"Military on Belgian streets are illegal"
The Belgian terror alert was raised to level 3 after the anti-terrorism operation in Verviers past January. This meant that about 300 military units were deployed to guard potential targets. After two months, the terror alert dropped to level 2. However, soldiers are still watching over many different sites.
Non-profit Vrede thinks that the presence of soldiers in the streets is illegal under alert level 3, let alone that it's lawful to have them stationed in public under level 2. Vrede will be working together with the Francophone National Peace and Democracy Action Group CNAPD and 'human rights league' Ligue des droits de l'homme to launch the 'Streets Without Soldiers' campaign.
"Only deploy military under alert level 4"
Vrede Chairman Ludo De Brabander says that "under Belgian law, the government can only deploy military under an immediate threat. We've never had a level-4 alert in Belgium, and still the government has repeatedly sent out troopers."
The non-profit also claims that the soldiers aren't fit for the task. "These men were trained for national defence. They've never really been prepared to guard public streets, and they're unfamiliar with police regulations." Moreover, Mr De Brabander claims that the feeling of unsafety in civilians has only increased after the deployment of the paratroopers.
"Never heard so much nonsense in so little time"
Interior Minister Jan Jambon (Flemish Nationalists) reacted to the commotion, saying that "paratroopes on the streets are perfectly legal." Furthermore, the ministers claims that the soldiers do have the skills for the task at hand.
Mr De Brabander is using article 43 of the 1998 law concerning the organisation of integrated police services to make the assertions. "He’s talking about an article that concerns claims that can be made by a mayor. However, today, it's not the mayor of the city, but the federal government that decides to put troopers on the streets", explains Minister Jambon.
Mr Jambon puts off the rule that soldiers can only be deployed at alert level 4 as complete nonsense. He also points out that the measures are temporary. "It's our ambition to ultimately get to a normal situation, under alert level 2 or 1. Unfortunately, it's not us politicians who decide what level we're under right now, it's the Threat Analysis and Coordination Organ OCAD." Finally, Mr Jambon puts the 'unsafety' claims into perspective: "When I listen to civilian feedback, I notice that people don't feel more unsafe at all because of the soldiers. These men have carried out similar assignments before abroad, and they've received additional training."
What are the OCAD terror alert levels?
Level 1: marginal threat. The analysed group, event or location is not in danger.
Level 2: average threat. There is a small chance of an attack on the analysed group, event or location.
Level 3: severe threat. There is a genuine danger of an attack on the analysed group, event or location.
Level 4: immediate threat. There is a near-certainty of an impending attack on the analysed group, event or location.