UAE | General
Officer loses job over illegal march bid over fuel hike
Protests allowed through legal channels, says Ajman police chief after failed fuel hike price rally
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 August 10, 2010
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
- Brigadier Ali Abdullah Alwan, Chief of Ajman Police.
Ajman: An Emirati man has been interrogated by police for attempting to organise an illegal march in the country, and subsequently fired from his job, Gulf News was told on Monday.
A top Ministry of Interior official said the man, who apparently circulated messages though a Blackberry Messenger (BBM) in an attempt to organise the march, in response to the recent fuel price increases, worked for Dubai Police.
"If anyone wants to organise such a peaceful protest they can but they should do it through the legal channels," Brigadier Ali Abdullah Alwan, Chief of Ajman Police, told Gulf News on Monday.
He said a number of people were also questioned in other emirates about the issue. He said a group of men from various emirates were detained briefly after they circulated messages via the BBM, "calling for 400 participants" to take part in a march from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi. The message asked participants to confirm attendance and cited a BB Pin Code, which matched the account of a 23-year-old man from Ajman.
"They were questioned not over sending the messages or their decision to protest. It is about attempting an illegal protest."
Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police, said the policeman from Ajman who worked for Dubai Police was dismissed because police are banned from taking part in such actions. Maj Gen Al Mazeina said that it was unacceptable for a policeman to incite people to participate in an illegal march which could cause chaos and confusion in the country. He said the dismissed policeman had "committed a mistake related to his work by offending the rules and regulations of police system and he got punished for that."
"The UAE guarantees freedom of speech and anyone can express their opinions but that should be done through a legal process," he stressed.
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