Rioting is not only hooliganism but also criminal
Sep 24, 2009
EDITOR—Rioting is an act of hooliganism which is neither a right nor a democratic process. It is criminal. A democratic demonstration is a right as long as it is within the confines of the law.
EDITOR—Rioting is an act of hooliganism which is neither a right nor a democratic process. It is criminal. A democratic demonstration is a right as long as it is within the confines of the law.
In advanced democracies, the Police, are the arm of Government that enforces the law. They usually come in to protect such democratic demonstration crusades.
There are several ways democratic demonstrations can take place. The most prominent is where demonstrators write placards, bearing the message they wish to convey or protest.
In other cases, demonstrators can camp in or around the premises of parliament or even State House to make sure the authority or department concerned receives their message.
Some demonstrators can go on hunger strike for days to show their dissatisfaction. That way of demonstration is not only democratic but also acceptable and civilised.
But when the demonstrators start rioting and turn their arsenal against the public, that is no longer a democratic crusade, but a terrorist and criminal one. Similar riots have recently taken place in Kampala where the rioters, pretending to be exercising their rights, took the law in their hands.
They looted, robbed and murdered people in the name of democracy!
These acts should be condemned by all peace-loving Ugandans and members of the human community.
The difference here is that the crimes and terror actions committed by rioters are protected, or if not, sanctioned by high profile figures with hidden agendas!
I suggest therefore that there is a need of enacting a special criminal tribunal comprising all the state security organs to handle such cases. Such criminal tribunals can investigate beyond the crimes committed and find out where the plan of such terrorism programmes was hatched.
Adam Kasambula
Chairman Coordinator NRM Scandinavia Sweden
Adamka2001@yahoo.com
In advanced democracies, the Police, are the arm of Government that enforces the law. They usually come in to protect such democratic demonstration crusades.
There are several ways democratic demonstrations can take place. The most prominent is where demonstrators write placards, bearing the message they wish to convey or protest.
In other cases, demonstrators can camp in or around the premises of parliament or even State House to make sure the authority or department concerned receives their message.
Some demonstrators can go on hunger strike for days to show their dissatisfaction. That way of demonstration is not only democratic but also acceptable and civilised.
But when the demonstrators start rioting and turn their arsenal against the public, that is no longer a democratic crusade, but a terrorist and criminal one. Similar riots have recently taken place in Kampala where the rioters, pretending to be exercising their rights, took the law in their hands.
They looted, robbed and murdered people in the name of democracy!
These acts should be condemned by all peace-loving Ugandans and members of the human community.
The difference here is that the crimes and terror actions committed by rioters are protected, or if not, sanctioned by high profile figures with hidden agendas!
I suggest therefore that there is a need of enacting a special criminal tribunal comprising all the state security organs to handle such cases. Such criminal tribunals can investigate beyond the crimes committed and find out where the plan of such terrorism programmes was hatched.
Adam Kasambula
Chairman Coordinator NRM Scandinavia Sweden
Adamka2001@yahoo.com