Source: Onuaonline.com
Independent presidential candidate and leader of the Movement for Change, John Alan Kyerematen, has condemned the arrest and remand of 42 protesters, calling for their immediate release.
Kyerematen described the actions of law enforcement agencies as unlawful and accused the government of using intimidation tactics to suppress the voice of the youth.
In a strongly worded statement, Kyerematen emphasized that the protesters were exercising their democratic right to express grievances and urged the authorities to respect their constitutional freedoms.
The Movement for Change leader criticized the police for what he termed as unjustifiable arrests, arguing that the demonstration was peaceful and conducted in the right direction.
“The right to protest is enshrined in our constitution, and these young people were well within their rights to speak out against issues affecting them,” Kyerematen said. “It is unacceptable for the police to now turn around and arrest individuals who were peacefully demonstrating under their supervision.”
“If this protest was illegal, then why did the police supervise the demonstrations for three consecutive days? This is not about law and order; it’s about intimidating the youth and putting fear in them so they stop holding the government accountable,” he posited.
Kyerematen went further to challenge the Attorney-General, urging the immediate discontinuation of the case against the protesters. He accused the government of using the justice system as a tool to stifle dissent and discourage future demonstrations.
“I call on the Attorney General to step in and ensure the discontinuation of this unjust case. These young citizens have committed no crime. Their only offense, if any, is speaking out for a better future for our country.”
Kyerematen reiterated that peaceful protests are an integral part of a functioning democracy, adding that the government’s use of force and legal threats against its citizens was a worrying sign of democratic backsliding.
The Movement for Change leader’s comments have sparked further debate on the role of law enforcement in managing public protests, with many civil society groups echoing his call for the release of the detained protesters.
As the case moves forward, all eyes will be on how the government responds to growing pressure from both the opposition and the public.
Source: www.onuaonline.com
