Opposition parties often make reasoned demands for changes in political, economic and other aspects in different countries. Governments sometimes heed the reasoned concerns/demands of the opposition. Accepting the reasoned demands of opposition definitely helps solve diverse problems, leading to improvements in economic, political and other sectors in different countries. In Myanmar, the military government’s willingness to listen to the reasoned concerns of the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi helped make democratic reforms and led to positive changes in other aspects including increased foreign investment. But governments in different countries unreasonably ignore the reasoned demands of the opposition many times, hindering the path of desirable improvements.
Keeping the reasoned concerns of opposition parties unaddressed leads to significant consequences on the political landscape many times. It keeps vital political and other problems alive and often leads to a breakdown in communication and compromise among the political parties — hindering the progress of important legislation and policies needed for political and other improvements — in different countries. Among others, ignoring reasoned economic, political and other concerns fuels public frustration, erodes trust in the government and leads to political unrest including revolutionary political movements, which sometimes bring avoidable harmful effects in political and other aspects. In different countries including Venezuela, the government has responded to opposition demands with repression and violence, leading to further political unrest with destructive protests.
Because of the harmful effects brought by destructive protests, peaceful demonstrations are desired. But a pertinent aspect is whether the opposition can be solely responsible for the harmful effects of political movements carried out to realize reasoned demands. Even though the opposition sometimes carries out avoidable destructive protests, without or in response to provocation, in different countries that lead to harmful effects, their protest activities probably do not have unacceptable reasons always. Notably, rights are rights for all. But governments often violate crucial rights including the right to free and fair elections, economic freedom and the freedom of peaceful demonstrations by making favorable laws and policies and applying force on peaceful protesters.
The violation of crucial rights often leads to substantive political, economic and other harm to the opposition and beyond. Additionally, protest movements including destructive protests serve as a powerful means of drawing attention to the injustices perpetrated by the government and forcing them to address the reasoned concerns of the opposition many times. Political movements have definitely helped realize reasoned demands including legal and policy changes, accountability for actions and a complete change in leadership in different countries. In Tunisia, for example, political protests resulted in the realization of reasoned demands with significant political changes, including the implementation of democratic reforms.
It is definitely desired that the reasoned concerns of the opposition be addressed for better political, economic and other outcomes in different countries. Governments need to be earnest and play responsible roles. Notably, all demands may not reflect the reasoned concerns of the opposition. Even if governments have acceptable reasons to not fully address opposition demands, talks with the opposition may help reach acceptable political solutions many times. Among others, strengthened international steps including pressure can help resolve vital political problems by addressing reasoned concerns in different countries — probably peacefully.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
