State of emergency not answer to crime
Published:Wednesday | July 28, 2010 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
WITH ALL due respect, I believe our PM is under the illusion that a state of emergency that authorises our soldiers and police to be arresting officer, judge, jury and executioner is the answer to the crime monster and will be effective and worthwhile.
Crime statistics reported by the Government will predictably show dramatic improvement, but at what price? The killing of suspects or imprisoning them compromises their rights as citizens without formally charging them and determine their guilt or innocence in a court of law. This approach will also NOT solve our crime problem.
The state of emergency provision in our constitution was never envisioned as a long term approach to crime. But our prime minister's great gift is that he can sell worthless pyrites for gold. While we are focused on catching the bad guys and reducing the number of homicides, what is this doing to our basic human rights?
The path to hell
We should be reminded of what they say about the path to hell. This usurpation of powers is no substitute for a comprehensive plan to address not only crime but social development as well. The only money we are never short of is for law enforcement.
When will we start redirecting some of these funds to education, jobs, development and the rehabilitation of the criminals we are putting behind bars? Since they are not all on life sentences, how will they be re-introduced into society? Some of these men being imprisoned are our youths. With five to 10 years in prison, they will not only become bitter, they will have gone to prison school and been indoctrinated into the criminal subculture. What will they do when they are released?
Declaring a state of emergency says more about the incompetence of Government than law and order. We brutalise our people by not educating them, denying them access to basic services and not just blame them but sentence them to a life of misery.
Personally, I live in fear, not only from criminals but the Government. What is to prevent the prime minister (under his emergency powers) from sending soldiers to extricate me from my home just because he doesn't like what I write or say about him. Do we still have free speech? Tumultuous liberty is better than disgraceful peace. "I would rather be a dead man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave." (Jimmy Cliff) Ruling by fear is the worst kind of government.
The end, ladies and gentlemen, does not justify the means. It is time to bring back the restorer of the trust and the builder of the nation.
I am, etc.,
Basil Waine Kong