If there is one thing that Wednesday night’s incident revealed it is that that interim government’s performance when it comes to ensuring law and order continues to be poor. There has been a deep crisis in the rule of law since the downfall of the previous government and the current administration’s repeated assurances of action against the kind of destruction we witnessed on Wednesday are starting to appear as nothing more than mere lip service.
What good does the administration’s recent statement against acts of vandalism and arson in various institutions and establishments across the country do when brazen acts of destruction have been carried out already? That multiple hundreds of people were able to not just congregate at one spot but also procure and introduce multiple heavy machinery at such a crowded spot of the capital with next to no law enforcement response is simply unacceptable.
There have also been reports of incitation of mob violence at the scene, with journalists being accosted and even attacked for simply doing their job, which has been another issue that the administration continues to grapple with despite assurances that it prioritizes the safety and security of journalists.
While the interim government was quick to condemn such unlaw behaviour, which is appreciable regardless, it is clear that offering statements of condemnation well after the fact will not do. This was a premeditated incident for which our law enforcement were given notice and ample time to prepare for, but the destruction was ostensibly allowed to unfold given the delay in response and the inadequacy of that response.
The country is going through a phase of transition, a critical moment which is set to define the future of our democracy -- now more than ever, we need our law enforcement agencies to be pro-active and on the side of the people.
