|
Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 19:47:19
|
SOTOKOI/NJIE KUNDA LAND DISPUTE STILL UNRESOLVED
The land dispute between Sotokoi and Njie Kunda, all in the Niamina East District, over an area of land called Konkoo Koto, is still unresolved as the community of Njie Kunda accuses Sotokoi of preventing them from utilising the local forest resources available in the said disputed area.
In an interview with this reporter, Pa Ebou Sarr, the Alkalo of Njie Kunda, said that the issue over the said disputed fields started over seven years ago when the District Chief, Alagie Kebba Touray, was said to have demarcated the said area to Sotokoi when, according to him, the said area belongs to Njie Kunda.
To back his assertion, he claimed that it was said to be founded by a native of the village called Ranfam, who he said had utilised the said disputed fields for agricultural production. He pointed out that he could remember that in his youth the following people planted rice in the disputed land: Mam Horja Tambadou, Jainaba Nyaroum, Musu Bateh, Mam Neneh Keita and Yassin Kannel, all natives of Njie Kunda. He opined that this is an indication that the disputed land belongs to Njie Kunda.
He stated that sometime in 2006 they were called to a meeting held at Janjangbureh to discuss the dispute. The then Permanent Secretaries for Local Government and Forestry, the Regional Governor, Amulai Janneh, and his deputy were said to be present at that meeting. He stated that the Alkalo of Sotokoi Kebba Beyai, Langkuru Danso, Banna Drammeh and Jonfolo Biyaye represented Sotokoi, while Njie Kunda was represented by him (Ebou Sarr) the Alkalo, Alagie Malick Sarr, the Imam, Momodou Juli Ceesay, Aja Hoja Ceesay, APRC Constituency Chairman, Alagie Mbye Jah, and Alagie Abdou Begaye. The Alkalo of Pateh Sam and Alagie Babu Mbye of Maka were also present.
He said when the chief was given the floor he said that he had divided the said fields between Sotokoi and Njie Kunda but that he (the Alkalo of Njie Kunda) never accepted that decision. The Alkalo then said when he was given the floor, he told them that he would never accepted that decision because the said place belongs to Njie Kunda. He also denied the allegation that his father had signed any document granting ownership of the disputed fields to Sotokoi. He said Alagie Bafu also acknowledges that the disputed land belongs to Njie Kunda. The Alkalo then said in his narration he was then asked by the Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Local Government, one Mr Cham what could be done to solve the problem. The Alkalo said he told them that to solve the problem they have to divide the disputed land between the two villages, starting from the sign board on the high way to Njie Kunda. He said the Permanent Secretary for Local Government at the time then authorised them (the Njie Kunda people) to continue utilising the disputed land.
However, matters turned otherwise, according to the Alkalo. He claimed that subsequent to the meeting at Governor’s office, one Babou Ceesay and Babou Secka, who are young natives of Njie Kunda, were beaten, arrested and handed over at the Jareng Police Station where they were detained. He said the day coincided with the malaria day celebrations held at Mamutfana, where the Deputy Governor of CRR, at the time, was approached about the arrest of the two youths. The Deputy Governor, he said, advised them to meet at Sotokoi to discuss the matter with the Chief and the Alkalo of Sotokoi.
According to the Alkalo of Njie Kunda, when they went to Sotokoi with the intention of solving the problem, to their surprise the former Chairman of the Janjangbureh Area Council, Malang Saibo Camara, told the gathering that the Alkalo of Njie Kunda is faulty claiming that the said place belongs to Sotokoi. According to the Alkalo of Njie Kunda they never accepted Sotokoi’s ownership of the disputed land.
When contacted the Alkalo of Sotokoi Kebba Beyaye said the dispute has ended. He said a document from the Department of State for Forestry has been endorsed by the two villages giving ownership to Sotokoi. He said he therefore had nothing to say.
When contacted for his opinion on the matter the District Chief of Niamina East, Alagie Kebba Touray, said the dispute over the said area started since the time of the former Chief Cunja Dandang Ceesay, when he gave the disputed land to Sotokoi. He stated that when he took over as Chief he did conduct a survey and identified places for the two communities which were endorsed by the two communities. He said that the community of Njie Kunda violated that decision by cutting down trees in the area allocated to Sotokoi as community forest. He also denied the allegation that the former Chairman of the Janjangburay Area Council did make such a remark to the Alkalo of Njie Kunda.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 21/2008, 20 – 21 February 2008
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
