« You wanted fireworks, you will get fireworks »: in the tension first tension, then the new protest – BBC News in Serbian
« We are tucked, we are the strongest strongest, » 23. May echoed by the center of Kula, Vojvodina place with about 36,000 inhabitants, between Novi Sad and Sombor.
The protest under the slogan « You wanted fireworks, you will get a fireworks, » the informal « Young Tower » called, reacting to turbulent events from the 20th. Maja, which brought a lot of tensions and tensions into a quiet tower.
On that day, an extraordinary session of the Municipal Assembly was held, and swearing and verbal conflicts were marked during the opposition and worshiped gathering in a small space in front of the municipal building.
At one point, supporters of the ruling Serbian advanced party were shot by opposition protesters with pyrotechnic funds.
In response, after a peaceful protest walking of the city, protesters fired 16 rockets, like fireworks, in honor of 16 sufferings in the coastal station of the train station in Novi Sad, 1. November 2024. Years.
Opposition councilors in the Kula are looking for a dismissal of President of Damjan Miljanić and the President of the Municipality of Velibor Milojičić, the SNS official, which is why the extraordinary session was held.
« We have 1,000 reasons to seek it – and the most powerful, because they are representatives of the undemocratic regime, but also communal, » says Zlatko Ostojić, head of the opposition councilor group « Kula, our city », in the conversation for the BBC in Serbian.
On the day of the session, the banner conquered banner « failed the colored revolution », as the government representatives often call protests after the fall of the canopy.
Opposricians say that noteworthy of the Serbian advanced parties gathered more than a municipal building and nearby rooms – « mainly with hoodies on heads and masked faces » – with the aim of intimidating locals.
When they shot opposition protesters, three people were injured, claimed from the opposition.
« I personally been in front of the party’s premises with comments. I don’t hide, nor do I have reason to be ashamed, » said Damjan Miljanic, President of the Municipality of Tower, in a written response for the BBC in Serbian.
He confirms that there were « several incident situations », but he claims that « in no case did the violence initiative originate from the members of the Serbian advanced party. »
The set 23. Maja passed without incidents, but with a large number of members of the police.
Why did the protest come?
« The day started this famous transparency on Pasareli … It was an introduction to everything, » says Marko Bošnjak, a councilor of the opposition movement of free citizens (PSG) in the Tower, for the BBC in Serbian.
The session itself passed the hurried discussion, but the Bosniak is also called the « most peaceful part of the day », although he accuses the authority that citizens are not allowed to attend it.
The resignations of Miljanić and Milojčić were not voted, as the SNS has a convincing majority in the local parliament.
However, in front of the municipal building was turbulent.
« Much of the debate concerned who hired the security company that during the session, the municipal building was kept, as well as those forceful security and bandits not far from the municipality, » says Bosnjar.
« After the debate about the first point, I went outside to light a cigarette, so I saw them 15, after the second 30, the third day, was just increasing, there were up to 200, » he added to 200 « , he added.
Opposricians claim that these people are « dragged in the tower from the surrounding Vojvodina places », as well as « were in fluorescent vests, with hooded on their heads and hidden faces, so as not to recognize them. »
In the building itself, he was also a platoon of gendarmerie.
Because of all this, there was a « spontaneous protest » of the opposition supporter, says Ostojić.
« It was initiated by the ban on the citizens of the tower at the session, but also because the supporters of the SNS municipal building, which the property of all citizens, used as party and hanging the transparent.
« It caused revolt people and a reaction, » says Ostojic.
During the meeting of opposition supporters and Kuljan, the transparent was removed for municipal buildings and set on fire.
Why did the incident occurred?
At one point, there was a « verbal and physical aggression, » says Ostojic.
« The real cannonades arose – they were fired by various means, firecrackers, fires, recounts.
President of the Municipality of Miljanić, a former member of the Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the leader of 2019., believes that everything began when, after the end of the session, the opposition announced protest.
« Taught by experience from 8. May, when Assault vehicle from the party president (Miloša Vučević) And the premises of the Municipal Board of the Tower, our members neatly gathered in party premises, without intention to remove the protest of the opposition, « according to written response.
« At one point, part of opposition supporters started to the party’s premises, which caused fear for the safety of the facility and present, so our members went outside the premises, without any insults or provocations, peacefully and song. »
He was among them.
« We were not initiators any conflict at any time, » claims.
« None of us went to their gathering, but he tried to break into our premises. »
A recording of a verbal conflict, when the police stopped between two sets, as well as shotguns by pyrotechnic funds, It was published on social networks.
« People who SNS hired the tower for about half past three after midnight – within five minutes of the cars and left, » said Marko Bošnjak.
« In addition to all that demonstrations of force, their numbers and violence, the citizens of the Tower left that plateau in the city center where the rooms are SNS – we were working until morning, even at the cost of conflict. »
Similar incidents were previously, Ostojic points out.
« While recently, citizens collected signatures for the adaptation of a water supply network, about 60 uniformed people, again with black caps and sweatshelds, surrounded the stand.
« Zoran Đurković was beaten in January, and no one claims that people from the Serbian advanced party, but the incident occurred while you are nicely placed ‘hands are bloody », one of the most recognizable protests after the fall of the stage, says.
One young man was beaten « Just because he was filming people who went to the rally, while leaving the sports center, public property of the citizens of this municipality, » said Ostojic.
What’s next?
Tensions are less a day after incidents, but the locals of the tower are still « upset and frightened, » says Ostojic.
« Currently, there is no peace and beating, which does not mean that they will not appear when citizens decide to release the street and the expressions of the protest. »
Opposition councilors intend to « give a peaceful and dignified resistance, » Ostojic added.
The locals of the tower will « respond to absolutely every type of violence and investment of fear, » warns of Bosniak.
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