Legal Forum Attorney Hila Cohen appealed today to the Minister of Internal Security, the Police Commissioner and the Commander of the Border Police [MAGAV], demanding that they investigate the unnecessary brutality of border police officer Tal Yamini against demonstrators near Camp Horon yesterday. The Forum wants the officer to be detained until an investigation can be completed.
"Such an inexplicable event should be investigated and the most severe measures taken to ensure that such an action never occurs again," said Cohen. "It is also important that the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions."
According to the Legal Forum, the photos and videos from the demonstration have already been published by the media. "It is clear from that evidence that the officer and his subordinates carried-out the brutal arrest of a young person and in the process, broke his nose.
"They also refused to let ambulances provide the youngster with immediate medical treatment."
It has been reported, that following the assault, the young person was taken into custody and only later, taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
The policemen were also photographed attacking the young person verbally and physically pressing their fingers into his eyes, grabbing his face and forcing his head to the ground despite his pleading for them to stop. They were also photographed holding him to the ground with their feet and tying his hands behind his back.
All this was done despite the fact that the young person was seen lying on passively the ground. "The actions of the MAGAV police officers, led by Tal Yamini, where harsh, excessive and without just cause," said Cohen.
"This is not the first time that the officer in question has acted violently while carrying out his duties. There was even one time when he behaved violently with a member of the Knesset. Such an officer is not worthy to serve in the framework of MAGAV and, most assuredly not capable of commanding a police team. The actions of the officer and his subordinates constitute a social and public danger."
The Legal Forum is demanding that the authorities carry out a thorough investigation of the 20 July events and that all the police officers involved be brought to justice. It is also recommending that security officials assess the moral parameters of such police units so that they can implement more positive approaches to similar situations in the future.
The Legal Forum claims in their letter that the commanding officer should be detained immediately until such time as there is a clear picture of the events of the day. It is unreasonable, they say, that someone suspected of such grave actions should continue to command an active combat unit.
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