A policeman defends Ortega Smith and talks about the discomfort in the Police due to the charges in Madrid

@ElentirENG ES 11·18·2023 · 7:00 0

In recent days, many Spaniards, both police and protesters, have been victims of a strategy of political manipulation.

Harsh criticism from the Police against the charge ordered by the government in Madrid
Marlaska did not allow the Police to defend themselves from a separatist attack and now orders an attack on a peaceful demonstration

Abuses that have been reported by police unions

This strategy began on November 6 with a police charge against a peaceful demonstration against the socialist coup against the rule of law on Ferraz Street, in Madrid, where is the national headquarters of the Socialist Party (PSOE). A charge that was criticized by police unions, which have pointed out the government as responsible. This week, the controversy over police action has erupted again with the violent police action on Wednesday, which included the arrest of two journalists who were only doing their job.

The polite words of Javier Ortega Smith to a police officer

Given the growing tension generated by these events, this Thursday Javier Ortega Smith, lawyer and national deputy of Vox, addressed one of the police officers deployed in Ferraz to indicate, in a very polite and respectful tone, that "we have information that within a peaceful demonstration Apparently there have been specific acts of action by their units, by some of their agents, who we could say have exceeded their limits, which would fall within what which is called in the Penal Code an abuse of authority."

After identifying himself as a deputy, Javier Ortega said: "We today go, with all the respect and with all the affection and with all the admiration that we have for the UIP" (the Police Intervention Unit, popularly known as the riot police), "for their magnificent work, we are going to do a very simple job, which is as national deputies to observe scrupulous compliance with the law , which is as simple as saying that there cannot be a violent protester nor can there be an agent who exceeds his duties, that is, who abuses force. Neither of the two things are legal and therefore they cannot be done, I suppose you will totally agree with that."

Ortega Smith added: "we are accompanied by some cameramen who will be very attentive throughout the day to all the devices, to all the agents, this does not in any way mean an attitude on our part neither accusatory nor the opposite, nor accommodating, simply observer. Observing means taking identification if we see that an agent is committing any abuse, asking for identification and transferring him, and God forbid, but if that were the case to the judicial authority, so that the corresponding proceedings can be opened."

The deputy added: "And of course, if we see any protester who is committing any act of contempt, immediately notify you as the acting force so that this person does not interrupt a fundamental right that is that of manifestation". The video of this conversation was published by Javier Ortega himself on Twitter on Thursday at night and it has gone viral, you can see it here:

The ridiculous criticism of a police union against Ortega Smith

This Friday, the Federal Police Union (UFP) union published an absurd statement accusing Ortega Smith and Vox of "coercing" the UIP. A ridiculous accusation, since coercion involves the use of force and Ortega Smith limited himself to having a calm and respectful conversation with an agent. This message from the UFP has received an avalanche of criticism on Twitter and does nothing other than damage the prestige of the National Police, in the same way as the criticism of two other police unions, the SUP and Jupol, to Ortega Smith in the last hours. It is sad to see the inability of certain police unions to denounce abuses of authority in the Police, which have occurred very clearly in recent days.

The support of the president of the Policía S.XXI for Ortega Smith

However, not all police unions have the same opinion. Yesterday afternoon, policeman Samuel Guido, president of the S.XXI Police association, published a Twitter thread in which he defended Ortega Smith:

“This video by Congressman Ortega Smith, and its possible overreach, has become controversial. The dialogue between the members of the legislative assemblies (as representatives of the popular will), with the commanders responsible for controlling order public, has occurred on numerous occasions during our democratic period; and yes, in some it was intimidating. It is not the case.

The deputy's tone is at all times respectful and in his own words the admiration and respect he feels for the members of the FFCCSS are evident, who on many occasions have put their physical integrity at risk by exercising as shields of democracy. While I was present, I witnessed how the temper and disaffection with the companions was growing as the afternoon went by, and his speech had more impact on calming those spirits than the opposite; aimed at ensuring that the criticism is reasoned and reasonable, within the legitimate observance of some of the orders received.”

In the UIP “there is unrest and frustration”: “Nobody wants us anymore”

Samuel Guido also comments on the mood in the UIP due to the recent charges in Madrid:

“These last two days I have been talking with many colleagues from the police intervention units (UIP), most of them veterans (of the few that remain), about the events in Ferraz. There is discomfort and frustration, there have been discussions and criticism, and unanimity on where the problem is. One of them told me: "We have lost the affection of the only ones who loved us. No one wants us anymore".”

Guido also focuses on the political orders that police commanders receive and their impact on the ground:

“The commanders are the crucial link in public order, those who accept or do not accept the orders of the political actor and transfer them downwards. If they swallow everything, things turn out the way they do. When a police or political commander calls an operational leader on the ground to give him tactical orders, the only answer he should receive is: "I'm working, don't bother me. When I finish working I will call you to inform you of what we have done, and then you can do what you have to do." The lack of tactical leadership has been conveyed to me by several veteran UIP commanders, both active and retired.”

A political strategy so that citizens feel disaffection with the Police

The president of the S.XXI Police also points out what he believes is behind the events of recent days, in relation to the political orders received by police commanders:

“It is evident that from the first day there is a political strategy to make citizens feel disaffection with their security forces and bodies, within a longer-term plan that involves their weakening to its subsequent transformation into a government apparatus (we have already seen it in other countries), with the same strategy that other state institutions, such as the judiciary, have also denounced these days. I only ask you not to fall into that trap. The guy under the helmet who hit you is the same guy who would give his life for you tomorrow, ask yourself how many of those who criticize him would be willing to do that.”

Samuel Guido also made "a call to continue fighting against the decisions of an autocrat who has put our democracy on the brink of the abyss, always with serenity and calm, in the conviction that violence only favors the government's story. The thousands of police officers who go out every day to show their faces in the streets in every corner of Spain, and who some call “dogs of the system.” They continue to risk more than others every day."

Unfair generalizations about police and protesters

The latter seems especially important to me. Disqualifying the entire National Police and even the entire UIP for the actions of some is a great injustice. Many Spaniards have demonstrated in many cities these days, with the presence of the National Police, without them there was any type of incident. The violence has only occurred in Madrid, because there has been the largest mobilization and because there have only been two ingredients that have lit the fuse: perverse political orders to the Police and violent people among the protesters (whether they are infiltrators or simple madmen).

It is difficult to avoid having black sheep in a group, both among the Police and among the protesters. Each of us must be the ones who worry about distancing ourselves from these black sheep, as several police unions did days ago by criticizing those harsh charges by Ferraz and as many protesters have also done by distancing themselves from the violent ones who were going to break up peaceful demonstrations. Just because there are black sheep does not mean that all the Police and all the protesters are bad people. Let's stop with the crude generalizations. Generalizing like this is very unfair.

The sacrifices of the Police that we must never forget

As I said here on November 8, the Police was the first line of defense of democracy in the face of the 2017 separatist coup in Catalonia. In that brave defense, several agents were seriously injured and saw their professional careers cut short. We Spaniards owe gratitude and recognition to the National Police, whose men and women ensure our safety, risking their lives many times in that endeavor, an endeavor in which some of them, like Vanessa Lage, have died defending their fellow citizens, and 149 of them were murdered by ETA, something I refuse to forget.

What we must do is denounce the agents who exceed their limits and the politicians who give them aberrant orders, but let's not fall into hatred of the Police, not only because it would be unfair and because so many good professionals who They do their job well, they do not deserve that, but also because that is precisely what the socialist government seeks.

---

Photo: Efe.