Justice Emile Short
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22nd August, 2011
Police Must Deal Robustly With Electoral Violence
A Former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Justice Francis Emile Short has express worry about the inaction of the Police to deal robustly with electoral violence as they have dealt with armed robbery.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Saturday at Aburi to review the political parties’ code of conduct, Justice Emile Short said during the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections violence was reported in by-elections in Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa.
‘It is reported that in Atiwa as many as 1200 Police personnel were deployed to this small constituency to maintain law and order and yet violence erupted resulting in injuries to several people’.
More alarming, he said, was the report that vigilante groups mounted roadblocks and was checking the identity of people entering the constituency.
Mr. Short stated that most disturbing was the fact that nothing have been heard that any of the perpetrators of the violence or the persons who mounted the roadblocks have been arrested and prosecuted.
‘The Police have shown no enthusiasm to deal robustly with electoral violence as they have dealt with armed robbery and one wonders the reason for this reluctance’, he asked.
He noted that the post-election violence that took place in Kenya with its disastrous consequences and the equally bloody conflict in the Ivory Coast are still fresh in our minds.
‘We cannot afford to be complaisant or indifferent to the threats of election related violence given the political temperature in the country. That is why an event such as this workshop in important’, he said.
He therefore called on the security agencies, particularly the Police, to show courage and proactiveness in prosecuting election violence offences brought to them to serve as a deterrent to others in future elections.
Mr. Short was also not happy about the level of insult particularly in the media saying not even the high office of the President has been spared.
‘The media should take a major part of the blame for this current trend. They provide the platform for some politicians to engage in politics of insult. Some of the media houses thrive on sensationalism’, he said.
He appealed to the media particularly radio stations that have partisan affiliation, to desist from using their platform to incite supporters for unlawful acts and provocative behavior during election period and all at times.
He also called on political actors to educate their supporters on conflict prevention particularly in their utterances saying it was important that political parties and their agents pledge and uphold to the code of conduct that came to force in 2008.
A retired Supreme Court Judge, Prof. Justice A Kodzo Paako Klutse said the meeting was important considering the fast approaching days to next year elections.
He said the country has acquired the reputation as a peaceful and democratic nation, an example which has been envy of many nations.
Nonetheless, he said, the peaceful atmosphere can easily be jeopadised by careless talk and irresponsible political conduct or activity saying, the resulting chaos may not be exactly desired, but the consequences will be no less devastating.
Prof. Kludze appealed to political parties to control what is done or said about their opponents adding that political campaign is not an arena of warfare and commended the IEA for organising the programme to brainstorm on how to promote peaceful political atmosphere.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Saturday at Aburi to review the political parties’ code of conduct, Justice Emile Short said during the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections violence was reported in by-elections in Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa.
‘It is reported that in Atiwa as many as 1200 Police personnel were deployed to this small constituency to maintain law and order and yet violence erupted resulting in injuries to several people’.
More alarming, he said, was the report that vigilante groups mounted roadblocks and was checking the identity of people entering the constituency.
Mr. Short stated that most disturbing was the fact that nothing have been heard that any of the perpetrators of the violence or the persons who mounted the roadblocks have been arrested and prosecuted.
‘The Police have shown no enthusiasm to deal robustly with electoral violence as they have dealt with armed robbery and one wonders the reason for this reluctance’, he asked.
He noted that the post-election violence that took place in Kenya with its disastrous consequences and the equally bloody conflict in the Ivory Coast are still fresh in our minds.
‘We cannot afford to be complaisant or indifferent to the threats of election related violence given the political temperature in the country. That is why an event such as this workshop in important’, he said.
He therefore called on the security agencies, particularly the Police, to show courage and proactiveness in prosecuting election violence offences brought to them to serve as a deterrent to others in future elections.
Mr. Short was also not happy about the level of insult particularly in the media saying not even the high office of the President has been spared.
‘The media should take a major part of the blame for this current trend. They provide the platform for some politicians to engage in politics of insult. Some of the media houses thrive on sensationalism’, he said.
He appealed to the media particularly radio stations that have partisan affiliation, to desist from using their platform to incite supporters for unlawful acts and provocative behavior during election period and all at times.
He also called on political actors to educate their supporters on conflict prevention particularly in their utterances saying it was important that political parties and their agents pledge and uphold to the code of conduct that came to force in 2008.
A retired Supreme Court Judge, Prof. Justice A Kodzo Paako Klutse said the meeting was important considering the fast approaching days to next year elections.
He said the country has acquired the reputation as a peaceful and democratic nation, an example which has been envy of many nations.
Nonetheless, he said, the peaceful atmosphere can easily be jeopadised by careless talk and irresponsible political conduct or activity saying, the resulting chaos may not be exactly desired, but the consequences will be no less devastating.
Prof. Kludze appealed to political parties to control what is done or said about their opponents adding that political campaign is not an arena of warfare and commended the IEA for organising the programme to brainstorm on how to promote peaceful political atmosphere.
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