Information on the March 1987 arrest of Freetown Superintendent of Police G.M.T. Kai Kai for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the Sierra Leone government, and his present whereabouts, and on the arrest of other alleged conspirators and whether they were released or charged [SLE22966.E]

The attached pages from the April and May 1987 issues of Keesing's Record of World Events provide information on an alleged coup attempt and the subsequent arrest of an Assistant Police Superintendent (Joseph Kai-Kai) and several army officers.

According to Amnesty International Report 1987, which is available in Regional Documentation Centres, "about 50 people were arrested in March [1987] in connection with a conspiracy to overthrow the government" (1988, 68).

The attached page from the May 1988 issue Keesing's Record of World Events provides information on the trial of 18 people, including Gabriel Kaikai, a former assistant director of police, on treason charges related to the alleged March 1987 coup attempt (35886). Sixteen people, including Gabriel Kaikai, were sentenced to death (ibid.).

The attached page of October 1989 Keesing's Record of World Events provides information on the execution of six men, including Gabriel Kaikai, a former assistant director of police, for their alleged involvement in a 1987 abortive coup attempt (36967).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Amnesty International. 1988. Amnesty International Report 1988. New York: Amnesty International USA.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. October 1989. Vol. 35, No. 10. "Sierra Leone: Execution of Coup Plotters."

_____. May 1988. Vol. 34, No. 5. "Sierra Leone: Treason Trial."

_____. April 1987. Vol. 33, No. 4. "The Silver Sea Affair - March 1987 Attempted Coup."

_____. May 1987. Vol. 33, No. 5. "Major World Events - April 1987: 3rd Sierra Leone."

Attachments

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. October 1989. Vol. 35, No. 10. " Sierra Leone: Execution of Coup Plotters," p. 36967-36968.

_____. May 1988. Vol. 34, No. 5. "Sierra Leone: Treason Trial," p. 35886.

_____. April 1987. Vol. 33, No. 4. "The Silver Sea Affair - March 1987 Attempted Coup," p. 35045.

_____. May 1987. Vol. 33, No. 5. "Major World Events - April 1987: 3rd Sierra Leone," p. 35104.