Human Rights should not be blind to Human Responsibility

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) hit the nail on the head when it declared that, natural human rights should not be blind to responsibility by individuals involved in any social engagement like the recent street protests. Responsible citizens will always be treated responsibly by the state.

It is a constitutional right in Zimbabwe as per section 58 and 59 of the constitution which legalise freedom of assembly and association, as well as, freedom to demonstrate and petition, respectively. The constitution stresses the value of peaceful protests as a manifestation of the civic space and a vehicle for the voices of ordinary people. The massive peaceful gatherings in Harare last week show how peaceful protests unite people in the face of adversity. Protests are often a last resort for citizens to make themselves heard; restricting this right and using violence against peaceful protesters erode democracy.

However, the #MyZimbabwe Youth Group and National Electoral Reforms Agenda (NERA) streets marches turned ugly as the rowdy participants turned to violent looting of property from shops and vendors, beating up innocent people on the streets, and their involvement in arson and malicious injury to property was illegal. This was at variance with the letter and spirit of constitutional provisions which permit peaceful demonstrations to take place.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is in recognition of the inherent dignity, and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. When there is disregard and contempt for human rights which resulted in barbarous acts which outraged the conscience of mankind as was witnessed in the streets protest, then certainly, emergency corrective measures should be taken instantly.

This explains why protestors and activists increasingly face arbitrary detention, imprisonment, commitment to psychiatric facilities, or house arrest. Physical abuse, harassment, and intimidation are routine. The state was over-stretched to the extent of deploying riot police wearing helmets, visors, body armour and gas masks as a way of protecting citizens that were made vulnerable by the insecure atmosphere created by rogue #MyZimbabwe Youth Group and NERA protestors.

In all situations, even in the most advanced democracies, civil disorder, whatever the source, the state can quell destructive protests with a variety of methods, taken from the military arsenal which include tear gassing to disperse crowds and promote security. Use of baton rounds which also incorporate rubber bullets, plastic bullets, wooden bullets and bean-bag rounds. Rubber bullets, which are sometimes just rubber-coated steel bullets, can be fired from normal firearms or dedicated riot-control weapons. They are used as a non-lethal alternative to standard metal bullets, but often cause significant pain which is sufficient to control protestors against deviations from peaceful demos. These tactics have been used in the United Kingdom and the US before. So Zimbabwe cannot be unique either.

When standard police vehicles are not sufficient for forcefully deploying riot officers, a department often, additionally, sends horse-mounted units, bus-loads of additional policemen and armoured vehicles, such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) jeeps.

Water cannons can spray a high-velocity stream. Water cannons are also used in police crack-downs in other countries, from student marches in Chile to demonstrations against gang rape in India.

Stink bombs or liquids causing a foul odour are sometimes used, and testing has been done on sticky foam that can immobilize rioters. Moreover, Israeli soldiers in the West Bank often use "skunk water" to disperse protesters.

Police can also create physical barriers as "containment" tactics to cordon off a crowd and either direct people towards one exit or prevent them from leaving the area entirely. However, the method is seen as controversial because it often traps by-standers in the same location and has been criticized as a violation of civil liberties. However, this is an unfortunate product of provocation of the state by rogue citizens.

Sealing access roads and exits often tires out protesters, and gives police an opportunity to video-tape or photograph people who might later be arrested.

In the face of the violated public peace, it is worth noting that the Zimbabwe republic Police has the constitutional mandate to deal with violent protestors expeditiously too. It is up to those involved in demonstrations to opt for the optimum modus operandi to co-exist peacefully with state apparatus which have the capacity to quell them forcefully.