Hats off to Georgia's unsung heroes
Published 12 November, 2007, 01:05
The violence of 7 November was a nightmare for Georgians. They watched as the State seemed to move against its people. Riot police armed with rubber bullets and tear gas broke up a peaceful protest in Tbilisi. Hundreds were injured. Those who came to their rescue didn't take sides. Like true professionals, they just got on with the job.
When the violence kicked off, the medics from Tbilisi's central emergency response unit didn't waste any time.
They simply moved into the trouble spots. They tended the badly injured where they lay on the ground. The walking wounded were taken to hospital. Those suffering the effects of tear gas had protective masks fixed to their faces.
Help was available in the least expected places. Even hotel lobbies became temporary emergency wards.
For the doctors, it didn't matter who the injured were: policemen, protesters, journalists, foreigners or Georgians. All were given the medical care they needed.
Georgia is struggling to find a way out of its worst political crisis since the 1990s. The government and the opposition seem as far apart as ever.
But thankfully, doctors are not interfering in the dispute. They have more important things to do.
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