KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The recent martial law crisis in South Korea underscores the need for governments to adopt robust strategies to address civil unrest without resorting to extreme measures.
Managing director of Counter Risk Consultancy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Peter Nicoll, said having detailed intelligence on potential instigators enables governments to intervene early, focusing on radical elements while preventing unnecessary confrontations with the general public.
“Civil unrest normally develops as an intention to cause a public disturbance in violation of laws.
“The case for government and security forces is intelligence – identifying individuals or groups who might create disorder during rallies or marches.
“Martial law is an extreme -– the last level in the escalation of a security response – and is not normally ever used as the first response, as we saw taking place in South Korea,” he said during an interview on Bernama TV’s programme, Bernama World, on Friday.
Elaborating further, Nicoll highlighted the need for decisions regarding martial law to be embedded in a democratic process rather than left to the directive of a single individual.
“This is something governments have to look into very closely.
“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of embedding decisions like martial law within a democratic framework to avoid unnecessary escalation and safeguard civil liberties,” he added.
On balancing security measures and civil liberties, Nicoll pointed out that the South Korean crisis revealed significant gaps in authority between the military and police, leading to chaos and political instability.
“The balance is often very difficult, as different circumstances dictate the necessary responses to maintain law and order while allowing a swift return to normalcy.
“In a democratic sense, decisions on who is deployed, where, and why must be clearly communicated to the public to alleviate fear and confusion,” he said.
The South Korean crisis unfolded on Dec 3 when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing “anti-state activities”.
The decision was widely condemned, leading to its annulment by the National Assembly within hours.
The move triggered calls for impeachment, with opposition parties initiating proceedings and key cabinet ministers resigning in protest.
As of today, political tensions remain high in South Korea, with opposition leaders intensifying efforts to unseat the president amid calls for systemic reforms to prevent similar crises in the future.
– BERNAMA
