I condemn excessive force

This is the third in a series of posts about violence in Kosovo Saturday.  I wrote yesterday:

I may need to adjust my view, but I’d like someone who was there to tell me that there was no physical provocation of the police, even after the police started to try to disperse the protesters.

Today, Amnesty International has condemned excessive use of force by the police, but noted:

Some media reported that protestors started to throw plastic bottles and other objects at the police at Besian, but all reports confirmed this took place only after the Kosovo police had intervened.

Good of Amnesty to add this bit, but it leaves me in a complicated situation.  I join Amnesty in condemning any excessive use of force by the police, but that does not negate the main point of my posts yesterday and the day before:  violence by the demonstrators is not justified, permissible, advisable, or otherwise a good idea.  The Amnesty press release demonstrates my point:  if the demonstrators had not resorted to violence, there would be nothing but an unequivocal condemnation of excessive police force.

I should note that I am a paid-up (not actually card-carrying) member of Amnesty International, so obviously I think they generally do a fine job.  But I confess also to be suspicious about the assertion plastic bottles were thrown at the police:  only plastic bottles?  Numerous press accounts mention rocks and metal bars.

I also find it moderately annoying that Amnesty International does not list Kosovo as a country (it does list Taiwan, so it is not General Assembly membership that determines the list).  There is something for deputy prime minister Paciolli to concern himself with:  recognition by Amnesty International, and while he is at it he should try for Googleanalytics as well.

So there you have it:  my adjusted view is that I condemn any use of excessive force by the Kosovo Police.  In fact, I wonder on reflection why they did not just leave the demonstrators where they were–it was cold enough to make them move sooner or later.  But I repeat what I said earlier:  nonviolence is nonviolent.  It needs to stay that way, almost no matter what the provocation.