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 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 state, for instance, free speech.
There is a particular view from some citizens that the right to free speech, for example, means the right to utter just about any statement, even if it damages, slander, 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 the city business community, which still has fresh memories of those terror marches in the mid-90s, even onto early 2000.
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 traumatised?
Is exercising such a right as peaceful protest, as carried out in the above manner, responsible conduct?