Kosovo Border Protesters Slate Police 'Violence'

Twenty-five NGOs have called a protest for Monday in response to the tactics used by Kosovo police against protesters on Saturday near the Kosovo-Serbia border at Merdare.

More than 50 persons, half of them police officers, were injured when clashes erupted as police tried to remove the protesters from the Pristina-Podujevo highway.

Civil society activists said the police action to free the road from the demonstrators, led by the opposition Vetevendosje (Self-determination) Movement, was unjustifiable.

“We condemn the brutal violence ordered by the Government of Kosovo and committed by the Kosovo Police. Yesterday’s protest was a manifestation of the will of the citizens, an entirely democratic instrument, guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic," they said.

The Vetevendosje Movement earlier this week announced that it would block the free flow of goods at the Merdare crossing in the northeast and in the southeast at Dheu i Bardhe.

The action was aimed at upholding a recent parliamentary motion advocating a trade ban with Serbia.

But a significant police presence prevented the protesters from reaching the border crossings and stopped the crowd about five kilometres from Merdare and some 500 metres from the crossing in Dheu i Bardhe.

Kosovo Police on Sunday said they arrested 146 protesters at both Merdare and Dheu i Bardhe for resisting and attacking police officers. Fifteen remained in police custody on Sunday.

Shpend Ahmeti from Vetevendosje demanded the release of all the protesters and described the police action as an attack on the opposition and on democracy.

“The Kosovo Police is obeying the political orders of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi, which represents a violation of our laws," he said.

"Our next peaceful protest to block cars and goods from Serbia will be held on Sunday January 22,” Ahmeti told reporters in Pristina.

Kosovo Police on Sunday said the protests intended to block two border crossings with Serbia were unauthorized and as such illegal.

Police spokesperson Baki Kelani said the protesters refused orders to unblock the highway and started assaulting police “with stones and other objects”. He qualified the protesters “as a violent mob” that was illegally blocking a highway.

“Thirty-two police officers have sought medical treatment due to the protests... from stones and other metal objects thrown at them while a number of official vehicles were damaged,” Kelani said.

According to police records some 1,500 protesters gathered in both Merdare and Dheu i Bardhe on Saturday.