Swedish police shoot 3 unarmed demonstrators

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday June 11, 2002 20:59 by Januszka

UN, Amnesty, HRW silent - No "excessive force" charges

Swedish police opened fire with live ammunition on a crowd of rock-throwing anti-globalization demonstrators after one policeman was badly injured by a thrown object. Three of the protestors, who were trying to disrupt an EU summit meeting, were wounded by the police gunfire, one critically. Swedish Justice Minister Thomas Bodstrom said the rioting by hundreds of anarchist demonstrators "was the most difficult challenge Sweden's security forces had ever faced." (CNN, June 16, 2001) Prime Minister Goran Perrson, who is also President of the European Union, promised to "stand up and fight" against any attempts to disrupt EU meetings. (New York Times, June 16, 2001)

There has been no condemnation or even criticism of the Swedish action by the United Nations, Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch, even though these organizations were quick to condemn Israeli security forces for opening fire against far more violent and threatening Palestinian rioters who had killed and seriously wounded Israeli citizens and soldiers. In addition to rock-throwers, the Israeli forces have faced militiamen armed with sniper rifles, AK-47's, anti-tank rockets, Molotov cocktails and mortars.

In October Sweden was among those countries that voted in the UN to condemn Israel for its alleged use of "excessive force." contact Sweden's UK Embassy at [email protected]