Aleko Tskitishvili
Radical opposition kept promise and failed the Police Day announced by the government. However, the supporters of the National Council were punished for the “victory”. The people with broken heads were taken to hospitals. Bloody show continues!
After the independence of Georgia the country celebrated the Police Day on November 10. Although the day coincided the Militia Day of the communist time, the high-ranking officials of the MIA and ordinary policemen never complained about it. But now, Saakashvili and Merabishvili broke the tradition and announced the May 6 – St. George Holiday to be the Police Day.
Extremely religious groups of people assessed the decision as abolishment of the St. George Day. Politically motivated people recalled the May 6 of 2009 when the police shot illegal plastic bullets at the people and caused serious injuries of eyes of several demonstrators. So, the most part of the society assessed the decision of the government as cynical one.
Announcement of the May 6 as a Police Day was not welcomed by the policemen either – not only because the policemen are also people and May 6 is St. George Day for them. Even more, on the previous days, the young activists of the opposition parties promised to punish Vano Merabishvili for mocking at the people and not to allow him to organize a parade in Kakheti roadway. It meant, the police was preparing not for the celebration but for the disorder and violence.
Indeed, on May 6 of 2010 we celebrated neither St. George Day nor Police Day in Georgia but the Day of Violence. (we can say that it has already become traditional). The police machine of Vano Merabishvili has been fighting Georgian population for two years already. In addition to the irresponsibility of the policemen, the opposition is getting radical and it increases the tension.
Saakshvili Still Believes in Zero Tolerance
After the American holidays and pre-election tour in Kutaisi, Saakashvili went to the Kakheti road in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on May 6 and made a speech at the parade. He congratulated not only the Police Day to the policemen but the St. George Day. Saakashvili said St. George is a religious hero who defeated the evil and it is symbolic that “activities of the Georgian police are also a victory over the evil.” The president once more appreciated the Zero Tolerance which he initiated years ago.
“We grew up in the country where statues were set up to robbers. Former minster of internal affairs was accompanying the criminals with great respect on this road. But after the Rose Revolution, we managed to defeat criminal mentality together with resolution of the social problems. Anybody can criticize us but I want to tell you that Zero Tolerance did its good job,” said Mikheil Saakashvili.
“If somebody will oppose the statehood of Georgia, he will be properly responded by the Georgian police,” added Mikheil Saakashvili and read the list of the policemen who died during their professional activities during the recent years. The policemen honored the dead policemen.
Book of Swear
When the parade was going on near the building of the MIA, singer Gia Gachechiladze (nickname Utsnobi) swore at the informational meeting of the National Council and youth organizations that May 6 will never be the Police Day in Georgia.
“I swear that this day will never be the Police Day. Today it is St. George’s Day and I congratulate you this day,” said Utsnobi to the policemen and special unit who were standing not far from them. He also said that he had found a narrow path leading to the MIA building and suggested the supporters to reach the building through that path.
Leader of the Alliance for Georgia Sozar Subari also joined the demonstrators in Kakheti road. He assessed the announcement of the May 6 to be the Police Day and the parade of the police as mocking of the people.
“One year ago, on this day, the police assaulted the people. As a result two people lost eyesight. Merabishvili announced this day to be the Police Day. It is mocking at the people and I think the government, whom we elected, should not make fun of the people,” said Sozar Subari.
Suddenly, Utsnobi turned towards the central railway line running alongside the Kakheti road. The demonstrators blocked the railway road and the special unit also arrived at the place. Later, the journalists asked one of the leaders of the National Council Zurab Noghaideli whether they planned to block the road and he replied: “It makes no difference what we had planned? We followed Utsnobi.”
The accident between the policemen, special unit and demonstrators happened on the railway road. They threw stones at each other and about ten people injured.
“Do not mix up St. George and Vano Merabishvili with each other,” suggested the candidate for the Tbilisi City Mayor from the National Council Zviad Dzidziguri to the policemen who beat the demonstrators with truncheons. A person in civil cloths standing together with the policemen slapped one of the demonstrators. After that the demonstrator threw yellow paint at him. The policemen hit Levan Gachechiladze with truncheon in the ribs. The special unit members were shouting “Go, Go!” The opposition leaders stated that 6 people were injured during the accident. They all are in poor conditions and were taken to hospital # 5. The doctor of the hospital Goderdzi Gugunashvili reported to the Interpresnews that the demonstrators – Kakha Berishvili and Tengiz Mazmishvili are taking medical treatment at the hospital. The doctor added that Tengiz Mazmishvili is an old man and his health conditions are a bit worse; besides that he has trauma in the head.
Eka Beselia, Sozar Subari, Dachi Tsaguria and Nana Kakabadze visited the injured people in the hospital. Eka Beselia said that the third injured – Davit Kamladze was taken to the central hospital. Several more people were taken to Aramiantsi hospital.
Opposition leaders blame the minister Vano Merabishvili in provocation. Eka Beselia said Vano Merabishvili provoked the people. She added that behind the special unit, people in civil forms were mobilized, who threw stones at the opposition supporters. The opposition members responded to their attack and as a result of the cluster 5 people got injured. Among them was activist of the People’s Party, who was taken to the hospital unconscious.
Beselia said “the opposition tried to approach the building of the MIA closer where the parade was going on. Every citizen has right to participate in the parade.” However, she said that Vano Merabishvili had blocked all roads even the places where there are no administrative buildings. Beselia said the minister did not have this right.
Interpresnews reported that about 10 injured policemen were taken to the Tbilisi clinic hospital # 1. They were provided with first medical assistance at the hospital. The policemen had injuries on the face and head caused by the stones.
After the protest demonstration was dispersed, the opposition leaders called upon the supporters to go to the church to celebrate the St. George Day and then gather in Saakadze Square at 5:00 pm for the peaceful manifestation. They also said that on May 26 Georgian population celebrates the independence of Georgia and not the government. So, the people will also attend the parade.
“It will be a reply to the violence of the government which will not put up with similar regime,” said the opposition leaders. They said the peaceful demonstrations will continue permanently and the struggle will not end.
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