Is violence the ONLY way forward?

Today's breaking news on Sky, 'Hijackers Undermined Student Fee Demo'. A historical moment for the country, up to 50,000 students marched to London near the MI5 building and all hell broke loose at the Tory Headquaters as the place was attacked in protest of the rising university fees.*_http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Thousands-Of-Students-Protest-In-London-Against-Tuition-Fees-And-Smash-Windows-And-Start-Fires/Article/201011215798223?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15798223_Thousands_Of_Students_Protest_In_London_Against_Tuition_Fees_And_Smash_Windows_And_Start_Fires_

The protests were initially meant to be peaceful but it has been reported that some extremists or anachists got wind of the whole incident and turned it into a violent display of anger. The situation got so out of hand that  a fire extinguisher as well as missiles were said to have been thrown on top of the Milliband building. According to the Guardian, over 14 people were hospitalised and 35 were arrested. *http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/10/student-fees-protest-conservative-hq

The President of the NUS has publicly disapproved of the way the protest turned out. In my opinion this was a good move on his part despite the fact that he was in charge of the whole protest. Therefore, blame automatically shifts onto him. However, one cannot help but wonder, surely violence must have been of reasonable foresight. For example, if you consider what happened earlier this month, when students of London School of Economics protested against Chris Huhne's (Energy Secretary) visit there, it is clear that violence would be an inevitability. *http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11675502

So why were no extra precautions taken for this? Even more worrying, does the fact that Nick Clegg is being challenged during the PMQ's this week undermine the whole essence of his party? http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Deputy-Prime-Minister-Nick-Clegg-Under-Fire-In-PMQs-Over-Liberal-Democrat-U-Turn-On-Student-Fees/Article/201011215799277?lpos=Politics_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15799277_Deputy_Prime_Minister_Nick_Clegg_Under_Fire_In_PMQs_Over_Liberal_Democrat_U-Turn_On_Student_Fees

False promises made for votes? Another thought, was it only too convenient that the protests took place at at time when the PM himself was away on work mission in China?

 As an International student, having studied in this country for 5 years, I can now say that now all the home students realise how much money myself and every other international student has to pay in order to acquire a decent qualification to our name. Have we ever complained? Sure we have. Has anybody listened? Of course not. If anybody did listen, the fees we are paying every year would not be increasing by a £1000 would they? Sure this is unfair for us and more so for home students but was violence really necessary today?

My thought is perhaps violence was the only way, (but not the most ethical)  for students' to have their voices heard. I imagine there will be more violence on its way unless the coalition government can scrap this proposal altogether otherwise a catastrophe is sure to follow. Hopefully the coalition government can take this as a real eye opener (especially the Lib Dems) and ensure they keep to their promises after elections. Ultimately one thing is for sure, in today's world, the only way one can get their voices heard is through violence. Sad and yet true. Who would have thought, a 1st World country like Great Britain had to resort to such uncivilised acts in the name of change?

For further information you may also wish to log onto;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11677862