“You deserve all the respect, but what you really deserve, you will never get – a medal for bravery. Not because you do not deserve it, but because no one knows who you are and will never find out. I would like to inform you that as a sign of support for you, anonymous, I will change my profile on the social network and add the inscription I am an anonymous police officer from Tarča,” Kristjan Mlekuš wrote in a letter to the police officer from Tarča show. Minister Aleš Hojs pointed out that this was a confirmation that the “anonymous police officer” presented the opinion of the union’s leadership, which serves the SD party, and also pointed out that Mlekuš was that kind of president who uses a child to pose with a red star.
Kristjan Mlekuš, the president of the SPS, wrote a letter to the anonymous police officer – he expressed his deep respect for the courage and sincerity with which he described the current situation to the wider Slovenian and international public. “You not only spoke about what bothers you personally, but you were the voice of more than 8,000 police officers. Mine too! There are no words to express my respect and admiration for you,” he wrote, adding that he understood that he was afraid for his job, that he would be exposed and publicly lynched by those whose illegal actions he had exposed. Regarding the audio recording, which came to the public yesterday – the police officer could be heard without a changed voice, he said that they both know that the published recording was forged or adapted. That the voice in the recording is not his, according to him, is clear mainly because it was published by the media and web portals, which in the past have already used forged and modified documents, it is said to be a spin, in order to scare the policeman.
Mlekuš also informed the alleged police officer that he could be completely without worries, as they would not find the recording because it did not even exist. And after all, he did not even do anything illegal, you did not violate anything. But you gave a new impetus to me and all the other 8,000 co-workers. “You have my deep respect and deep respect of all police officers, both current and former and future. And above all, you have a deep respect from the public! Be proud of your courage, with your words you have shown the whole public that because of all known events, they should not point the finger at us police officers, but that those who caused this situation have names and surnames. The only thing I regret is that I will never be able to shake your hand and tell you personally how I feel about you and your actions,” wrote the president of the Slovenian Police Union.
To ensure public order, Article 9 of the Police Tasks and Powers Act was activated on Tuesday
Recall, in the last show Tarča on RTVS they talked about who is responsible for the violent protests and who will be responsible for their consequences. On the one hand, there were praises for the work done, and on the other hand, there were allegations of excessive use of coercive means and politicisation of the police. At the suggestion of the Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, Article 9 of the Police Tasks and Powers Act was activated to ensure public order, which allows for restrictions on movement due to serious breaches of public order. In some places, movement was restricted or banned – the EU-Western Balkans summit was held in Brdo pri Kranju, and in the afternoon the protest was disbanded, and they were forced to use a water cannon and tear gas.
Director General of Police Dr Anton Olaj praised the police officers for their work in the protests. He said they put in a lot of effort and did what the profession dictated to them. When asked about the manner of limiting the protests, he emphasised that the procedure was directed by the state prosecutor’s office in Ljubljana and Kranj and that the police acted according to its guidelines. According to him, the police officers acted on the basis of legal provisions. He also said he was legally obliged to set up a special commission to analyse the events. He said he would do his best to make the report public. Director General Olaj also refuted allegations of a “catastrophic drop in trust in the police”. “I am the chief of police, I know what the situation is,” he stressed.
“In fact, a distinction is being made between the protesters,” said the anonymous man – we have been pointing this out for months
An anonymous police officer then told for the Tarča show that the police officers were not against the protesters, but that they had their duties. He expressed his opinion that there was something else in the background. According to him, they now want to shift all the blame to the police, especially to the Ljubljana police. He could not say what their intentions were. However, he allowed for the possibility that they would change leadership again. According to him, they are also diverting people’s attention by causing revolt. “In fact, a distinction is made between the protesters, which is undeniable and clear to almost every police officer. That is why the police officers are also frustrated, dissatisfied, especially because they have been fighting for the reputation of the police for so many years, and now it has been ruined in a bad year,” he said.
The anonymous police officer also pointed out that the influence of politics on their work was allegedly unbelievable. “Many people who have worked in the police for 30 years or more have been saying lately that they have not experienced anything like this. People are retiring because they cannot stand it anymore,” he confessed, commenting that they “want to have a full flow of information, to know exactly against whom something is being conducted, what procedures. This is where the abuse of someone’s position is literally seen. Because if the matter was done well and successfully… we ensured public order and peace there, it was a very risky situation, the matter was professional and legal”, said the anonymous police officer, adding that the threat or provocateurs were removed, which it is quite common for normal police practice in our country or in other countries.
What is wrong with the fact that they want to have a superior overview of the work of the Police is otherwise not clear. However, it is clear and evident, even from many not the best done (or not done at all) works, that some in the Police are not used to it. It is also completely incomprehensible, for example, that Minister Hojs was accused of wanting certain high-profile cases to be re-examined; but obviously it is more important to them to cover up the mistakes that may have been made in the past than to get to the bottom of things.
Sara Bertoncelj
