SEVERE MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN

AGAINST USE OF VIOLENCE BY POLICE

The AHC has denounced several times the use of violence by the police forces. The use of violence by police has been regarded as one of the most acute problems in the ranks of police. In its public statements, the AHC has mentioned concrete cases, which have been inspected on the ground. It is not unexpected that in the annual report of the Department of State of USA this has drawn particular attention.

Both the Albanian Helsinki Committee and the Albanian Group of Human Rights have denounced concrete cases. Suffice to mention the case of the chairman of the Democratic Party in Tropoja A. Haklaj, who was badly maltreated by police in January 2001 and which was so largely commented. In fact there is no report on human rights, which abstains from mentioning this case. The AHC has denounced also frequent reiterated cases of violence in the premises of Police Commissariat in Elbasan. Lately one more case of maltreatment of a citizen in Vlora by the officer of the judicial police has taken place. The victim was serious damaged and was submitted to medical treatment.

All these acts of violence are compromising the image of forces of public order in Albania. Nevertheless, the competent organs for a long time have kept silence about, without showing transparency and failing to inform public opinion about measures taken to put order in the ranks of police forces and to bring before their responsibility those involved.

Thus there has been a feeling that these acts of violence have not met the necessary attention and have remained in the narrow circle of the dirigents of public order. Under pressure of these acts, which have occurred so frequently, finally the competent organs have reacted and have made known the measures taken against police officials using violence whatever their rank. Some months ago the director of the police commissariat of Elbasan was dismissed and arrested. A similar measure was taken ultimately in Vlore against an officer of the judicial police for having beaten a citizen. The officer was also dismissed and brought before justice.

The AHC appreciated these measures taken against the violent elements penetrated in the ranks of police forces. The transparency of the competent organs is all the more evaluated when they make known these sanctions. It is to be expected that the competent authorities will be engaged more seriously in bringing those responsible before their responsibility. There is now reason to believe that the public denunciations of these acts of violence by the organisations of human rights will be taken into consideration in due time for condemning every violation of the law. Whatever act of violence is an attempt against the rights of personal security, which is “a constitutional principle”. The forces of public order should be at the service of this principle.

11.03.2002