Filenews 19 February 2021 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
Exercises on paper have been being conducted since yesterday by the Police to police the two protest events scheduled for tomorrow in Nicosia and Limassol. The Police state that they will police both events, while a report by "F" confirms that there are reports that rioting elements will infiltrate the protests.
At the same time yesterday the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police proceeded to appoint as criminal investigators of Agathoklis Korellis and Mary Maklasky from Nicosia, Elias Christou from Larnaca and Heros Konstantinidou from Paphos, all belonging to the field of fighting law, in order to investigate whether excessive force was used by the Police at last Saturday's event in Nicosia. Investigators will have three months to complete their investigation.
Yesterday at the Police Headquarters a meeting was held under assistant chief of operations Dimitris Dimitriou on the measures to be taken to police the event in Nicosia, and today there will be a new meeting on the protest in Limassol. According to reports, the decision taken is that the attitude that the Police will take on Saturday will be the same as at all events. If everything goes smoothly it will not "break nose", but if incidents occur then it will intervene. The police water gun for which there was a lot of noise because it hit the young Anastasia, causing her eye damage, will be transported to the wider area of the event and if necessary it will be used.Police Chief Stelios Papatheodorou said yesterday that the information available in connection with the event in Nicosia is being evaluated in order to take all appropriate measures. He also said that we would be on our way to police any event planned.
Also, spokesman Christos Andreou said yesterday that the Police are ready and will be at the scene to police the event," he added. In response to a question about what happened last Saturday and that there is information that the Police are preparing to defend itself before the Authority and if they have collected videos and photographs, Mr Andreou said that there is enough photographic and cinematographic material, "which is in our hands with regard to this event". "Of course, we've seen a lot of photos, but also cinematic material on social media that shows up and speaks for itself," he added. Mr. Andreou said that we are seeing scenes, that it was not only the scenes that have been shown on the first day regarding the event that has taken place and it seems that it was a peaceful event. "It appears that some persons who had infiltrated this event had attacked the members of the Police," he noted and added that for the upcoming rally to be held tomorrow Saturday, there is information that it appears some other agitators will infiltrate that event. Regarding the use of the water gun, the police spokesman said that this counter-demonstration vehicle is governed by a police order and that a similar one is used in too many police forces around the world for such cases, which are before us. Depending on the situation, the appropriate response and action will be taken," he added.
"They'll see hundreds of raised fingers"
The member of the coordinating committee of the course "As Dame!" Giorgos Charalambous, commenting on the positions of the Police for last Saturday's event, said that if they consider the raised fingers of the already downed Anastasia to be a nuisance, "all they will manage", as he said, "is to see hundreds of raised fingers next Saturday".
They are again calling on the Police to stay away from the demonstrators and "stop provoking common sense," he said. "We, for our part, reiterate that we intend to demonstrate, as always, peacefully and guard the march. Our massive and peaceful presence will be our best response."
Speaking to the CYPE, Mr Charalambous said that the coordinator of the march calls on those who attend the protest tomorrow Saturday to wear a protective face mask and to keep their distance from those around them. Commenting on information about people who will infiltrate the march to cause incidents, Mr Charalambous said that if the police have any information, let them investigate, rather than leak it to foster a climate of panic in society, especially after the unprovoked and unnecessary use of force last Saturday.
In the meantime, in a statement "in all directions" Port 9 among others states that despite being asked to be one of the organizers of the march, they nevertheless choose to go down with their own, separate block. In the communication, among other things, they say that "they do not care and we are disgusted by the sudden love of various parties towards the protest. In particular, the attitude of the ACPL, which, through its political leadership before 13/2, declared that it does not organise marches respecting the decree and today (after the mass support of the protest) is trying to play a defender of the march, confirms to us once again that it is nothing more than a systemic voting party".
