“There is no intrinsic virtue to law and order unless 'law' is equated with justice and 'order' with the discipline of a people satisfied that justice has been done. Law as an instrument of state oppression is a familiar feature of totalitarianism. Without a popularly elected legislature and an independent judiciary to ensure due process, the authorities can enforce as 'law' arbitrary decrees that are in fact flagrant negations of all acceptable norms of justice. There can be no security for citizens in a state where new 'laws' can be made and old ones changed to suit the convenience of the powers that be. The iniquity of such practices is traditionally recognized by the precept that existing laws should not be set aside at will.”
— Aung San Suu Kyi, Freedom from Fear: And Other Writings
Tagged: Virtue, Law, order, Justice, Authority, negotiate, citizen, state, rule, govern, Government, Power, practices, Tradition, judiciary
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Freedom from Fear: And Other Writings

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