The war ended in 2002. Tens of thousands of
militia and rebels were disarmed by United Nations peacekeeping mission to restore peace and democracy. Human rights have naturally fared very poorly during the years of war. There are currently 33 HRD organizations in the coalition, with about 54 frontline advocates. They are moderately active, but still face a difficult environment.

During the civil war HRDs were targeted by all the warring factions. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and his officials are on record for threatening HRDs and journalists. Today, legal support, logistical capacity (computers and transportation), funding, political contacts and networking is in need of improvement. About 21 HRDs have escaped for fear of persecution. Since the end of the war, around 270 persons, HRDs and their immediate family, are estimated to be at potential risk.

Sierra Leone Coalition of Human Rights Defenders included among its priorities:

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