Protests have been lasting for months, but have been peaceful. Last week they became violent. Wave of mass protests, led by students, began to collapse on November 1st of a roof at Novo Sad Train Station, after rehab works, causing the death of 16 people
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s party has summoned protests across the country to today against former tournamental protesters who have contested the government for nine months, accusing of being authoritarian and corrupt.
The President of the Serbian Progressive Party (NHS), Milos Vucevic, accused protesters of “dehumanizing and criminalizing” who has a different opinion, especially Vucic, in power for 13 years.
The party has summoned demonstrations in 50 cities in the country so that citizens show how they reject a “blockade of normal life” by which protesters, especially university students.
“When they commit violence, it is a legitimate action; when the police barely enforce rights, then it is repression,” said Vucevic, the former prime minister, referring to the confrontations of the last days between groups of protesters and agents of the law.
The wave of mass protests, led by students, began the collapse on November 1 of a roof at Novo Sad Train Station, after rehab works, causing the death of 16 people.
The initial requirement for liability and transparency on the award and execution of the work, made by Chinese companies, became a complaint of government authoritarianism and the requirement of improvements in the rule of law and the realization of early elections.
The demonstrations, organized by students and mostly peaceful until last week, became violent after more than 80 protesters were injured last Wednesday, in which they described as brutal attacks of “bandits” of NHS and police.
Since then, dozens of protesters have been arrested and injured, and police said 137 of the agents were injured. Several NHS offices and a prosecutor’s office were destroyed.
The Office of Democratic and Human Rights Institutions (Odihr) of the organization for safety and cooperation in Europe (OSCE) appealed to the Serbian authorities on Tuesday to abstain from excessive use of force.
“Serbia has an obligation to facilitate peaceful meetings without unjustified or excessive use of force by police and prevent violence, according to human rights commitments,” OSCE’s office said.
The University of Belgrade Rectors College has also requested an urgent reaction from the Public Prosecution Service on brutal actions against students, who today appealed to citizens to keep their calm and not approach the places where supporters of the NHS will be gathered.
