Rights are indeed rights; but, they are not absolute

Dec 20, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The  results of the November elections, resulting  in  a PPP/C minority  government  being returned to office, have resulted in protest marches from particularly APNU’s youth arm. This action has since spawned  a  somewhat heated debate as to   ”rights .” Apart from  the  marches along certain prescribed routes, a tactic employed by these protesters is to stage gatherings in the immediate vicinities of the homes of certain high ranking state officials and other well-known personalities.
Before deciding on the  right or wrong of such action, permit a brief on this question of “rights.”
Of course, almost all  constitutions of sovereign states have enshrined certain  alienable rights as belonging to the citizens of  the particular states. For instance, speech. There is a particular view from some citizens that the right to free speech, for example, means the right to  utter just any statement, even if it damages, slanders, or brings one’s person or character and integrity into question or  disrepute.
Such behaviour is quite common in this State, even appearing in the general private media, both print and electronic. Rights are indeed rights; but, they are not absolute, and this explains why there are judicial actions such as injunctions, that are often granted against instances when this ugly  and unjust act is committed. The point to be emphasised, is that responsibility has to  be exercised where the executing  of any enshrined  right is concerned.
The right to peaceful protest is allowed, yes; but what if they result in apparent intimidation to, say, the city business community, who still  have fresh memories of those terror marches in the mid-90s, even onto the early 2000s. Also. Is it right to target the private residences of  some State officials? Is not such  action on the part of these protesters, a form of intimidation, even terror, extending onto that  general neighbourhood, as well?  What if there might have been some member of that targeted home, recovering from an illness, becoming further traumatized?
Is exercising such a right as peaceful protest, as carried out in the above manner, responsible  conduct, when it is done in  the manner described above?
Sylvan Blackman

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