The Voice of Reason

Press Statement:

The Alliance For Change is calling on the PPP/C and the PNCR to tone down the rhetoric and actions which seem to be taking the country, and their respective supporters, down a path of dangerous confrontation.

Commencing with the incidents of overrunning of police barricades and the burning of an effigy purporting to be that of the President at the Cost of Living March on Thursday, May 8, 2008, and culminating with the recent arrest of the driver of the Leader of the Opposition’s vehicle and now the arrest of a member of his personal security detail, these incidents can most certainly spiral out of control if not checked immediately.

These events indicate the growing disrespect and disdain and that these parties are exhibiting for each other and we believe that in the circumstances, the religious community and other members of civil society are best poised to broker the peace at this time. No one will benefit from a state of heightened tension.

The AFC believes that the Leaders of the government, opposition, and political parties must be accorded a right of respect that is befitting of a civilized society. In this context therefore the actions taken against the staff of the Leader of the Opposition have to be interpreted as harassment which can have dangerous outcomes. In similar vein unless the government is prepared to bring to light the most recent accusations of criminal conduct and involvement by members of the PNCR, it should cease uttering these statements immediately.

We ask others to join the call for a cooling off on both sides and a restoration of dialogue and discussion on the many problems besetting the nation.

We are firmly of the opinion that there is greater duty to act responsibly on the part of the Government and we call on it to do so now as a sign of good faith.