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This government has communicated its intolerance for peaceful social action   

Dec 11, 2011 Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,
It is evident the Ramotar administration has thrown down the gauntlet to the people. After having the police barbaric and cowardly act on Tuesday, December 6th which left persons bloodied and traumatized, some are now charged.
The people are charged even as no charge is brought against the police who themselves admitted the incident was “unfortunate,” coupled with the Minister of Home Affairs expressed dismay at their actions ,and admittance that the Standard Operating Procedure was violated.
Further, the minister also admitted there was a “misunderstanding on the part of the organisers of the march whether permission was granted or not granted for a march to take place.”
Given the stated, and in the absence of a commission of inquiry as called for by the people to ascertain what truly happened, proceeding with charging the aggrieved means that this government has communicated to the nation its unwillingness to listen to the people, respect the people, and its intolerance to peaceful social action.
The spirit and intent behind the law granting permission for public marches and speech come into sharp focus. Freedom of assembly and expression are fundamental rights, outlined in universal declarations and enshrined in our Constitution, so any law flowing there from has to be respecting of them. Law(s) that grew out of the respect for these rights must never be used in a repressive manner, or dangled as a carrot or stick. Where such law is misinterpreted or misconstrued then those entrusted the authority to apply the law are abusing the law and must be held accountable. Also, where the law sets out to disregard the stated rights then the law becomes unjust.
It should be said that while the authority rests with the police to give permission for public assembly and expression, such interpretation must give primacy to the rights of the citizens, their safety, and the safety of the environment.
The law is there to ensure that those seeking permission have their rights respected even as they adhere to social order under the protective eyes/notification of law enforcement, and where necessary have the physical presence of law enforcement to avoid any one violating the enjoyment of their rights, or using the exercise of these rights to engage in acts inimical to the rights and well-being of others and society. Citizens also have a civic responsibility to police their environment.
History reminds us of the public actions of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, Jane Phillips Gay, Martin Carter, et al, which saw some being placed before the courts. Given the political era their agitations were premised on civil disobedience to realize just laws and a society respecting of the people’s rights.
In effect theirs was a struggle against a status quo that thrived on the divide and rule tactic; wanted peace without justice, prosperity for a few on the backs of the majority, work without value for workers; silence in the presence of violations; compliance without respect. From theses resistance/civil disobedience the masses made significant changes to their wellbeing, including securing nationhood and the entrenchment of the right to self determination on May 26, 1966.
The state has a moral and civic responsibility to honour the rights of its citizens. In that today these are under threat through growing intolerance, misconception/ignorance, instigated political mischief and desire for a repressive environment, seemingly, persons desirous of righting the wrong through peaceful social action are being given the choice to replicate the actions of Critchlow, et al. It is regrettable that an organization whose founders fought to ensure the right to self determination for the colonized and its supporters is today engaging in acts to deny others. But whatever is worth having is worth fighting for and since justice is on the side of the aggrieved justice shall prevail.
Lincoln Lewis

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