CIVIL once again strongly condemns the police brutality in the Bitola case, when police officers beat a member of the Roma community. At the same time, the more frequent attacks, both against members of the police and doctors and other official persons, are of concern.
The police have to be an example for lawful conduct. We are appalled by the brutality of the police officers in the recording that was posted today. For this case, the state should determine the strictest sanction in accordance to the law. The uniform should not protect offenders, but rather protect from violence. The impunity has to stop – was CIVIL’s position immediately after the case in Bitola was exposed on the social networks on September 24.
For the public it is important to distinguish that the police brutality should in no way be equated with attacks on official persons. Domestic and international law precisely stipulate when a police intervention goes beyond the legal framework and becomes overstepping of authority, harassment and brutality.
CIVIL supports the expressions of protest against the police brutality, as well as the swift institutional reaction in which the responsible police officers are severely sanctioned due to overstepping of authority.
At the same time, calling on counter-protests where support is expressed for the sanctioned police officers comes from not enough clearly defined and visible structures that raises doubts that the motives of such activities have nothing to do with democracy and the rule of law. It is important for the institutions and the government to clearly distance themselves from such messages in the public.
Freedom of expression and the right to a peaceful protest in the country are guaranteed and for years now there have been no institutional barriers for practicing them. The public remembers that in the past, it was precisely the regime that encouraged, and even organized the counter-protests. That is not and must not be the case in a democratic society.
The incidents of violent verbal and physical attacks against official persons is also worrying. The institutions have an obligation to take serious and decisive measures for preventing and sanctioning them within the framework of the law.
CIVIL proposes tightening of the legal sanctions for overstepping of authority, not acting upon reports of citizens, and for attacks on official persons.
CIVIL outlines the need for serious and determined activation of the bodies for internal control within all institutions, especially the MOI. In that process, it is crucial to work on strengthening transparency and civic participation in the activities of the internal control of the MOI and other institutions. The public has the right to know whether those bodies are working and what they are doing.
The impunity has to stop!
CIVIL
translation by: Natasha Cvetkovska
