Freedom comes with responsibility, duty

Tuesday protest by students from public universities was not the first allowed to proceed since the ban on ‘political’ gatherings last year that ushered in new limits on the freedom of assembly.

There have been other occasions — such as when Members of Parliament led protests against the secretive sale of the Grand Regency — in which the right to protest Government action was respected and police facilitation led to peaceful demonstrations.

Thus, respect for the constitutionally guaranteed freedom has been demonstrated, despite cases of unnecessary use of force. As a culture of peaceful protest had begun to grow under the first Kibaki administration, and is seen on occasion under this one, the eruption of looting and stoning on Tuesday was unfortunate.

The irresponsible actions of a section of protestors damaged a larger cause and make the case to limit students to on-campus protest rallies, not marches into the central business district.

They do not, however, make a case for more limits on ptotests.

Not Anarchy

On the policing of the demonstration, we have these observations: Officers did well in their attempt to steer protesters through the CBD without incident. Their dispersal of looters in the late afternoon was also by the book.

What concerns those affected by the Tuesday criminality was, for some hours, operational commanders had to sit idle while the politics of interfering played out. We ask for freedom, not anarchy. Too little force is as much a political mistake as too much.