A State of Emergency

blunomore

blunomore

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I spoke to someone who was an ANC MEC for Safety & Security a few years back. He's not in the public service any longer. No guesses as to why!

I asked him what he'd do, if given a chance, to curb the violence.

He said he'd ask Government to announce a state of emergency for a period of one year, in terms of which people's Constitutional rights would be suspended. Obviously the most basic and crucial rights would remain.

He'd then impose a number of measures common during a state of emergency, such as curfews, etc. He'd call in the army and even reservists and certain other civil servants to assist in patrolling the streets and enforcing the curfew. This would give the police a (better) chance to get crime under control and investigate and arrest criminals.

I am curious as to what you think of such a measure?

Thanks :D
 
curfew? - what about people who work late...

or is it only for the clubbers / druggies?

I don't trust a single civil servant in duty atm, how would giving them guns solve anything?
 
I'd be prepared to sacrifice more of my rights than we currently do if there was an honest attempt at tackling the crime as you describe.
 
With people already paranoid about giving up their rights to have non-lethal weapons do you really think they'll give up their civil liberties without a fight? It's an ugly catch 22 I'm afraid.
 
Fudzy said:
With people already paranoid about giving up their rights to have non-lethal weapons do you really think they'll give up their civil liberties without a fight? It's an ugly catch 22 I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Majority of SA don't even know what human rights are....
 
Frankie said:
I'd be prepared to sacrifice more of my rights than we currently do if there was an honest attempt at tackling the crime as you describe.
Click to expand...


My point exactly. He also intimated that he thought the majority of reasonable people would be OK in forfeiting certain rights if the outcome is a safe country and much less crime.


To BT6LW: Obviously there would be exceptions for people who have legitimate reasons for being out late at night.
 
Fudzy said:
With people already paranoid about giving up their rights to have non-lethal weapons do you really think they'll give up their civil liberties without a fight? It's an ugly catch 22 I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

If this idea is not popular and people do not want to give up any rights, I cannot for the life of me see how things can be resolved.

Perps sadly do not have 'Damascus moments' and suddenly stop committing crimes ...
 
Frankie said:
I'd be prepared to sacrifice more of my rights than we currently do if there was an honest attempt at tackling the crime as you describe.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% with this, the more degrees of freedom the more possible carp someone can get away with...

Cheers
Slayer
 
what I was getting at - sorry should have put it another way -

If we get someone else - US Army... / German Army / etc..... then I would be all for sacrifising my rights to sort out the crap.

But if the current regime tries to implement this (like the great idea they have to keep all "dangerous weapons" out of peoples hands I will not support it in any way - in fact I would probably go so far as to make fight ...
 
BT6LW said:
what I was getting at - sorry should have put it another way -

If we get someone else - US Army... / German Army / etc..... then I would be all for sacrifising my rights to sort out the crap.

But if the current regime tries to implement this (like the great idea they have to keep all "dangerous weapons" out of peoples hands I will not support it in any way - in fact I would probably go so far as to make fight ...
Click to expand...


I agree. It would seem more likely to succeed if there was an outside peacekeeping force, for lack of a better description.
 
BT6LW said:
But if the current regime tries to implement this (like the great idea they have to keep all "dangerous weapons" out of peoples hands I will not support it in any way - in fact I would probably go so far as to make fight ...
Click to expand...

What regime would you trust with this concept?
 
blunomore said:
I agree. It would seem more likely to succeed if there was an outside peacekeeping force, for lack of a better description.
Click to expand...

We are not at war.
Should the government declare a state of emergency, it would only make it official that they are not in control anymore.

We all know that is the case.
However,it is not official.

There is a lot of war talk,and plans being made.
War is horrible.We do not want to go down that road.
We should have no illusions about that.

We need to stop crime. Fast.
We are running out of time.
 
timgaul said:
Curfews don't have to be in effect in all areas...
Click to expand...


Don't know how this works in practice.

But let's say area A is relatively peaceful, a curfew would still have to be implemented to keep the perps from going to area A at night and doing their evil deeds, non?
 
I think its the dumbest idea that anyone would accept. I cant imagine the kind of simple thinking you would have to lower yourself to , to accept something like this in South Africa. Dumb dumb dumb idea.

Suspend the constitution. omg.
 
Piepalook said:
We are not at war.
Should the government declare a state of emergency, it would only make it official that they are not in control anymore.

We all know that is the case.
However,it is not official.

There is a lot of war talk,and plans being made.
War is horrible.We do not want to go down that road.
We should have no illusions about that.

We need to stop crime. Fast.
We are running out of time.
Click to expand...


You missed my point :D I am sure you know that the Government is currently doing jacksh-it about crime.

So my question to the ex-MEC was: what would you have done if you were in a decisionmaking position.... ? Hence the reply about a state of emergency. Of course the government is not in control. Of course they will not admit it. I was simply discussing options with this person.

Do you think all perps will suddenly have an attack of morality? I am not so sure.

I am curious as to what you would suggest to curb crime?
 
w1z4rd said:
I think its the dumbest idea that anyone would accept. I cant imagine the kind of simple thinking you would have to lower yourself to , to accept something like this in South Africa. Dumb dumb dumb idea.

Suspend the constitution. omg.
Click to expand...


And your suggestion is ....... *drumroll* .......... ????
 
blunomore said:
I spoke to someone who was an ANC MEC for Safety & Security a few years back. He's not in the public service any longer. No guesses as to why!

I asked him what he'd do, if given a chance, to curb the violence.

He said he'd ask Government to announce a state of emergency for a period of one year, in terms of which people's Constitutional rights would be suspended. Obviously the most basic and crucial rights would remain.

He'd then impose a number of measures common during a state of emergency, such as curfews, etc. He'd call in the army and even reservists and certain other civil servants to assist in patrolling the streets and enforcing the curfew. This would give the police a (better) chance to get crime under control and investigate and arrest criminals.

I am curious as to what you think of such a measure?

Thanks :D
Click to expand...
The day they decide to suspend people constitutional rights is the day they should erect a massive placard with Dante's infamous "Abandon hope all ye who enter here" at every port of entry. :o

Remind yourself of the rights you'd have taken away - http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm
Fudzy said:
What regime would you trust with this concept?
Click to expand...
Not a one.
 
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