Mzee Mwanakijiji
Platinum Member
- Mar 10, 2006
- 33,478
- 39,997
There was no justification whatsoever of the brutal use of force against innocent and unarmed demonstrators in Arusha on January 5th, 2011 which lead to the killing reportedly of 2 civilians and injuring a score of other demonstrators. What happened in Arusha is inexcusable and indefensible.
We have to understand that you can not have a political opposition without actual opposition. It is like having a car but denied the right to drive it while others things are all constant. What the Tanzanian government shown through its police force yesterday is an ability and willingness to thwart any strong dissent when that is dissent is paired with other means of civil disobedience such as the demonstrations.
What I still dont understand is the fact that if there was anytime the government could have used force was the time when people were waiting for results after the much contested elections last year. During that time the political situation in Tanzania was dramatically transformed and there was a credible fear that things could have gone out of hand. But the police and other security organs remained calm, composed and restrained. They did not use force in Arusha, Mwanza, or Mbeya and when they did in fact use force it was restrained and in a relative measure to the political opposition of the time.
That was not so in Arusha yesterday. The demonstrators wanted to demonstrated going to an open space area for a political rally. It was purely a political event charged with political rhetoric. I for one expected that the police force will be there to ensure a peaceful demonstrations and safety of other non-involved people. The demonstrations was well organized and there was nothing whatsoever that signaled trouble before the main event day. None whatsoever.
But abusing their authority the police force decided to cancel the demonstrations and by doing so assaulting the right of individuals to assemble and the right of citizens to air the political grievances. This was indeed an assault on democracy and the principles that govern it.
The deaths of the two individuals can not go unrecognized. Once again our country has seen blood in the hands of the State. We have seen this during the Mwembechai killings, we have seen it in Pemba and it has happened before elsewhere (in other incidents). The police force in Tanzania has this proclivity to use brutal force against citizens not just in such political settings but as we all know during civil issues. It looks like the police force is not well trained in understanding and dealing with the modern world of political plurality and the dynamism of political dissent.
I believe Mr. Said Mwema the current IGP has lost the credibility to lead this force at this juncture of our history. And so has Mr. Andengenye the current Regional Police Commander of Arusha. These two individual bear full responsibility for what happened in Arusha yesterday and they must be sacked immediately. The individual police officers who obeyed an illegal order knowing fully that obeying an illegal order is not a criminal defense they have to be brought to justice and pay the price of the illegal killings of Tanzanians.
As we continue to forge ahead with the cause of democracy and as we continue pushing for the new constitution before 2015 we stand together with all political activists in the country as well as the human rights activists who have come out to condemn the brutal attack on civilians who were protesting their government. I urge Chadema to call for A Day of Mourning to remember our comrades and to show solidarity with each other at this time.
We have to take a stand, for in the presence of evil there is no neutrality.
My friends, if we dont stand together to oppose the rise of political tyranny in our country then we will surely see our country falling into tyranny. We can choose to stand together or they will find a way to silence us individually. Whatever they (the government, ruling party and their puppets) do we can not retreat or surrender for a brighter future for Tanzania under new people centered Constitution is possible. Yes, a new Tanzania without CCM at the helm of power is coming we just have to hasten it.
By. M. M. Mwanakijiji (BGM).