15th September 2013
The inhuman incident in which a Roman Catholic
Priest was attacked by chemicals believed to be acid paints a gloomy and
frightening scenario in Zanzibar, a romantic and peaceful Indian Ocean
archipelago slowly turning into a heaven of criminals.
The incident, which occurred on Friday,
hardly a month since two British young girls suffered acid attacks, is
proof that the situation in Zanzibar is now running out of control as
criminals rock the island for unknown motives.
If a thorough account of acid attacks as
well as other forms of attacks against Christians was to be conducted
during the past five years, one would be convinced that all these
atrocious incidents have religious undertones behind them.
We at The Guardian on Sunday, so far, do
not have any direct proof proving that these attacks are religiously
motivated, but the circumstances indicate that the majority of these
attacks were instigated by growing radicalism in Zanzibar.
What’s really annoying is the fact that
despite various vows by the Police, nothing has taken place, casting
doubt on whether the law enforcers have the ability let alone the will
to arrest those responsible for these wicked incidences.
When the two young British girls were
attacked last month in Zanzibar, the Police as usual vowed to arrest
those responsible, but till today, no one has been apprehended. The
Police went further, declaring a multimillion-shilling bounty for anyone
who could voluntarily give information that could lead to the law
enforcers to apprehend the suspects.
The government should go beyond dependency
on the Police and form a special probe committee in order to establish
the motive behind these attacks. We believe this is the most critical
issue that needs to be clearly understood.
Apprehending the suspects is necessary,
but understanding the intention behind these attacks is better. Once we
know the motive, then as a nation, it would be easy for us to daunt the
situation once and forever.
So far, neither the police nor the
intelligence can tell us the motive behind these attacks. What we have
are mere speculations backed by circumstantial evidence.
Since the Zanzibar situation might have
connection with faith based issues, then to approach it, credible
evidence is needed before taking staid actions.
That’s why we at The Guardian on Sunday
strongly call upon the government to form a special probe committee
involving experts from various fields in order to get to the bottom of
the situation in Zanzibar.
SOURCE:
GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
