Reviewing the Citizenship Law : A warning

Published on September 9, 2010 by Cocorioko News · 6 Comments

I know that His Excellency Dr E.B. Koroma believes in universal human rights and justice and the Law of ‘natural divine’ that all men are created equal. But granting a blanket citizenship right to the Lebanese community in Sierra Leone WITHOUT limitations or ‘CHECKS and BALANCES’ will set the foundation of a neo-form of economic, social and even political imperialism. Whatever actions taken today MUST consider the impact on the future of Sierra Leoneans.

The world is a global village in theory but not in practice. The whole international community works under the capitalised rancour of ‘self interest. Therefore, Sierra Leoneans must not forget to seek their own interest above all else. Our present generation matters but the future generation will be worse vulnerable subject to the foundation we set today.

The Lebanese community have been staying for so long in Sierra Leone. They have been involving in different forms of businesses. We must not only limit our good analyses about then in an economic term. We need to use a political and social ‘volcanic’ eruption to find out what lies underneath their stay and their relationship with Africans in general and Sierra Leonean in particular.

Socially, they have made it a taboo and even a curse for a noble Blackman to marry their daughters. Let us reflect on their decade stay in all the regions of Sierra Leone. Almost all the ‘bi-racial’ Lebanese are from black mothers and Lebanese fathers. My question is, WHY not the other way. We must not underscore this fact. It means we are ONLY meant to be under them and not above them. And that must STOP before we accept Lebanese as one of us. We must not see them as part of us but as one of us. Because of that ‘Arab-Israeli’ mentality to rule or exterminate Israel, they have always, without remorse, rape our sisters, send our ‘metallic-mental’ Sierra Leoneans to carry out their treacherous activities. We have seen in many cases of domestic violence on Sierra Leonean maids in Sierra Leone and in Lebanon. Do they think that they are better-off? If so, they need to pack and exodus to Lebanon.

I must also remind the government of Sierra Leone that there is grave threat of extremism from the Arab population which they could import into our peaceful, co-existence, and religious tolerance communities. Let us reflect on the Israeli merchant, Skippa, who came to do lucrative business in Sierra Leone. The Lebanese community fought tooth and nail to oust him under the defunct ‘Momoh APC’ government. Now, they have come again under a viable APC government with a new tactic [hunger strike].

Practically, these Lebanese know what they are doing and what they hope to achieve both in the short-run and long-run. Remember, it is alleged that the Lebanese Community was helping Hezbollah and was also involved in buying diamonds for Al-Qaeda. Sierra Leoneans must remember one thing about the Arabs or Lebanese; they could shed blood for anything against Israeli interest. Giving certain rights to these middle-easterners might bread a Sunni-Shia religious sect in Sierra Leone and a platform for an invisible anti-Israeli and anti-Western interests under a ‘snail-work’ agenda.

We cannot stand to mortgage Sierra Leone again just to have an accolade of being the warmest people on earth. Our ancestors did that and it ended us being colonised by the strangers we gave hospitality. Are we ready to make another GRAVE mistake? NO!!!

If the Lebanese cherish us as first class humans, they MUST obey our laws, respect us, and dwell with us as equals and NOT subordinates. Otherwise, they must go to hell with hunger strikes.

Long Live Sierra Leone and Afric

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Readers Comments (6)

Sydney Thomas says:

September 9, 2010 at 7:51 am

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS ARTICLE
IT IS TIME FOR US SIERRA LEONEANS TO BE PROUD OF OURSELVES, AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR BELOVETH COUNTRY.
WE MUST TREAT FOREIGNERS AS FOREIGNERS, AS THEY SURE TREAT US AS FOREIGNERS IN THEIR COUNTRY

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Joseph C. Massaquoi.Esq. says:

September 12, 2010 at 1:33 am

I totally disagree with this article and most of the comments with regards this issue of citizenship.First and foremost,people need to understand the “Concept Of Citizenship”.Citizenship can be Acquired in one of the following ways:By Conquest,Naturalization,Birth,Mirriage or Registeration.So tell me if i choose any of these forms to be a citizen who’s got the right to stop people?Only the Constituation,and what does it state?Talking about putting Sierra Leoneans first is wrong,i think we have to put the interest of the country first above all other personal and self-fish interest that has plunge the country into complete mess that we find ourselves today.Where is the love that we Sierra Leoneans have for our country?There is non,absolutely NON.If you are to travel from West to East of Freetown you can not even see the National Falg up to 15 hanging in all quarters.Be it in Houses or even Government Offices.As far as i know there is no need stoping people who want to be Citizens of that country,the government only need to have policies in place that deter people that will clandestine motive of becomming Citizen.Have you forgotten our Foreign minister under the NPRC regime selling our Passport to Koreans.and now he had the Gut to stand up to be candidate for the next Presidental Election?Please let us think before we put

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Gamal Bokri says:

September 9, 2010 at 1:19 pm

This article hits on a pertinent and important issue. As Sierra Leoneans, we are always to quick to follow western standards ignoring the fact that western countries and economies are well established with well entrenched local wealth and institutions that make their culture and values more resilient than in Sierra Leone.

Our economy and institutions are too weak to invite such an ambitious and comparatively wealthy group as the Lebanese to participate in society unrestricted. We remember the PLO issue with Siaki in the 80s that left the country in uncharted political territory looking rather silly.

If at all, we should continue to offer Lebanese like other ECOWAS citizens the right to remain, travel and trade freely once they are proven to be fit and proper persons. Afterall, I do believe that Sierra Leoneans living in Lebanon are not even afforded these basic rights let alone citizenship.

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James Kamara says:

September 11, 2010 at 10:15 am

I think this should be a wake up call for all Sierra leoneans and of course our government. I went to Sierra Leone just two months ago and trust me I was shocked by the way we let foreigners have their way. It should be noted that any country that does not protect its own will neither develop nor know peace. I think it is high time we checked the influx and continuing influence of Foreigners like Nigerians and the Lebanese. Its simple, if you allow foreigners to control and walk away with a country’s wealth then that country is doomed. No wonder we hear not onlS the Nigeria lady abusing everyone in the country including its ministers, but also a British boy blogging about how ‘shit’ Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans are.

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aminata says:

September 11, 2010 at 11:40 am

Great article, this law needs to be revisit. no matter what, they are exploiting us .we are the loosers.

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Rodney Michael says:

September 12, 2010 at 10:28 pm

this is not about exploitation or abuse. It is about the rights of Citizens.
President Kennedy, in his inaugural address acknowledged these freedoms and told the world that, “the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the (divine) hand of God”.
We did not chose Sierra Leone, it was chosen for us by God and so our fore-fathers were destined to settle in Sierra Leone.
We did not chose our colours or our sex or our ancestry but by virtue of God’s decision, we have the right to chose now, and with some of us it’s Sierra Leone or being stateless.

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