�Police Have Not Approved Simultaneous Nationwide Labour Demonstrations�

The Police Administration says it has not reached an agreement with organised labour to hold a simultaneous nationwide demonstration on Thursday, July 24, 2014. That, it said, was contrary to news being carried in sections of the media that the Police Administration had given approval for a simultaneous demonstration nationwide. The Director-General of Police Operations, Commissioner of Police (COP), Mr John Kudalor, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that in principle, �the Police are not against the demonstration�. He explained that the position of the police was that the event should be organised on regional basis on different dates to enable the police to provide adequate protection for it. According to him, the police would not be able to ensure order in the simultaneous demonstrations countrywide. He said a high-powered delegation, led by him, had already met with the leadership of organised labour to discuss the concerns of the police. Mr Kudalor said negotiations still ongoing and was hopeful that an amicable agreement would be found. Explaining the issues, he said the Police Administration had always sent additional police personnel to areas where demonstrations were being held. A simultaneous demonstration of the calibre of the one to be staged by organised labour was, therefore, going to affect and impact on the ability of the police to guard lives and properties should anything untoward happen, he indicated. Mr Kudalor expressed the hope that an agreement would be reached before the July 24, 2014 demonstration.