On Thu, 11 Jan 1996, Ibrahim Abdullah wrote:
>Are there any FUNDAMENTAL differences between what our abled theoretician of >violence (genocide?) has been advocating and what Mumu tells us is the making in >Kailahun, not too far from Kenema?
The answer is an unequivocal YES ... It is the difference between the controlled fire used to cook your meal in the kitchen and a raging inferno that consumes your household.
Students of behavior in organizations learn that human beings have a hierarchy of needs they seek to satisfy; the most fundamental of which are physiological (food, shelter, clothing) and safety. These needs have clearly remained unsatisfied for most of our brothers and sisters who are ordinarily resident in Kailahun District and other war torn areas. With this experience, they will support a political structure and leadership that offers the greatest help in satisfying these needs.
Clearly, the RUF operatives and Sobels have failed to recognize this. If Mumu's reports are accurate, the Paramount Chiefs are showing the noblest leadership in seeing to the needs of their people.
The challenge to those aspiring to national leadership is to deal with this reality. They could work with the people through their recognized local leaders (as the British successfully did in their doctrine of "indirect rule"), or they could fight these leaders and ALL of their people. Kelfala, I believe, has offered a workable policy engendering the former. On my part, I would certainly not envy anyone choosing the latter alternative, which would involve fighting against a people who have already suffered genocide and have little else to lose. This would surely be a recipe the disintegration of Sierra Leone.