The illusion of Peaceful Protests

In a democracy, peaceful protests are considered as one of the fundamental rights of the people. However, to get sensational media traction and to get urgent government attention, disruption of public services, roadblocks, and/or other provocative actions are routinely practiced by the protesters and the governments.

Once protesters and/or governments resort to violence, peace usually goes into pieces. There is a loss of life, damage to the public and private property, disruption to the normal life of the people, and a widening mistrust. Then finding a suitable solution becomes more and more challenging as vested interests start hijacking the protest and government machinery.

What are plausible alternatives?

Some countries have allocated special places for organising such protests so that there is minimal disruption to the normal life of the people. Protesting organisations and government machinery are increasingly using social media to influence their cause. Depending on the public opinion and potential impact on approaching elections, there are efforts to find mutually acceptable solutions.

Misuse and abuse of the system are reported by almost all the stakeholders involved.

There is a need to form a system that can address grievances and legitimate complaints of the protesters.

1. To allocate more places throughout the country where people can gather peacefully to protest without disturbing the normal life of the people.
2. To form an administrative mechanism to receive the demands of the protesters in proper written format and maintain a peaceful cordial environment.
3. To appoint mediators to resolve the matter in a time-bound manner.
4. To create a tribunal to enforce and appeal for the cases requiring complex and multi-agency-related issues in a fixed time frame.
5. Involve citizens from various sections as advisers for regular review and improvements.
6. Make a provision to appeal to the appropriate level of the judiciary to timely address anomalies.
7. An appropriate legislative and administrative framework needs to be created to coordinate and enforce such measures that are in the interest of the nation and the people.

Your comments, suggestions, advice, alternative views, and recommendations to make peaceful protests truly peaceful for all are needed.

Otherwise, peaceful protests might continue to be an illusion.

This article is based on my post in Hindi (depicted below).