Further to my previous blog, I think the UK probably needs to think about introducing Omani style road closures.
The complete contrast between the UK and Oman is exposed in the story of Prince Charles and Camilla being caught up in the student fee riots taking place in London. Protest marches and riots in the street (about limited cost education for the middle classes) and insufficient protection for a senior royal is not a set of headlines one would see in Oman...
I can't help but wonder what the reaction would be from the police, students and the wider London population, if the protest march could not take place to allow HM Prince Charles to travel to the theatre and back without any traffic (or other) impeding his route.
Maybe the Queen, fresh from her visit, will be tabling such suggestions to the Met Police.
Is it such a bad thing that people should be allowed to protest about something that affects them so much? Admittedly those who attacked the Prince's car and damaged property/statues etc should be punished, but those who protested peacefully - and there were a lot of them, I know my brother was there - don't deserve the criticism they are receiving. The difference is that the Queen is partly funded by the government, who is funded by taxes paid for by the people. It is fair to say we don't pay tax in Oman so if the government here wishes to inconvenience the people by closing roads then so be it (as annoying as it may be!) - it just wouldn't happen in the UK. Just my two pence worth.
ReplyDeleteNice to see more bloggers by the way!
OB