The
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia is deeply concerned
over recent developments in the municipality of Medvedja, South
Serbia. On Saturday, November 19 in the village of Grbavica a local
police officer assaulted villager Ismailj Sokolj in his own
backyard. Mr. Sokolj was seriously hurt in his head with a grip of
police handgun.
Two policemen had showed up at Mr. Sokolj's door
and told him to immediately join other villagers fighting a local
fire. He said he was a sick man (a bad heart condition) and was not
allowed to exert himself. Then one of the policemen hit him several
times.
Townsfolk immediately took the unconscious Ismailj to the local
medical center, wherefrom he had to be transported to Leskovac
because the nature of his injuries. Citizens then went to the local
police station to report the incident. They were told there that the
unnamed perpetrator of this serious crime had been placed under
48-hours suspension. However, many witnesses spotted him sitting at
leisure in the police station.
We request the Ministry of the Interior to
responsibly investigate the case and take adequate measures against
perpetrators. In a continually tense interethnic climate such
incidents could easily trigger off much more serious tensions.
We also draw the Ministry's attention to the fact
that professional behaviour of the police is crucial for the
establishment of interethnic confidence and coexistence. |
