The Police Union warns protests: Police discontent is great

If the executive does not meet these requirements and those for compensation of additional hours, the Kosovo Police Union warns protests and job neglect.

So the directors of the Police Union have said today at the Security and Defence Affairs Commission meeting in which MPs were notified about their demands.

Police Union Chairman Valbona Kamberi said police discontent is great, especially for working in the pandemic, which is not being stimulated by the government.

She said no demands so far have been met by the Kosovo government.

No response received from us yet. Police have been working 12 hours a day since March 12th because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a great sacrifice by the police, and no incentive for the Kosovo Police who are on the front lines in the fight against the pandemic. So far over 600 members have been infected, and 10 other members have lost their battle with the virus. Therefore, the stimulus of doctors from 300 euros for July and August has resulted in disappointment with the police, as this category has not been included in the government's latest decision”, Kamberi points out.

She also expressed concern for not paying overtime to the police.

Kamberi has also commented on the last case of police intervention against a civilian for lack of a mask.

“We are not agreeing with MP Daut Haradinaj, who has said police are not performing the official duty. Police do nothing more than what is required by law”, she said.

While Kamberi has said that if their demands are not met, protests, strikes will hold, and they will stage work on the ground.

The “Police will be passive and will no longer be dealing with sentences and checks on who is wearing a mask and who is not”, she said.

While MP Rexhep Selimi said he is concerned with the serious situation in Kosovo police.

He said police requests back 100 per cent.

“I propose the commission to form the Work Group for monitoring the Kosovo Police Law. On the other hand, no response from the Government is extremely disturbing. Kosovo police do not pay additional hours properly, they are not even included in the emergency package with 300 euros of”, Selimi stressed.

MP Ganimete Musliu said police requests are not the first time heard in the Assembly.

However, it has demanded that the commission unanimously support police requirements.

It's the last alarm for the government to meet the police requirements. But, they should not even avoid police protests, as their demands are not being resolved at any time”, she said, also seeking professionalism in the Kosovo Police.

MP Elmi Recica, seeking support for the police, said she wants protests or police strikes not to happen, as citizens and national security are heavily dependent on the police.

MP Beka Berisha has said that each of the MPs has the will to come to the aid of the police, and has said it is not necessary to keep protests by the police, as their demands will be resolved.

MP Mefail Bajqinovci has stressed that police demands are legitimate, and really for the additional 300 euros salary are “and the police are exacerbated”.

The salary of a police officer in the country is currently 390 euros.

The four priority requirements of the Police Union are: emergency package, shots, early retirement law and health insurance.