IT IS NOT the first time police act in a slapdash manner when dealing with mass protests, said Ombudswoman Iliana Nicolaou yesterday, referring to the violent scenes outside Moni cement factory during the truckers’ strike last month.
Nicolaou highlighted that the ugly clashes between police and media could have been avoided if police had adopted some of her previous proposals. She criticised the police’s rapid reaction unit (MMAD) in her report for violating the freedom of the press, resulting in the arrest of a CyBC cameraman and the handcuffing of journalists.
“It is not the first time we are examining police behaviour at such mass protests. I cannot say we can conclude they are going about it correctly,” she said.
“There was no reason for the MMAD sergeant to intervene in the work of the cameraman. (The officer) was there for other reasons, to move the strikers. He acted to prevent the cameraman from recording the violent scenes unfolding.”
The Ombudswoman concluded in her report that police had failed to plan seriously and in detail for the truckers strike outside the cement factory on July 18.
Clashes erupted outside the factory when truck drivers resisted police efforts to break the picket line and allow the transport of much-needed cement to construction sites. Police took offence to the presence of television cameras and scuffles broke out with members of the media.
The report singles out the police’s slapdash approach to dealing with the media’s coverage of the strike.
The clashes could have been avoided with better preparation, she said. The strikers were not warned about the police’s resolve to move them away from the area, “something which they could have done”.
“Also, they didn’t take into serious account the presence of journalists who were not advised from beforehand what to expect or what they were supposed to do,” said Nicolaou.
Journalists’ Union head Andreas Kannaouros called on the government to implement the Ombudswoman’s proposals and take practical measures to avoid a repeat of similar events in the future.
The police and government have refused to comment on the report until a special committee appointed by the Cabinet completes its own investigation into the affair.
Police Spokesman Demetris Demetriou avoided commenting on the issue but highlighted that the force fully respected the office of the Ombudswoman.
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said: “This government lends particular significance to the reports of the Ombudswoman. When her reports come before the Cabinet, all ministries submit a list of actions taken to comply with these reports,” he noted.
As such, he did not want to comment on her latest report until the parallel investigation was completed.
