QUESTION OF THE DAY?
President Barrow has declared the preparation of an all-out offensive against crime. He must however be cautioned that tightened security without the checks and balances of justice is the most fertile way of implanting oppression. It is important that when a government tightened security and becomes tough on crime, it must equally strengthen its monitoring of operations by ensuring that the security forces do not handle case files but submit them to the office of the director of public prosecutions within 48 hours for review.
Any file that shows the total absence of evidence meriting suspicion and arrest should lead to investigation on suspicion of arbitrariness and heavy handedness in security operations. No matter how robust security operations are, the prosecution dimension should be fully handled by the office of the director of public prosecutions to ensure that security operations are fully enveloped by the guards and fences of justice.
Be tough on crime, but be tough against impunity and abuse of power. That is what gives rise to peace and stability . Toughness in security operations that lead to impunity is the hallmark of an oppressive government.
