Use of Force Against RNC Protesters 'Disproportionate,' Charges Amnesty
International
LONDON, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amnesty International is concerned
by allegations of excessive use of force and mass arrests by police at
demonstrations in St. Paul, Minnesota during the Republican National
Convention (RNC) from September 1-4, 2008. The human rights organization is
calling on the city and county authorities to ensure that all allegations of
ill-treatment and other abuses are impartially investigated, with a review of
police tactics and weapons in the policing of demonstrations.
The organization's concerns arise from media reports, video and photographic
images which appear to show police officers deploying unnecessary and
disproportionate use of non-lethal weapons on non-violent protestors marching
through the streets or congregating outside the arena where the Convention was
being held.
Police are reported to have fired rubber bullets and used batons, pepper
spray, tear gas canisters and concussion grenades on peaceful demonstrators
and journalists. Amnesty International has also received unconfirmed reports
that some of those arrested during the demonstrations may have been
ill-treated while held at Ramsey county jail.
Amnesty International is also concerned at reports that several journalists
who were covering the RNC were arbitrarily arrested while filming and
reporting on the demonstrations. They include host of independent news program
Democracy Now!,Amy Goodman, and two of the program's producers, Sharif Abdel
Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, who were both allegedly subjected to violence
during their arrest. A photographer for the Associated Press (AP) and other
journalists were also arrested while covering the demonstrations.
Kouddous described his arrest to media, "...two or three police officers
tackled me. They threw me violently against a wall. Then they threw me to the
ground. I was kicked in the chest several times. A police officer ground his
knee into my back...I was also, the entire time, telling them, 'I'm media. I'm
press....,' but...that didn't seem to matter at all."
Amnesty International urges that an inquiry be carried out promptly, that its
findings and recommendations be made public in a timely manner. If the force
used is found to have been excessive and to have contravened the principles of
necessity and proportionality, then those involved should be disciplined,
measures put in place and training given to ensure future policing operations
conform to international standards.
Amnesty International recognizes the challenges involved in policing large
scale demonstrations and that some protestors may have been involved in acts
of violence or obstruction. However, some of the police actions appear to
have breached United Nations (U.N.) standards on the use of force by law
enforcement officials. These stipulate, among other things, that force should
be used only as a last resort, in proportion to the threat posed, and should
be designed to minimize damage or injury. Some of the treatment also appears
to have contravened U.S. laws and guidelines on the use of force. The U.N.
standards also stress that everyone is allowed to participate in lawful and
peaceful assemblies, in accordance with the principles embodied in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information, please contact the AIUSA media office at 202-544-0200
x302 or visit our website at www.amnestyusa.org.
SOURCE Amnesty International
AIUSA media office, +1-202-544-0200 x302
