Human rights experts have accused the Conservatives of being hypocritical. This is due to their crackdown on climate and Gaza protests while simultaneously celebrating and showing support for farmers’ protests in Wales.
This past Friday, Rishi Sunak participated in a demonstration with Welsh farmers who had blocked a road in opposition to the Labour government’s recently proposed farming subsidies program. However, this week he declared a stricter approach towards protests, denouncing them as “violent actions.” On Wednesday, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew Davies and his colleagues were pictured embracing and taking pictures with a large group of farmers who had gathered outside the Senedd and used tractors to block a main road.
During a climate protest in the City of London, some individuals were detained for participating in a march to urge insurance companies to stop providing coverage for fossil fuel endeavors. At the Axa insurance group’s headquarters in London, protesters were warned by police that standing in the road could result in arrest for violating a new offence under the Public Order Act 2023, which permits the criminalization of road-blocking actions viewed as interfering with essential national infrastructure.
Recently, laws have been made stricter by the government in order to prevent climate activists from blocking roads. As a result, many have been arrested and put in jail. In a recent announcement, Sunak introduced various measures to prevent protesters from disrupting politicians’ homes or workplaces, as well as parliament buildings. However, during a parliament session on Wednesday, he expressed support for the Welsh farmers who had assembled in large numbers outside the Welsh parliament.
Yasmine Ahmed, the director of Human Rights Watch in the UK, expressed concern over the selective treatment of protestors by politicians. This behavior is alarming, as it goes against the very concept of a free and open society. Government should not pick and choose which causes are acceptable to protest, as it only serves to perpetuate authoritarianism. Despite touting its defense of free speech, the government appears to only support this right when it aligns with its own beliefs.
“Protesting is a vital democratic right and an essential component of a healthy democracy. If the prime minister truly values democracy, he should prioritize safeguarding these rights for all citizens, rather than imposing further crippling limitations on our freedoms.”
The photo shared by Chris Packham, a broadcaster and advocate for wildlife, shows a road blocked by a tractor. He has commented that the Daily Mail and Telegraph news outlets should take note of the protests, as they are causing inconvenience for others. He refers to the protesters as ‘Farmo-mob’, ‘Farmo-loons’, and ‘Farmo-zealots’, and sarcastically suggests that they should be imprisoned forever to avoid accusations of hypocrisy.
The home secretary, James Cleverly, has advised participants of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that their message has been heard and encouraged them to cease. Protests have taken place across the nation, with the most notable being in central London on weekends.
Ruth Ehrlich, head of policy and campaigns at Liberty, said: “The messages coming out of the government this week on protest have been riddled with hypocrisy and inconsistencies.
The prime minister’s accusation that protesters are silencing free debate is ironic, considering that the government’s actions towards protest rights have hindered people’s courage and assurance in advocating for their beliefs.
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Most of the privileges we value at present – whether it be the freedom to cast a vote or the entitlement to fair labor conditions – are only in existence because individuals protested and rallied for reform.
At a time when tensions are heightened and it’s crucial to unite communities, the prime minister’s inflammatory language is causing the opposite result.
The government is engaging in divided tactics by supporting farmers who block roads while arresting and imprisoning climate activists who also block roads. This is viewed as predictable and weak, as they are attempting to stop their looming loss in the upcoming elections.
A new law proposal has been introduced to prohibit protesters from demonstrating outside politicians’ homes. This comes after reports that Just Stop Oil was planning to go to the homes of MPs to persuade them to adopt environmental policies. Some MPs expressed concerns and discontent, citing the increasing threats they have faced in terms of both words and actions in recent years. Furthermore, the deaths of two MPs in the last decade has added to the urgency of the issue, with many arguing that targeting their homes crosses a line in terms of protest.
The Home Office has been reached out to for a statement.
Source: theguardian.com
