I condemn excessive force
This is the third in a series of posts about violence in Kosovo Saturday. I wrote yesterday:
I may need to adjust my view, but I’d like someone who was there to tell me that there was no physical provocation of the police, even after the police started to try to disperse the protesters.
Today, Amnesty International has condemned excessive use of force by the police, but noted:
Some media reported that protestors started to throw plastic bottles and other objects at the police at Besian, but all reports confirmed this took place only after the Kosovo police had intervened.
Good of Amnesty to add this bit, but it leaves me in a complicated situation. I join Amnesty in condemning any excessive use of force by the police, but that does not negate the main point of my posts yesterday and the day before: violence by the demonstrators is not justified, permissible, advisable, or otherwise a good idea. The Amnesty press release demonstrates my point: if the demonstrators had not resorted to violence, there would be nothing but an unequivocal condemnation of excessive police force.
I should note that I am a paid-up (not actually card-carrying) member of Amnesty International, so obviously I think they generally do a fine job. But I confess also to be suspicious about the assertion plastic bottles were thrown at the police: only plastic bottles? Numerous press accounts mention rocks and metal bars.
I also find it moderately annoying that Amnesty International does not list Kosovo as a country (it does list Taiwan, so it is not General Assembly membership that determines the list). There is something for deputy prime minister Paciolli to concern himself with: recognition by Amnesty International, and while he is at it he should try for Googleanalytics as well.
So there you have it: my adjusted view is that I condemn any use of excessive force by the Kosovo Police. In fact, I wonder on reflection why they did not just leave the demonstrators where they were–it was cold enough to make them move sooner or later. But I repeat what I said earlier: nonviolence is nonviolent. It needs to stay that way, almost no matter what the provocation.
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6 thoughts on “I condemn excessive force”
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If you are going to look for a reason to beat the protesters you’re going to find one. But there was no reason to do so on Saturday. It’s that simple. It shouldn’t happen in a democratic society, and your experience during the civil rights era shouldn’t be the standard against which me measure police conduct.
Vetevendosje’s actions were unlawful, nonsensical and counter-productive. Nobody gives Kurti and the rest the right to block the checkpoints. The protest should have actually been banned as I hope the one on 22 January will be.
The President of Kosovo (currently attending a conference in Abu Dhabi) has called for an investigation into accusations of the use of excessive force, the Interior Ministry said it was planning one, so it seems no coverup is planned. If nothing else, US/Kfor “mentors and monitors” (or trainers?) were observing.
As for AI – I’ve paid (usually late) the membership fee since college days, but they seem to be turning political. Supporting prisoners of conscience is one thing, but they seem to be going beyond that these days. Is calling for George Bush’s arrest anything more than a publicity stunt? This announcement, based on newspaper reports (what newspapers? I haven’t seen anything about plastic bottles so far) seems pretty quick to condemn actions they don’t appear to know much about. And 31 police officers needing medical attention sounds like this was hardly a nonviolent protest.
“In fact, I wonder on reflection why they did not just leave the demonstrators where they were”
Partly because Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi wants to show “the internationals” that he has the situation under the control and thus Kosovo is a governable country ; and partly because he is becoming a ruthless authoritarian ruler like Albania’s Sali Berisha. That’s 2 birds with a stone!
On a previous note you have stated that Albin Kurti does all of this for votes, well, you could not be more wrong than this. Unlike other pseudo patriots/nationalists in the Albanosphere, Albin Kurti believes in his program with passion. His previous actions didn’t bring him any votes in the latest elections, au contraire, the number of votes VV received were far below everybody’s expectations.
“… Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi … is becoming a ruthless authoritarian ruler like Albania’s Sali Berisha” – could you provide the non-Albanians among us with some examples? For both men, preferably. (U.S. news outlets don’t seem to have many sources in either country.)
TIA
A note at the margin: deputy prime minister Pacolli – and foreign minister Hoxhai too – have a huge job, since Taiwan is recognised by around 50 international organisations, while the Republic of Kosovo just by 2. So, in my opinion Amnesty International is doing fairly right.