I had reported previously that President Dadra had ordered the military not to fire on civilians protesting the new Blitzgan government’s policies. Sadly, it seems that policy has changed. There have been multiple incidents of the military police shooting and killing unarmed citizens. Of course, in each case, they were individuals opposing the government. Is this a return to the old way of doing things?
President Dadra has not denounced the killings, so he has given at least tacit endorsement of them. The commander of the military police has announced that the police are being allowed to open fire in self defense when they believe their lives are in danger. The police wear body armor and carry an array of high powered weapons, as well as weapons designed for close personal combat. How can they be threatened by citizens armed with posters and banners?
The commander also said civilians had thrown rocks, bricks, and other heavy objects at the officers and called them obscene names. We have a highly trained police force, prepared (supposedly) to deal with crowds, and they can’t deal with flying bricks and insults? The commander further stated that those killed had criminal records. Even before the revolution criminals had the right to a trial. Do our police now have the right to execute criminals on the spot?
President Dadra, I appeal to you—put a stop to this tyranny before we degenerate back into the militaristic police state that we fought so hard to end.
Pika RN2378, Editor, The Blitzgan Newscom
