Serbia protests demand accountability after construction tragedy
In Belgrade, thousands gathered on Monday in front of the Serbian government headquarters, demanding the resignation of its members after the tragic death of 14 people in an incident at the construction site of the railway station in Novi Sad. "Now or never, absolute power is absolute responsibility," protesters told PAP.
8:56 AM EST, November 12, 2024
Lawyer Jovan Rajić, one of the demonstration organizers, addressed the protesters: "This wasn't an accident ... They were killed by corruption, crime, unpublished contracts, negligence and greed. That is why we are all here, to demand responsibility and justice
Borislav Novaković, the former mayor of Novi Sad, highlighted that no perpetrator has faced consequences even after 11 days since the disaster. He commented that the state targets those seeking justice rather than apprehending the actual wrongdoers. Several activists and political figures who organized the event were detained following last week's protests.
They want the government to resign
The organizers accused the authorities of abusing power and avoiding responsibility for the events in Novi Sad. The speeches by the activists' representatives repeatedly drew loud applause from the crowd, who expressed their outrage against the government to the rhythm of drumming.
Protest participants demanded the resignation of the government and Novi Sad's mayor, Milan Djurić, the disclosure of all contracts related to the station's reconstruction, and the review of infrastructure projects from the past ten years.
Serbians announced, "We will continue the fight in the street"
The organizers announced from the stage that if their demands were not fulfilled by the end of the week, they would persist in their efforts through street demonstrations. Under this pressure, Goran Vesić, Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, stepped down.
Milos, aged 30, highlighted that the incident in Novi Sad is the most recent example of the country's ongoing deterioration. He noted that this pattern is familiar to everyone, involving secret deals, the enrichment of those connected to power, and a general disregard for the nation's well-being.
On the other hand, 60-year-old Aleksandra shared her thoughts, mentioning that Vučić constantly emphasizes that Serbia is a freedom-loving nation. She agreed but remarked that, to him, this seems to mean having the freedom to act as he wishes and treat the country as his possession. She concluded that it was time for him to step down.
After the speeches ended, the protesters headed toward the president's office, planning to submit a motion for Prime Minister Milos Vučević's resignation. However, the building was guarded by police as the president attended the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan.
The demonstrators carried banners with slogans: "Corruption kills," "Crime, not Tragedy," and "You are guilty, you will be held accountable." During the demonstration, slogans were chanted: "You have blood on your hands." Organizers appointed several dozen people to maintain order during the protest, securing the area around the government and the president's office. The event ultimately ended peacefully.
