Iran and Colombia, Chile, Lebanon, Hong Kong. In many places around the world, people are protesting against their governments. Often the uprisings lead to violence. In Hong Kong, the police used tear gas against demonstrators again. In Iran, where people took to the streets for increased fuel prices, it has been reported by human rights organizations Hundreds of deaths. The UN Special Rapporteur Clément Voule explains why protests pile up - and what parallels can be drawn.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Voule, are we experiencing a new era of protests?
Clément Voule: What we are experiencing right now is that people around the world are making their voices heard about their problems. In the past, such protests were often about ideologies, today they are mostly social movements, that is a big difference. The demonstrations are usually organized by citizens, not by political parties. This can be seen in Lebanon and Sudan. People say no, that's not the way it is.
SPIEGEL: Why right now?
Voule: I think people have been suffering for quite some time, but only now are they really expressing their anger. In addition, many of the countries are in economic crises or the wealth is unevenly distributed and the social distress is getting bigger. There may be a stratum that is getting richer but at the same time many people are getting poorer and poorer. They had previously thought that was due to the poor development of the country in general, but now they learn that it is also due to corruption. They do not want to take that anymore.
SPIEGEL: What role do the social networks play in the demonstrations?
Voule: People can network and join forces. But you are now also experiencing protests in other countries and seeing the pictures. Before that, they might have no idea how to express their anger. Colombians can now see how people in Sudan take to the streets. That gives them self-confidence. It can also help prevent the protests from escalating. You could see that well in Armenia. The demonstrators were networked and warned each other when to avoid the police. They wrote messages: "Please do not provoke the police".
SPIEGEL: Can the images of protests from other countries not be a deterrent when it comes to violence?
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Protesters in Hong Kong seek shelter behind umbrellas
Voule: Perhaps, but even more deterrent, a whole other thing is working: facial recognition software, which is increasingly used by governments in cities. I'm told by people who peacefully want to take to the streets for a cause that they do not dare: "The government is watching us".
SPIEGEL: Many of the protests lead to violence. Why?
Voule: Violence often arises for two reasons. Either governments see themselves threatened by the peaceful protests and try to suppress critical voices violently. Or the protesters do not see their demands taken during the peaceful protests. Then, in part, a small portion of you resort to violent means to make yourself heard. To prevent this, politicians should try to understand the legitimate demands of the protesters.
SPIEGEL: So governments are primarily to blame for the escalation?
Voule: They should establish a dialogue as soon as possible and find out where the discontent in the population comes from. Instead, often the first reaction is that police or military is sent. There are pictures of protesting women surrounded by hundreds of policemen. Often tear gas is used. That provokes violence. People suddenly feel as if they are fighting the government, even though they only have their democratic right to assembly.
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Unrest in Chile: Rebellion against exploding pricesSPIEGEL: In Hong Kong, the extradition law, the actual cause of the demonstrations, has long since been withdrawn. Nevertheless, the protests escalated. Can such a dynamic really be stopped by dialogue and compromise? Especially since the demonstrators have made it clear that they are not open to talk.
Voule: The situation in Hong Kong is complicated, because on the side of the demonstrators the trust in the interlocutor is missing. The extradition law was decisive for the protests, but the demands of the protesters went further than just the withdrawal of the law. Parts of the protesters did not see their demands taken seriously. In Hong Kong, however, we also see how the situation can escalate through police violence. Now, the demonstrators demand that police brutality be dealt with and that those responsible be prosecuted. This has further hardened the fronts.
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SPIEGEL: Are there any general guidelines?
Voule: First, it must be absolutely clear that people have the right to peacefully protest for legitimate demands. In addition, the police may only use absolutely necessary force. It should be there to protect the lives of the protesters, not to threaten them.
SPIEGEL: Why is this often not kept?
Voule: In many cases, the security forces are still imprisoned in the old structures. They use means that an authoritarian regime would have demanded of them, even if the country begins to democratize. The fact that people have a right to peaceful meetings has not yet arrived with them.
SPIEGEL: What about demonstrators who throw stones?
Voule: Violence is not a legitimate means to enforce its demands. Such riots are no longer protected by international law. But we also have to talk about what is "violent". Roadblocks are not in my opinion.
SPIEGEL: Do you know an example in which those responsible prevented an escalation?
Hayk Baghdasaryan / REUTERS
Armenians celebrate the new head of government Nikol Paschinjan, who had led the protests in 2018
Voule: The recent protests in Armenia. The police have used less force compared to previous demonstrations, there were significantly fewer injured. The government and the police used dialogue with the protesters and gave them space to express themselves publicly. At the same time, people's demands were included in the political dialogue. Therefore, the demonstrators felt taken seriously.