Democracy must never use its enemies’ methods

THERE would seem to be a growing tendency towards calling for repressive legislation to cure any threat to the established assumptions of our society, but everyone should be conscious that threats to civil liberties come not only from individuals and paramilitants, who arrogate to themselves the right to decide whether a person will live or not.

The state itself can often, even in a democracy, whittle away rights allegedly in order to defend the community.

The presumption of innocence, safeguards against oppressive use of power, the right of accused persons to free access to legal advisers, and a proper and independent system of investigating complaints against the policy, are all necessary safeguards for the protection of the individual’s rights.

Those who subscribe to the idea that democracy must use the methods of the enemies of democracy in order to defend it are ringing the death knell of freedom.

Opposition to violence must go hand in hand with espousal of civil liberties.

Michael J Stokes

Templeogue

Dublin 6W