POLICE yesterday warned of impending anarchy after four officers were injured in the early hours of Sunday when arrests were made during an open-air party at Nicosia’s Phaneromeni area and protesters subsequently stormed Paphos Gate police station.
Michalis Katsounotos the police spokesman said yesterday: “It is not permissible for a police station to become the focus of attack just because police are carrying out their duties. If we let these attitudes develop in this way, I fear very much that we are leading with mathematical accuracy towards anarchy. And the price will be very heavy for all.”
The party of around 100 youths turned into a full-blown street battle with police outside old Nicosia’s Phaneromeni Church late on Saturday , spreading up to Paphos Gate police station where police and protestors faced off for hours.
Seven youth were arrested and four police injured. Claims of excessive violence have thrust the police back into the spotlight, while police say they were merely doing their
Teenagers accused the police of provoking the battle by turning up in plain clothes, failing to identify themselves and inciting violence. They also accused police of throwing glass bottles, and using batons and pepper spray to stop the group of teenagers having a party.
The police leadership yesterday rejected charges of use of excessive force, citing the fact that no one had filed a complaint as of yesterday. They in turn accused the youths of creating a disturbance after midnight, using drugs, shouting profanities and “looking for an excuse” to attack police.
The area around Phaneromeni Church in the old town has been used numerous times in recent weeks by youth wanting to play music on loudspeakers, sing, dance and generally hang out. The spread of graffiti in the area is an indication of the area’s increasing popularity among youth who prefer to avoid the bars and clubs that other youth groups frequent.
The majority are aged between 15 and 20, wear dark clothes and mostly listen to rock. On Saturday night, with apparent permission from the Church, an outdoor party was organised behind the church and in front of Phaneromeni School. Word of the party was spread using text messages on mobile phones.
At around 15 minutes past midnight, a handful of plain-clothed police officers from the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) turned up in response to several complaints from resident of a disturbance and excessive noise pollution.
Police spokesman Katsounotos, said the CPU officers called for back-up when the climate turned tense on their arrival. Thirty more officers turned up, including members of the Mobile Rapid Reaction Unit (MMAD), after which the plain-clothes officers detained two youth standing in front of the church on suspicion of drug use.
One of those, a 17-year-old, was then arrested for allegedly smoking a cannabis joint. The arrest caught the attention of the other 100-odd youth on the other side of the church, spawning two different versions of the incidents.
According to police, dozens of youth then approached them, shouting obscenities, and attempted to free the two under detention. During the scuffles, four more people were arrested, aged 17, 18, 22 and 25. The “mob” then marched to Paphos Gate police station, where three of those arrested were being held. They tried to storm the station to release those arrested, leading to two more arrests, aged 20 and 21. Four police officers were later taken to hospital where they were treated for cuts and abrasions. The six youth arrested were taken to court on Sunday where they were remanded in custody for three days in connection with charges of disturbing the peace and assaulting officers. One of the six is an 18-year-old girl, also charged with assaulting police. Four of the six asked to see a doctor, but no injuries were recorded.
According to teenagers questioned, people in civilian clothing were seen holding two youth on the ground just after midnight and a day after three youth were allegedly beaten by members of an extreme right-wing organisation in the same area.
When the crowd approached to see what was happening, police called out provocatively, “Come here you cowards”. They then reportedly hit the youth with batons and used pepper spray on them, while one youth said police threw a glass bottle at his head. Another 16-year-old girl said a plain-clothes officer who failed to identify himself grabbed her digital camera and struck her, demanding that she delete all photographs. The youth then staged a protest outside the station until about 3am before they dispersed.
Katsounotos denied claims of excessive violence: “Up to now, nobody has submitted a compaint either about abuse or injury. The facts speak for themselves. We have four police members injured, so it is obvious who exercised violence.”
He hinted that some of the youth hail from anti-establishment organisations with “impressive-sounding” names, something which concerns the police.
“I don’t know whether this gathering was manipulated, directed, planned or just happened. These things should concern us as police, and we are watching the situation closely,” he added.
The Citizens’ Movement “Alert”, formed after ten police were acquitted of beating two students, yesterday condemned the “new arbitrary exercise of police violence”, saying it was provocative and organised.
The Movement accused police of “violently breaking up a peaceful event” as part of a continued effort “to create a climate of terrorism within the walls with the aim of targeting specific social groups” while diverting attention away from police corruption and crime.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca said at first instance, he did not believe excessive force was used, though he expected a report on the night’s events to be handed over today. Speaking after a meeting with the police leadership, the Minister said police actions were lawful and respectful of human rights.
Reports yesterday suggested that during the meeting, police and minister decided to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any troubles in the old town, and increase foot and mobile patrols in the area.
Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou said the police went to enforce law and order after numerous complaints were made, and ended up being attacked for trying to do their job.
