[Ugnet] Demos Demand Restraint From All

So what does the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Ruhakana Rugunda, now think of his directive to police to regulate the conduct of public protests?

Lounging in his comfort zone of political expedience, the minister ignored warnings that his edict would be read as a blank cheque for the security forces to brutally clampdown on any protests.

The minister hid behind the fa�ade of maintaining order to unleash the government's terror machine, whose blood and iron tactics were on Thursday borne on Kampala city streets by the protesters and innocent children, women and bystanders.

As Rugunda's colleague, Information minister Nsaba Buturo said in a statement the same day, it is the responsibility of both the government and the opposition parties to ensure that the path to multiparty democracy is not curved out of anarchy.

Buturo also correctly praised the order and lawfulness of the three demonstrations before the one that was brutally bust by Rugunda's security forces.

Minister Buturo is right to say that the demonstrators should not aim to make Kampala ungovernable in a bid to change the government through the politics of demonstrations.

Unfortunately, extreme maladies beg extreme remedies.

As we enter the hectic political period of 2006, the security forces, government supporters, the opposition, and their leaders will be required to show maximum restraint in the face of unprecedented provocation.

In some cases, it will not be easy to say which side is in the right.

In all cases, however, all must seek recourse in the sanctity of the legal order.

And the law is clear on demonstrations.

First, Article 21 (1) (d) of our Constitution guarantees upon every person the right to publicly and peacefully demonstrate, hold legal assembly and freely express themselves.

As minister Buturo said on Thursday, to demonstrate is a democratic right of every Ugandan. It must, however, be exercised in a responsible way.

Unfortunately, the government appears determined to change goal posts when the tide runs against it.

Secondly, there is no legal requirement to seek permission to demonstrate although prudence dictates that the police be informed so that they ensure security.

What we witnessed on Thursday was, therefore, a miscarriage of the law by those who should be the foremost custodians of that law.

Such a travesty is a recipe for anarchy.

[Ugnet] Demos Demand Restraint From All

Reply via email to